Medium transport device

Abstract

To improve cleaning performance of a conveying part with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A medium-storage-portion side 10A that is capable of storing the media P and is insertable into and removable from the device body 35 in a first direction; and a rotation shaft that is provided on one of the device body 35 and the medium-storage-portion side 10A and extends in the first direction, and a cleaner 50 that is provided on the other of the device body 35 and the medium-accommodating-part side 13B and that is capable of cleaning the conveying-part side 10A by coming into contact with the conveying-part side 13B, wherein the conveying-part side 13B and the cleaner 50 rub against each other as the conveying-part side 10A and the cleaner 50 move relative to each other in conjunction with insertion and removal of the medium-accommodating-part side 13B into and from the device body 35. 13B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a media transport device. [Background technology]

[0002] Various media transport devices have been used in the past, each equipped with a media storage unit and a transport unit, which transports the media stored in the media storage unit. Among these, there are media transport devices in which the media storage unit can be inserted and removed from the device body. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a paper feed device in which a paper feed cassette serving as the media storage unit can be inserted and removed from the device body, and which has an adhesive member as a mechanism for cleaning the paper feed roller serving as the transport unit in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the paper feed cassette. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-211779 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional media transport devices, the transport section can become soiled with, for example, paper dust due to repeated transport of media. This is also true in conventional media transport devices that include a media storage section and a transport section, and that allow the media storage section to be inserted and removed from the device body, such as the paper feed device of Patent Document 1. Here, in the paper feed device of Patent Document 1, an adhesive member contacts the paper feed roller when the paper feed cassette is removed from the device body, but simply having the adhesive member contact the paper feed roller is insufficient for cleaning performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, the media transport device of the present invention comprises a media storage section capable of storing a medium and being inserted and removed from the device main body along a first direction; a transport section provided on either the device main body or the media storage section, having a rotation axis along the first direction, and contacting the medium to transport the medium in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a cleaning member provided on the other of the device main body or the media storage section, contacting the transport section to clean the transport section, wherein the transport section and the cleaning member rub against each other as the transport section and the cleaning member move relative to each other in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the media storage section from the device main body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a recording apparatus as a medium conveying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the positional relationship between the transport unit and the cleaning member when the medium container is inserted into the apparatus main body. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the positional relationship between the conveying unit and the cleaning member when the medium container is removed from the apparatus main body. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a front view showing the internal configuration of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the positional relationship between a conveying unit and a cleaning member. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the internal configuration of a recording apparatus as a medium conveying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows the positional relationship between a conveying unit and a cleaning member. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the internal configuration of a recording apparatus as a medium conveying device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and shows the positional relationship between a conveying unit and a cleaning member. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of a recording device as a medium conveying device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the positional relationship between the conveying unit and the cleaning member when the medium storage unit is inserted into the device main body. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a rotation mechanism of a conveyance unit of the recording apparatus in FIG. 7. [Figure 9]FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of a recording device as a medium conveying device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the positional relationship between the conveying unit and the cleaning member when the medium storage unit is inserted into the device main body. [Figure 10] 10 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of the recording apparatus of FIG. 9, illustrating the positional relationship between the transport unit and the cleaning member when the medium container unit is removed from the apparatus main body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention will be briefly described below. A first aspect of the present invention provides a media transport device comprising: a media storage section capable of storing a medium and being inserted and removed from the device main body along a first direction; a transport section provided on either the device main body or the media storage section, having a rotation axis along the first direction, contacting the medium and transporting the medium in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a cleaning member provided on the other of the device main body or the media storage section, contacting the transport section and capable of cleaning the transport section, wherein the transport section and the cleaning member rub against each other as the transport section and the cleaning member move relative to each other in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the media storage section from the device main body.

