Recording device

Abstract

To easily discharge an object dropped on a medium support part 3 to the back of a device.SOLUTION: A recording medium 1 includes: a medium support part 3 which has a medium support surface 5 inclined at the back of the device; a medium insertion port 7 for inserting a medium 6 supported by the medium support surface 5; an inclined surface 9 which is the inclined surface 9 to which a tip of the medium supported by the medium support surface 5 comes into contact, and which extends in a loading direction S of the medium; a hole part 13 provided at the position which is a lower end part 11 of both the medium support surface 5 and the inclined surface 9; an object receiving part 19 provided between the hole part 13 and a device bottom part 15 and for receiving an object 17 falling from the hole part 13; and a discharge port 23 provided at a device back surface 21, and capable of discharging the object 17 received at the object receiving part 19 to the outside of the back of the device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as an inkjet printer.

Background Art

[0002] As an example of this type of recording apparatus, there is a recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 describes, in its FIG. 12, a structure in which foreign matter that has fallen on the medium support surface of the medium support portion passes through a gap provided in the lower portion of the medium support portion and falls onto the bottom of the recording apparatus. An opening is provided in the bottom, and the foreign matter is discharged outside the recording apparatus through the opening.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when a paper discharge tray, a paper feed cassette, etc. are arranged in the space between the lower portion of the medium support portion and the bottom portion, the foreign matter may land on these, and it may become difficult to discharge the foreign matter to the outside through the opening.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, a recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a medium support portion having a medium support surface that is inclined at the rear of the apparatus, a medium insertion port for inserting a medium supported on the medium support surface, an inclined surface that contacts the tip of the medium supported on the medium support surface and extends in the stacking direction of the medium, a hole provided at a position that is the lower end of both the medium support surface and the inclined surface, an object receiving portion provided between the hole and the bottom of the apparatus for receiving an object that falls from the hole, and a discharge port provided on the back of the apparatus for discharging the object received by the object receiving portion to the outside behind the apparatus.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Hereinafter, the present invention will be briefly described first. A recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a medium support portion having a medium support surface that is inclined at the rear of the apparatus, a medium insertion port for inserting a medium supported on the medium support surface, an inclined surface that contacts the tip of the medium supported on the medium support surface and extends in the stacking direction of the medium, a hole provided at a position that is the lower end of both the medium support surface and the inclined surface, an object receiving portion provided between the hole and the bottom of the apparatus for receiving an object that falls from the hole, and a discharge port provided on the back of the apparatus for discharging the object received by the object receiving portion to the outside behind the apparatus.

[0008] According to this aspect, there are provided a hole portion provided at a position that is the lower end portions of both the medium support surface and the inclined surface, an object receiving portion provided between the hole portion and the bottom of the apparatus for receiving an object that drops from the hole portion, and a discharge port provided on the rear surface of the apparatus for discharging the object received by the object receiving portion to the outside behind the apparatus. That is, the object receiving portion is provided between the hole portion and the bottom of the apparatus. Thereby, even if an object such as a clip is dropped onto the medium support surface, this object drops onto the object receiving portion from the hole portion and does not go in the direction of the bottom of the apparatus. Then, the object that has fallen onto the object receiving portion can be discharged to the outside behind the apparatus through the discharge port provided on the rear surface of the apparatus. Therefore, even when a component member such as a paper discharge tray is disposed in the space between the lower portion of the medium support portion and the bottom of the apparatus, the object does not fall onto these component members. Thus, the discharge of the object can be easily performed.

[0009] A second aspect of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is an aspect that depends on the first aspect, and is characterized by including a guiding surface portion that can receive the object received by the object receiving portion and guide it to the discharge port.

[0010] According to this aspect, there is provided a guiding surface portion that can receive the object received by the object receiving portion and guide it to the discharge port. Thereby, the object on the object receiving portion can be moved toward the discharge port using the guiding surface portion as a discharge path, and can be easily discharged to the outside behind the apparatus through the discharge port.

[0011] A third aspect of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is an aspect that depends on the second aspect, and is characterized in that the guiding surface portion is located below the object receiving portion.

[0012] According to this aspect, since the guiding surface portion is located below the object receiving portion, the object on the object receiving portion can be easily moved onto the guiding surface portion located below.

[0013] A fourth aspect of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is an aspect that depends on the second aspect, wherein the guiding surface portion has an inclined surface that rises toward the discharge port.

[0014] According to this aspect, the guiding surface portion has an inclined surface that rises toward the discharge port. Thereby, the inclined surface can prevent the object that has moved onto the guiding surface portion from inadvertently exiting to the outside through the discharge port. The object can be moved toward the discharge port by slightly lifting the front side of the recording apparatus, and thereby can be discharged to the outside.

