JPH03288761A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry out paper feed/discharge from one side of a recording device by using a discharge port for a paper supplied from a paper feeding means as the paper feeding port of the second paper feeding means and discharging the paper by using the same paper feeding port as paper discharge port after printing. CONSTITUTION:When a manual paper feed mode button is pressed, a guide plate 9 is lifted up as shown on the figure. Then, as for a recording paper sheet Pc which is placed on a tray 10 and the guide plate 9 by a user and advanced rightward, the top edge contacts the arcuate part of a detecting lever 11, and the lever 11 is pushed down in the counterclockwise direction around a supporting shaft 11a. Then, a pair of paper feed/discharge rollers 8a and 8b turn in the clockwise direction, and the recording paper Pc advances rightward, and the rearmost edge in the advance direction of the recording paper Pc is stopped at the position separated from the nip between the paper discharge rollers 8a and 8b, through a platen 7 and a paper feeding cassette 2. Then, each roller revolves in the counter clockwise direction, and the recording paper Pc is sent step by step in the leftward direction on the figure similarly in case of the automatic paper feed, and an image is recorded, and the paper is discharged on the tray 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly, to an image recording apparatus using, for example, an electrophotographic method, a liquid jet recording method, or the like.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 12 shows a conventional example of a recording apparatus having two or more (two systems) paper feeding means.

In FIG. 12, paper feed roller 1 which is the first paper feed means
As a result, the paper 3 loaded in the cassette 2 is separated by the separation claw 4.
The sheets are separated one by one by the paper guide 5 and conveyed to a conveyance roller 6 installed in the middle of the paper guide 5. The paper is further transported to the sub-scanning roller 7 by the transport roller 6, and then transferred to the printing section 8.
The print width is conveyed to the print width. The print head 9 has a guide rail 9a.

The printing unit 8 prints on the paper by ejecting droplets while moving in the width direction of the paper by the printing unit 9b. The printed paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 12 from a discharge port by a paper discharge roller 10.

On the other hand, the second paper feeding means is so-called manual paper feeding, in which a sheet of paper is placed on the manual tray 13, inserted through the manual paper feed slot 14, and then transferred to the paper guide plate 1 by the manual paper feed roller 15.
4 and is conveyed to the sub-scanning roller 7. From the sub-scanning roller 7 onward, printing is performed on the paper in the same manner as for paper fed from the cassette 2, and the paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 11 onto the paper discharge tray 12 by the paper discharge roller 10.

Further, the aforementioned cassette 2 can be pulled out in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and sheets 3 can be replenished.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] In the above conventional example, as shown in FIG.
Handling the paper after printing is done from the left side; conversely, when manually feeding paper, it is handled from the right side. Therefore, in addition to the installation location of the machine body, space for the operator is required on the left and right sides, resulting in the disadvantage that the machine cannot be operated unless there is a large installation space.

In addition, in the case of this type of device, it is customary to install the operation section on the front side of the device on the side where the printed paper is ejected (the left side in the figure), but it is not recommended to use the entire device by storing it on a shelf or the like. manual paper feed tray 13 or manual paper feed slot 14.
Another problem arises in that the device is hidden at the back of the shelf, making it completely unusable.

[Means for Solving the Problems (and Effects)] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention connects the ejection port of the paper fed from the main paper feeding means to the paper feeding port of the second paper feeding means. In addition, after printing, the paper can be ejected again using the same paper feed port as an ejection port. This allows all sheets to be fed and discharged from one side of the recording apparatus.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, by providing a sheet material extrusion member rotatable with respect to the feeding rotary body in a part of the feeding rotary body, the rear end of the sheet material is pushed securely during the paper ejection operation. In addition to allowing paper to be ejected, the sheet material pushing member is pushed by the leading edge of the sheet material and escapes during paper feeding operation such as manual paper feeding, so that the sheet material feeding operation is not obstructed.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus incorporating the present invention at the time of paper ejection. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the feeding rotary body in an embodiment incorporating the present invention when paper is ejected, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the area when paper is fed.

The movement, path, and image recording procedure of the recording paper will be described later.