[0008] According to this aspect, the medium storage unit can be inserted into and removed from the device body along a first direction that intersects with the second direction, which is the medium transport direction. The transport unit and the cleaning member rub against each other as the transport unit and the cleaning member move relative to each other in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the medium storage unit into and from the device body. This configuration facilitates a long relative movement distance between the transport unit and the cleaning member. In other words, with a simple configuration, the transport unit and the cleaning member can rub against each other over a long distance, rather than simply abutting against each other. The long rubbing between the transport unit and the cleaning member allows the cleaning member to thoroughly clean the transport unit. Therefore, the cleaning performance of the transport unit can be improved with a simple configuration.

[0009] A medium conveying device according to a second aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the first aspect, characterized in that the conveying unit is provided in the device main body and the cleaning member is provided in the medium storage unit.

[0010] According to this aspect, in a configuration in which the conveying unit is provided in the device body and the cleaning member is provided in the medium storage unit, the cleaning performance of the conveying unit can be improved. Furthermore, since the cleaning member can be removed from the device body together with the medium storage unit, it is easy to check for dirt on the cleaning member and to replace it.

[0011] A medium conveying device according to a third aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the second aspect, and is characterized in that the cleaning member is arranged rearward of the medium storage unit relative to the conveying unit in the direction of removing the medium storage unit from the device main body in the first direction, based on the state in which the medium storage unit is inserted into the device main body.

[0012] According to this aspect, the cleaning member is provided behind the medium storage unit relative to the transport unit in the direction of removing the medium storage unit from the device body in the first direction, based on the state in which the medium storage unit is inserted into the device body. With this configuration, in a configuration in which the transport unit is provided in the device body and the cleaning member is provided in the medium storage unit, the transport unit and the cleaning member can be efficiently rubbed against each other over a long distance, efficiently improving the cleaning performance of the transport unit.

[0013] A fourth aspect of the media conveying device of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the third aspect, and is characterized in that when the device main body has the media storage unit inserted, in the direction of removing the media storage unit from the device main body in the first direction, the length from the center of the conveying unit to the rear end of the cleaning member is longer than the length from the center of the conveying unit to the rear end of the media storage range of the media storage unit.

[0014] According to this aspect, when the medium storage unit is inserted into the device body, the length from the center of the conveying unit to the rear end of the cleaning member in the direction of removing the medium storage unit from the device body in the first direction is longer than the length from the center of the conveying unit to the rear end of the medium storage area of ​​the medium storage unit. This allows for a particularly long relative movement distance between the conveying unit and the cleaning member, thereby enabling particularly efficient improvement in the cleaning performance of the conveying unit.

[0015] A media conveying device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the first aspect, characterized in that the conveying unit is provided in the media storage unit, the cleaning member is provided in the device main body, and the cleaning member is provided further forward than the conveying unit in the direction of removing the media storage unit from the device main body in the first direction, based on the state in which the media storage unit is inserted into the device main body.

[0016] According to this aspect, the conveying unit is provided in the medium storage unit, the cleaning member is provided in the device body, and the cleaning member is provided further forward than the conveying unit in the direction of removing the medium storage unit from the device body in the first direction, based on the state in which the medium storage unit is inserted into the device body. With this configuration, in a configuration in which the conveying unit is provided in the medium storage unit and the cleaning member is provided in the device body, the conveying unit and the cleaning member can be rubbed against each other efficiently over a long distance, thereby efficiently improving the cleaning performance of the conveying unit.

[0017] A media conveying device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the third to fifth aspects, and is characterized in that when the media storage unit is inserted into the device main body, the conveying unit and the cleaning member are positioned so as not to overlap when viewed from a third direction that intersects with the first direction and the second direction, and the conveying unit and the cleaning member are positioned so as to overlap when viewed from the first direction.

[0018] According to this aspect, when the medium storage unit is inserted into the device body, the transport unit and the cleaning member are positioned so that they do not overlap when viewed from the third direction, and so that they overlap when viewed from the first direction. This configuration allows the transport unit and the cleaning member to be brought into contact with and separated from each other simply by attaching or detaching the medium storage unit to or from the device body, making it possible to both clean the transport unit and transport media with a simple configuration that does not require a mechanism for moving the cleaning member in a direction different from the first direction. Furthermore, the transport unit and the cleaning member can be rubbed against each other efficiently over a long distance, efficiently improving the cleaning performance of the transport unit.