[0015] A fifth aspect of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is an aspect that depends on the second aspect, wherein the guiding surface portion is integrally formed with a member that constitutes the rear surface of the apparatus. Note that this aspect can also depend on any one of the third aspect to the fourth aspect.

[0016] According to this aspect, the guiding surface portion is integrally formed with a member that constitutes the rear surface of the apparatus. That is, the guiding surface portion is formed by integral molding with a member that constitutes the rear surface of the apparatus. Thereby, the guiding surface portion can be easily provided on the rear surface of the apparatus.

[0017] A sixth aspect of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is an aspect that depends on the second aspect, wherein the guiding surface portion includes a plurality of ribs extending toward the discharge port. Note that this aspect can also depend on any one of the third aspect to the fifth aspect.

[0018] According to this aspect, the guiding surface portion includes a plurality of ribs extending toward the discharge port. Thereby, the guiding surface portion is divided into a plurality of discharge paths by the plurality of ribs, so that the discharge of the object from the discharge port is not concentrated and is easy to discharge.

[0019] The seventh aspect of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is an aspect dependent on the sixth aspect, wherein the guiding surface portion is formed to have a length corresponding to the range where the discharge port exists in the width direction on the back surface of the apparatus, and one of the plurality of ribs is erected at an end portion closer to the center of the apparatus in the width direction of the guiding surface portion.

[0020] According to this aspect, since one of the plurality of ribs is erected at an end portion closer to the center of the apparatus in the width direction of the guiding surface portion, it is possible to suppress the object that has moved from the object receiving portion to the guiding surface portion from falling onto the central portion inside the recording apparatus by the erected rib at the end portion.

[0021] The eighth aspect of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is an aspect dependent on the seventh aspect, wherein a motor is disposed at a position overlapping with the guiding surface portion in the width direction at the rear portion of the apparatus, and a shielding wall is provided between the motor and the guiding surface portion.

[0022] According to this aspect, since a shielding wall is provided between the motor at a position overlapping with the guiding surface portion in the width direction and the guiding surface portion, it is possible to suppress the object on the guiding surface portion from falling near the motor.

[0023] [Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In the following description, as shown in each figure, three axes orthogonal to each other are defined as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, respectively. The directions indicated by the arrows of the three axes (X, Y, Z) are the + directions of each direction, and the opposite directions are the - directions. The Z-axis direction corresponds to the vertical direction, that is, the direction in which gravity acts. The +Z direction indicates vertically upward, and the -Z direction indicates vertically downward. The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction correspond to the horizontal direction. The +Y direction indicates the front direction of the apparatus, and the -Y direction indicates the rear direction of the apparatus. The +X direction indicates the right direction of the apparatus, and the -X direction indicates the left direction of the apparatus.

[0024] [Embodiment 1] The recording device 1 of Embodiment 1 is an inkjet printer. Needless to say, the recording device 1 is not limited to an inkjet printer. FIG. 1 shows the non-use state of this recording device 1. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the use state in which the cover 2 at the rear of the device is opened and the extension support portion 4 is pulled out from the medium support portion 3. This recording device 1 includes a medium support portion 3 having a medium support surface 5 inclined in the -Y direction at the rear of the device, a medium insertion port 7 into which a medium 6 (FIG. 3) supported by the medium support surface 5 is inserted, and an inclined surface 9 that contacts the tip of the medium 6 supported by the medium support surface 5, the inclined surface 9 extending in the stacking direction S of the medium 6. The medium insertion port 7 is exposed with the cover 2 open so that the medium 6 can be inserted, and is covered as shown in FIG. 1 when in the closed state. Furthermore, this recording device 1 is provided with a hole portion 13 at a position that is the lower end portion 11 of both the medium support surface 5 and the inclined surface 9. Furthermore, an object receiving portion 19 is provided between the hole portion 13 and the device bottom portion 15. The object receiving portion 19 is formed to receive an object 17 that falls from the hole portion 13 and prevent it from falling to the device bottom portion 15. Furthermore, it is provided on the device rear surface 21 and includes a discharge port 23 through which the object 17 received by the object receiving portion 19 can be discharged to the outside behind the device.

