JP6728885B2 - Conveying device and receiving tray - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a conveying device having a plurality of receiving trays arranged side by side in a vertical direction, and a receiving tray used in the conveying device.

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a technique of providing a stopper on a receiving tray in a carrying device. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing device (conveying device) including a paper discharge tray (reception tray) having a paper discharge tray main body (tray main body), a pair of side fences, and one end fence (stopper). Has been done. The end fence regulates the placement position of the paper in the paper discharge direction due to collision of the discharged paper, and is slidable in the paper discharge direction (conveying direction) with respect to the paper discharge tray main body. The both ends are inserted into any one of a plurality of insertion holes provided in the pair of side fences, so that the side fences are positioned on the paper ejection tray main body.

Japanese Patent No. 3668106

Providing a stopper on the receiving tray as in Patent Document 1 is effective in ensuring the alignment of the medium conveyed at high speed in the receiving tray. However, when a plurality of receiving trays are provided for media sorting and the plurality of receiving trays are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, other receiving trays (lower layer trays) other than the uppermost tray are placed above the other receiving trays. Since there is a tray, it is difficult to take out the medium above, and because there is a stopper, it is also difficult to take out the medium in the transport direction.

Therefore, the inventor of the present application attaches the lower layer tray to the tray body so that the medium can be taken out in the transport direction by the user, and the base is attached to the tray body so as to be movable in the transport direction. As a result of studying a configuration including a stopper that is rotatably attached, the following problems have been found. Specifically, when the user takes out the medium in the transport direction and the stopper rotates with respect to the base, the base receives the force associated with the rotation operation of the stopper and moves with respect to the tray body.

An object of the present invention is to provide a transporting device and a receiving tray that allow a user to take out a medium received in a lower layer tray in a transporting direction and suppress a problem that a base moves with respect to a tray body. Especially.

A conveying device according to the present invention has a plurality of receiving trays for receiving a medium, respectively, and a plurality of receiving trays arranged side by side in a vertical direction, and a selective one of the receiving surfaces of the plurality of receiving trays. A transport mechanism for transporting the medium so that the medium is received, and one or a plurality of lower-layer trays that are receiving trays other than the uppermost-layer tray arranged at least at the uppermost of the plurality of receiving trays, A tray main body that constitutes the receiving surface, a base that is attached to the tray main body so as to be movable in the medium transport direction by the transport mechanism when the medium is received in the receiving tray; A stopper rotatably attached to the base, the end face on the upstream side in the transport direction facing the end in the transport direction of the medium received by the receiving surface by rotating with respect to the base. A stopper position, a stopper capable of taking a rotation position in which the angle between the end surface and the receiving surface is larger than when the end surface is in the stopper position, a positioning mechanism for positioning the base on the tray body, And a movement restricting mechanism that restricts movement of the base in the transport direction with respect to the tray body when the stopper moves from the stopper position to the rotating position.

A receiving tray according to the present invention has a receiving surface for receiving a medium, respectively, and a plurality of receiving trays arranged side by side in a vertical direction, and a receiving surface of the plurality of receiving trays. One or a plurality of receiving trays other than the uppermost layer tray arranged at least at the uppermost of the plurality of receiving trays in a conveying device including a conveying mechanism for conveying the medium so that the medium is received A receiving tray used as one of the lower-layer trays, the tray main body constituting the receiving surface, a base movably attached to the tray main body in the transport direction, and a rotating body with respect to the base. A stopper position that is movably attached, and a stopper position in which an end surface on the upstream side in the transport direction opposes an end portion in the transport direction of the medium received by the receiving surface by rotating with respect to the base. A stopper capable of taking a rotation position in which the angle between the end surface and the receiving surface is larger than that at the stopper position, a positioning mechanism for positioning the base on the tray body, and the stopper And a movement restricting mechanism for restricting movement of the base with respect to the tray main body in the transport direction when the stopper position moves to the rotating position.

According to the present invention, at least the lower layer tray adopts a configuration including a base movably attached to the tray body in the transport direction and a stopper rotatably attached to the base, The user can take out the medium received in the lower tray in the transport direction. Further, by providing the movement restricting mechanism, the problem that the base moves with respect to the tray body can be suppressed.

The movement regulation mechanism may cooperate with the positioning mechanism to regulate movement of the base in the transport direction with respect to the tray body when the stopper moves from the stopper position to the rotation position. In this case, since the movement restricting mechanism cooperates with the positioning mechanism to restrict the movement of the base, the structure of the movement restricting mechanism can be simplified.

