JPH11292346A - Sheet material detection device, sheet material conveyance device and recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correct the position of a sheet material by laterally moving it without pulling out the once-inserted sheet material and without damaging the sheet material and a detection lever. SOLUTION: A detection lever 25b of a sheet material detection device has a lever shape extended obliquely toward the downstream side in the direction of conveyance of a sheet material 22 and can swing along the direction of conveyance by very small operation force. An end face in the transverse direction is an inclined face, and the detection lever 25b is thinned and tapered from a fixed end toward a free end thereof. When the sheet material is laterally moved to a conveyance passage 20, the sheet material 22 comes into contact with the inclined face of the detection lever 25b and moves while swinging the detection lever 25b on the downstream side along the inclined face. At this time, both of the sheet material 22 and the detection lever 25b are not damage, and the sheet material 22 is detected by the sheet material detection device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a sheet material detecting device, a sheet material conveying device, and a recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An apparatus having a recording or image reading function, such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile, includes a sheet conveying device for conveying a sheet material such as a document or a recording medium to a recording unit or a reading unit. I have. And
The sheet material is fed one by one to the sheet material conveying device by a user manually inserting the sheet material from the paper feeding port or automatically inserting the sheet material into the paper feeding port by the automatic paper feeding device. In addition, in both cases of manual paper feeding by manual feed and automatic paper feeding by an automatic paper feeding device, a sheet material detection device is provided near the sheet conveyance device to detect that the sheet material is inserted from the paper feeding port. Then, predetermined operations such as a sheet material transporting operation and a recording preparation operation are started.

FIGS. 52A and 52B show a conventional general structure of such a sheet material detecting apparatus. The sheet material detection device includes a detection lever 600 and a detection unit 601 that are movable parts, and the sheet material conveyance path 6 behind the sheet feeding port.
03. The detection lever 600 is provided so as to be swingable along the conveying direction of the sheet material 604, and the detection unit 601 detects the swing of the detection lever 600 by a contact type or a non-contact type. Then, the detecting unit 601 detects that the detection lever 600 abuts on and pushes the sheet material 604 inserted from the sheet feeding port 602 and swings, so that the sheet material 604 is inserted from the sheet feeding port. Detect.

[0004] It is desirable that the movable portion such as the detection lever 600 be swung with as small an operating force as possible so as to minimize the resistance when the sheet material 604 is inserted from the sheet feeding port. In particular, when conveying a thin and weak sheet material 604 such as tracing paper or a soft sheet material 604 having a specially processed surface, if the sheet material 604 is not detected without damaging them. No. For this reason, as shown in FIG.
The detection lever 600 is swingable along the conveying direction of the sheet material 604, and is formed in a lever shape that extends obliquely from the rotation center toward the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0005] The sheet material detecting device needs to detect sheet materials 604 of all sizes that can be conveyed by the sheet material conveying device. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 53, the sheet material detecting device is configured such that the distance L1 from the reference position P in the horizontal direction of the conveying path 603 of the sheet material conveying device is larger than the length L2 of the end face of the sheet material 604 of the smallest size that can be conveyed. Is also arranged at a position where it becomes shorter. Then, the insertion of the sheet material 604 is performed along the reference position P.

Further, as shown in FIG. 54, the reference position P for inserting a sheet material may be set near the center in the horizontal direction of the conveying path 603 in some cases. In that case, the sheet material detection device
Both the distance L3 from one end of the sheet conveying device in the lateral direction of the conveying path and the distance L4 from the reference position P are longer than the length L2 of the end surface of the sheet material 604 of the smallest size that can be conveyed. It is arranged at the position where it becomes shorter. Also in this configuration, the insertion of the sheet material 604 is performed along the reference position P.

[0007]

When the sheet material 604 is automatically fed using the automatic sheet feeding device, the automatic sheet feeding device is designed so that the sheet material 604 is inserted along the reference position. Therefore, sheet material detection is performed reliably.

However, when the user performs manual sheet feeding, the insertion position of the sheet material tends to vary. Even if a guide member or guide line is provided at the reference position P, as shown in FIGS. The sheet material 604 may be fed to a location away from the reference position P. Unless the user himself pays attention to the sheet material 604 insertion position and uses the guide member or the like appropriately, there is a possibility that the sheet material 604 insertion position may be incorrect, and even if the user is somewhat careful, There is a possibility that the sheet material 604 may be inserted at an incorrect position. In addition, as shown in FIG. 53, since the sheet material detection position is often arranged at a position slightly deviated in the lateral direction of the transport path, a sheet material 604 of a smaller size is inserted at a position distant from the reference position P. In this case, the detection by the sheet material detecting device is impossible, and the sheet material conveying device may not operate normally.

In such a state, if the user notices a shift in the insertion position of the sheet material 604,
If the sheet member 604 is moved in the horizontal direction toward the reference position P while being inserted, the sheet member 604 comes into contact with the side surface of the detection lever 600 of the sheet member detecting device. Since the detection lever 600 does not move in the lateral direction, it is difficult for the detection lever 600 to resist the lateral movement of the sheet material 604 and to move the sheet material to a predetermined reference position. And
The sheet material detection device cannot detect the sheet material. In particular, when the stiff sheet material 604 such as tracing paper is moved in the horizontal direction, the sheet material 604 cannot be moved because it is blocked by the detection lever 600, and the sheet material 604 may be damaged and become jerky. is there. Further, when the stiff sheet material 604 such as thick paper is moved in the lateral direction, the detection lever 600 may be damaged on the contrary, and the sheet material detection device may become unusable. As a result, when the sheet material 604 is inserted in an incorrect position, the user needs to once pull out the sheet material 604 from the insertion opening and re-insert it, which is troublesome.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to move a sheet material laterally without pulling it out when the sheet material is inserted into a wrong position from a paper feed port, so that the sheet material can be moved to an accurate position and the sheet material can be detected. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet material detecting device, and further to provide a sheet material conveying device and a recording device having the sheet material detecting device.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sheet material detecting device for detecting a sheet material inserted from a paper feed port, wherein a movable portion which comes into contact with the inserted sheet material, And a detector for detecting the accompanying movement of the movable part, wherein the movable part has an inclined surface at an end surface in a direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet material insertion direction.

The movable section is swingable along a sheet conveying direction.

Preferably, the inclined surface is formed in a shape such that the movable portion tapers from a fixed end to a free end.

Further, a sheet material conveying device of the present invention includes the sheet material detecting device having the above-described structure, and a conveying means for conveying the sheet material.

[0015] The sheet feeding port may be capable of manually inserting the sheet material. In addition, the automatic paper feeder has a detachable automatic paper feeder, and when the automatic paper feeder is attached,
The sheet material detection device may detect the sheet material inserted from the automatic sheet feeding device into the sheet feeding port.

Further, it is preferable that a sheet material whose length in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction is at least twice as long as a sheet material of a minimum size that can be conveyed.

A recording apparatus according to the present invention includes the sheet material transport device having the above-described configuration, and a recording head that performs recording on the sheet material.

Further, the apparatus may have a scanner head capable of reading an image formed on the sheet material.

According to such a configuration, when the sheet material is moved laterally toward the reference position and abuts against the inclined surface of the detection lever, the sheet material swings the detection lever downstream along the inclined surface. And move laterally. As a result, the sheet material can be moved to the reference position without damaging both the sheet material and the detection lever, and
The sheet material is detected by the sheet material detection device.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a sheet material detecting device according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the sheet material detection device includes a detection lever 25b, which is a movable portion, and a detection portion 2.
5c. The detection lever 25b is provided so as to be swingable along the transport direction of the sheet material (recording paper) 22, and the detection unit 25c detects the swing of the detection lever 25b by a contact type or a non-contact type.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the detection lever 25b is formed in a lever shape that extends obliquely from the center of rotation toward the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction.
2 can be swung in the sheet material conveyance direction with a very small operation force so that there is not much resistance when contacting the sheet 2. As shown in FIG. 1B, the lateral end surface (right end surface when viewed from the paper feed port 121 side) of the transport path 20 is an inclined surface (tapered portion) 25a, and the detection lever 25b
Has a shape that tapers from the fixed end 25d toward the free end 25e.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show a sheet conveying apparatus having the sheet detecting apparatus. In these drawings, a pinch roller 7 and a paper feed roller 6, which are a part of the conveying means, and a sheet material detecting device are shown.

Similar to the above-described conventional sheet conveying apparatus, the sheet detecting apparatus detects the sheet 22 of any size that can be conveyed by the sheet conveying apparatus as shown in FIGS. The sheet material detecting device is arranged such that the distance L1 from the reference position P in the lateral direction of the transport path 20 in the sheet material transport path 20 at the back of the paper feed port is equal to the length of the end face of the sheet material 22 of the minimum transportable size. It is arranged at a position shorter than the length L2. Then, the detection unit 25c detects that the detection lever 25b abuts on the sheet material 22 inserted from the paper supply port 121 and is pushed and swings, whereby the sheet material 22 is inserted from the paper supply port 121. Is detected.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the platen 14 serving as a base of the sheet material transporting device is provided with a concave portion 14c opposite to the detection lever 25b, and the free end 25e of the detection lever 25b is It is located below the sheet material conveying surface 14e. Therefore, even the thin sheet material 22 can reliably contact the detection lever 25b.

Also in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a possibility that the sheet material 22 is inserted at a position distant from the reference position P in the lateral direction of the conveyance path 20, and does not come into contact with the detection lever 25b. In this case, when the user moves the sheet material 22 in the lateral direction of the transport path 20 toward the reference position P, the user contacts the inclined surface 25a of the detection lever 25b. Then, the sheet material 22 swings the detection lever 25b to the downstream side along the inclined surface 25a, and moves in the lateral direction of the transport path 20. Thus, the sheet member 22 can be slid to the reference position P without damaging both the sheet member 22 and the detection lever 25b, and the sheet member 22 is detected by the sheet member detecting device. This eliminates the need for the user to pull out the sheet material 22 and re-insert the sheet material 22 again, which saves time and troubles in the operation. In addition, the reference position P for inserting the sheet material 22 can be set relatively freely, and a very fine operation is not required when the sheet material 22 is inserted. As a result, there is no restriction that the size of the sheet material to be conveyed is restricted in order to reliably detect the sheet material.
It is also possible to convey a large sheet material 22 whose length in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction is twice or more.

The insertion of the sheet material 22 from the sheet feeding port 121 may be performed manually by the user or automatically by an automatic sheet feeding device (ASF) 127 described later.

Next, an example of a recording apparatus incorporating such a sheet conveying apparatus will be described in detail.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the external appearance of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the paper discharge port side. FIG. 6 is a view of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a use state of the recording apparatus shown in FIGS.

The recording apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 includes an upper case 100 that covers the upper surface of the apparatus and a lower case 101 that covers the lower surface of the apparatus, and is divided by a paper path.