[0025] <Medium support portion> In this embodiment, the medium support portion 3 has two extension support portions 4 as described above. The extension support portion 4 is configured to be switchable between a non-use state (FIG. 1) housed in the medium support portion 3 and a pulled-out state during use (FIGS. 2 and 3). The medium support portion 3 includes a known hopper (not shown), and in the state where the medium 6 is set as shown in FIG. 3, the lower end portion of the medium 6 is lifted upward in the stacking direction S from below and brought into contact with the feed roller 8. When the feed roller 8 rotates by the rotation shaft 18, the uppermost medium 6 in contact is picked up and sent in the direction of the recording portion 10. The medium 6 is conveyed in the conveying direction F by a conveying roller 12 disposed upstream of the recording execution area 14 of the recording unit 10, recording is executed by the recording unit 10, and is discharged to the outside from the discharge unit 20 by a discharge roller 16 or the like. These series of operations are executed under the control of a control unit (not shown). In FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numeral 24 is an edge guide that guides the side of the medium 6. In the present embodiment, the medium support portion 3 is formed by integrally molding a member of the inclined surface 9 and a synthetic resin, and the lowermost end of the medium support portion 3 and the lowermost end of the inclined surface 9 are integrally connected by a connecting portion 22.

[0026] <Hole portion> The hole portion 13 is provided at a position that becomes the lower end portions 11 of both the medium support surface 5 and the inclined surface 9. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the hole portion 13 is formed by notching a part of the connecting portion 22 and the lower end portion 11 of the medium support portion 3. The diameter size of the hole portion 13 is desirably set to a size that allows an object that may fall into this portion, such as a clip, to pass through and fall onto the object receiving portion 19. In the present embodiment, the hole portion 13 is disposed substantially at the center in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the recording apparatus 1. When the object 17 is dropped from the medium insertion port 7 to the central portion of the recording apparatus 1, it slides down on the medium support surface 5 and falls from the hole portion 13 onto the object receiving portion 19 below. When the object 17 is dropped at a position deviated from the central portion of the recording apparatus 1, it slides down on the medium support surface 5 and stops on the connecting portion 22. In this case, the user can lightly swing the recording apparatus 1 to move the object 17 on the connecting portion 22 to the position of the hole portion 13 and drop it downward.

[0027] <<Modification example>> Although illustration is omitted, the hole portion 13 may be changed to be provided over substantially the entire width direction of the recording apparatus 1. Specifically, the medium support portion 3 and the inclined surface 9 may be formed as separate bodies, and substantially the entire portion corresponding to the connecting portion 22 in the previous description may be configured as a gap, and the object 17 may be dropped downward from the gap. In this case, the object receiving portion 19 is configured to exist over the entire width direction of the hole portion 13 so that it can receive the object 17 dropped from any position of the hole portion 13 configured by the gap.

[0028] <Object receiving portion, discharge port> The object receiving portion 19 is provided between the hole portion 13 and the apparatus bottom portion 15. In the present embodiment, a space 26 is provided between the object receiving portion 19 and the apparatus bottom portion 15 so that other constituent members, such as a paper discharge tray, can be arranged. The object receiving portion 19 is configured to receive the object 17 dropped from the hole portion 13 and not to fall further into the apparatus bottom portion 15 within the space 26. The discharge port 23 is provided in the apparatus rear surface 21. The discharge port 23 is an opening through which the object 17 received by the object receiving portion 19 can be discharged to the outside behind the apparatus.

[0029] <Guide surface portion> As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the present embodiment, a guide surface portion 25 is provided that can receive the object 17 received by the object receiving portion 19 and guide it to the discharge port 23. Here, the guide surface portion 25 is provided so as to be positioned below the object receiving portion 19, and the object 17 that has fallen onto the object receiving portion 19 is likely to move onto the guide surface portion 25 positioned below. Furthermore, the guide surface portion 25 has an inclined surface 27 that rises toward the discharge port 23. A horizontal surface 28 portion is provided on the lower end side of the inclined surface 27. That is, when the object 17 on the object receiving portion 19 above moves to the horizontal surface 28 portion of the guide surface portion 25, the guide surface portion 25 is configured to stop on the horizontal surface 28. That is, it is configured so that the object 17 does not inadvertently pop out from the discharge port 23. When discharging the object 17 from the horizontal surface 28 through the inclined surface 27 from the discharge port 23, it can be performed by lifting the front side of the recording apparatus 1 slightly upward to make the upward inclination of the inclined surface 27 non-existent.

[0030] Further, in the present embodiment, the guiding surface portion 25 is integrally formed with the member constituting the rear surface 21 of the apparatus. That is, the guiding surface portion 25 is formed by integrally molding the member constituting the rear surface 21 of the apparatus and a synthetic resin. Also, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the guiding surface portion 25 includes a plurality of ribs 291, 292, 293 extending toward the discharge port 23. That is, the upper surface of the guiding surface portion 25 is divided into a plurality of parts by the plurality of ribs 291, 292, 293. In other words, a state is formed in which a plurality of discharge paths are provided by being partitioned by the plurality of ribs 291, 292, 293.