The movement restricting mechanism may be configured such that the restricting force for restricting the movement binaryly changes when the stopper takes the stopper position and when the stopper takes the rotation position. In this case, the movement of the base due to the rotation of the stopper can be quickly regulated.

At least the one or a plurality of lower layer trays of the plurality of receiving trays may further include a biasing member that biases the stopper in a direction from the rotation position to the stopper position. In this case, after the stopper is moved from the stopper position to the rotation position and the medium is taken out, the stopper is returned from the rotation position to the stopper position by the urging of the urging member. Therefore, there is no need for the user to return the stopper from the rotation position to the stopper position.

The positioning mechanism includes a protrusion provided on one of the base and the tray body and formed on an elastically deformable elastic portion, and a recess provided on the other of the base and the tray body. The portion is configured to take a fitting position for fitting into the recess and a retracted position for retracting from the recess according to elastic deformation of the elastic portion, and the movement restricting mechanism includes the stopper. There wherein when moving the pivot position, and is configured to restrict the elastic deformation of the elastic portion abuts on the elastic section from the stopper position. In this case, the configuration can be simplified as compared with the case where an electrical mechanism or the like is used.

In the one or more lower trays, at least a part of a projection area obtained by projecting the receiving surface of the lower tray on a virtual plane orthogonal to the vertical direction from the vertical direction is arranged above the lower tray. Any of the above may be overlapped with the projection area obtained by projecting any of the above from the vertical direction.

At least one or a plurality of lower trays of the plurality of receiving trays may be provided with a restricting member that restricts removal of the medium from the receiving surface in a direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the transport direction. .. In this case, the medium received by the lower tray is difficult to take out in the orthogonal direction because of the regulation member, and is taken out in the carrying direction. At this time, the stopper may be an obstacle, but by adopting a configuration in which the stopper rotates with respect to the base, it is easy to take out the medium in the transport direction.

According to the present invention, at least the lower-layer tray includes a base movably attached to the tray body in the transport direction, and a stopper rotatably attached to the base. The medium received in the lower tray can be taken out in the transport direction. Further, by providing the movement restricting mechanism, the problem that the base moves with respect to the tray body can be suppressed.

1 is a perspective view showing an inkjet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the inkjet printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a stopper and a base provided on each receiving tray of the tray unit in the inkjet printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing stoppers and bases provided on each receiving tray of the tray unit in the inkjet printer according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as seen from a direction different from FIG. 4. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a stopper and a base provided on each receiving tray of the tray unit in the inkjet printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B is a front view seen from the arrow VIB direction of FIG. FIG. 6C is a side view seen from the arrow VIC direction in FIG. It is sectional drawing which followed the VII-VII line of FIG.6(a), (a) is a state in which a stopper is in a stopper position, (b) is a state in which a stopper has begun to transfer to a rotation position from a stopper position, ( c) shows the state where the stopper is in the rotating position. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a stopper and a base provided on each receiving tray of the tray unit in the inkjet printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a stopper and a base provided on each receiving tray of the tray unit in the inkjet printer according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as seen from a direction different from FIG. 8. FIG. 9A is a plan view showing a stopper and a base provided on each receiving tray of the tray unit in the inkjet printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 10B is a front view seen from the arrow XB direction in FIG. FIG. 10C is a side view seen from the arrow XC direction in FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10A, in which (a) is a state where the stopper is at the stopper position, (b) is a state where the stopper starts to move from the stopper position to the rotation position, ( c) shows the state where the stopper is in the rotating position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an inkjet printer 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “printer”) 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 1x and a casing 1x. And a tray unit 50 detachably attached. The tray unit 50 is arranged above the housing 1x such that the opening 1x1 formed on the upper surface of the housing 1x and the opening 51x1 formed on the lower surface of the support member 51 face each other. Another tray unit may be attached to the upper part of the tray unit 50.

A receiving tray 12 is provided on the top of the housing 1x.

The receiving tray 12 includes a tray main body 13 formed of an upper wall of the housing 1x, a base 14 detachably attached to the tray main body 13, and a rotation centered on an axis along the main scanning direction with respect to the base 14. Movably mounted stopper 15. The tray body 13 constitutes a receiving surface 13a for receiving the paper P.