Here, the upper case 100 and the lower case 101
Will be described. FIG. 8 shows FIGS. 5 and 6
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a housing portion of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the upper case 100 is provided with a claw 100b, and the lower case 101 is provided with a hook 101b corresponding to the claw 100b. Usually, a gap 124 is provided between the claw portion 100b and the hook portion 101b. The gap 124 is usually set to 0.2 to 0.1 in consideration of variations in component dimensions and assemblability.
It is provided in about 5 mm.

A projection 101a is provided on the joint surface between the lower case 101 and the upper case 100.

When the claw portion 100b and the hook portion 101b are connected and tightened with the screw 123, the upper case 100
It rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The gap 124 is reduced by this rotating operation, and the gap becomes zero when the screw 123 is tightened.

Since the gap becomes zero due to the pivoting operation about the convex portion 101a, the upper case 100 and the lower case 1
01 is eliminated, the rigidity of the apparatus casing is improved, and so-called "chatter" caused by vibrations caused by the printing operation of the recording apparatus is also eliminated.

In the above assembling method, usually, four screws are used for 4
As compared with the case where the corner is fixed, the number of parts is reduced and the number of work steps is reduced, so that the cost is reduced. Further, the space for screws is not required, which contributes to downsizing of the device.

The upper case 100 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is provided with a hole, and the upper case 1 is covered so as to cover the hole.
00 is provided with a head replacement lid 102. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the head replacement cover 102 is opened. By opening the head replacement cover 102 as shown in this figure, the recording head cartridge 1 can be replaced through the hole of the upper case 100, a paper jam occurs when a paper jam occurs inside the recording device (printer), Can be cleaned.

The hole covered by the head replacement cover 102 is provided at a substantially central portion of the upper case 100 and at a portion where only a part of a carrier scanning range described later is exposed. With the configuration in which the hole is opened only in a part of the upper case 100, a decrease in rigidity of the upper case 100 can be minimized.

Further, since the upper portion of the recovery section described later is always covered with the upper case 100, dust and the like can be prevented from adhering to the recovery section, and the carrier (head holding means) 2 recovers the head. Therefore, when the user is moving to the position of the recovery unit, there is also an effect that the user does not carelessly touch the head.

The head replacement cover 102 has a plate-like shape, and has a first surface which is outward when closed, and a second surface which faces the carrier scanning unit. A head replacement explanation plate 104 is provided on the second surface of the head replacement lid 102.

The head replacement explanation plate 104 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. FIG. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the head replacement explanation plate 104 is attached to the head exchange lid 102, FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a method of attaching the head replacement explanation plate 104, and FIG. is there.

As shown in FIG. 12, the head replacement plate 104 is a 0.2 mm-thick polyester sheet printed with a head replacement method and the like. Explanation of head replacement The reason why printing is performed on a separate member is that if printing is performed directly on the head replacement lid 102 or if a printed matter is attached, it becomes a foreign substance and becomes an obstacle to recycling.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the head replacement lid 102.
As shown in FIG. 7, hooks 102a are provided at two locations facing each other, and holes 104a of the head exchange plate 104 are hooked and fixed to the hooks 102a. The head replacement explanation plate 104 and the head replacement lid 102
The upper case 100 is designed to be about 2 mm larger than the hole, and overlaps with the step 100 a provided at the opening edge of the hole of the upper case 100.

For this reason, when the head replacement cover 102 is closed, the end of the head replacement
2 is sandwiched between the stepped portion 100a of the upper case and the upper case.
To prevent interference. Head replacement explanation plate 104
The method of mounting the hologram will be described with reference to FIG.

The head replacement lid 102 is formed of 2 mm polycarbonate plastic, and is fitted into the hole 104a of the head replacement explanation plate 104 in a bent state as shown in FIG. When the bending of the head replacement cover 102 is eliminated, the head replacement explanation plate 104 is attached by the hook 102a as shown in FIG. When sorting for recycling, it can be removed in the reverse manner.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an upper surface of the recording apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 7, a power switch 106 for turning on / off the power of the apparatus, and a power lamp 1 for indicating a power-on state.
10, an error lamp 109 for indicating an error state of the apparatus, and an error cancel switch 107 for canceling the error state of the apparatus. The error lamp 109 is turned on when various failure states of the recording apparatus occur. The error release switch 107 is used to release the error by releasing the failure state of the recording apparatus and then pressing it.

Further, on one side of the recording device, a hold switch 105 for disabling the power switch 106 so that the power is not turned on accidentally when the recording device (printer) is carried, and a power supply to the recording device. And a power supply connector 117 for supplying the power.

The other side of the recording device is provided with an interface connector 118 for connecting a signal cable from a host computer and an infrared communication window 120 for infrared communication. The interface connector 118 is the interface connector cover 1
Covered by 19. The interface connector cover 119 is formed of an elastic body, one end is fixed to the upper case 100, and the other is a free end. The hinge portion 119a of the cover 119 has a hinge function by being formed thinner than other portions. The material is a thermoplastic polyurethane with good tear resistance.
5 (Shore A) was selected.

In this recording apparatus, the paper is inserted from the paper feed port 121 and discharged from the paper discharge port 122 (see FIG. 5) as shown in FIG.

When not in use, as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a closed state, and in use, the paper feed tray 111 guides the recording paper (sheet material) 22 to be fed in an open state as shown in FIG.

The paper feed tray 111 is integrally provided with a left guide portion 111a which is a reference for inserting paper. The reference position P on the left side with respect to the paper feeding direction regardless of the paper size.
Are the same. On the other hand, the right guide 112 for guiding the right end of the recording paper 22 is used by the user sliding according to the size of the paper.

An optional connector 58 is provided on the surface of the paper feed port 121. When not used, the option connector 58 is covered with an option connector cover 126 (see FIG. 6). An example of an option of the recording apparatus is an automatic sheet feeder (ASF) shown in FIG. The ASF 127 has an ASF connector 128 connected to the option connector 58. This recording device and the ASF 127 slide and merge in the direction of the arrow in FIG. At this time, since the direction of the paper path and the merging direction are the same, a space for discharging paper is secured in the normal paper discharging direction at the installation location of the ASF 127, so that mounting is easy. For example, in a method of connecting from a direction orthogonal to the paper path, a space is required beside the ASF 127, and the installation place is limited. In addition, since the direction of the paper path and the uncoupling direction are the same, processing is easy when paper is jammed.

At the time of merging, since the optional connector 58 is provided on the same surface as the paper feed port 121, the connection with the ASF connector 128 can be performed at the same time without being conscious of the user. Troubles such as shortage can be prevented.

This recording apparatus has a built-in battery and is designed to be used mainly for portable use.

Since the length of the palm is about 70 mm to 120 mm, a thickness of 60 mm or less is suitable for portability in consideration of ease of gripping. Therefore, the size of the device is about 30
0mm, depth about 110mm, thickness about 50mm,
The size is set so that it can be grasped by hand, improving portability.

The total weight of the recording apparatus was increased to about 900 g by means of weight reduction technology such as an aluminum pinch roller, a hollow paper feed roller, a hollow guide shaft, and a lithium ion battery having high volume efficiency, thereby improving portability.

[Overall Internal Configuration] FIG. 14 and FIG.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

14 and 15, the platen 14
Constitutes a recovery system section, a lower portion of a paper feeding section, and the like, which will be described later. The frame 4 made of an aluminum material for weight reduction holds a carrier scanning unit and an upper portion of a paper feeding unit, which will be described later, and constitutes a recording apparatus.

The platen 14 and the frame 4 are positioned by fitting the notches of the frame 4 with the bosses of the platen 14 provided on the left and right side of the paper discharge side. The frame 4 is hooked and fixed to the provided claws.

The feed side of the frame 4 is shown in FIGS.
Are positioned by two bosses (not shown), and are fixed at three claws provided at an upper portion and one screw at a lower central portion.

The substrate holder 113 has a function of detachably holding the battery, a function of holding the substrate 57, a function of guiding the upper path when the recording paper 22 is fed, and the like.

First, the battery holding function of the substrate holder 113 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of the battery holding structure of the substrate holder 113, and FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the battery.

A battery contact 115 having four male terminals is held outside the wall of the substrate holder 113 on the left side as viewed from the sheet feeding side of the recording paper 22 in a state of being soldered to a battery substrate (not shown). ing. The male terminal side of the battery contact 115 protrudes into the substrate holder recess 113b in which the battery 116 is accommodated. Also,
Battery board 13 (not shown) to battery cable 13
1 is connected to the board 57 via a battery connector 132.

On the surface (right side) facing the substrate holder recess 113b, a substrate holder rail 113a provided in the substrate holder 113 and substantially parallel to the paper passing direction, and a battery hook 125 which slides in and out are provided. ing. The battery hook 125 is the battery lock lever 1
It goes in and out in conjunction with the slide operation of 14. The battery hook 125 is always urged by a battery hook spring (not shown).

As shown in FIG.
At the end of the substrate holder 113b of the substrate holder 113
A battery step 116a is provided corresponding to the above, and a battery contact female 116b is provided at a position where the battery contact 115 is coupled to the battery contact 115. The opposite end has a battery groove 116 corresponding to the substrate holder rail 113a.
c, and a battery recess 116 d corresponding to the battery hook 125.

With such a configuration, the battery step 116 a of the battery 116 is inserted into the substrate holder recess 113 b of the substrate holder 113. Then, the battery contact 115 and the battery contact female 116b are joined, and the battery 11
6 is rotated in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 16 so that the battery groove 11 is inserted into the substrate holder rail 113a at the opposite end.
When the battery hook 125 is rotated until it abuts while being inserted into the battery 6c, the battery hook 125 is fitted into the battery recess 116d by the spring force of a battery hook spring (not shown), so that the battery 116 is fixed.

The battery 11 of the substrate holder 113
The battery pop-up spring 6 extends in the direction in which the battery pop-up 60 pushes out the battery 116 on the back side where the battery pop-up 6 fits and near the mounting portion of the battery hook 125.
1 is energized. Therefore, when the battery lock lever 114 is slid against the force of a battery hook spring (not shown), the battery hook 125 is interlocked,
When the battery pop-up 60 is disengaged from the battery recess 116d, the battery pop-up 60 is ejected in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 16 by the force of the battery pop-up spring 61, and the battery 116 is pushed out by the force. Then, the battery 116
Is a battery contact 115 and a battery contact female 116b.
The battery 116 is detached by turning in the direction of arrow B in FIG.

The battery 116 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The battery 116 has battery cells (not shown) arranged in series inside, and is closed by welding. Further, a battery rib 116e is provided at an upper front portion of the battery 116 at a front width to prevent dust from entering when the sheet feeding tray 111 is closed. The central portion of the battery rib 116e is slightly lowered in an arc shape in the lower direction, so that the battery rib 116e can be prevented from being caught by a finger when the sheet feeding tray 111 is opened.