[0031] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the guiding surface portion 25 is formed to have a length L corresponding to the range where the discharge port 23 exists in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the rear surface 21 of the apparatus. That is, the guiding surface portion 25 is configured to exist in the range in the width direction where the discharge port 23 exists. And, one of the plurality of ribs 291, 292, 293, i.e., the rib 293, is erected at an end portion closer to the center of the apparatus in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the guiding surface portion 25. The shape and height of the portion of the rib 293 corresponding to the inclined surface 27 are different from those of the other ribs 291, 292 and are formed higher. That is, when the user lifts the front side of the recording apparatus 1 slightly upward as described above and performs an operation of discharging an object 17 outside from the discharge port 23, the object 17 moves in the -X direction in the width direction instead of in the -Y direction at the rear of the apparatus on the inclined surface 27 and is prevented from falling to the central portion of the apparatus.

[0032] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, a motor 31 is disposed at a position overlapping the guiding surface portion 25 at the rear portion of the apparatus in the width direction. The motor 31 is a power source for rotating a feeding roller 8, a conveying roller 12, etc. that convey the medium 6 in the conveying direction F. And a shielding wall 33 is provided between the motor 31 and the guiding surface portion 25. The entry of an object such as a clip around the motor 31 has a significant negative impact on the gear train or the like that forms the power transmission path. The shielding wall 33 is provided to make it difficult to receive such a negative impact.

[0033] <Description of the effects of Embodiment 1> (1) In this embodiment, a hole portion 13 provided at a position that is the lower end portion 11 of both the medium support surface 5 and the inclined surface 9, an object receiving portion 19 provided between the hole portion 13 and the device bottom portion 15 for receiving an object 17 that falls from the hole portion 13, and a discharge port 23 provided on the device rear surface 21 for discharging the object 17 received by the object receiving portion 19 to the outside behind the device are provided. That is, the object receiving portion 19 is provided between the hole portion 13 and the device bottom portion 15. Thereby, even if an object 17 such as a clip is dropped onto the medium support surface 5, this object 17 falls from the hole portion 13 onto the object receiving portion 19 and does not head in the direction of the device bottom portion 15. Then, the object 17 that has fallen onto the object receiving portion 19 can be discharged to the outside behind the device through the discharge port 23 provided on the device rear surface 21. Therefore, even when a component member such as a discharge receiving tray is arranged in the space 26 between the lower part of the medium support portion 3 and the device bottom portion 15, the object 17 does not fall onto these component members. Thus, the discharge of the object 17 can be easily performed.

[0034] (2) Further, in this embodiment, a guiding surface portion 25 that can receive the object 17 received by the object receiving portion 19 and guide it to the discharge port 23 is provided. Thereby, the object 17 on the object receiving portion 19 can be moved toward the discharge port 23 using the guiding surface portion 25 as a discharge path and easily discharged to the outside behind the device through the discharge port 23. (3) Further, in this embodiment, since the guiding surface portion 25 is located below the object receiving portion 19, the object 17 on the object receiving portion 19 can be easily moved onto the guiding surface portion 25 located below.

[0035] (4) Further, in the present embodiment, the guiding surface portion 25 has an inclined surface 27 that rises toward the discharge port 23. Thereby, the inclined surface 27 can prevent the object 17 that has moved onto the guiding surface portion 25 from inadvertently exiting to the outside through the discharge port 23. The object 17 can be moved toward the discharge port 23 by slightly lifting the front side of the recording apparatus 1, and thereby can be discharged to the outside. (5) Further, in the present embodiment, the guiding surface portion 25 is integrally formed with the member constituting the apparatus rear surface 21. That is, the guiding surface portion 25 is formed by integral molding with the member constituting the apparatus rear surface 21. Thereby, the guiding surface portion 25 can be easily provided on the apparatus rear surface 21.

[0036] (6) Further, in the present embodiment, the guiding surface portion 25 includes a plurality of ribs 291, 292, 293 extending toward the discharge port 23. Thereby, since the guiding surface portion 25 is divided into a plurality of discharge paths by the plurality of ribs 291, 292, 293, the discharge of the object 17 from the discharge port 23 is not concentrated and is easy to discharge. (7) Further, in the present embodiment, one of the plurality of ribs 291, 292, 293, rib 293, is erected at an end portion closer to the center of the apparatus in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the guiding surface portion 25. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the object 17 that has moved from the object receiving portion 19 onto the guiding surface portion 25 from falling onto the central portion inside the recording apparatus 1 by the erected rib 293 at the end portion.