[0019] A media conveying device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to sixth aspects, and is characterized in that the cleaning member has a length in the first direction that is longer than the length in the second direction.

[0020] According to this aspect, the length of the cleaning member in the first direction is longer than the length in the second direction, which allows a longer relative movement distance between the conveying unit and the cleaning member, thereby efficiently improving the cleaning performance of the conveying unit.

[0021] The medium conveying device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to seventh aspects, and is characterized in that the cleaning member has multiple contact surfaces when viewed from the first direction and is configured to be able to contact the conveying section at multiple of the contact surfaces.

[0022] According to this aspect, the cleaning member is configured to be able to come into contact with the conveying section at a plurality of contact surfaces, and by coming into contact with the conveying section at a plurality of contact surfaces in this manner, the cleaning performance of the conveying section can be efficiently improved.

[0023] A media conveying device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to seventh aspects, and is characterized in that the cleaning member has a contact surface with a curved shape that follows the shape of the conveying section when viewed from the first direction.

[0024] According to this aspect, the cleaning member has a contact surface that is curved to conform to the shape of the conveying section when viewed from the first direction. By configuring the cleaning member to have a contact surface that is curved to conform to the shape of the conveying section in this way, it is possible to efficiently improve the cleaning performance of the conveying section.

[0025] The media conveying device according to the 10th aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the 1st to 9th aspects, and is characterized in that it is equipped with a rotation mechanism that rotates the conveying unit in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the media storage unit into the device main body.

[0026] According to this aspect, the device includes a rotation mechanism that rotates the conveyance unit in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the media storage unit from the device body. This configuration allows the conveyance unit to be efficiently rubbed against the cleaning member while rotating, thereby efficiently improving the cleaning performance of the conveyance unit.

[0027] The media conveying device according to the 11th aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on any one of the first to tenth aspects, and is characterized in that the conveying unit is a retard roller that forms a roller pair together with a feed roller that feeds the media and separates the media that are fed in multiple times together with the feed roller.

[0028] According to this aspect, the conveying unit is a retard roller that forms a roller pair together with the feed roller that feeds the medium and separates overlapping media together with the feed roller. By adopting this configuration, in a configuration in which the conveying unit is a retard roller, it is possible to efficiently improve the cleaning performance of the conveying unit.

[0029] [Example 1] The present invention will be described in detail below. First, a recording device 1 according to a first embodiment, which is an example of a medium conveying device of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In the XYZ coordinate system shown in each figure, the X axis direction indicates the front and rear directions of the device and the width direction of the medium, the Y axis direction indicates the side direction of the device, and the Z axis direction indicates the height direction of the device and the direction of gravity. The direction in which the medium P is conveyed is referred to as "downstream," and the opposite direction is referred to as "upstream." In addition, in each figure, some components may be omitted or simplified to make the internal configuration easier to understand.

[0030] First, an overview of the recording device 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the recording device 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a discharge tray 4 that receives the medium P that has had an image recorded on it and is discharged. The recording device 1 also has an opening / closing cover 6 that is configured to be swingable about a swing shaft 6a and can be opened and closed by swinging about the swing shaft 6a. A manual feed tray 41 is provided inside the opening / closing cover 6. The manual feed tray 41 rotates about the swing shaft 41a and can be opened and closed together with the opening / closing cover 6.

[0031] The recording device 1 has three medium feeding paths: a feeding path from the medium cassette 10A corresponding to the cassette feeding locus S1, a feeding path from an expansion cassette (not shown) corresponding to the expansion cassette feeding locus S2, and a feeding path from the manual feed tray 41 on which the medium P is placed corresponding to the manual feed path S3. The recording device 1 has two medium ejection methods: face-up ejection, which corresponds to the face-up ejection locus T1 and ejects the medium with the most recently recorded first side facing up, and face-down ejection, which corresponds to the face-down ejection locus T2 and ejects the medium with the first side facing down.