Next, the function of guiding the upper path when the recording paper 22 is fed will be described.

As shown in FIG. 21, the substrate holder 113
When viewed from the paper feeding side of the recording paper 22, the battery 116 has an R-shaped lower front portion, which facilitates paper feeding. Further down is the platen 14
The upper portion forms a paper feed path for the recording paper 22 by the substrate holder 113 and the battery 116, and also serves as a guide for the paper feed path.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the substrate holder boss 1 is
13c is provided, and the substrate holder boss 113c is provided.
Are inserted into the holes of the substrate 57 to serve as positioning and support for the substrate 57. The back side of the substrate 57 is fixed to the frame 4 by two screws on the left and right. From this part, the board 57 is grounded. In addition, the option connector 58 is fixed and held on the substrate holder 113 by two screws.

Further, as shown in FIG. 21, a paper sensor (sheet material detecting device) 25 is
, That is, on the side where the recording paper 22 is passed.

A secondary coin battery (not shown) for holding a memory is held and accommodated in a portion surrounded by the substrate holder 113.

In FIG. 14, the substrate holder 113
Is provided with a substrate holder hole 113d on the left side and a substrate holder long hole 113e on the right side.
It is a positioning portion of F127.

Here, the shield plate 56 shown in FIG.
Will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing the structure of the shield plate 14.

The shield plate 56 is provided with an aluminum foil 56b having conductivity at the upper part and a PET 56a having insulation property at the lower part, and the aluminum foil 56b and the PET 56a are bonded to the adhesive layer 56.
c.

The shield plate 56 is, as shown in FIG.
The parts are fixed to the frame 4 with screws, and the aluminum foil 56b on the upper part of the shield plate 56 and the screws are in contact with each other, thereby achieving conduction with the frame 4. The frame 4 is electrically connected to a ground (not shown).

Therefore, the shield plate 56 covers the upper surface of the substrate 57 and has an effect of shielding radiation noise generated from the substrate 57.

In a low-humidity environment, static electricity may be accumulated in the user's body and the recording device may be discharged in mid-air when operating the recording device. This voltage sometimes reaches 40 kV. If the voltage is discharged to the pattern 57 a of the substrate 57, the element on the substrate 57 is broken or malfunctions. Even in such a case, since the substrate 57 is covered with the shield plate 56, static electricity flows to the ground through the aluminum foil 56b, and the elements on the substrate 57 are protected.

The thickness of the member constituting the shield plate 56 is
The aluminum foil 56b of the shield plate 56 has t = 50 μm, the PET 56a of the shield plate 56 has t = 100 μm, and the adhesive layer 56c of the shield plate 56 has t = 40 μm.

This thickness is determined by the following. If the aluminum foil 56b of the shield plate 56 is thinner than this, it is difficult to handle in manufacturing and wrinkles are generated. If the PET 56a of the shield plate is thinner than this, it becomes wrinkled when it is fixed to the frame 4 with screws. The shield plate 56 uses a self-extinguishing flame-retardant material.

The upper case 100, the power switch 106, the error release switch 107, the shield plate 56, and the substrate 57
The configuration showing the arrangement will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 19, the power switch 1 is set so that the operation surface protrudes from the hole 100c of the upper case 100.
06 and the error release switch 107 are elastically attached.

A tact switch 57 b is provided directly below the power switch 106 and the error release switch 107 on the substrate 57 via the shield plate 56. Accordingly, the tact switch 57b and the error release switch 10 corresponding to the power switch 106, which are arranged on the substrate 57,
7 is a shield switch 56b.
Pushed through. Similarly, a tact switch corresponding to a head exchange switch not shown in FIG. 19 is also pushed via the shield plate 56.

The hole 100c is formed with a gap of about 0.2 mm from the power switch 106 and the error release switch 107 so as not to dimensionally interfere.

For this reason, when a charged user performs a switch operation, static electricity is discharged through a gap between the hole 100c of the upper case 100 and the power switch 106 or the error release switch 107. Since the shield plate 56 is electrically connected to the ground, static electricity flows to the ground, and the elements and the pattern 57a of the substrate 57 are protected. [Carrier Scanning Section] FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the internal configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the sheet discharging side.

As shown in FIG. 20, the present apparatus is provided with a carrier 2 for holding the recording head cartridge 1 detachably. The carrier 2 includes a recording sheet (recording medium including a recordable flexible sheet material such as a plastic sheet) on a guide shaft 5 and a guide rail 12 having both ends fixed to the frame 4 and arranged in parallel with each other. And is slidably supported in a main scanning direction that is orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording paper 22 and parallel to the surface of the recording paper 22.

The guide shaft 5 is a pipe-shaped thin hollow shaft, and a plug 5a having a groove for fixing the lock arm 370 and fixing the guide shaft 5 to the frame 4 is fixed inside one end thereof. .

The carrier 2 is driven by a carrier motor 10 fixed to the frame 4 and driven by a drive pulley 13. A spring (not shown) is slidable and rotatable in a direction parallel to the guide shaft 5. Drive pulley (idle pulley) 27 supported on frame 4 through
The belt 11 is connected to one portion of the belt 11 that is hung between the belt 1 and the belt 1 by driving the carrier motor 10.
1 is driven, and the carrier 2 reciprocates in the above-described direction along the guide shaft 5 and the guide rail 12.

Further, an ink tank 8 is detachably mounted on the recording head cartridge 1, and when the ink is exhausted by the recording, the next recording can be performed by replacing the ink tank 8.

A home position sensor (not shown) for detecting the position of the carrier 2 by detecting the passage of the carrier 2 and a flexible cable 3 for transmitting an electric signal from the control board 57 to the recording head cartridge 1
Is provided in the present apparatus. [Paper Feeding Unit] Next, the transporting means for transporting the recording paper 22 will be described with reference to FIG. A paper feed roller 6 is rotatably supported by the frame 4, and an LF gear 18 is fixed to the shaft end of the paper feed roller 6. The paper feed roller 6 is made of a pipe-shaped thin hollow shaft whose outer periphery is coated with urethane for weight reduction. The shape of this pipe is outer diameter φ 7.561 mm, inner diameter φ 5 mm,
The pipe thickness t is 1.28 mm. This dimension is determined by a balance between the run-out accuracy and the perimeter tolerance in manufacturing and the weight reduction and the strength problem of the frame 4 when dropped. The paper feed roller 6 is driven to rotate by the paper feed motor 23 via the LF gear 18.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of a recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in this figure, the lower side of the paper transport surface is mainly composed of a platen 14. The platen 14 is incorporated along the inner wall of the lower case 101, and the platen 1
A box structure having a space for accommodating a waste ink absorber 327 described later is provided between the lower case 4 and the lower case 101. By screwing the platen 14 and the lower case 101 in this state, the warpage of the component alone is corrected, and the rigidity of the device is improved.

On the surface of the platen 14, protruding ribs for reducing the sticking of the recording paper 22 due to static electricity and the sliding load during transportation are formed in a plurality of rows along the transportation direction of the recording paper 22. I have.

The pinch roller 7 held by the pinch roller holder 9 rotatably mounted on the platen 14 is pressed against the paper feed roller 6 from below by a spring (not shown). The recording paper (not shown) sandwiched between the rollers 7
3 (see FIG. 20).

The diameter of the outer peripheral portion of the pinch roller 7 that sandwiches the recording paper 22 between the pinch roller 7 and the paper feed roller 6 is slightly smaller than that of the paper feed roller 6 and has an outer diameter φ6 mm. Further, the ratio of the outer diameter of the rotating shaft held by the pinch roller holder 9 to the outer diameter of the pinch roller 7 is 2:15, and the shaft diameter is 0.8 mm. Furthermore,
The material is made of light metal, aluminum. For this reason, since the recording paper 22 is light and has a small rotation load, the recording paper 22 can be fed with almost no loss. In addition, since the outer diameter of the pinch roller 7 and the outer diameter of the paper feed roller 6 are almost the same, a recording paper (not shown) is fed to the contact (nip) between the pinch roller 7 and the paper feed roller 6 when feeding paper. It is easier to guide, and it is possible to reduce the force for pushing the leading end of the recording paper into the nip.

The pinch roller 7 made of aluminum
Both the outer peripheral portion and the shaft portion have been subjected to an allodyne treatment, and are discharged from the recording head cartridge 1 and corroded by ink mist contained in the atmosphere inside the apparatus, or slide with the pinch roller holder 9 for a long time. Since the wear caused by the movement is reduced, the rotational load of the pinch roller 7 hardly increases even after long-term use.

On the opposite side of the paper feed roller 6 with the recording head cartridge 1 interposed therebetween, paper discharge rollers 15 for discharging the recording paper after recording outside the machine are arranged in two rows.
4 attached. The paper discharge roller 15 rotates in synchronization with the paper feed roller 6 by receiving a driving force from the paper feed roller 6 via the idle gear train 21 (see FIG. 20). A spur 16 attached to the guide rail 12 is disposed above the discharge roller 15, and the recording sheet after recording is pressed by the discharge roller 15 being pressed against the spur 16 from below by a spring (not shown). Is conveyed while being pinched between the paper discharge roller 15 and the spur 16.

A paper sensor (sheet detecting device) 25 is provided on the side of the paper feed port 121 opposite to the recording head cartridge 1 with the paper feed roller 6 interposed therebetween, and a paper discharge sensor 17 is provided between the two rows of paper discharge rollers 15. It is provided and detects the presence or absence of recording paper (sheet material) in the vicinity of each.

FIG. 22 is a front view showing the paper feed port side of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The platen 14 has a paper guide portion 14a at the left end when viewed from the paper feed port side, which is a reference position for inserting recording paper. Platen 1
4, a plurality of protruding ribs are formed on the surface, and a rib 14b closest to the paper guide portion 14a is formed of these ribs.
Has a gentle slope only on the slope opposite to the paper guide 14a in order to prevent the recording paper from being caught when approaching the paper guide 14a.

Further, the platen 14 has a concave portion 14c,
When the recording paper is not inserted, the paper sensor 25
The tip of is stored.

Detection lever 25b of paper sensor 25
On the side opposite to the paper guide portion 14a, a tapered portion (inclined surface) 25a is provided. For this reason, when the recording paper is inserted farther from the paper sensor 25 than the paper sensor 25 and farther than the paper sensor 25, and then moved toward the paper guide 14a, the recording paper or the paper sensor 25 Damage can be prevented.

[Recording Unit] The function of this apparatus as a recording apparatus is that the recording head cartridge 1 ejects ink toward the lower surface of the apparatus in FIG. 20 in accordance with a recording signal in synchronization with the reciprocating movement of the carrier 2. Thus, one-line recording is performed on recording paper. That is, the recording head cartridge 1 includes a fine liquid discharge port (orifice), a liquid path, and an energy action section provided in a part of the liquid path.
Energy generating means for generating droplet forming energy to act on the liquid in the action section.