Therefore, the paper pushing member 15, which is the gist of the present invention, is attached to the core metal part 8C of the lower paper feed/discharge roller 8b with a degree of freedom so that it can rotate with respect to the core metal part 8C by its C-shaped part. There is. At the time of paper ejection, as shown in FIG. 2, one end 15b of the C-shaped part is pushed by the stop pin 16 provided on the core metal part 8C of the paper feed/discharge roller 8b and rotates counterclockwise. Protruding arm with spring properties due to rotational force■5
The leading edge of a presses the trailing edge of the recording material Pb to ensure that the recording material Pb is ejected. Furthermore, even if the pair of paper feed/discharge rollers 8a and 8b are stopped at the position shown in FIG. 3 during manual paper feeding, etc., if the pair of paper feed/discharge rollers 8a and 8b are moved to the right on the guide plate 9 by the user of the apparatus. When the leading edge of the recording paper PC hits the protruding arm 15a of the paper pushing member 15, the paper pushing member 15 pushes the recording paper PC
As the recording paper Pc moves, it rotates clockwise and advances to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, so that it does not hinder the movement of the recording paper Pc. Thereafter, the paper feeding operation is detected by the paper detection sensor 20 in FIG. 9, and the paper feeding/discharging roller 8b rotates clockwise to feed the recording paper Pc rightward in the figure. At that time, the paper pushing member 15 is also pushed at one end 15c of its C-shaped portion by the stop pin 16 provided on the core metal portion 8c of the paper feed/discharge roller 8b,
Rotate clockwise as in b. At this time, paper pushing member 1
5. With each rotation, the tip of the protruding arm 1'5a moves toward the recording paper P.
However, since the protruding arm 15a has a spring property as shown in the figure, it is retracted toward the core bar 8c of the paper feed/discharge roller 8b, so that it does not affect the movement of the recording paper Pc. do not have.

Next, a case will be described in which the paper feed/discharge roller 8b is stopped at a position other than the position shown in FIG. 3 during paper feeding such as manual paper feeding.

First, in FIG. 4, the paper feed/discharge roller 8b is moved from the position shown in FIG.
It shows the state where it is stopped at a position rotated counterclockwise. In this state, the projecting arm 15 of the paper pushing member 15
As shown in Fig. 4, the tip of a is in a position that prevents the recording paper Pc that is manually fed from entering, but the paper contacting member rotates counterclockwise due to its own weight and moves as indicated by the broken line in the figure. In this state, the movement of the recording paper Pc is not obstructed. Further, FIG. 5 shows a state in which the paper feed/discharge roller 8b is stopped at a position rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. In this state, the tip of the protruding arm 15a of the paper pushing member 15 moves the manually fed recording paper Pc to the pair of paper feed/discharge rollers 8a as shown in the figure.

Since it is located in a position that does not impede its movement until it reaches the nip of 8b, it is possible to feed the paper without any hindrance.

Next, the movement and path of the recording paper, and the procedure for recording images will be explained. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a liquid jet recording device as an example.

First, the recording paper Pa set in the paper feed cassette 2 is separated into one sheet by the pickup roller 3 rotating clockwise in the figure, and is guided by the paper feed upper guide 4 and the paper feed lower guide 5 while being guided by the feed roller. It is sent to pairs 6a and 6b.

Thereafter, the recording paper Pa is fed in steps by a predetermined feed amount by the upper feed roller 6a and the lower feed roller 6b. An image is recorded by ejecting ink from an inkjet head C that scans in the front and back directions in the figure onto a recording paper Pa that is in close contact with a platen plate 7. Subsequently, the recording paper Pa is fed one step to the left in the figure by the upper feeding roller 6a and the lower feeding roller 6b, and the head C again scans in the direction perpendicular to the paper feeding to print the image, and then sequentially. Recording is performed step by step. The recording paper Pa passes through the nip between the paper feed/discharge rollers 8a and 8b, falls downward, and is then discharged onto the tray 10. At this time, the completion of paper ejection is detected by a detection lever 11 as shown in FIG. In other words, during paper passing, the detection lever 1 is returned to its center around the spindle 11a and is pushed down counterclockwise in the figure while resisting the adhesive force of the spring 12, blocking a photo sensor (not shown) and entering the paper passing state. However, when the rear end of the recording paper Pa passes through the arcuate portion of the detection lever 11 and falls onto the guide plate 9, the detection lever 11 returns due to the adhesive force of the return spring 12, opening the photo sensor, and leaving the paper out state. Then, paper ejection is detected. Thereby, if the detection lever 11 does not operate within a predetermined time, or if the paper passes and the detection lever is not at 0FFL even after the predetermined time has elapsed, it can be determined that an abnormality has occurred in paper feeding.