[0032] The recording device 1 is equipped with a face-up paper output tray 7 that receives the medium P that is output face-up. The face-up paper output tray 7 can be rotated about a rotation axis 7a to take a stored state shown in Fig. 1 and an open state (not shown). The recording device 1 also has five media transport paths: a recording transport path R1, a switchback path R2, a reversing path R3, a face-down discharge path R4, and a face-up discharge path R5.

[0033] The recording device 1 is equipped with a flap 33, which is a path switching member driven by a drive source (not shown), and switches between the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 and the state shown by the flap 33-1 in imaginary lines. When the flap 33 is in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, the medium P is guided to a face-down discharge path R4 and discharged face-down as indicated by a face-down discharge trajectory T2. The most downstream side of the face-down discharge path R4 is made up of a discharge mechanism unit 36. A plurality of spurs, which are driven rollers, are provided in area J1 in FIG. 1. When the flap 33 is in the state shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 1, the medium P is guided to a face-up discharge path R5 and discharged face-up as indicated by a face-up discharge trajectory T1.

[0034] The control unit 9, which performs various controls, acquires recording data, which is data for recording, generated by a printer driver running on an external computer (not shown) or a printer driver included in the control unit 9. Based on the recording data, the control unit 9 controls the inkjet recording head 8, various media transport rollers driven by motors (not shown), and flaps, which are path switching members. The control unit 9 performs necessary control based on the detection status of various sensors, such as a sensor that detects the passage of the medium P. The control unit 9 is conceptually shown in FIG. 1 and is actually configured by a circuit board installed in a predetermined position within the device main body 35.

[0035] Here, we will explain the medium feeding path up to the pair of registration rollers 17. Medium cassette 10A, which is detachably mounted on device main body 35, is equipped with a hopper 11, and as hopper 11 swings around shaft 11a, medium P stored in medium cassette 10A moves toward and away from feed roller 12, which is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). Details of medium cassette 10A will be described later.

[0036] The medium P sent out from the medium cassette 10A by the feed roller 12 passes through the nip position of the separation roller pair 13 to prevent double feeding, and then receives a feeding force from the transport roller pair 14 and reaches the registration roller pair 17. The separation roller pair 13 is composed of a feed roller 13A and a retard roller 13B. When the media P are fed in a double-feed manner up to the separation roller pair 13, the feed roller 13A rotates to transport only the topmost medium P, and the retard roller 13B does not rotate together with the feed roller 13A, thereby preventing the transport of the media P below the topmost medium P.

[0037] Additional cassettes (not shown) located below the device main body 35 are also equipped with a feed roller 12 and a separation roller pair 13, and medium P sent out from each additional cassette receives a feeding force from a transport roller pair 14 shown in Fig. 1 and reaches a registration roller pair 17. A feed roller 15 and a separation roller 16 are provided on the manual feed path S3, which is the medium feed path from the manual feed tray 41, and medium P set in the manual feed tray 41 reaches the registration roller pair 17 by the rotation of these rollers.

[0038] The medium transport path is provided with a registration roller pair 17, transport roller pairs 20 to 24, transport roller pairs 26 to 29, and a discharge roller pair 25 as a discharge section that discharges the medium P. Note that the discharge roller pair 25 provided at the most downstream side of the face-down discharge path R4 constitutes the discharge section that discharges the medium P from the face-down discharge path R4.