Examples of the energy generating means for generating such energy include a recording method using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, and irradiating an electromagnetic wave such as a laser to generate heat, and ejecting a droplet by the action of the heat. There is a recording method using an energy generating unit that causes the liquid to be heated, or a recording method using an energy generating unit that discharges the liquid by heating the liquid with an electrothermal converter such as a heating element having a heating resistance.

Among them, a recording head used in an ink jet recording method for discharging a liquid by thermal energy has a high density of liquid discharge ports for discharging a recording liquid to form a discharge droplet. This makes it possible to record at a high resolution. Among them, a recording head using an electrothermal transducer as an energy generation source can easily be made compact, and has the advantages of IC technology and micro-machining technology, which have recently made remarkable progress in technology in the semiconductor field and markedly improved reliability. This is advantageous because it can be used for two reasons, high-density mounting is easy, and the manufacturing cost is low.

When one-line recording is performed by moving the recording head cartridge 1, the recording paper is fed to the paper feed motor 23.
Thus, the paper is conveyed by one line in the direction of the arrow shown as the conveyance direction on the recording paper 22 shown in FIG. 7, and the recording of the next line is performed.

[Recovery Unit] The present apparatus has a recovery mechanism to be described later, which removes ink and foreign matters accumulated in the nozzles of the recording head cartridge 1 by suction. In addition, an operation called a preliminary ejection operation is performed to remove a small amount of foreign matter and ink remaining in the nozzles even when the recovery operation is performed. In the preliminary ejection operation, the recording head driving for printing is performed at a predetermined position other than on the recording paper. The waste ink discharged by these operations is stored in a waste ink absorber 327 (see FIG. 21) incorporated in the inner wall of the platen 14.

FIG. 23 is a view showing a piston drive transmission path from the paper feed motor to the recovery system of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The rotation of the paper feed motor 23 is transmitted from the LF motor gear 30 and the LF double gear 31 to the LF gear 18, and the paper feed roller 6 rotates. Carrier 2 (Fig. 2
0) reaches the non-recording area and the trigger gear 32 (coaxially slidably and rotatably mounted on the paper feed roller) is pressed by the clutch switching protrusion 2c formed on the carrier 2. Trigger gear 32 is LF gear 18
In the direction of LF according to the meshing shape described in detail later.
The drive of the gear 18 is transmitted to the trigger gear 32. The drive is transmitted to the pump gear 316 because the trigger gear 32 and the pump gear 316 mesh with each other in this state. Normally, the trigger gear 32 is separated from the LF gear 18, and the pump gear 316 is provided with a toothless portion at a position where the trigger gear 32 meshes with the LF gear 18, so that the drive from the LF gear 18 is transmitted to the pump gear 316. Not done.

At the same time when the LF gear 18 and the pump gear 316 mesh with each other, the carrier 2 moves to the capping position, and the gap 317 closes the ink discharge port of the recording head cartridge 1. The pump gear 316 moves the piston in the cylinder 321 via the cylinder gear 361, and accordingly, ink is sucked into the cylinder 321 from the ink ejection port of the recording head cartridge 1 via the cap 317. The ink ejection function of the head cartridge 1 is restored.

As described above, the transmission of the driving force from the paper feed motor 23 to the pump gear 316 is performed by the pump gear 316,
It is controlled by the movement of the LF gear 18, the trigger gear 32 and the carrier 2.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged view around the switching mechanism of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 24, the trigger gear 32 is provided coaxially and slidably on the paper feed roller. The trigger gear 32 and the pump gear 316 are in an engaged state. In this state, the trigger gear 32 and the LF gear 18 are separated from each other.
The drive from the gear 18 is not transmitted. Pump gear 3
16 does not receive the driving force of the LF gear 18 because the portion that meshes with the LF gear 18 is missing (missing teeth). When the carrier (not shown) further moves toward the LF gear 18,
The trigger gear 32 further moves to the LF gear 18 side, and the trigger gear 32 and the LF gear 18 come into contact.

The contact surfaces (opposite surfaces) are provided with triangular teeth that mesh with each other. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the meshing shape of the LF gear 18 and the trigger gear 32, (a) is a diagram showing the shape of the contact surface of the LF gear 18 with the trigger gear 32, and (b) is (a). (C) is a sectional view of the contact surface 18a of the LF gear 18, (c).
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a shape of a contact surface with the LF gear 18 provided on the trigger gear 32, and FIG. 4D is a sectional view of a contact surface 32 a of the trigger gear 32.

As shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B,
The contact surface 18a of the LF gear 18 has triangular teeth (hereinafter, triangular teeth). The pitch is the same as that of the gear 18b of the LF gear 18.
It is set to be the same as the peak of b. FIG.
5 (c) and (d), the shape of the contact surface 32a of the trigger gear 32 is the same triangular tooth as the shape of the contact surface 18a of the LF gear 18. The pitch is the same as the gear 32b of the trigger gear 32, and the peak of the triangular teeth is set to be the same as the peak of the gear 32b.

With the above configuration, when the LF gear 18 and the trigger gear 32 come into contact with each other, the valleys of the triangular teeth of the contact surface 18a of the LF gear 18 and the peaks of the triangular teeth of the contact surface 32a of the trigger gear 32 mesh with each other. Gear 18 and trigger gear 32
Gears 18b and 32b have the same phase. Thereby, the trigger gear 32 rotates with the rotation of the LF gear 18. Even if the trigger gear 32 moves to the LF gear 18 side,
Since the engagement between the pump gear 316 and the trigger gear 32 is not released, the rotation of the trigger gear 32 causes the pump gear 316 to rotate.

However, in such indirect driving of the pump gear 316 by the LF gear 18 via the trigger gear 32, the driving force is limited.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 24, a wide cutout portion 316a extending in the radial direction is formed at the peripheral portion of the pump gear 316. That is, the pump gear 31
6 has a portion formed to be thicker than the trigger gear 32 and the LF gear 18, and further, the periphery of the pump gear 316 has a portion of the carved tooth from the vicinity of the center in the axial direction to one end direction (arrow E in FIG. 24). Notch 31 cut out to)
6a.

FIGS. 26A and 26B are diagrams showing the arrangement of the pump gear 316 and the trigger gear 32. FIG. 26A is a diagram viewed from the right side of FIG. 24, and FIG. 26B is a diagram viewed from the left side of FIG. is there. However, in this figure, the LF gear 18 is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 26 (a), the width of the notch (arrow F in FIG. 26 (a)) is
Even if the F gear 18 is set at a position where the F gear 18 meshes with each other, the width is at least such that the notch does not contact the teeth of the LF gear 18.

However, when the trigger gear 32 rotates slightly, the pump gear 316 rotates and the notch 316a moves, so that the pump gear 316 and the LF gear 18 directly mesh with each other, thereby obtaining a large driving force.

In this state, the carrier (not shown) is moved to the LF gear 1
Even when the pump gear 316 and the LF gear 18 are disengaged from each other by moving the trigger gear 32 and the LF gear 18 by a mechanism described later in detail, the driving force is continuously transmitted.

The trigger gear 32 is connected to the pump gear 31.
6 is disengaged from the LF gear 18 by moving while being engaged with the gear 6, so that there is no problem such as collision of the tooth surfaces due to movement of the trigger gear 32.

Further, the pump gear 316 and the trigger gear 3
2 meshes with the pump gear 316 and the LF gear 18
26B is not required at the time of the meshing state, the meshing area of the pump gear 316 with the trigger gear 32 is at least the meshing portion larger than the notch area as shown in FIG. It is only necessary to provide a hatched portion, arrow G).

As a result, the tooth width can be reduced in portions other than the portion where the pump gear 316 meshes with the trigger gear 32, so that different mechanical parts can be arranged in that area. Next, a mechanism for releasing the engagement between the trigger gear 32 and the LF gear 18 after the pump gear 316 and the LF gear 18 have been engaged will be described.

As described above, the trigger gear 32 and the LF
When the gears 18 are engaged, the triangular teeth formed on the contact surfaces of both gears are in an engaged state. In this state, even if the carrier (not shown) is further separated from the trigger gear 32 and further rotated, the driving force is directly transmitted by the pump gear 316 and the LF gear 18, and since the driving force is not transmitted to the trigger gear 32, the triggering is performed. The gear 32 tries to maintain the meshing state with the LF gear 18 (actually, meshing may be released by vibration or the like).

From this state, the rotation of the LF gear 18 is reversed in order to cancel the drive transmission from the LF gear 18 to the pump gear 316. Then the pump gear 31
The notch (missing tooth portion) 316a of No. 6 appears again, and at the same time, the meshing gear portion (FIG. 26B, G portion) of the pump gear 316 with the trigger gear 32 is brought into the meshing state again. When the LF gear 18 is further rotated, direct drive transmission between the pump gear 316 and the LF gear 18 is stopped, and the rotation of the pump gear 316 stops. However, the trigger gear 32 is
The pump gear 3
The drive transmission to 16 is performed through the trigger gear 32. At this time, as shown in FIG. 26 (b), the pump gear 316 is prevented from rotating by the arm 321a (see FIG. 23) of the cylinder 321 colliding with the concave wall surface 316c of the pump gear 316 in the missing tooth position state. Does not rotate because it is. Therefore, the trigger gear 32 is connected to the pump gear 31
A force in the thrust direction acts along the tooth surface of the sixth gear, and the trigger gear 32 separates from the LF gear 18.

Next, referring to FIGS. 27 to 31, a detailed description will be given of the recovery means including a cap and a cylinder.

FIGS. 27 to 32 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the recovery system in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The cap 317 is made of chlorinated butyl rubber or another suitable elastic material, and is integrally held by the cap holder 341. The cap holder 341 is rotatably held by an arm 321A extending integrally from the cylinder 321.

The cylinder 321 has a piston 342 made of an elastic material such as rubber inside.
By driving the cylinder 3, a negative pressure can be generated in the cylinder 321. The movement of the piston shaft 343 and the piston 342 will be described later in detail.

The cap 317 is provided with a joint portion 317A formed integrally with the cap 317. The joint portion 317A is press-fitted into a joint portion 321B provided on the cylinder 321 with an interference, so that the cylinder 317A is press-fitted. 321 and cap 317 are joined in a sealed state.

Further, inside the joint portion 321B provided in the cylinder 321, the inside of the cylinder and the cap 317 are provided.
Is provided with an ink suction port 321C communicating with the ink suction port.

Next, a method for pressing and releasing the cap 317 against the recording head cartridge 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

As described above, the cap 317 integrally held by the cap holder 341 is hermetically connected to the cylinder 321.
1 is rotatably held by a cylinder arm 321A with respect to the cylinder 321.

Here, the cap 317 and the cylinder 321
Are connected by the joints 317A and 321B, but the joint 317A is made of an elastic body such as chlorinated butyl rubber integrally with the cap 317, and is made of an L-shape so as to be deformable. There is no hindrance to the rotation of 341 (see FIG. 28).

