Image recording apparatus

Abstract

To enable quick switch of a medium set as a recording object from a first medium to a second medium.SOLUTION: A printer 100 includes three housing parts 10 to 30 arranged in a vertical direction. A first path T1 in which a roll sheet Rp1 is transported from a first housing part 10 to a head 6, a second path T2 in which a roll sheet Rp2 is transported from a second housing part 20 to the head 6, and a third path T3 in which a roll sheet Rp3 is transported from a third housing part 30 to the head 6 are joined at a junction Tx. The junction Tx is located between a roller pair 47 and roller pairs 44 to 46 in a transport direction. The roller pair 47 is located at the upstream of the head 6 in the transport direction and does not sandwich other roller pairs with the head 6 in the transport direction. The roller pairs 44 to 46 are located at the upstream of the roller pair 47 in the transport direction and do not sandwich other roller pairs with the roller pair 47 in the transport direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image recording device having a plurality of medium storage units. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an image forming device (image recording device) that includes two paper feeders (first and second storage sections) that can store roll paper (medium), and an image forming section (recording section) that forms an image on paper unwound from the roll paper. The paths (first and second paths) along which paper is transported from each paper feeder to the image forming section join at a junction that is upstream in the transport direction from a paper feed roller (second roller pair) that is disposed in the first-stage paper feeder. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-44211 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to quickly switch the recording medium from the first medium to the second medium, it is possible to have the second medium wait with its leading edge located just upstream of the junction while recording is being performed on the first medium. However, when the junction is located upstream of the second roller pair in the transport direction as in Patent Document 1, the path length from the junction to the recording unit is long, making it difficult to quickly perform recording after switching.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device that is capable of quickly switching a recording medium from a first medium to a second medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The image recording device of the present invention comprises a first storage section capable of storing a first medium, a second storage section capable of storing a second medium, the second storage section being aligned vertically with the first storage section, a transport section that selectively transports the first medium and the second medium in a transport direction, and a recording section that records an image on the medium transported by the transport section, wherein the transport section has a plurality of roller pairs spaced apart from each other in the transport direction, the plurality of roller pairs including a first roller pair located upstream of the recording section in the transport direction and with no other roller pairs sandwiched between the recording section in the transport direction, and a second roller pair located upstream of the first roller pair in the transport direction and with no other roller pairs sandwiched between the first roller pair in the transport direction, and a first path along which the first medium is transported from the first storage section to the recording section by the transport section, and a second path along which the second medium is transported from the second storage section to the recording section by the transport section, merge at a junction between the first roller pair and the second roller pair in the transport direction. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the junction is between the first roller pair and the second roller pair in the transport direction. Therefore, when switching the medium to be recorded from the first medium to the second medium, the second medium, which is waiting with its leading edge located immediately upstream of the junction, can be quickly transported toward the first roller pair and the recording unit. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to quickly switch the medium to be recorded from the first medium to the second medium. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration in the vicinity of a grip portion of a first paper feed tray of the printer in FIG. 1. [Figure 4]2 is a flow chart showing a first program executed by a CPU of the printer of FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] 1. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a second program executed by the CPU of the printer of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] 1 is an embodiment of an "image recording device" according to the present invention. The printer 100 includes a housing 100a, a first paper feed tray 1, a second paper feed tray 2, a third paper feed tray 3, a conveying section 4, a first cutting section 51, a second cutting section 52, a third cutting section 53, a head 6, a paper discharge tray 7, and a control device 9.

[0010] The first paper feed tray 1 corresponds to the "first tray" of the present invention, the second paper feed tray 2 corresponds to the "second tray" of the present invention, and the third paper feed tray 3 corresponds to the "third tray" of the present invention.