The above is the flow of the recording paper Pa in the case of automatic paper feeding from the paper feed cassette 2, but the flow in the case of manual paper feeding one by one will be explained using FIG. 9.

First, when the device user presses a manual paper feed mode button (not shown), the guide plate 9 is moved by a mechanism (not shown) into the recording paper Pc.
is lifted to the position shown in the figure so as to be guided toward the nip between the paper ejection roller 8a and the lower paper ejection roller 8b. Next, the recording paper Pc placed on the tray 10 and the guide plate 9 by the apparatus user and advanced to the right in the figure is placed on the guide plate 9.
The tip of the detection lever 11 hits the circular arc portion of the detection lever 11, and the detection lever 11 is pushed down counterclockwise in the figure around the support shaft 11a. Then, an unillustrated photosensor causes
Insertion of manual paper is detected, and the paper feed/discharge roller pair 8a, 8b rotates clockwise. Due to this rotational force,
The recording paper Pc further advances to the right in the figure, passes over the platen plate 7, the feed roller 6a, the feed roller 6b, and the paper feed cassette 2, and the rearmost end in the traveling direction of the recording paper Pc reaches the paper ejection roller 8a, It stops at the position where it passes through the nip of the roller 8b.

Therefore, as each roller rotates counterclockwise, the image is recorded on the recording paper Pc while step-feeding it to the left in the figure as in the case of automatic paper feeding described above ( At this time, the guide plate 9 is returned to the position indicated by the solid line in the figure in the paper discharge state by a mechanism not shown, and is ready for paper discharge.

Note that FIGS. 8 and 9 are the same devices as shown in FIG. 1 with the pushing member 15 and the like omitted.

[Other Examples]

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the feeding rotary body when paper is ejected, incorporating another embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the previous embodiment is the shape and material of the paper pushing member. In other words, as shown in FIG. 6, the paper pushing member is capable of rotating a rubber paper pushing member 18, which has a protrusion formed on the outer periphery of a hollow rubber cylinder, relative to the core metal part 8c of the lower paper feed/discharge roller 8b. It is installed around the zero wheel 17 that can be removed with play. The movements during paper ejection and paper feeding are the same as those in the previous embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

Moreover, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the feeding rotary body incorporating still another embodiment. The twisted coil spring-like paper pusher 19 in this figure has one end connected to the core metal part 8 of the paper feed/discharge roller 8b.
c, and the other end is formed with a protrusion corresponding to the paper pushing member 19 in the previous two embodiments.

In this embodiment, when paper is ejected, the force released by the charged torsion coil spring 1 pushes the trailing edge of the paper to completely eject the paper, and when feeding the paper, the leading edge of the recording paper pushes the paper in the form of a torsion coil spring. Even if it hits the protrusion 19, the tip of the torsion coil spring-like paper pusher rotates until the tip of the recording paper hits the nip between the pair of paper feed/discharge rollers 8a and 8b, since the whole has a gentle springiness. , does not interfere with the movement of the recording paper.

<Recording means> The recording means records an ink image on a recording sheet conveyed by a conveying means. As the recording means in this apparatus, an ink sheet recording method is suitably used.

The inkjet recording method includes a liquid ejection port for ejecting recording ink liquid as flying droplets, a liquid flow path communicating with the ejection port, and a part of this liquid flow path. and ejection energy generating means for providing ejection energy for causing the ink liquid to fly. Then, the ejection energy generating means is driven in accordance with the image signal to eject incoming droplets and record an image.