The tray unit 50 is a casing that supports four receiving trays 52a to 52d arranged side by side in the vertical direction and rotatably supports the four receiving trays 52a to 52d around an axis 53x1 along the main scanning direction. And a supporting member 51 having a shape of a circle. Of the four receiving trays 52a to 52d, the receiving tray 52a is the uppermost tray arranged at the uppermost position, and the receiving trays 52b to 52d are lower trays.

Each of the receiving trays 52a to 52d is detachably attached to a plate-shaped tray body 53 having an indentation 53y on the upper surface and a portion of the tray body 53 in which the indentation 53y is provided, and is in the transport direction (the paper P is placed in the receiving tray). The base 54 is movably attached to the paper P when it is received, and is rotatable about an axis 55x1 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) along the main scanning direction with respect to the base 54. And a stopper 55 attached to the. The tray body 53 constitutes a receiving surface 53a for receiving the paper P.

Projection areas X obtained by projecting the receiving surfaces 13a and 53a of the receiving trays 12 and 52a to 52d on a virtual plane orthogonal to the vertical direction from the vertical direction overlap with each other.

A large number of recesses 53z are formed along the transport direction D on both sides of the tray body 53 along the transport direction D that define the depression 53y. On both side surfaces of the base 54 in the main scanning direction, a pair of convex portions 54z2 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) that can be fitted into a pair of concave portions 53z facing each other in the main scanning direction among the large number of concave portions 53z are formed. ing. The base 54 is positioned with respect to the tray main body 53 by fitting the pair of convex portions 54z2 into the pair of concave portions 53z.

The support member 51 covers the upstream ends of the receiving trays 52a to 52d in the transport direction D, and restricts the taking-out of the paper P from the receiving surface 53a in the main scanning direction. That is, the support member 51 corresponds to the “regulating member” of the present invention.

An inkjet head (hereinafter, simply referred to as “head”) 10, a platen 11, a paper feed mechanism 20, a transport mechanism 30a, and a controller 1c are provided inside the housing 1x. Further, inside the support member 51, a transport mechanism 30b is provided.

The head 10 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the main scanning direction. That is, the printer 1 is a line-type inkjet printer. The head 10 includes a flow channel unit in which an ink flow channel including a pressure chamber is formed, and an actuator that applies a pressure to the ink in the pressure chamber of the flow channel unit. The lower surface of the head 10 is the lower surface of the flow path unit and is an ejection surface 10x on which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink are formed. Ink is supplied to the ink flow path of the flow path unit from a cartridge (not shown).

The platen 11 is arranged below the head 10. The platen 11 is a flat plate-shaped member and has a support surface 11x that supports the paper P. The support surface 11x is opposed to the ejection surface 10x while being separated in the vertical direction.

The paper feed mechanism 20 includes a storage tray 21 that can store a plurality of sheets of paper P and is detachable from the housing 1x, and a paper feed roller 22 attached to the storage tray 21. The paper feed roller 22 is rotated by the drive of a paper feed motor 20M (see FIG. 3) under the control of the controller 1c. The paper feed roller 22 feeds the paper P by rotating while being in contact with the uppermost paper P in the storage tray 21.

The transport mechanism 30a constitutes the transport mechanism 30 together with the transport mechanism 30b. In the transport mechanism 30, the paper P sent out from the paper feed mechanism 20 passes between the ejection surface 10x and the support surface 11x, and the receiving trays 12, 52a to 52d and another tray arranged above the tray unit 50. It is a mechanism for conveying the paper P so that it is selectively received by any of the receiving trays of the unit, and forms paths R1 to R6.

The path R1 is a path along which the paper P is conveyed toward the receiving tray 12. The path R2 is a path along which the paper P is conveyed toward the receiving tray 52d. The path R3 is a path along which the paper P is conveyed toward the receiving tray 52c. The path R4 is a path along which the paper P is conveyed toward the receiving tray 52b. The path R5 is a path along which the sheet P is conveyed toward the receiving tray 52a. The path R6 is a path through which the sheet P is conveyed through the opening 51x2 formed on the upper surface of the support member 51 toward the receiving tray of another tray unit.

The routes R1 and R2 branch from the common route R12 at a branch position A1 which is one end of the common route R12. The routes R2 and R3 branch from the common route R23 at a branch position A2 which is one end of the common route R23. The routes R3 and R4 branch from the common route R34 at a branch position A3 which is one end of the common route R34. The routes R4 and R5 are branched from the common route R45 at a branch position A4 which is one end of the common route R45. The routes R5 and R6 branch off from the common route R56 at a branch position A5 which is one end of the common route R56.