[0011] The first paper feed tray 1, the second paper feed tray 2, and the third paper feed tray 3 are each movable in the front-rear direction relative to the housing 100a, and can take an attached position (see FIG. 1) where they are attached to the housing 100a, and a pulled-out position (not shown) forward of the attached position where they are pulled out from the housing 100a. The attached position of the first paper feed tray 1 corresponds to the "first attached position" of the present invention, and the attached position of the second paper feed tray 2 corresponds to the "second attached position" of the present invention. The pulled-out position of the first paper feed tray 1 corresponds to the "first pulled-out position" of the present invention, and the pulled-out position of the second paper feed tray 2 corresponds to the "second pulled-out position" of the present invention.

[0012] The first paper feed tray 1 has a first storage section 10 capable of storing the roll R1. The second paper feed tray 2 has a second storage section 20 capable of storing the roll R2. The third paper feed tray 3 has a third storage section 30 capable of storing the roll R3.

[0013] The first to third paper feed trays 1 to 3 are lined up in the vertical direction in the installation position shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, the first to third storage sections 10 to 30 are lined up in the vertical direction. Of the paper feed trays 1 to 3, the first paper feed tray 1 is located at the top, the third paper feed tray 3 is located at the bottom, and the second paper feed tray 2 is located between the first paper feed tray 1 and the third paper feed tray 3 in the vertical direction.

[0014] The rolls R1-R3 have the same configuration, and are formed by winding long rolled paper Rp1-Rp3 in a roll shape around the outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical core member Rc. The rolled paper Rp1 unwound from the roll R1 corresponds to the "first medium" of the present invention, and the rolled paper Rp2 unwound from the roll R2 corresponds to the "second medium" of the present invention. The rolls R1-R3 are stored in the respective storage units 10-30 with the axis Rx of the core member Rc extending in the left-right direction.

[0015] Two rollers 11 and 12 constituting the conveying unit 4 are disposed at the bottom of the first storage unit 10. The two rollers 11 and 12 are rotatable about an axis extending in the left-right direction. When the roll body R1 is stored in the first storage unit 10, the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion thereof is supported by the two rollers 11 and 12.

[0016] Two rollers 21, 22 constituting the conveying unit 4 are disposed at the bottom of the second storage unit 20. The two rollers 21, 22 are rotatable about an axis extending in the left-right direction. When the roll body R2 is stored in the second storage unit 20, the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion thereof is supported by the two rollers 21, 22.

[0017] Two rollers 31 and 32 constituting the conveying unit 4 are disposed at the bottom of the third storage unit 30. The two rollers 31 and 32 are rotatable about an axis extending in the left-right direction. When the roll body R3 is stored in the third storage unit 30, the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion thereof is supported by the two rollers 31 and 32.

[0018] The paper discharge tray 7 is located above the first paper feed tray 1 and is fixed to the housing 100a.

[0019] The transport unit 4, the cutting units 51 to 53, the head 6 and the control device 9 are housed in a housing 100a.

[0020] The transport section 4 selectively transports the roll paper Rp1 to Rp3, and forms a first path T1 along which the roll paper Rp1 is transported from the first storage section 10 toward the head 6, a second path T2 along which the roll paper Rp2 is transported from the second storage section 20 toward the head 6, and a third path T3 along which the roll paper Rp3 is transported from the third storage section 30 toward the head 6.

[0021] The transport section 4 includes the rollers 11, 12, 21, 22, 31, and 32, a first feed roller 41, a second feed roller 42, a third feed roller 43, and roller pairs 44 to 48. Of these elements, the rollers 11, 12, 21, 22, 31, and 32 are supported by the respective paper feed trays 1 to 3, and the remaining ones are supported by the housing 100a.

[0022] The rollers 11 and 12, the first feed roller 41, and the roller pair 44, 47, and 48 form a first path T1. The rollers 21 and 22, the second feed roller 42, and the roller pair 45, 47, and 48 form a second path T2. The rollers 31 and 32, the third feed roller 43, and the roller pair 46, 47, and 48 form a third path T3.