[0136] As shown in FIG.
A compression cap spring 344 having a different diameter is provided below the platen 1.
4 and the cap holder 341, and constantly urges the cap holder 341 toward the recording head cartridge. Here, the cylinder 321 is
And is rotatably supported on a cylinder shaft. Therefore, a rotational force is applied to the cylinder 321 and the cap 317 about the cylinder axis by the compression cap spring 344 of different diameter.

As shown in FIG. 27, a cylinder control unit 321D is integrally formed with the cylinder 321. The tip of the cylinder control unit 321D is connected to a pump gear 316.
Is in contact with the cap control cam portion 316A as the first cam member. Therefore, the rotation of the cylinder 321 is controlled by the cap control cam portion 316A of the pump gear 316 via the cylinder control portion 321D. That is, the capping and releasing of the cap 317 on the recording head cartridge 1 via the cylinder 321 can be performed by moving the cylinder control unit 321D up and down along the cap control cam portion 316A of the pump gear 316.

FIG. 28 shows a state in which the cap 317 is pressed against the recording head cartridge 1, and FIG. 29 shows a state in which the cap 317 is released. In FIG. 28, the platen 14 and the cap holder 3
41, a cap control spring 318 is further disposed.
And is separated from the lower surface of the cap holder 341. Therefore, the cap 317
Has no effect on the pressure-contact state.

FIG. 29 shows a state in which the cylinder 321 is rotated by the rotation of the pump gear 316 and the cap 317 is separated. In this state, the cap control spring 3
Reference numeral 18 contacts the lower surface of the cap holder 341 to apply clockwise turning power to the cap holder 341. Accordingly, the cap holder 341 rotates clockwise, but the stopper 3 provided on the cap holder 341 in a protruding state.
The rotation stops when 41a contacts cylinder arm 321A.

At this time, if the position of the stopper 341a is set so that the cap 317 and the recording head cartridge 1 are parallel to each other, the cap 317 is released when the cap is released.
And the recording head cartridge 1 can always be kept parallel.

As described above, since the posture when the cap is released is stabilized, even if the amount of movement for opening the cap 317 is reduced, the cap 317 and the cap holder 34 are not affected.
Since the cap 317 does not contact the recording head cartridge 1 due to the inclination of 1, the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

The pump gear 316 can be selectively connected to the LF gear 18, and the driving force of a paper feed motor (not shown) is transmitted to the LF gear 18 via a gear train (not shown). When the clutch operation is performed by the motion of 2, the driving force transmitted to the LF gear 18 is transmitted to the pump gear 316. Here, if the carrier 2 does not perform the clutch operation, since the pump gear 316 has a partially missing tooth portion, the transmission of the LF gear 18 is interrupted, and the driving force is not transmitted to the pump gear 316. Here, the movement of the piston shaft 343 and the piston 342 will be described.

In FIG. 27, the pump gear 316 is connected to the cylinder gear 361. In other words, the carrier 2 performs the clutch operation, so that the LF gear 18
Is transmitted to the pump gear 316 and further transmitted to the cylinder gear 361. Further, the cylinder gear 36
The boss 361A provided on the inner wall of the
And a guide 321E provided on the cylinder 321 is fitted into a groove 343B provided at the tip of the piston shaft 343 to stop the rotation of the piston shaft 343. Pump gear 3
16 can be converted into a linear motion of the piston shaft 343.

The piston shaft 343 has two flange portions 343C and 343D formed integrally with the shaft.

A so-called donut-shaped piston 342 made of an elastic member such as silicon rubber or NBR rubber and having a through hole in the center is set between these flange portions 343C and 343D. Naturally, the cylinder 321 and the piston 342 have a cylindrical shape.
The outer diameter of the piston 342 is larger than the inner diameter of 1;
A certain interference (approximately 0.2mm to 0.5mm)
Have. Therefore, even when the piston 342 moves, the inner wall of the cylinder and the outer wall of the piston can maintain the sealing property.

The cylinder seal 345 also has a donut shape. The outer diameter of the cylinder seal 345 has sealing properties with the inner diameter of the cylinder, and the inner diameter of the cylinder seal 345 maintains sealing properties with the piston shaft 343. The cylinder washer 346 is locked by a step provided on the cylinder 321. A rib 342A is provided on the side surface of the piston 342 so as to face the flange 343C over the entire circumference. Further, the inner diameter of the piston 342 is larger than the outer diameter of the piston shaft 343, and there is play.

The width of the piston 342 is smaller than the distance between the two flange portions provided on the piston shaft 343. These play are for discharging the sucked ink and will be described later.

In the initial state of the pump, the piston shaft 343 is pulled up as shown in FIG. 27, that is, the piston 342 is also pushed by the flange 343D and is in the position shown in FIG.

Next, when the suction signal is output from the MPU,
Carrier 2 performs a latch operation, and drive is transmitted from LF gear 18 to pump gear 316 and cylinder gear 361,
The rotation to the cylinder gear 361 becomes a linear motion of the piston shaft 343.

Here, when the piston shaft 343 moves to the left in FIG. 27, as shown in FIG.
Is pressed against the rib 342A on the side surface of the piston 342, and the space 321F on the right side in FIG.

Further, as the piston shaft 343 advances to the left side in FIG. 30, the volume of the space 321F increases while keeping the hermetically closed state, so that the space 321F gradually becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure (negative pressure state). This negative pressure is applied to the piston shaft 343 (piston 3
42) gradually increases with the movement of the piston 34
The maximum occurs when the end of the side surface of the second member passes through the ink suction port 321C (see FIG. 31).

The reason is that the space 321F and the ink suction port 3
This is because the communication of 21C allows ink or air to flow into the space 321F from the outside via the ink suction port 321C and the cap 317, so that the negative pressure in the space 321F is eliminated. Here, when the piston 342 passes through the ink suction port 321C, the pump gear 316 is closed so that the cap 317 seals against the print head cartridge.
By forming the cap control cam portion 316A provided in the above, ink suction becomes possible.

Next, the discharge of ink in the cylinder 321 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the ink sucked from the recording head cartridge 1 stays in the space 321F in the cylinder 321. Next, when the motor is reversed, the piston shaft 343 is pulled up (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 32). Flange 343C, 3 of shaft 343
Since the width of the piston 342 is smaller than that between 43D and the inner diameter of the piston 342 is larger than the outer diameter of the piston shaft 343, the piston 342 (piston 342) passes through the play between the piston 342 and the piston shaft 343 as the piston 342 is pulled up. The ink in the space 321F is the piston 342.
32 moves to the space 321H on the left side in FIG. 32 (flow of arrow C in FIG. 32). Therefore, the piston shaft 3
As the reciprocating motion of 43 (piston 342) is repeated,
Discharge is gradually performed from the end 321G of the cylinder 321.

The cylinder absorber 326 is inserted into the cylinder end 321G. The cylinder absorber 326 is formed of a foamed sponge, and a material having good ink transmission properties is selected. That is, a performance of efficiently discharging the ink in the cylinder 321 to the outside is required. In the present embodiment, a melamine resin-based foam material is used.

The cylinder absorber 326 is in contact with the waste ink absorber 327 contained in the platen 14. As the waste ink absorber 326, a material having a high ink holding ability such as a laminated sheet of paper or a polymer absorber is selected.

With such a configuration, the waste ink sucked from the recording head cartridge 1
21, waste ink absorber 3 via cylinder absorber 326
27 and is held there.

In this embodiment, the volume of the waste ink absorber 327 is 120 cubic centimeters, but it has been experimentally confirmed that the amount of ink that can be retained there is about 70%, that is, 84 cubic centimeters.

Next, the operation of the lock arm, which is the arm member, controlled by the pump gear and fixing the carriage will be described with reference to FIGS. 20, 23 and FIGS.

FIG. 33 is a view showing the unlocked state of the lock device in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the left side of FIG. 23. FIG. 34 is a diagram showing the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 35 is a diagram of the lock arm fixed state in FIG. 23 viewed from the left side of FIG. 23, and FIG. 35 is a diagram of the carriage release state by the lock arm in the recording apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from the lower side of FIG. FIG. 36 is a diagram of the carriage fixed state by the lock arm in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the lower side of FIG.

As described in the description of the recovery system operation, the cap control cam portion 316A for controlling the opening and closing of the cap 317 via the arm portion 321a of the cylinder 321 is provided on the left surface of the pump gear 316 in FIG. On the other hand, a second cam member which engages with the boss 370a of the lock arm 370 on the right side surface of the pump gear 316 in FIG. 23 to control the lock and release of the carrier 2 by the lock arm 370 is provided. A certain lock control cam portion 316B is formed in a groove shape.

33 and 34, the boss 370a of the lock arm 370 and the lock control cam 316B of the pump gear 316 are engaged.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 23, the lock arm 370 is provided on the right side of the apparatus, in a range substantially equal to the width of the gear train such as the LF gear 18 and the pump gear 316. Of the carrier 2 that has been moved.

Next, the mounting state of the lock arm 370 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The rotation center 370b of the lock arm 370
Is formed in a bearing shape in which a part thereof is in an open state, and is rotatably supported on the guide shaft 5. In addition, the rotation center portion 370b has an elastic force by being forcibly fitted with the release portion provided in the rotation center portion 370b from above the guide shaft, so that the rotation center portion 370b is mounted and supported. Also, the lock arm 370
The boss portion 370a is provided near the center of the pump gear 316, and is engaged with the lock control portion 316B of the pump gear 316. In addition, the lock arm 370 is
b in the direction of the boss 370a.
0c is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 23, the lock portion 370c of the lock arm 370 is an L-shaped portion which is longer than the rotation center portion 370b in the direction of the boss 370a. Also, as shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, the lock portion 370c is provided with a carriage fixing portion 370d and an arm engaging portion 12a of the guide rail 12 and a frame, which can be engaged with a lock protrusion 2d provided on the carrier 2. 4 is provided with a restricting portion 370e that can be engaged.

Next, a state in which the carrier 2 is unlocked by the lock arm 370 will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in the description of the drive transmission and recovery system, the pump gear 316 is in the initial state, that is, when the driving force of the LF gear 18 is
The cap (not shown) is released by the cap control cam section 316A without being transmitted to the cap control cam section 316A.

The lock arm 370 is connected to the center of rotation 370b.
Boss 370a is the pump gear 316
Is lifted upward by the lock control unit 316B, and as a result, the lock unit 370c is also positioned upward. FIG. 35 shows an engagement state between the L-shaped portion of the lock portion 370c and the carrier 2 in this state. The carriage fixing portion 370d is located above the lock projection 2d of the carrier 2, and the carrier 2 is in a movable state.