The transport mechanism 30a includes a guide 31 and roller pairs 32 to 36. The transport mechanism 30b includes a guide 31 and roller pairs 37 to 44.

The guide 31 is arranged so as to face the front surface and the back surface of the sheet P conveyed along the paths R1 to R6.

The roller pairs 32 to 36 are arranged along the route R1. The roller pairs 37 and 38 are arranged along the route R2 branched from the common route R12. The roller pairs 39 and 40 are arranged along the route R3 branched from the common route R23. The roller pairs 41 and 42 are arranged along the route R4 branched from the common route R34. The roller pairs 43 and 44 are arranged along the route R5 branched from the common route R45.

The roller pairs 32 to 36 are rotated by the drive of the carry motor 30aM (see FIG. 3) under the control of the controller 1c. The roller pairs 37 to 44 rotate under the control of the control unit 1c by driving the transport motor 30bM (see FIG. 3). The roller pairs 32 to 44 clamp the paper P and rotate to apply a conveying force to the paper P.

The branch positions A1 to A5 are provided with switching sections F1 to F5 for switching the destination of the paper P at the branch positions A1 to A5. The switching units F1 to F5 have moving members F1a to F5a that can swing about swing shafts F1x to F5x along the main scanning direction.

Under the control of the control unit 1c, the moving member F1a swings by the driving of the switching motor F1M (see FIG. 3), and the position (see FIG. 1) for guiding the sheet P from the common route R12 to the route R1 and the common route R12. And a position where the sheet P is guided to the path R2. Under the control of the control unit 1c, the moving member F2a is swung by the drive of the switching motor F2M (see FIG. 3) to move the sheet P from the common route R23 to the route R2 (see FIG. 1) and the common route R23. From the position where the sheet P is guided to the path R3. Under the control of the control unit 1c, the moving member F3a is swung by the drive of the switching motor F3M (see FIG. 3) to move the sheet P from the common route R34 to the route R3 (see FIG. 1) and the common route R34. And a position where the sheet P is guided to the path R4. Under the control of the control unit 1c, the moving member F4a swings by the drive of the switching motor F4M (see FIG. 3), and the position (see FIG. 1) for guiding the sheet P from the common route R45 to the route R4 and the common route R45. And a position where the sheet P is guided to the path R5. Under the control of the control unit 1c, the moving member F5a swings by the drive of the switching motor F5M (see FIG. 3) to guide the sheet P from the common route R56 to the route R5 (see FIG. 1) and the common route R56. And a position where the sheet P is guided to the path R6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 1c includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1c1, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1c2, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 1c3, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 1c4, which is an arithmetic processing unit. It has an I/F (Interface) 1c5 and an I/O (Input/Output Port) 1c6. The ROM 1c2 stores fixed data such as programs executed by the CPU 1c1. The RAM 1c3 temporarily stores the data necessary for the CPU 1c1 to execute the program. The ASIC 1c4 performs rewriting of image data, rearrangement, and the like (for example, signal processing and image processing). The I/F 1c5 transmits/receives data to/from an external device (for example, a PC connected to the printer 1). The I/O 1c6 transmits/receives signals to/from various sensors. The CPU 1c1 is electrically connected to each unit other than the CPU 1c1 included in the control unit 1c, and controls each unit of the printer 1 based on the data received from each unit.

The controller 1c is electrically connected to a contact C1 provided on the upper surface of the housing 1x. When the tray unit 50 is attached to the housing 1x, the contact C1 and the contact C2 provided on the lower surface of the support member 51 are in contact with each other and electrically connected. The contact C2 is electrically connected to the transport motor 30bM of the tray unit 50 and the switching motors F2M to F5M. As a result, it becomes possible to transmit and receive signals between the control unit 1c and the transport motor 30bM of the tray unit 50 and the switching motors F2M to F5M.

When another tray unit is attached to the upper part of the tray unit 50, the contact C3 provided on the upper surface of the supporting member 51 of the tray unit 50 and the contact C3 provided on the lower surface of the supporting member of the other tray unit 50. Contacts with each other and are electrically connected. The other contact is electrically connected to the transport motor and the switching motor of another tray unit. As a result, signals can be transmitted and received between the control unit 1c and the transport motor and the switching motor of another tray unit.