[0023] The roller pairs 44, 47, and 48 are spaced apart from one another in the transport direction of the rolled paper Rp1 along the first path T1. The roller pairs 45, 47, and 48 are spaced apart from one another in the transport direction of the rolled paper Rp2 along the second path T2. The roller pairs 46, 47, and 48 are spaced apart from one another in the transport direction of the rolled paper Rp3 along the third path T3.

[0024] The first to third paths T1 to T3 join at a joining point Tx between the roller pair 47 and the roller pairs 44 to 46 in the conveying direction. The roller pair 47 is disposed in a common portion of the first to third paths T1 to T3. The roller pair 44 is disposed on the first path T1, the roller pair 45 is disposed on the second path T2, and the roller pair 46 is disposed on the third path T3.

[0025] Roller pair 47 corresponds to the "first roller pair" of the present invention, is located upstream of roller pair 47 in the transport direction, and does not sandwich any other roller pairs between roller pair 44 and head 6 in the transport direction. Roller pairs 44 to 46 correspond to the "second roller pair" of the present invention, are located upstream of roller pair 47 in the transport direction, and do not sandwich any other roller pairs between roller pair 47 and roller pair 47 in the transport direction.

[0026] Each of the roller pairs 44-48 includes a drive roller and a driven roller that rotates with the drive roller. The drive rollers of the roller pairs 44-48 are rotated by the drive of the transport motor 4M4 (see FIG. 2). The first feed roller 41 is rotated by the drive of the first feed motor 4M1 (see FIG. 2). The second feed roller 42 is rotated by the drive of the second feed motor 4M2 (see FIG. 2). The third feed roller 43 is rotated by the drive of the third feed motor 4M3 (see FIG. 2).

[0027] When the first feed motor 4M1 and the transport motor 4M4 are driven with the roll R1 housed in the first housing section 10, the feed roller 41 rotates, and the roll paper Rp1 unwound from the roll R1 is sent out rearward. As a result, the roll R1 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the rollers 11 and 12 rotate. The roll paper Rp1 is sent out above the first paper feed tray 1 by the feed roller 41, and is then transported to the paper output tray 7 by the roller pairs 44, 47, and 48 rotating while holding the roll paper Rp1.

[0028] When the second feed motor 4M2 and the transport motor 4M4 are driven with the roll R2 housed in the second housing section 20, the feed roller 42 rotates, and the roll paper Rp2 unwound from the roll R2 is sent out rearward. As a result, the roll R2 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the rollers 21 and 22 rotate. The roll paper Rp2 is sent out above the second paper feed tray 2 by the feed roller 42, and is then transported to the paper output tray 7 by the roller pairs 45, 47, and 48 rotating while holding the roll paper Rp2.

[0029] When the third feed motor 4M3 and the transport motor 4M4 are driven with the roll R3 housed in the third housing section 30, the feed roller 43 rotates, and the roll paper Rp3 unwound from the roll R3 is sent out rearward. The roll R3 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the rollers 31 and 32 rotate accordingly. The roll paper Rp3 is sent out above the third paper feed tray 3 by the feed roller 43, and is then transported to the paper output tray 7 by the roller pairs 46, 47, and 48 rotating while holding the roll paper Rp3.

[0030] The first cutting unit 51 is disposed on the first path T1, upstream of the junction Tx in the conveying direction, between the first feeding roller 41 and the roller pair 44. The first cutting unit 51 includes a fixed blade 5a extending in the left-right direction, and a disk-shaped rotating blade 5b disposed at a position in contact with the fixed blade 5a. The rotating blade 5b moves in the left-right direction by being driven by a first cutting motor 5M1 (see FIG. 2). This causes the roll paper Rp1 to be cut in the left-right direction.

[0031] The second cutting unit 52 is disposed on the second path T2, upstream of the junction Tx in the transport direction, between the second feed roller 42 and the roller pair 45. The second cutting unit 52 has a similar configuration to the first cutting unit 51. The rotary blade of the second cutting unit 52 moves left and right by being driven by the second cutting motor 5M2 (see FIG. 2). This causes the roll paper Rp2 to be cut left and right.