Next, a state in which the carrier 2 is fixed by the lock arm 370 will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in the above description of the drive transmission and recovery system, the pump gear 316 is in the capped state in FIG. 34, and the lock arm 370 is fixed to the boss 37 by the pump gear 316 and the lock controller 316B.
By lowering Oa downward, it is lowered downward, and as a result, the lock portion 370c is also located below.

FIG. 36 shows an engagement state between the L-shaped portion of the lock portion 370c and the carrier 2 in this state. The carriage fixing portion 370d is in a state of being engaged with the lock projection 2d of the carrier 2, the carrier 2 is in a state of being unable to move, and the arm engaging portion 370e
Is also located at a position between the engagement portion 12 a of the guide rail 12 and the frame 4.

Therefore, even when the carrier 2 is forcibly moved, the carrier 2 can be securely stopped by the lock portion 370c of the lock arm 370, and an excessive force is applied to the rotation center portion 370b and the boss portion 370a. A stable operation can be performed without being added.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 23, the tip 370f of the lock arm 370 is located on the left side of the cap 317. For example, if the carrier 2 is not in the cap position for any reason and the carrier is forcibly moved to the cap position when the cap is in the cap state, the cap 2 is in a business trip state. Damage the cap 317 with the head cartridge 1 or use the cap 31
7, the recording head cartridge 1 may be damaged. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 23, if the distal end 370f of the lock arm 370 is configured to be extended, the movement restricting portion 370e causes the carrier 2 to move.
In order to prevent the lock projection 2d from moving to the rightward cap position, the above-described damage can be avoided.

33 to 36, the frame 4 is provided with an arm stopper 4a. In FIG. 35, the clearance 4b is secured to the upper surface of the unlocked arm 370 and the frame stopper 4a is positioned above the lock arm 370. doing.

The clearance 4b is a distance 370 of the tip chamfer of the boss 370a of the lock arm shown in FIG.
g, the distance 307h from the center of rotation of the lock arm 317 to the center of the boss 370a shown in FIG. 33, and similarly the distance 370i from the center of rotation to the arm stopper 4a, 370g × (370i / 370h)> 4b Is configured.

Here, consider a case where a drop impact or the like is applied to the recording apparatus.

Normally, when the recording apparatus is not operating, the lock arm 370 is in a state where the carrier 2 is fixed, that is, in a state shown in FIGS. In particular, when the recording device is dropped with its upper surface facing down, a strong inertial force acts on the lock arm 370 upward in FIG. 36 (experimentally, a 150 cm to 200 G acceleration is applied even if the recording device falls 30 cm).

The boss portion 370a of the lock arm 370 can be held up to a certain force by the engagement of the lock control cam portion 316B of the pump gear 316.
6 and the platen 14 that supports it are elastically deformed, and the boss 370a pushes the pump gear 316 out of the lock control cam 316B.

The case will be described with reference to FIGS. 37 and 38 are enlarged views of the pump gear 316.

In FIG. 37, the position of the pump gear 316 is a state in which the lock arm 370 fixes the carrier 2, and the reference numeral 370 (a) indicates the position of the lock arm 370 in a normal state. .

When the above-described impact is applied, in FIG. 37, the lock arm 370 moves upward (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 37) with the boss portion 370a disengaging from the lock control cam portion 316B. However, since the lock arm 370 comes into contact with the arm stopper 4a and stops, the reference numeral 3 in FIG.
It moves to the position shown in FIG.

When the user turns on the power in this state, the recording apparatus first performs a cap opening operation to perform initialization. That is, the pump gear 316 is rotated clockwise. FIG. 38 shows this state.

Although the boss portion 370a of the lock arm 370 is disengaged from the lock control cam portion 316B, a part of the chamfered end portion of the boss portion 370a is necessarily part of the lock control cam due to the clearance 4b of the arm stopper 4a. It can be seen that it is in part 316B. FIG. 39 shows the state in cross section.

Since the lock arm 370 is supported on one side by the frame 4, the lock arm 370 does not incline.
6 is pushed away by the boss 370a, and a part of the chamfer at the tip of the boss 370a enters into the lock control cam 370B.

At this time, the force 370j received by the lock arm 370 due to the repulsive force of the pump gear 316 is equal to the force A37.
0k and a force B370l, which is a force to move the lock arm 370 downward.

In this state, when the pump gear 316 further rotates clockwise in FIG. 38, the contact surface between the tip of the boss 370a and the lock arm controller 316B is in dynamic friction, so that the boss 370a of the lock arm 370 moves downward. It is possible to move and return into the lock control cam section 316B.

Therefore, even if the user accidentally drops the recording apparatus, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus capable of returning to the normal state by turning on the power again, and to provide the boss 370a of the lock arm 370, the pump gear 316, and the platen. Since it is not necessary to unnecessarily increase the strength of the recording device 14, it is possible to provide a compact, lightweight, and highly reliable recording device.

FIG. 40 shows a modification of the boss 370a.
The tip of the boss 370a has a spherical surface. In this case, the radius corresponds to a distance of 370 g of chamfering at the tip. Of course, it is not necessary for the cylindrical boss to be chamfered on the periphery, and the prism may have a chamfered shape with one edge. It is sufficient if there is a certain amount of chamfered shape in the direction regulated by the stopper.

Further, the present apparatus has the following configuration for accurately detecting the amount of waste ink discharged from the recording head cartridge 1 by the above-described recovery means and stored in the waste ink absorber 327.

EEPROM arranged on control board 57
In 509 (see FIG. 49), the amount of ink discharged by the preliminary discharge operation is integrated in units of 1 ng (10 ^-9 g).
A byte area (hereinafter referred to as a preliminary ejection counter) and an ink amount which is a predetermined percentage of the ink amount discharged by the recovery operation and which is expected to evaporate with the passage of time.
A 2-byte area (hereinafter referred to as an evaporation counter) integrated in units of 0 mg (10 ^-2 g), and a predetermined percentage of the amount of ink discharged by the recovery operation. It is considered that evaporation will not occur in the future. 10mg (10
^-2 g) A two-byte area (to be referred to as a non-evaporation counter hereinafter) to be integrated in units and a 1-byte area (to be referred to as a non-evaporation amount counter) in which the elapsed time from the previous calculation of the waste ink amount to the present is stored in one minute. , A waste ink timer).

At each time, the total amount of waste ink stored in the waste ink absorber 327 is determined by the sum of the evaporation amount, the non-evaporation amount, and the preliminary ejection counter value.

When the preliminary ejection is performed at the timing of the recovery operation, before the sheet feeding operation, during the recording operation, or the like, the number of ejections of each nozzle and the total of the preliminary ejection amount according to the ejection amount per ejection are calculated by the preliminary ejection counter. Is added to

The preliminary discharge counter can accumulate up to about 4,000 mg. However, as shown in the preliminary discharge counter value check flowchart shown in FIG.
When the amount exceeds g (100 mg), it is divided into an evaporating amount and a non-evaporating amount according to a predetermined ratio, and is added to an evaporating amount and a non-evaporating amount counter, respectively.

When ink is discharged by the recovery operation, the discharge amount stored in advance is added to the evaporation counter and the non-evaporation counter, respectively, depending on the type of the recording head cartridge 1 and the type of the recovery operation.

FIG. 42 shows a flowchart of calculating the amount of waste ink evaporated by the present apparatus.

At a timing such as when the apparatus power is turned on, when the apparatus is reset, or when a recovery operation is to be performed, it is determined in step S202 whether or not the waste ink timer value exceeds a predetermined time T. In step S203, the waste ink timer value is updated to a value obtained by subtracting the predetermined time T. Further, in step S204, an evaporation counter value is calculated by subtracting the amount of ink that is considered to have been evaporated within the predetermined time, and the process returns to step S202 to repeat this procedure.

Thereafter, the new amount of waste ink is calculated by adding the amount of waste ink discharged by the current operation to be performed in the above procedure.

The following formula is used to calculate the amount of ink that is considered to have evaporated within the predetermined time T.

(Evaporated ink amount per predetermined time T) = k1
× (evaporation counter value / non-evaporation counter value) Accordingly, the evaporation counter value after the elapse of the predetermined time is represented by: evaporation counter value = evaporation counter value × (1−k1 / non-evaporation counter value). .

Here, k1 is the evaporation coefficient determined from FIG. 43 obtained by experimentally determining the evaporation characteristics of the ink and the waste ink absorber 327 used in this apparatus.

FIG. 43A shows the waste ink absorber 3 of the present apparatus.
27% of the ink amount that can be stored in
It shows the ink residual ratio (weight ratio) when 5% and 12% of the ink is filled and left as it is. FIG. 43 (b) shows a non-evaporable ink amount that occupies a predetermined ratio in the filled ink and is considered to never evaporate in the future, and an evaporation amount that is expected to evaporate over time. To the ratio of the ink amount (evaporation ink remaining ratio)
It represents the amount of evaporated ink per predetermined time T.

The above equation is obtained by approximating these diagrams with a straight line having a slope k1.

[0203] The amount of ink discharged to the waste ink absorber 327 may be directly measured using a weigh scale or a flow meter.

If the total amount of waste ink calculated by the above procedure exceeds a predetermined waste ink warning amount, the control board 57
The user is notified of the fact by the buzzer sound emitted from and the lamp lighting, but if the warning is canceled by the user's operation, the device can be used. In addition, when the total amount of waste ink decreases with time and falls below the waste ink warning amount, the notification to the user is stopped, and normal use is enabled.

When the total amount of waste ink further increases and exceeds a predetermined waste ink error amount, the user is notified by a buzzer sound emitted from the control board 57 and lighting of a lamp. Decreases,
When the amount of waste ink falls below the amount of waste ink, the apparatus can be used if the warning is canceled by a user operation in the same manner as in the case of the waste ink warning. If the total amount of waste ink decreases further after a lapse of time and falls below the waste ink warning amount, the notification to the user is stopped, and normal use is enabled.

By using the above configuration, the waste ink absorber 327
By accurately detecting the amount of waste ink stored in the printer, it was possible to prevent dripping of the waste ink being carried without increasing the apparatus volume.

Further, since the storage area required for the above detection is kept to a minimum, it is not necessary to increase the capacity of the EEPROM 509, and it is possible to prevent an increase in the capacity of the apparatus and an increase in cost.

[Head Attachment Unit] Next, a head that can be attached to the present apparatus will be described.

In the above description, an example has been described in which the recording head cartridge 1 is detachably mounted on the carrier 2 of the present recording apparatus. In this regard, FIG. 44, FIG. 45, FIG. 46, and FIG. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

The recording head cartridge 1 has two types, namely, a monochrome recording head section 49 shown in FIG. 45 and a color recording head section 50 shown in FIG. 46. Further, the recording head cartridge 1 shown in FIG. Instead, the scanner head 200, which can read the inserted document, is used as one of the three types of head units.
It can be mounted on top.

[0211] Hereinafter, the monochrome recording head unit 49,
When the three types of the color recording head unit 50 and the scanner head 200 are collectively referred to as a head unit.