As the ejection energy generation means, for example, a method using a pressure energy generation means such as an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, a method in which electromagnetic waves such as a laser are irradiated and absorbed by the ink liquid to generate heat, and the ink is ejected by the action of the heat generation. There is a method using electromagnetic energy generating means, or a method using thermal energy generating means that heats the ink liquid with an electrothermal converter and ejects the ink. Among these methods, the method of ejecting ink using a thermal energy generating means such as an electrothermal converter is capable of high-resolution printing because liquid ejection ports can be arranged in a high density, and the print head is compact. It is suitable because it can also be

In this embodiment, a serial bubble jet recording method, which is one of the inkjet recording methods described above, is used as a recording means.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of the exploded configuration of the recording head (2) constituting the recording means, and FIGS. 11(a) to (g) are explanatory diagrams of the bubble jet recording principle. The typical structure and principle thereof are disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740,796.

In Fig. 10, ■a is a heater board, on which an electrothermal converter (discharge heater) ■b and electrodes such as aluminum to supply electric power ■C are formed and arranged. has been done. A top plate (e) having a partition wall for partitioning a liquid path (nozzle) (d) for recording liquid is adhered to the heater board (a). Further, an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the recording head is replaceably attached to a predetermined position of the apparatus.

The ink supplied from the ink cartridge through the conduit is filled into the common liquid chamber (g) in the recording head through the supply port (f) provided on the top plate (e), and is then supplied to each nozzle from this common liquid chamber (g). is guided within d. Ink ejection ports (1) are formed in these nozzles (d), and the ejection ports (1) are formed at a predetermined pitch in the sheet conveyance direction, facing the recording sheet of the recording head (2).

In this embodiment, the recording head configured as described above is mounted on a reciprocally movable carriage, and recording is performed by ejecting and flying ink from the recording head in synchronization with the movement of the carriage.

Here, the principle of ink flight in the bubble jet recording method will be explained with reference to FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b).

In the steady state, as shown in Fig. 11(a), the nozzle d
The surface tension and external pressure of the ink (2) filled inside are balanced on the ejection port surface. When the ink (2) is to be ejected in this state, the electrothermal converter (2) in the nozzle (d) is energized to cause the ink in the nozzle (d) to rapidly rise in temperature beyond nucleate boiling. Then, as shown in FIG. 11 (1)), the ink adjacent to the electrothermal converter (b) is heated to produce microbubbles, and the ink in the heated portion is vaporized to cause film boiling. As shown in FIG. 11(c), the bubble (2) grows rapidly.

When the bubbles (2) grow to a maximum of 5 as shown in FIG. 11(d), ink droplets are pushed out from the ejection opening in the nozzle (2). When the electricity is turned off to the electrothermal converter b, the grown bubbles are cooled and contracted by the ink in the nostle d, as shown in Figure 11(e), and the bubbles grow and contract. As a result, ink droplets fly from the ejection port. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11(f), the ink comes into contact with the six sides of the electrothermal converter and is rapidly cooled, so that the bubbles (2) disappear or shrink to an almost negligible volume. When the bubble (2) contracts, ink is supplied into the nozzle (2) from the common liquid chamber (2) by capillary action, as shown in FIG. 1 (g), in preparation for the next energization.

Therefore, an ink image is recorded on the recording sheet by reciprocating the carriage and energizing the electrothermal transducer (b) in accordance with the image signal in synchronization with this movement.

The embodiment of the present invention constitutes a double series of A4111, and is solved so that the following disadvantages (1) to (3) do not occur.

6 (1) Type of recording material Depending on the environment in which the device is used, the trailing edge of the recording material may hit the detection lever during paper ejection, and the paper may not be completely ejected. The recording paper Pa is given a propulsive force by the paper feed/discharge roller pair 8a, 8b, but as soon as the trailing edge of the recording paper Pa passes through the nip between the paper feed/discharge roller pair 8a, 8b, the propulsive force is lost. It's for a reason.

Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a paper holding film or the like on the downstream side of the rollers 8a, 8b, and use the repulsive force of this film to knock down the paper downward. According to this, the rear end of the recording paper Pa does not ride on the tip of the detection lever 11 and stop immediately after passing through the nip between the pair of paper feed/discharge rollers 8a and 8b, and the detection lever 11 does not stop after a predetermined time has elapsed. It is possible to prevent the paper feed from being detected as abnormal without being turned off.

(2) However, although the elastic body such as the paper holding film in the above example can generate a force in the downward direction, there is no force in the paper ejection direction that is effective for ejecting the paper. It has high surface resistance like transparent film-like recording material for
If a recording material that is easily charged is passed through, or even if the surface resistance of the recording material is not particularly high, it is passed in a low humidity environment where it is likely to be charged, the recording material, tray, and ejected recording material may be affected by static electricity. , it may become stuck and cause paper ejection failure.

In addition, if the recording material is weak due to the thickness of fii=if 2S, even if a downward force is generated using a paper holding film as described above, the recording material will only become concave and will still not be fully formed. There may be cases where paper cannot be ejected properly. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is possible to securely eject the paper by hooking the trailing edge of the paper on a protrusion of the feeding rotary member and pushing the paper.

(3) However, in an image recording device that has the same feeding rotary body, the function of introducing the recording material into the recording section during manual paper feeding, etc., and the function of ejecting the recording material on which an image has been formed out of the device. , simply adding protrusions to the feeding rotor will not work.
Depending on the position and angle at which the feeding rotary body stops after paper ejection is completed, the protrusions in 8 become a hindrance, making feeding operations such as manual paper feeding impossible.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, it has a recording section that forms an image on a sheet material, a feeding rotary body that has the function of introducing the sheet material into the recording section and the function of discharging the sheet material on which the image has been formed out of the apparatus. In an image recording device, by providing a sheet extrusion section rotatable with respect to a feeding rotary body in a part of the feeding rotary body, paper can be easily handled even when the paper is ejected using various types of sheet materials and under various environments. The protrusions of the pushing member push the trailing edge of the paper to ensure paper ejection, and when feeding, the sheet pushing member is pushed by the leading edge of the sheet material and rotates slightly to a position where it does not impede the movement of the sheet material. This has the effect of making the paper feeding operation easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the device in an embodiment incorporating the present invention during paper ejection, Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the area near the feeding rotary body in Fig. 1 during paper ejection, and Fig. 3 is the same as in Fig. 1. An enlarged view of the vicinity of the feeding rotary body during paper feeding. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the feeding rotary body showing a case in which the paper feeding and discharging roller has stopped at a position counterclockwise from that shown in FIG. 3 in an embodiment incorporating the present invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the feeding rotary body showing a case in which the paper feeding and discharging roller has stopped at a clockwise position compared to FIG. 3 in an embodiment incorporating the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the feeding rotary body incorporating another embodiment of the present invention when paper is ejected, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the feeding rotary body incorporating still another embodiment of the present invention. , Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the sensor of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 when paper is ejected, Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the sensor of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 when paper is fed, and Figs. 10 to 11. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the recording means, and FIG. 12 is an explanation of a conventional example. 8...Paper feed/discharge roller 0 9...Guide plate 15...Paper pushing member 16...Stopping pin 17...0 wheel 18...Rubber paper pusher 19...Torsion coil spring paper pusher P...recording paper 1

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A recording section that forms an image on a sheet material, a feeding rotary body that has both the function of introducing the sheet material into the recording section and the function of discharging the sheet material on which the image has been formed out of the apparatus; An image recording device comprising: a sheet material extrusion member that is provided on a portion of a feeding rotary body and is rotatable at a predetermined angle with respect to the feeding rotary body. (2) The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording device is an inkjet recording system in which the recording means performs recording by ejecting ink in response to a signal. (3) The recording apparatus is an inkjet recording system in which the recording means energizes an electrothermal transducer in response to a signal and ejects ink using thermal energy from the electrothermal transducer to perform recording. (2) Recording device as described. (4) In the recording device, the recording means energizes the electrothermal transducer in response to a signal, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port by the growth of bubbles generated by heating exceeding film boiling by the electrothermal transducer, thereby recording. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, which uses a bubble jet recording method.