[0032] The third cutting unit 53 is disposed on the third path T3, upstream of the junction Tx in the transport direction, between the third feed roller 43 and the roller pair 46. The third cutting unit 52 has a similar configuration to the first cutting unit 51. The rotary blade of the third cutting unit 53 moves left and right by being driven by a third cutting motor 5M3 (see FIG. 2). This causes the roll paper Rp3 to be cut left and right.

[0033] The first to third cutting portions 51 to 53 are supported by the housing 100a.

[0034] The head 6 corresponds to the "recording unit" of the present invention. The head 6 is disposed between the roller pair 47 and the roller pair 48 in the transport direction, and has a number of nozzles (not shown) that open to the bottom surface. The head 6 may be either a line type that ejects ink from the nozzles while fixed, or a serial type that ejects ink from the nozzles while moving left and right. When the roll papers Rp1 to Rp3 transported by the transport unit 4 pass under the head 6, ink is ejected from the nozzles by the drive of the driver IC 6D (see FIG. 2), and an image is recorded on the roll papers Rp1 to Rp3.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 2, the control device 9 includes a CPU 91, a ROM 92, and a RAM 93. The CPU 91 corresponds to the "control unit" of the present invention. The ROM 92 stores programs and data for the CPU 91 to perform various controls. The RAM 93 temporarily stores data used when the CPU 91 executes a program.

[0036] The first attachment sensor 1Xs shown in FIG. 2 transmits a detection signal to the control device 9 when the first paper feed tray 1 is placed at the attachment position. The second attachment sensor 2Xs transmits a detection signal to the control device 9 when the second paper feed tray 2 is placed at the attachment position. The third attachment sensor 3Xs transmits a detection signal to the control device 9 when the third paper feed tray 3 is placed at the attachment position. The first attachment sensor 1Xs corresponds to the "first sensor" of the present invention, and the detection signal transmitted by the first attachment sensor 1Xs corresponds to the "first detection signal". The second attachment sensor 2Xs corresponds to the "second sensor" of the present invention, and the detection signal transmitted by the second attachment sensor 2Xs corresponds to the "second detection signal". "The first paper feed tray 1 is placed at the attachment position" means that the roll body R1 is accommodated in the first storage unit 10 arranged at a predetermined position in the housing 100a. "The second paper feed tray 2 is placed at the attachment position" means that the roll body R2 is accommodated in the second storage unit 20 arranged at a predetermined position in the housing 100a.

[0037] The first to third mounting sensors 1Xs to 3Xs may be disposed at mounting positions of the respective paper feed trays 1 to 3 in the housing 100a.

[0038] 2, the first locking mechanism 1L is for locking the first paper feed tray 1 in the installed position. The second locking mechanism 2L is for locking the second paper feed tray 2 in the installed position. The third locking mechanism 3L is for locking the first paper feed tray 3 in the installed position.

[0039] As shown in Figures 3(a) and (b), the first lock mechanism 1L has a movable member that can move up and down. Under the control of the control device 9, the movable member can be in a locked position (see Figure 3(a)) where it is inserted into the recess 1a of the first paper feed tray 1 in the mounted position, and in a released position (see the broken line in Figure 3(b)) above the first paper feed tray 1. When the movable member is in the locked position, the first paper feed tray 1 is locked in the mounted position (i.e., the movement of the first paper feed tray 1 from the mounted position to the pulled-out position is prohibited). When the movable member is in the released position, the movement of the first paper feed tray 1 from the mounted position to the pulled-out position is permitted.

[0040] The second lock mechanism 2L and the third lock mechanism 3L have a similar configuration to the first lock mechanism 1L.

[0041] 3(a) and 3(b), the first paper feed tray 1 has a first gripping portion 1Y. The first gripping portion 1Y includes a wall 1Y1 that constitutes the front surface of the first paper feed tray 1, and a lever 1Y2 that can swing about an axis 1Yx along the left-right direction in a recess 1b provided behind the wall 1Y1.