First, a description will be given with reference to FIG. 44 for mounting the above three types of heads in a detachable manner.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of the carrier 2 when no head section shown in FIG. 20 is mounted.

[0214] At one end of the carrier 2, a cable terminal portion 3a of the flexible cable 3 is provided. The cable terminal 3a is connected to the carrier 2 by the monochrome recording head 4
9. When any one of the color recording head unit 50 and the scanner head 200 is mounted, the head terminal unit 56 (see FIGS. 45, 46, and 47) of each head unit comes into contact with the head unit.
As a result, electrical connection with the head portion is made.

On the surface of the carrier 2 where the cable terminal portion 3a is located, two head portion positioning projections 2a and 2b are integrally provided. When the head portion is mounted on the carrier 2, the head portion positioning protrusion 2a is fitted into the positioning notch 557 on the head portion side, and the head portion positioning protrusion 2b is fitted into the positioning hole 558 on the head portion side. Is accurately positioned with respect to the carrier 2.

Further, the cable terminal portion 3 of the carrier 2
A contact spring 28 is provided at a position facing the head guide 2a, and a head guide 2 formed of resin is provided at a tip end thereof.
9 is fixed. That is, the head guide 29 is elastically supported by the carrier 2.

When the head is mounted on the carrier 2, the head guide 29 connects the head to the cable terminal 3.
The electrical connection between the cable terminal portion 3a and the head terminal portion is realized by biasing to the a side.

Further, the head guide 29 has a function to be able to be attached and detached by flexing when exchanging the head part, and to hold the mounted head part so as not to come off upward.

With this configuration, when the user replaces the head, the user inserts the head terminal 56 side of the head so as to face the cable terminal 3a of the carrier 2, and then replaces the head. By pressing the upper surface of the head downward, the head guide 29 is flexed and the mounting of the head is completed with a click feeling, and at that time, the electrical connection is also completed.

When the head is removed, the head guide 29 is bent by pulling up the head-mounting / removing operation section 51a, 53a or 200a provided on the head with a finger, and the head is removed from the carrier 2. Has become possible.

[Head Section] Next, the above-mentioned head section will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 45 is a perspective view of a monochrome recording head section 49 for performing only monochrome printing (usually black). In FIG. 45, reference numeral 51 denotes a monochrome recording head cartridge.
An ejection port surface 51b having a nozzle portion for ejecting ink for recording is formed in a portion before one. Reference numeral 56 denotes a head terminal for receiving an electric signal for performing ejection. By supplying an electric signal from the main body of the recording apparatus to the monochrome recording head cartridge 51 via the head terminal portion 56, the ink is discharged from the ejection port surface 51.
The recording is performed by discharging downward from the nozzle provided at b in FIG. Reference numeral 557 denotes a positioning notch, and reference numeral 558 denotes a positioning hole. The positioning notch 557 and the positioning hole 558 are fitted to the head positioning protrusions 2 a and 2 b provided on the carrier 2 to position the carrier 2. Is to ensure.

Reference numeral 52 indicates a monochrome ink tank.
The inside contains ink. The monochrome ink tank 52 is detachably fixed to the monochrome recording head cartridge 51 by a latch portion 52a formed integrally and elastically with the monochrome ink tank 52. The monochrome ink tank 52 and the monochrome recording head cartridge 51 have an ink flow path formed by a detachable joint (not shown).

Therefore, ink is consumed by recording, and
When the ink in the monochrome ink tank 52 runs out, the latch portion 52a is bent to
Is detached from the monochrome recording head cartridge 51 and a new monochrome ink tank 52 is mounted, so that recording can be continued.

FIG. 46 is a view for explaining color printing.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a color recording head unit 50.

Here, only differences from the monochrome recording head unit 49 shown in FIG. 45 will be described. Discharge port surface 5
3b is provided with four independent nozzle groups for ejecting four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively, in order to perform color printing. Reference numeral 54 denotes a black ink tank. The black ink tank 54 contains black ink therein, and is connected to a group of black nozzles provided on the discharge port surface 53b via a detachable joint (not shown). ing.

Reference numeral 55 denotes a color ink tank. The inside of the color ink tank 55 is divided into three independent volumes, each containing a yellow ink, a magenta ink, and a cyan ink. The color ink tank 55 is also similar to the black ink tank 54,
The yellow ink is connected to the yellow nozzle group, the magenta ink is connected to the magenta nozzle group, and the cyan ink is connected to the cyan nozzle group via three independent detachable joints (not shown).

Reference numeral 54a indicates a latch for replacing the black ink tank 54, and reference numeral 55a indicates a latch for replacing the color ink tank 55.

As described above, the color recording can be performed by mounting the color recording head unit 50 on the carrier 2 of the printer unit, and when the black ink is exhausted, only the black ink tank 54 is replaced, When any or all of magenta, cyan, or all have disappeared, only the color ink tank can be replaced.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of the scanner head 200. FIG. A detailed description will be given later.

In FIGS. 45 and 46, the symbol X represents the distance from the positioning notch 57 to the ejection port surfaces 51b and 53b, and is the same value in the monochrome recording head cartridge 51 and the color recording head cartridge 53.
In the case of the present embodiment, it is about 13 mm. On the other hand, in the scanner head 200 in FIG.
Represents the distance between the positioning notch 57 and the reading section surface 200b, and is set shorter than the distance X, and is about 9 mm in the present embodiment.

From the Y value, the vertical difference between the horizontal position of the discharge port surface and the reading unit surface is 4 mm, which is the difference between the above 13 mm and 9 mm.

Therefore, when the scanner head 200 is mounted, even if the capping operation and the wiping operation are performed, the reading section surface 200b of the scanner head 200 is not touched with the cap and the blade.

As a result of this configuration, when the scanner head 200 is mounted, it is possible to prevent the reading surface 200b from being stained by the cap and the blade that are stained with ink.

[Scanner Unit] Next, the scanner unit, which is one of the features of the recording apparatus of the present invention, will be described. FIG.
FIG. 8 shows a schematic sectional view and a perspective view of the scanner head 200.

In FIG. 48, reference numeral 206 denotes the document surface 20
9, an LED light 207 emitted from the LED 206 illuminates the original surface 209 through the LED opening 211, and the image light 208 of the original surface 209 is transmitted to the field lens 204 provided in the sensor opening 212. , The optical path is bent at a right angle by a mirror 203, passes through an imaging lens 201, and forms an image on a sensor 202.

The center of the sensor opening 212 is larger than the distance between the ink ejection port 213 of the monochrome recording head cartridge 51 and the color recording head cartridge 53 from the surface where each recording head cartridge contacts the carrier 2 for positioning. In this embodiment, it is shifted by about 4 mm.

The LED 206 and the sensor 202 are electrically connected to each other and are led out to the outside by the wiring board 205. Electrodes are formed on the head terminal portion 56 of the wiring board 205, and are brought into contact with the electrodes of the carrier (not shown) by pressure contact to guide signals to a control circuit on the main body side.

The appearance of the scanner head 200 is the same as that of the recording head cartridge 1 with the ink tank 8 mounted thereon. Can be mounted. In addition, when the head portion is detached, when the head portion attaching / detaching operation portion 200a is lifted, the latch of the claw portion 210 is released, so that the claw portion 210 can be easily removed.

When mounted on the carrier 2, the MP
U500 (see FIG. 49) automatically identifies the scanner and enters scanner mode.

When a scanner reading signal is input from a host computer or the like, the MPU 500
Similarly to the case described above, the read original is conveyed to a predetermined position by driving the paper feed motor 23, the LED 206 is turned on, and the image signal is read via the scanner driver unit 513 while driving the carrier motor 10.

Here, the driving speed of the carrier motor 10 can be changed depending on the document collecting mode of the scanner head 200. The mode is a combination of the reading resolution and the gradation of each reading value. The main scanning direction, which is the paper conveyance direction, has a resolution of 360 dpi,
The resolution of the sensor 202 of the scanner head 200 is 360 as the sub-scanning direction which is the scanning direction of the carrier 2.
Since an output of 64 gradations is obtained in dpi, for example, reading in 64 gradations in the main scanning direction 360 dpi and sub-scanning direction 360 dpi, reading in two gradations in the main scanning direction 90 dpi and sub-scanning direction 90 dpi, and There is also a mode in which the resolution in the main scanning direction is read at 200 dpi and consistency with FAX is considered. 360 dpi in the main scanning direction,
In a mode with a large amount of data such as reading of 64 gradations in the sub-scanning direction of 360 dpi, it takes time to process and transfer data. The carrier driving speed can be increased in the reading of the data.

When the reading of one line is completed, the sheet is conveyed by one line by the paper feed motor 23 and the next line is read. Such an operation is performed until the end of the document.

As described above, the recording apparatus of the present embodiment is capable of recording on the recording paper 22 by the recording head cartridge 1 and reading an original by the scanner head 200. In the case of the recording paper 22, the manuscript is also included, except for the case where only the recording is described.

[Circuit Unit] FIG. 49 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the recording apparatus.

In FIG. 49, reference numeral 500 denotes an ASIC in which the MPU unit and the printer control unit are integrated. Reference numeral 504 denotes a flash ROM in which a program for controlling the entire recording apparatus is stored, reference numeral 505 denotes a mask ROM in which character fonts and the like are stored, and reference numeral 50 denotes a mask ROM.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a DRAM used as a work area of the ASIC 500 and a signal buffer. Reference numeral 509 denotes an EEPROM. The EEPROM 509 is a rewritable ROM, whose contents do not disappear even when power is not supplied. For this reason, setting information performed by the user when the power is turned on, the amount of ink used, the integrated amount of discharged ink accumulated inside the printing apparatus, and the like are written.

Reference numeral 508 denotes a DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter 508 converts a voltage from the adapter 507 into a power supply voltage used in the recording apparatus. Adapter 507 is 100V for home use
It converts AC voltage to 13V DC voltage.

The recording apparatus has a built-in battery 116 so that it can be used outdoors without a home power supply. In addition, since the battery charging circuit 510 is built in the recording apparatus, charging can be performed without preparing a separate charger.

Reference numeral 502 denotes a carrier motor driver for driving the carrier 2, and reference numeral 503 denotes a paper feed motor driver for driving the paper feed roller 6. The carrier motor driver 502 and the paper feed motor driver 503 control the motor based on a control signal output from the AISIC 500.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a power switch for turning on the power of the main body, reference numeral 108 denotes a head replacement switch for moving the carrier 2 to the replacement position, reference numeral 107 denotes an error release switch, reference numeral 110 denotes a power lamp, and reference numeral 110 denotes a power lamp. Reference numeral 109 denotes an error lamp, and reference numeral 511 denotes a buzzer.