[0037] (8) Further, in the present embodiment, a shielding wall 33 is provided between the guiding surface portion 25 and the motor 31 at a position overlapping in the width direction (X-axis direction). Thereby, it is possible to suppress the object 17 on the guiding surface portion 25 from falling near the motor 31.

[0038] 〔Other Embodiments〕 The recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention is basically configured to have the configuration of the above-described embodiment, but it is of course possible to make partial configuration changes, omissions, etc. without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0039] In the above embodiment, for the sake of easy and simple explanation, the fall of the object 17 such as a clip was described in a state where the medium 6 was not set on the medium support surface 5. The case where the object 17 is dropped in a state where the medium 6 is set on the medium support surface 5 will be described below. In a state where the medium 6 is set on the medium support surface 5, most of the hole 13 is blocked by the medium 6. When the object 17 is dropped in this state, the object 17 slides down the surface of the uppermost medium 6 and stops at the inclined surface 9. The user pulls out and removes the medium 6 from the medium support surface 5. As a result, the hole 13 is opened, so that the object 17 can fall downward from the opened hole 13. Since the subsequent steps are the same as those in the above embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the guiding surface portion 25 was described as including the horizontal surface 28 and the inclined surface 27, but the inclined surface 27 may be omitted and only the horizontal surface 28 may be provided. In the case of such a structure with only the horizontal surface 28, the position side of the apparatus back surface 21 becomes a wall, so that the object 17 stops inside the wall. By forming the discharge port 23 to a size into which a finger can enter, the object 17 can be taken out with a finger. Alternatively, the wall may be configured to be openable and closable. In the above embodiment, the ribs 291, 292, 293 were described as having a structure in which three ribs are provided, but the number is not limited to three, and two or four or more ribs may be provided.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0041] 1... Recording apparatus, 2... Cover, 3... Medium support portion, 4... Extension support portion, 5... Medium support surface, 6... Medium, 7... Medium insertion port, 8... Feeding roller, 9... Inclined surface, 10... Recording portion, 11... Lower end portion, 12... Conveying roller, 13... Hole, 14... Recording execution area, 15... Apparatus bottom, 16... Discharge roller, 17... Object, 18... Rotation axis, 19... ddddddd, 20... Discharge portion, 21... Apparatus back surface, 22... Connecting portion, 23... Discharge port, 24... Edge guide, 25... Guiding surface portion, 26... Space, 27... inclined surface, 28... horizontal surface, 291, 292, 293... ribs, 31... motor, 33... shielding wall, F... conveying direction, L... length, S... loading direction

Claims

1. a medium support portion having an inclined medium support surface at the rear of the apparatus; a medium insertion port for inserting a medium supported on the medium support surface; an inclined surface with which the tip of the medium supported on the medium support surface comes into contact, the inclined surface extending in the stacking direction of the medium; a hole provided at a position that is the lower end of both the medium support surface and the inclined surface; dddddd provided between the hole and the bottom of the apparatus to receive an object falling from the hole; a discharge port provided on the back surface of the apparatus and capable of discharging the object received by the ddddddd to the outside behind the apparatus. A recording apparatus characterized by comprising:

2. In the recording apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a guiding surface capable of receiving the object received by the ddddddd and guiding it to the discharge port. A recording apparatus characterized by comprising:

3. In the recording apparatus according to Claim 2, the guiding surface is located below the object receiving portion. A recording apparatus characterized by comprising:

4. In the recording apparatus according to Claim 3, the guiding surface has an inclined surface that rises toward the discharge port. A recording apparatus characterized by comprising:

5. In the recording apparatus according to Claim 2, the guiding surface is integrally formed with a member constituting the back surface of the apparatus. A recording apparatus characterized by comprising:

6. In the recording apparatus according to Claim 2, the guiding surface includes a plurality of ribs extending toward the discharge port. A recording apparatus characterized by comprising:

7. In the recording apparatus according to Claim 6, the guiding surface is formed to have a length corresponding to the range where the discharge port exists in the width direction of the back surface of the apparatus, and one of the plurality of ribs is erected at an end closer to the center of the apparatus in the width direction of the guiding surface. A recording apparatus characterized by comprising:

8. In the recording apparatus according to Claim 7, a motor is disposed at a position overlapping with the guiding surface in the width direction at the rear of the apparatus, and a shielding wall is provided between the motor and the guiding surface. A recording apparatus characterized by comprising: ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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