[0042] A first grip sensor 1Ys is disposed on the rear surface of the wall 1Y1. When a user moves the first paper feed tray 1 from the attached position to the pulled-out position, the user inserts a finger F into the recess 1b and pushes the lever 1Y2 forward, causing the lever 1Y2 to swing about the axis 1Yx and come into contact with the first grip sensor 1Ys. The first grip sensor 1Ys transmits a detection signal to the control device 9 when the lever 1Y2 comes into contact with the first grip sensor 1Ys.

[0043] The second paper feed tray 2 has a second gripping portion similar to the first gripping portion 1Y. The third paper feed tray 3 has a third gripping portion similar to the first gripping portion 1Y. The second gripping portion is provided with a second gripping sensor 2Ys (see FIG. 3) similar to the first gripping sensor 1Ys. The third gripping portion is provided with a third gripping sensor 3Ys (see FIG. 3) similar to the first gripping sensor 1Ys.

[0044] The first grip sensor 1Ys corresponds to the "third sensor" of the present invention, and the detection signal transmitted by the first grip sensor 1Ys corresponds to the "third detection signal." The second grip sensor 2Ys corresponds to the "fourth sensor" of the present invention, and the detection signal transmitted by the second grip sensor 2Ys corresponds to the "fourth detection signal."

[0045] Next, the first program executed by the CPU 91 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0046] The CPU 91 first determines whether or not all of the first to third paper feed trays 1 to 3 are attached to the housing 100a based on the detection signals transmitted from the first to third attachment sensors 1Xs to 3Xs (S1). When the CPU 91 receives the detection signals from the first to third attachment sensors 1Xs to 3Xs, it determines that all of the first to third paper feed trays 1 to 3 are attached to the housing 100a (S1: YES).

[0047] When it is determined that any one of the first to third paper feed trays 1 to 3 is not attached to the housing 100a (S1: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the process of S1.

[0048] When it is determined that all of the first to third paper feed trays 1 to 3 are attached to the housing 100a (S1: YES), the CPU 91 drives the first to third feed motors 4M1 to 4M3 and the transport motor 4M4 to cause the transport section 4 to transport the rolls of paper Rp1 to Rp3 from each of the paper feed trays 1 to 3, and stops the transport of the rolls of paper Rp1 to Rp3 when the downstream end (leading end) of each of the rolls of paper Rp1 to Rp3 in the transport direction is located just upstream of the junction Tx (between the junction Tx and each of the roller pairs 44 to 46 in the transport direction) (S2: standby processing).

[0049] In S2, the CPU 91 may cause the transport unit 4 to transport the roll papers Rp1 to Rp3 simultaneously, or may cause the transport unit 4 to transport the roll papers Rp1 to Rp3 sequentially. In the latter case, specifically, the transport unit 4 may transport and stop the roll paper Rp1, then transport and stop the roll paper Rp2, and then transport and stop the roll paper Rp1.

[0050] After S2, the CPU 91 determines whether or not a recording command has been received from an external device such as a PC (S3).

[0051] When it is determined that a recording command has been received (S3: YES), the CPU 91 executes recording and cutting processes for the roll paper specified by the recording command among the roll papers Rp1 to Rp3 (S4). Specifically, the CPU 91 causes the transport unit 4 to transport the roll paper and the head 6 to record an image on the roll paper (recording process), and further causes the corresponding cutting units 51 to 53 to cut the roll paper (cutting process). While the recording and cutting processes are being performed on the roll paper, the remaining roll papers are stopped with their leading edges immediately upstream of the junction Tx. For example, if the recording command specifies roll paper Rp1, while the recording and cutting processes are being performed on roll paper Rp1, roll papers Rp2 and Rp3 are stopped with their leading edges immediately upstream of the junction Tx.

[0052] After S4, the CPU 91 causes the conveying unit 4 to convey the roll paper on which the recording and cutting processes were performed in S4, and stops conveying the roll paper when its leading edge is located just upstream of the junction Tx (S5: standby process).