Reference numeral 118 denotes an interface connector, and reference numeral 501 denotes an infrared module. For example, signal communication with an external device such as a host computer is performed by the interface connector 118 and the infrared module 501.
Performed by The interface connector 118 is connected to the host computer by wire. The infrared module 501 is a serial communication boat using infrared rays, and performs input / output of signals using infrared rays facing the infrared boat of the host computer.

[0252] An option connector 58 is provided for communicating with the option ASF127.

The HP sensor 26 is a photo interrupter type sensor and detects the edge of the carrier 2 to detect the position of the carrier 2. Also paper sensor 2
5. The paper ejection sensor 17 is a contact type sensor and detects the presence or absence of recording paper in the recording device. FIG. 50 shows the second embodiment of the present invention.
Is shown. Components substantially the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, both ends of the detection lever 71 of the sheet material detection device 70 in the lateral direction of the conveyance path 20 are inclined surfaces 71a, 71.
b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 51, when the reference position for inserting the sheet material 22 is set near the center in the horizontal direction of the transport path 22, the small-size sheet material 22 such as a postcard is Even if the sheet material is manually shifted to the vicinity of the center (near the sheet material detecting device 70) after being inserted to one of the right and left sides,
Is the detection lever 71 along the inclined surface 71a or 71b.
Swings to the downstream side, and moves in the lateral direction of the transport path 20.

According to this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the sheet member 22 can be slid to the reference position P without damaging both the sheet member 22 and the detection lever 71, and the sheet member 22 can be slid. The sheet material 22 is detected by the detection device 70. This eliminates the need for the user to pull out the sheet material 22 and re-insert the sheet material 22 again, which saves time and troubles in the operation.

[0255]

According to the present invention, when a sheet is inserted at a position distant from the reference position in the lateral direction of the transport path, the sheet material can be easily moved in the lateral direction of the transport path toward the reference position. Neither the material nor the detection lever is damaged. Moreover, at this time, the sheet material is detected by the sheet material detecting device. Therefore, the positional accuracy when the sheet material is inserted may be low, and the position of the sheet material can be easily corrected, thereby improving workability.

Further, the reference position for inserting the sheet material can be set more freely than before.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a side view of a sheet material detecting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a front view thereof.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of a sheet material conveying device having the sheet material detecting device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part of a sheet material conveying device having the sheet material detecting device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part of the sheet material conveying device having the sheet material detecting device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the appearance of a recording apparatus having the sheet material conveying apparatus shown in FIG.

6 is a perspective view of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from the opposite side.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a use state of the recording apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a housing portion of the recording apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which the head replacement cover shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is opened.

10 is a sectional view showing a state in which a head replacement explanation plate is attached to the head replacement cover shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a method of attaching the head replacement explanation plate shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a detailed view of a head replacement explanation plate shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an automatic sheet feeder (ASF) is mounted on the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a battery holding structure of the substrate holder shown in FIGS. 14 and 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the battery shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a structure of the shield plate shown in FIGS. 14 and 15;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an arrangement configuration of an upper case, a power switch, an error release switch, a shield plate, and a substrate in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the internal configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from a sheet discharge side.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a front view illustrating a paper feed port side of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a piston drive transmission path from a paper feed motor to a recovery system of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged view around a switching mechanism of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a view showing the meshing shape of the LF gear and the trigger gear shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a configuration and arrangement of a pump gear and a trigger gear shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a recovery system in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a recovery system in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a recovery system in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a recovery system in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a recovery system in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a recovery system in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a lock arm released state of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left side of FIG. 23;

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a lock arm fixed state of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left side of FIG. 23;

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating the carriage released state by the lock arm in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the lower side of FIG. 23;

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the carriage is fixed by the lock arm in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the lower side of FIG. 23;

FIG. 37 shows a lock arm fixed state and a state of being released by an external force in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.

FIG. 38 is a diagram of the lock arm in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as returned from a home position, as viewed from the left side of FIG. 23;

FIG. 39 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the state shown in FIG. 38;

40 is a view showing a modification of the tip of the boss shown in FIG. 39.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart for checking a preliminary ejection counter value in the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart of calculating a waste ink evaporation amount in the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a plot diagram of waste ink evaporation characteristics.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of the carrier 2 when none of the head portions shown in FIG. 20 are mounted.

FIG. 45 is a perspective view of a monochrome recording head unit used in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of a color recording head used in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of a scanner head used in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 48 is a schematic sectional view and a perspective view of a scanner head used in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 49 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 50 is a front view illustrating a sheet feeding port side of a recording apparatus having the sheet material detecting apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 51 is a plan view of a main part of a sheet material conveying device incorporated in the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 50;

FIG. 52 (a) is a side view of a conventional sheet material detection device,
(B) is a front view thereof.

FIG. 53 is a plan view of a main part of a sheet material conveying device having a conventional sheet material detecting device.

FIG. 54 is a plan view of a main part of another example of the sheet material conveying device having the conventional sheet material detecting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording head cartridge (recording head) 2 Carrier (head holding means) 2a Head part positioning projection 2b Head part positioning projection 2c Clutch switching projection 2d Clock projection 3 Flexible cable 3a Cable terminal part 4 Frame 4a Arm stopper 4b Clearance 5 Guide shaft 5a Plug 6 Paper feed roller (conveying means) 7 Pinch roller (conveying means) 8 Ink tank 9 Pinch roller holder 10 Carrier motor 11 Belt 12 Guide rail 12a Arm engaging section 13 Drive pulley 14 Platen 14a Paper guide section 14b Rib (leftmost) 14c Concave portion (PE sensor portion) 14d Spring regulating portion 14e Sheet material transport surface 15 Discharge roller 16 Spur 17 Discharge sensor 18 LF gear 18a Contact surface 18b Gear 20 Transport path 2 Reference Signs List 1 idle gear train 22 recording paper (sheet material) 23 paper feed motor 25 paper sensor (sheet material detecting device) 25a taper portion (inclined surface) 25b detecting lever (movable portion) 25c detecting portion 25d fixed end 25e free end 27 idle pulley 28 Contact Spring 29 Head Guide 30 LF Motor Gear 31 LF Double Gear 32 Trigger Gear 32a Contact Surface 32b Gear 49 Monochrome Recording Head 50 Color Recording Head 51 Monochrome Recording Cartridge 52 Monochrome Tank 52a Latch 53 Color Recording Head Cartridge 51a, 53a Head Attaching / detaching operation parts 51b, 53b Discharge port surface 54 Black ink tank 52a, 54a, 55a Latch part 55 Color ink tank 55a Latch part 56 Shield plate 56a PET 56b Mi foil 56c Adhesive layer 57 Substrate 57a Pattern 57b Tact switch 58 Optional connector 60 Battery pop-up 61 Battery pop-up spring 70 Sheet material detecting device 71 Detecting lever 71a, 71b Inclined surface 100 Upper case 100a Stepped portion 100b Claw 101 Lower case 101a Projected portion 101b Hook part 102 Head replacement lid 102a Hook 103 Head replacement opening 104 Head replacement explanation plate 104a Hole 105 Hold switch 106 Power switch 107 Error release switch 108 Head replacement switch 109 Error lamp 110 Power lamp 111 Paper feed tray 111a Left guide part 112 Right guide 113 Board holder 113a Board holder rail 113b Board holder recess 113c Board holder boss 113d Substrate holder hole 113e Substrate holder long hole 114 Battery lock lever 115 Battery contact 116 Battery 116a Battery step 116b Battery contact female 116c Battery groove 116d Battery recess 116e Battery rib 117 Power connector 118 Interface connector 119 Interface connector cover 119a Hinge 120 Infrared communication window 121 Paper feed port 122 Paper discharge port 123 Screw 124 Gap 125 Battery hook 126 Optional connector cover 127 ASF (automatic paper feeder) 128 ASF connector 131 Battery cable 132 Battery connector 144 Battery lock lever 200 Scanner head 200a Head section Reading / removing operation section 200b Remover surface 201 Imaging lens 202 Sensor 203 Mirror 204 Field lens 205 Wiring board 206 LED 207 LED light 208 Image light 209 Original surface 210 Claw 211 LED opening 212 Sensor opening 213 Discharge port 316 Pump gear 316a Notch (Pump gear missing part) 316c Concave wall surface 316A Cap control cam part 316B Lock control cam part 317 Cap 317A Joint part 318 Cap control spring 321 Cylinder 321A Cylinder arm part 321B Cylinder joint part 321C Cylinder control part 321C Ink suction port 321E Guide 321F Space 321H Space 321G Cylinder end 321a Arm 326 Cylinder absorber 327 Waste ink absorber 341 Cap holder 341a Stock Pa 342 Piston 342A Rib 343 Piston shaft 343A Lead groove 343B Groove 343C Flange 343D Flange 344 Cap spring 345 Cylinder seal 346 Cylinder washer 361 Cylinder gear 361A Boss 370 Lock arm 370a Boss part 370b Rotating part center e 370c Part 370f Tip 370g Tip chamfering distance 370h Distance 370i Distance 370j Reaction force 370k Force A 370l Force B 500 AISI IC 501 Infrared module 502 Carrier motor driver 503 Paper feed motor driver 504 Flash ROM 505 MASK ROM 850 Converter 50 Adapter DRAM 50 DRAM EEPROM 510 Battery Evaporation loss ratio of over charging circuit (filling control IC) 511 buzzer 556 head terminal portion 557 positioned notches 558 positioning holes k1 evaporation coefficient T amount of waste ink unit time when calculating P reference position η predischarge counter value

(72) Inventor Hiroshi Hasegawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Inoue 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Akira Kida 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takeshi Iwasaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A sheet material detecting device for detecting a sheet material inserted from a sheet feeding port, wherein a movable portion in contact with the inserted sheet material and a movement of the movable portion accompanying the insertion of the sheet material are detected. A sheet material detection device, comprising: a detection section; and an end surface of the movable section in a direction substantially perpendicular to an insertion direction of the sheet material is an inclined surface. 2. The sheet material detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion is swingable along a conveying direction of the sheet material. 3. The sheet material detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface is formed such that the movable portion tapers from a fixed end to a free end. 4. A sheet conveying apparatus comprising: the sheet detecting apparatus according to claim 1; and conveying means for conveying the sheet. 5. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sheet feeding port is capable of manually inserting the sheet. 6. An automatic sheet feeding device which is detachably attached to the sheet feeding port. When the automatic sheet feeding device is attached, the sheet material detecting device is inserted into the sheet feeding port from the automatic sheet feeding device. The sheet material transporting device according to claim 4, wherein the sheet material is detected. 7. The sheet material conveyance according to claim 4, wherein a sheet material having a length at least twice as long in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction can be conveyed with respect to a sheet material having a minimum size that can be conveyed. apparatus. 8. A recording apparatus comprising: the sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 4; and a head holding unit for mounting a recording head for performing recording on the sheet. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a scanner head capable of reading an image formed on said sheet material.