Under the control of the control unit 1c, when the paper P transported by the transport mechanism 30 passes between the ejection surface 10x and the support surface 11x, the actuator of the head 10 is driven, and the plurality of ejection surfaces 10x are formed. Ink is selectively ejected from the ejection port. When the ejected ink lands on the paper P, an image is formed on the paper P (that is, recording is performed on the paper P). The paper P after recording is further transported by the transport mechanism 30 and selectively received by any of the receiving trays 12, 52a to 52d.

When the paper P is received in the receiving trays 12, 52a to 52d, the paper P is conveyed along the conveying direction D, the leading end abuts against the stoppers 15 and 55, and falls, and the papers P of the receiving trays 12, 52a to 52d. It is received by the receiving surfaces 13a and 53a.

Next, the configurations of the base 54 and the stopper 55 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The stopper 55 includes a cylindrical rotation shaft 55x having an axis 55x1 extending in the main scanning direction, and a flat plate-shaped stopper body 55y fixed on the rotation shaft 55x. The stopper body 55y extends from the rotating shaft 55x in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction.

The base 54 includes a bottom plate 54x and a cover 54y arranged on the bottom plate 54x. The bottom plate 54x is provided with a plurality of bearings 54x1 for supporting the rotating shaft 55x. Each bearing 54x1 has a concave surface corresponding to support the peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 55x. A pair of through holes 54y1 through which the rotary shaft 55x is inserted are formed on both side walls of the cover 54y in the main scanning direction.

A pair of elastic pieces 54z is provided on both side walls of the cover 54y in the main scanning direction. Each elastic piece 54z is a member elongated in the transport direction D, and both ends in the transport direction D are fixed to the outer surface of the side wall of the cover 54y in the main scanning direction, and can be elastically deformed to portions other than both ends in the transport direction D. It has a flexible elastic portion 54z1. The elastic portion 54z1 is displaceable in the main scanning direction.

On the outer surface of each elastic portion 54z1, a convex portion 54z2 that can be fitted into any concave portion 53z (see FIG. 1) of the tray body 53 is formed. The convex portion 54z2 projects outward from the outer surface of each elastic portion 54z1 in the main scanning direction. The convex portion 54z2 is configured so as to be capable of taking a fitting position in which the concave portion 53z is fitted and a retracted position in which the convex portion 54z2 is retracted from the concave portion 53z according to elastic deformation of the elastic portion 54z1.

With the pair of springs 56 attached to both ends of the rotary shaft 55x in the main scanning direction, the rotary shaft 55x is supported by the bearing 54x1 of the bottom plate 54x, then the cover 54y is covered, and the two fixing pins 57 are attached to the bottom plate 54x. Two through holes 54x2 formed in the bottom plate 54x and two cylindrical holes 54y2 formed in the base 54 are inserted from the lower surface side. As a result, the base 54 and the stopper 55 are assembled together.

When the stopper 55 rotates with respect to the base 54, the end surface 55y1 of the stopper body 55y on the upstream side in the transport direction D faces the end portion in the transport direction D of the sheet P received by the receiving surface 53a ( A position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 6C) and a rotation position (a position indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 6C) in which the angle α between the end surface 55y1 and the receiving surface 53a is larger than that in the stopper position. Can be taken.

The pair of springs 56 urge the stopper 55 in the direction from the rotation position to the stopper position.

A pair of protrusions 55x2 is provided at both ends of the rotating shaft 55x in the main scanning direction. Each of the protrusions 55x2 has a main portion from a substantially half region on the side to which the stopper body 55y is fixed in a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction of the rotating shaft 55x at both ends of the rotating shaft 55x in the main scanning direction. It projects outward in the scanning direction.

Each protrusion 55x2 extends to the outside of the cover 54y via each through hole 54y1 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). The end surface of each protruding portion 55x2 in the protruding direction overlaps the inner surface of each elastic portion 54z1 in the main scanning direction.

When the stopper 55 is at the stopper position, each protrusion 55x2 does not overlap with each elastic portion 54z1 when viewed from the main scanning direction (see the solid line in FIG. 6C), and the stopper 55 moves from the stopper position to the rotation position. When transitioning, the elastic portions 54z1 partially overlap with each other when viewed from the main scanning direction (see FIG. 6C and FIGS. 7A to 7C). That is, each protrusion 55x2 does not contact each elastic portion 54z1 when the stopper 55 is at the stopper position, but contacts each elastic portion 54z1 when the stopper 55 moves from the stopper position to the rotation position.