[0053] After S5, the CPU 91 returns the process to S3.

[0054] The above-mentioned conveyance is controlled based on signals from encoders attached to the motors 4M1-4M4, sensors arranged on the paths T1-T3, etc. The sensors may be arranged, for example, at the junction Tx, between the first cutting unit 51 and the roller pair 44, between the second cutting unit 52 and the roller pair 45, between the third cutting unit 53 and the roller pair 46, etc.

[0055] If it is determined that a recording command has not been received (S3: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous recording command was received (S6).

[0056] If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S6: NO), the CPU 91 returns the process to S3.

[0057] If it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (S6: YES), the CPU 91 ends the program.

[0058] Next, the second program executed by the CPU 91 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0059] The CPU 91 first determines whether or not a user has gripped any of the gripping portions (see the first gripping portion 1Y in FIG. 3) of the first to third paper feed trays 1 to 3 based on detection signals transmitted from the first to third gripping sensors 1Ys to 3Ys (S11). When a detection signal is received from any of the first to third gripping sensors 1Ys to 3Ys, the CPU 91 determines that a user has gripped any of the gripping portions of the first to third paper feed trays 1 to 3 (S11: YES).

[0060] When it is determined that none of the gripping portions of the first to third paper feed trays 1 to 3 is being gripped by the user (S11: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the process of S11.

[0061] If it is determined that the user has gripped any of the gripping portions of the first to third paper feed trays 1 to 3 (S11: YES), the CPU 91 causes the corresponding cutting portion to cut the roll paper contained in the paper feed tray that has that gripping portion (S12: cutting process).

[0062] After S12, the CPU 91 drives the lock mechanism of the paper feed tray to release the lock (S13). For example, in the paper feed tray 1, the movable member of the first lock mechanism 1L, which is in the lock position (see FIG. 3(a)), is moved to the release position (see the dashed line in FIG. 3(b)). This allows the paper feed tray to move from the installed position to the pulled-out position.

[0063] After S13, the CPU 91 ends the program.

[0064] The timing for moving the locking mechanisms L1 to L3 from the release position (see dashed line in FIG. 3(b)) to the locking position (see FIG. 3(a)) may be when the paper feed trays 1 to 3 are moved from the pulled-out position to the attached position. Alternatively, the timing may be when it is determined that the gripping portion is gripped by the user (when the movement of the paper feed trays 1 to 3 from the attached position to the pulled-out position is detected).

[0065] As described above, according to this embodiment, the junction Tx is between roller pair 47 and roller pairs 44 to 46 in the transport direction (see FIG. 1). Therefore, when switching the roll paper to be recorded on (for example, switching from roll paper Rp1 to roll paper Rp2 or roll paper Rp3), the roll paper that has been kept waiting with its leading edge positioned just upstream of the junction Tx can be quickly transported toward roller pair 47 and head 6. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to quickly switch the roll paper to be recorded on.

[0066] For example, when switching the roll paper to be recorded on from roll paper Rp1 to roll paper Rp2 or roll paper Rp3, the CPU 91 executes the recording process on roll paper Rp1 (see S2 to S4 in FIG. 4) while roll paper Rp2, Rp3 are waiting with their leading edges positioned just upstream of the junction Tx (while the standby process is being performed). This makes it possible to more effectively quickly switch the roll paper to be recorded on (for example, quickly switch from roll paper Rp1 to roll paper Rp2 or roll paper Rp3).

[0067] After determining that all of the first to third paper feed trays 1-3 are attached to the housing 100a (after S1), and before receiving a recording command (before S3: YES), the CPU 91 transports the rolls of paper Rp1-Rp3 from the paper feed trays 1-3, and stops transport of the rolls of paper Rp1-Rp3 when the downstream end (leading end) of each of the rolls of paper Rp1-Rp3 in the transport direction is located just upstream of the junction Tx (between the junction Tx and each of the roller pairs 44-46 in the transport direction) (S2: standby process). This allows recording to be performed quickly after receiving a recording command.

[0068] The roll papers Rp1 to Rp3 to be recorded are wound in a roll and stored in storage units 10 to 30 (see FIG. 1). In this case, an image can be recorded on paper that is longer than cut paper.

[0069] The cutting units 51-53 are disposed upstream of the junction Tx in the transport direction in the corresponding paths T1-T3 (see FIG. 1). If the printer 100 were provided with a single cutting unit disposed in a common portion of the paths T1-T3 (for example, downstream of the head 6 in the transport direction), the portion of the roll paper cut by the cutting unit between the cut portion and each storage unit would be long. In this case, when pulling out the paper feed tray that stores the roll paper, it may be necessary to pull out the paper feed tray over a long distance, or to pull out the paper feed tray after rewinding the long portion into the storage unit. In this regard, according to the present embodiment, the cutting units 51-53 are disposed in independent portions of the paths T1-T3, so the portion of the roll paper cut by the cutting units 51-53 between the storage unit and the cut portion is short. Therefore, when pulling out the paper feed tray, the distance to pull out the paper feed tray can be short. Alternatively, the operation of rewinding the portion into the storage unit is simple.

[0070] After S4 (recording and cutting), the CPU 91 causes the conveying unit 4 to convey the roll paper on which recording and cutting were performed in S4, and stops conveying the roll paper when the downstream end (leading end) of the roll paper in the conveying direction is located just upstream of the junction Tx (between the junction Tx and each of the roller pairs 44-46 in the conveying direction) (S5: standby process). In this case, by having the roll paper wait with its leading end just upstream of the junction Tx, it is possible to quickly execute processing according to subsequent recording commands.

[0071] When the CPU 91 receives a detection signal from any of the first to third grip sensors 1Ys to 3Ys (S11: YES), it causes the corresponding cutting units 51 to 53 to cut the roll paper (S12), and then causes the corresponding locking mechanisms L1 to L3 to release the lock (S13). In this case, it is possible to prevent long uncut rolls of paper Rp1 to Rp3 from being pulled out over a long distance when the paper feed trays 1 to 3 are pulled out.

[0072] <Modification> Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various design modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the printer has three trays, but is not limited to this and may have any number of trays greater than or equal to two.

[0074] The image recording device is not limited to having a plurality of cutting units arranged in respective independent portions of a plurality of paths, but may have one cutting unit arranged in a common portion of a plurality of paths.

[0075] The medium to be recorded is not limited to a medium wound in a roll. For example, the medium may be a stackable medium such as cut paper. For example, the first storage unit may store a medium wound in a roll, and the second storage unit may store a stackable medium such as cut paper.

[0076] The sheet medium is not limited to paper, but may be, for example, cloth, a resin material, or the like.

[0077] The recording unit is not limited to a liquid ejection type, but may be a laser type, a thermal transfer type, or the like.

[0078] The image recording device according to the present invention is not limited to a printer, but may be a facsimile, a copier, or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1 First paper feed tray (first tray) 1L First locking mechanism 1Xs 1st mounting sensor (1st sensor) 1Ys 1st grip sensor (3rd sensor) 10 First storage section 2 Second paper feed tray (second tray) 2L Second locking mechanism 2Xs Second mounting sensor (second sensor) 2Ys 2nd grip sensor (4th sensor) 20 Second storage section 4. Conveyor 47 Roller Pair (1st Roller Pair) 44~46 Roller Pair (Second Roller Pair) 51 1st cutting section 52 2nd cutting section 6 Head (recording section) 91 CPU (control unit) 100 Printer (image recording device) 100a housing R1, R2 roll body Rp1 Roll paper (first medium) Rp2 Roll paper (second medium) T1 1st pathway T2 2nd pathway Tx confluence