When the stopper 55 moves from the stopper position to the rotation position, the protrusions 55x2 come into contact with the elastic portions 54z1 to restrict elastic deformation of the elastic portions 54z1. As a result, each convex portion 54z2 is held at the fitting position where it is fitted into the concave portion 53z (see FIG. 1), and movement of the base 54 with respect to the tray body 53 in the transport direction D is restricted. Thus, each protrusion 55x2 cooperates with each protrusion 54z2 to regulate the movement of the base 54 in the transport direction D with respect to the tray body 53 when the stopper 55 moves from the stopper position to the rotation position. ..

Further, when the stopper 55 moves from the stopper position to the rotation position, each protrusion 55x2 starts to move from the stopper position toward the rotation position and immediately contacts each elastic portion 54z1, and then each elastic portion. 54z1 is maintained in a contact state. That is, the restricting force for restricting the movement of the base 54 by each protrusion changes binaryly when the stopper 55 takes the stopper position and when it takes the rotating position.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the receiving trays 52a to 52d are attached to the tray body 53 so as to be movable in the transport direction D, and the receiving trays 52a to 52d are attached to the base 54 so as to be rotatable. By adopting the configuration including the stopper 55 that is provided, the user can take out the paper P received in each of the receiving trays 52a to 52d in the transport direction D. Further, by providing the movement restricting mechanism (a pair of protrusions 55x2), the problem that the base 54 moves with respect to the tray body 53 can be suppressed.

The movement restricting mechanism (a pair of projecting portions 55x2) cooperates with the positioning mechanism (a pair of convex portions 54z2) to convey the base 54 to the tray body 53 when the stopper 55 moves from the stopper position to the rotating position. The movement in the direction D is restricted (see FIG. 6C and FIGS. 7A to 7C). In this case, since the movement restricting mechanism cooperates with the positioning mechanism to restrict the movement of the base 54, the structure of the movement restricting mechanism can be simplified.

The movement restricting mechanism (the pair of protrusions 55x2) is configured so that the restricting force for restricting the movement of the base 54 varies binaryly when the stopper 55 takes the stopper position and when the stopper 55 takes the rotating position. Is configured. In this case, movement restriction of the base 54 due to the rotation of the stopper 55 can be promptly performed.

Each of the receiving trays 52a to 52d further includes a pair of springs 56 that bias the stopper 55 in the direction from the rotation position to the stopper position. In this case, after the stopper 55 is moved from the stopper position to the rotation position to take out the paper P, the stopper 55 returns from the rotation position to the stopper position by the bias of the pair of springs 56. Therefore, it is unnecessary for the user to return the stopper 55 from the rotation position to the stopper position.

The pair of convex portions 54z2 forming the positioning mechanism (mechanism for positioning the base 54 with respect to the tray body 53) are formed in each of the pair of elastic portions 54z1 provided on the base 54. Each convex portion 54z2 can be set to a fitting position where it is fitted into the concave portion 53z (see FIG. 1) of the tray body 53 and a retracted position where it is retracted from the concave portion 53z according to the elastic deformation of each elastic portion 54z1. It is configured. The movement restricting mechanism (the pair of protrusions 55x2) is configured to contact the pair of elastic portions 54z1 to restrict elastic deformation of the elastic portions 54z1 when the stopper 55 moves from the stopper position to the rotating position. There is. In this case, the configuration can be simplified as compared with the case where an electrical mechanism or the like is used.

For the receiving trays 52a to 52d, a regulating member (supporting member 51) that regulates the taking-out of the paper P from the receiving surface 53a in the main scanning direction is provided. In this case, the paper P received in the receiving trays 52a to 52d is difficult to take out in the main scanning direction because of the regulation member, and is taken out in the carrying direction D. At this time, the stopper 55 can be an obstacle, but by adopting a configuration in which the stopper 55 rotates with respect to the base 54, it is easy to take out the paper P in the transport direction D.

Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The printer according to the second embodiment is different from the printer according to the first embodiment in the configurations of the base and the stopper, and is otherwise the same as the printer according to the first embodiment.

In the stopper 255 according to the present embodiment, the rotating shaft 55x does not have the pair of protruding portions 55x2 (see FIGS. 4 to 7) but has the cam portion 255x2 (see FIG. 9). The cam portion 255x2 is provided in a portion other than the portion to which the stopper body 55y is fixed, in the center of the rotating shaft 55x in the main scanning direction.