Claims

1. A first storage unit capable of storing a first medium; a second storage section capable of storing a second medium, the second storage section being aligned vertically with the first storage section; a conveying unit that selectively conveys the first medium and the second medium in a conveying direction; a recording unit that records an image on the medium transported by the transport unit, the conveying section includes a plurality of roller pairs spaced apart from each other in the conveying direction, the plurality of roller pairs include a first roller pair located upstream of the recording unit in the transport direction and having no other roller pair sandwiched between the recording unit and the first roller pair in the transport direction, and a second roller pair located upstream of the first roller pair in the transport direction and having no other roller pair sandwiched between the first roller pair and the second roller pair in the transport direction, an image recording device, characterized in that a first path along which the first medium is transported from the first storage section to the recording section by the transport section, and a second path along which the second medium is transported from the second storage section to the recording section by the transport section, meet at a junction located between the first roller pair and the second roller pair in the transport direction.

2. a control unit that controls the transport unit and the recording unit, The control unit is a standby process is executed to stop the transport of the second medium when a downstream end of the second medium in the transport direction is located between the junction and the second roller pair in the transport direction after the transport section has transported the second medium; 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording process for causing the transport section to transport the first medium and the recording section to record an image on the first medium during the standby process.

3. a first sensor that transmits a first detection signal to the control unit when the first medium is accommodated in the first accommodation unit; a second sensor that transmits a second detection signal to the control unit when the second medium is accommodated in the second accommodation unit; The control unit is After receiving the first detection signal and the second detection signal, and before receiving a recording command, 3. The image recording device of claim 2, characterized in that, after the transport section transports the first medium, the transport of the first medium is stopped when the downstream end of the first medium in the transport direction is located between the junction and the second roller pair in the transport direction, and, after the transport section transports the second medium, the transport of the second medium is stopped when the downstream end of the second medium in the transport direction is located between the junction and the second roller pair in the transport direction.

4. The first medium is accommodated in the first accommodation section in a rolled state, The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the second medium is accommodated in the second accommodation section in a rolled state.

5. a first cutting unit that cuts the first medium; A second cutting unit that cuts the second medium, the first cutting unit is disposed on the first path upstream of the junction in the conveying direction, The image recording device according to claim 4 , wherein the second cutting section is disposed on the second path upstream of the junction in the transport direction.

6. a control unit that controls the conveying unit, the recording unit, the first cutting unit, and the second cutting unit, The control unit is a recording process for causing the transport unit to transport the first medium and the recording unit to record an image on the first medium; a cutting process for causing the first cutting unit to cut the first medium; 6. The image recording device according to claim 5, characterized in that after the recording process and the cutting process, the transport section is caused to transport the first medium, and then a standby process is executed to stop transport of the first medium when the downstream end of the first medium in the transport direction is positioned between the junction and the second roller pair in the transport direction.

7. a housing that houses the transport unit and the recording unit; a first tray having the first storage portion, the first tray being movable relative to the housing and capable of taking a first mounted position in which the first tray is mounted in the housing and a first pulled-out position in which the first tray is pulled out from the housing; a second tray having the second storage portion, the second tray being movable relative to the housing and capable of taking a second mounted position in which the second tray is mounted in the housing and a second pulled-out position in which the second tray is pulled out from the housing; a first locking mechanism that locks the first tray in the first mounting position; a second locking mechanism that locks the second tray in the second mounting position; a control unit that controls the transport unit, the recording unit, the first cutting unit, the second cutting unit, the first locking mechanism, and the second locking mechanism; a third sensor that transmits a third detection signal to the control unit when the first tray moves from the first mounting position to the first drawing position; a fourth sensor that transmits a fourth detection signal to the control unit when the second tray moves from the second mounting position to the second pull-out position, The control unit is 7. The image recording device according to claim 5, characterized in that, when at least one of the third detection signal and the fourth detection signal is received, the image recording device causes a cutting section corresponding to the one of the first cutting section and the second cutting section to cut the medium, and then causes a corresponding mechanism of the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism to release the lock.

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