In the base 254 according to the present embodiment, a pair of through holes 54y1 through which the rotating shaft 55x is inserted is not formed on both side walls of the cover 54y in the main scanning direction. Further, the pair of elastic pieces 54z is not provided on both side walls of the cover 54y in the main scanning direction, but the elastic pieces 254z are provided on the bottom plate 54x. The elastic piece 254z is formed by providing a pair of slits extending in the transport direction D at the center of the bottom plate 54x in the main scanning direction and on the downstream side in the transport direction D, and is displaceable in the vertical direction.

A recess (not shown) of the tray main body 53 is formed on the lower surface of the tip of the elastic piece 254z (an end on the downstream side in the transport direction D). A large number of concave portions are formed along with the convex portion 254z2. The convex portion 254z2 projects downward from the lower surface of the tip of the elastic piece 254z. The convex portion 254z2 is configured so as to be capable of taking a fitting position for fitting into the concave portion and a retracted position for retracting from the concave portion in accordance with elastic deformation of the elastic piece 254z.

When the stopper 255 rotates with respect to the base 254, the end surface 55y1 of the stopper body 55y on the upstream side in the transport direction D faces the end portion in the transport direction D of the sheet P received by the receiving surface 53a ( A position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 10C) and a rotational position (a position indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 10C) in which the angle α between the end surface 55y1 and the receiving surface 53a is larger than that in the stopper position. Can be taken.

The pair of springs 56 urge the stopper 255 in the direction from the rotation position to the stopper position.

The cam portion 255x2 does not contact the elastic piece 254z when the stopper 255 is in the stopper position, but contacts the elastic piece 254z when the stopper 255 moves from the stopper position to the rotation position.

When the stopper 255 moves from the stopper position to the rotation position, the cam portion 255x2 contacts the elastic piece 254z, so that elastic deformation of the elastic piece 254z is restricted. As a result, the convex portion 254z2 is held at the fitting position where the convex portion 254z2 is fitted in the concave portion (not shown), and movement of the base 254 with respect to the tray body 53 in the transport direction D is restricted. In this way, the cam portion 255x2 cooperates with the convex portion 254z2 to restrict the movement of the base 254 in the transport direction D with respect to the tray body 53 when the stopper 255 moves from the stopper position to the rotation position.

Further, when the stopper 255 moves from the stopper position to the rotation position, the convex portion 254z2 does not contact the elastic piece 254z until the stopper 255 reaches the rotation position, and the stopper 255 reaches the rotation position. At almost the same time as the above, the elastic piece 254z abuts. That is, the restricting force for restricting the movement of the base 254 by the convex portion 254z2 varies binaryly when the stopper 255 takes the stopper position and when it takes the rotating position.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the movement restricting mechanism (cam portion 255x2), the problem that the base 254 moves with respect to the tray body 53 is suppressed as in the first embodiment. can do. In addition, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained by the same structure as that of the first embodiment.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes are possible within the scope of the claims.

The movement restriction mechanism may independently restrict the movement of the base without cooperating with the positioning mechanism.
In the movement restricting mechanism, the restricting force for restricting the movement of the base does not change binaryly when the stopper takes the stopper position and when the stopper takes the rotating position, but the stopper rotates from the stopper position. It may be configured to change gradually when moving to the moving position.
-The direction of the regulation force by the movement regulation mechanism is not particularly limited.
The movement restriction mechanism may be provided at any position of the stopper.
The movement restriction mechanism may be an electric mechanism or a mechanism using frictional force.
The biasing member that biases the stopper in the direction from the rotation position to the stopper position may be omitted.
The transport device is not limited to the printer, and may be a facsimile machine, a copy machine, a multifunction machine, or the like.
The recording unit is not limited to the line type and may be the serial type. The recording unit is not limited to the inkjet type, and may be a laser type, a thermal type, or the like. The transport device may not include the recording unit.
The medium is not limited to paper and may be cloth or the like. Further, the medium is not limited to a recorded medium, and may be a non-recorded medium.

1 Inkjet printer (transport device)
30 Transport Mechanism 51 Supporting Member (Regulating Member)
52a-52d Receiving tray 52a Uppermost layer tray 52b-52d Lower layer tray 53 Tray body 53a Receiving surface 53z Recessed portion (positioning mechanism)
54 base 54z1 elastic part 54z2 convex part (positioning mechanism)
55 Stopper 55x2 Projection (movement restriction mechanism)
55y Stopper body 55y1 End surface 56 Spring (biasing member)
254 Base 254z Elastic piece (elastic part)
254z2 convex part (positioning mechanism)
255 stopper 255x2 cam part (movement restriction mechanism)
D Transport direction P Paper (medium)
X Projection area α Angle

Claims (7)

A plurality of receiving trays each having a receiving surface for receiving the medium and arranged side by side in the vertical direction;
A transport mechanism for transporting the medium such that the medium is selectively received on any of the receiving surfaces of the plurality of receiving trays,
One or a plurality of lower-layer trays, which are receiving trays other than the uppermost-layer tray arranged at least at the uppermost of the plurality of receiving trays,
A tray body that constitutes the receiving surface,
A base attached to the tray body so as to be movable in the medium transport direction by the transport mechanism when the medium is received in the receiving tray;
A stopper rotatably attached to the base, the end of the medium in the transport direction having an end surface on the upstream side in the transport direction received by the receiving surface by rotating with respect to the base. A stopper position that faces the portion, and a stopper that can take a rotation position in which the angle between the end surface and the receiving surface is larger than when the end surface is in the stopper position,
A positioning mechanism for positioning the base on the tray body,
When the stopper is moved to the rotational position from the stopper position, seen including a movement restricting mechanism for restricting the movement of the conveying direction relative to the tray main body of the base,
The positioning mechanism includes a protrusion provided on one of the base and the tray body and formed on an elastically deformable elastic portion, and a recess provided on the other of the base and the tray body. The portion is configured to be able to take a fitting position that fits into the recess and a retracted position that retracts from the recess according to elastic deformation of the elastic portion,
The movement restriction mechanism is configured to contact the elastic portion and restrict elastic deformation of the elastic portion when the stopper moves from the stopper position to the rotation position. , Transport device. When the stopper moves from the stopper position to the rotation position, the movement restriction mechanism cooperates with the positioning mechanism to restrict the movement of the base with respect to the tray body in the transport direction. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein The movement restricting mechanism is configured such that the restricting force for restricting the movement changes in a binary manner when the stopper takes the stopper position and when the stopper takes the rotation position. The transport apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that. At least the one or more lower-layer trays of the plurality of receiving trays,
The transport device according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member that biases the stopper in a direction from the rotation position to the stopper position. In the one or more lower-layer trays, at least a part of a projection area obtained by projecting the receiving surface of the lower-layer tray on a virtual plane orthogonal to the vertical direction from the vertical direction is arranged above the lower-layer tray. 6. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein any one of the above is overlapped with a projected area projected from the vertical direction on the virtual plane. At least one or a plurality of lower trays of the plurality of receiving trays is provided with a restricting member that restricts the removal of the medium from the receiving surface in a direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the transport direction. The transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is characterized in that. A plurality of receiving trays each having a receiving surface for receiving a medium, the receiving trays being arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and the medium being selectively received by any of the receiving surfaces of the plurality of receiving trays. Used as one of one or a plurality of lower-layer trays, which are receiving trays other than the uppermost-layer tray arranged at least at the uppermost of the plurality of receiving trays, in a conveying device including a conveying mechanism for conveying a medium. A receiving tray,
A tray body that constitutes the receiving surface,
A base movably attached to the tray body in the transport direction,
A stopper rotatably attached to the base, the end of the medium in the transport direction having an end surface on the upstream side in the transport direction received by the receiving surface by rotating with respect to the base. A stopper position that faces the portion, and a stopper that can take a rotation position in which the angle between the end surface and the receiving surface is larger than when the end surface is in the stopper position,
A positioning mechanism for positioning the base on the tray body,
A movement restriction mechanism for restricting movement of the base in the transport direction with respect to the tray body when the stopper moves from the stopper position to the rotation position ,
The positioning mechanism includes a protrusion provided on one of the base and the tray body and formed on an elastically deformable elastic portion, and a recess provided on the other of the base and the tray body. The portion is configured to be able to take a fitting position that fits into the recess and a retracted position that retracts from the recess according to elastic deformation of the elastic portion,
The movement restriction mechanism is configured to contact the elastic portion and restrict elastic deformation of the elastic portion when the stopper moves from the stopper position to the rotation position. , Receiving tray.

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