[0039] Each roller pair has a drive roller driven by a motor (not shown), and a driven roller that can nip the medium P between the drive roller and the drive roller and that rotates in contact with the medium P. A recording transport path R1 as a first transport path passes under a recording head 8 as a recording unit that records on the medium P, and extends upstream and downstream of the recording head 8. In the recording transport path R1, the medium P receives a feeding force from a registration roller pair 17 and a belt unit 18. The belt unit 18 has an electrostatic attraction belt 181 that transports the medium P, and a drive roller 182 and a driven roller 183 between which the electrostatic attraction belt 181 is stretched.

[0040] The recording head 8 of this embodiment is a so-called line head in which nozzles that eject ink are arranged to cover the entire width of the medium, and is configured as a recording head that can record across the entire width of the medium without moving in the width direction of the medium. However, the recording head is not limited to a line head as long as it is a recording unit that records by ejecting liquid such as ink onto the medium P. Furthermore, instead of a recording unit that ejects liquid ink, it may also be equipped with a recording unit that records using toner.

[0041] The switchback path R2 as the second transport path is a transport path that connects to the recording transport path R1, and after feeding the medium P that has passed under the recording head 8 to the left in FIG. 1, it switches back and transports the medium P to the right in FIG. 1, which is the opposite direction to the feeding direction, and is located inside the curve of the face-down discharge path R4, which will be described later. In the switchback path R2, the medium P receives a transport force from the transport roller pair 26.

[0042] The reverse path R3 as a third transport path is a transport path that connects to the switchback path R2, and reverses the medium P transported in the reverse direction, which is to the right in FIG. 1, by detouring above the recording head 8 and merging with the recording transport path R1 at a position upstream of the recording head 8, which in this embodiment is a position upstream of the registration roller pair 17. In the reverse path R3, the medium P receives a feeding force from the transport roller pairs 27, 28, and 29.

[0043] The face-down discharge path R4, which serves as the fourth transport path, is a transport path that connects to the recording transport path R1 and is a path for curving the medium P that has passed under the recording head 8 so that the surface facing the recording head 8 is inward, inverting it, and discharging it. In the face-down discharge path R4, the medium P receives a feeding force from pairs of transport rollers 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 and pair of discharge rollers 25. As described above, the most downstream side of the face-down discharge path R4 is configured by the discharge mechanism unit 36. At the connection points of the transport paths, flaps are provided as path switching members that switch the transport paths. The path along which the medium P travels is determined by the flaps.

[0044] Next, details of the medium cassette 10A of the recording device 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. The medium cassette 10A of this embodiment is a medium storage unit that can store a medium P and is insertable into and removable from the device main body 35 along a first direction corresponding to the X-axis direction. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in the recording device 1 of this embodiment, the feed roller 12 and separation roller pair 13 that form the transport unit for the medium P are provided in the device main body 35. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the feed roller 12 and separation roller pair 13 are capable of contacting the medium P and transporting the medium P in a second direction that roughly corresponds to the Y-axis direction that intersects the X-axis direction, and have rotation axes 121, 131, and 132 that are aligned with the first direction.

[0045] 2 to 4, medium cassette 10A is provided with a rectangular brush 51 as a cleaning member 50 that can contact and clean retard roller 13B of separation roller pair 13 that serves as a transport section. Recording device 1 of this embodiment is configured so that retard roller 13B and cleaning member 50 rub against each other as the retard roller 13B and cleaning member move relative to each other in conjunction with the insertion and removal of medium cassette 10A into and from device main body 35. When medium cassette 10A is removed from device main body 35, retard roller 13B moves slightly in a direction away from feed roller 13A at the moment medium cassette 10A is removed from device main body 35, preventing the retard roller 13B and feed roller 13A from rubbing against each other.

[0046] The retard roller 13B, which constitutes the separation roller pair 13, is prone to adhesion of paper dust and other debris via the medium P. However, the recording device 1 of this embodiment, with its configuration, makes it easier to increase the relative movement distance between the retard roller 13B, which is the cleaning target, and the cleaning member 50. That is, the recording device 1 of this embodiment has a simple configuration, and the retard roller 13B and the rectangular brush 51 serving as the cleaning member 50 can rub against each other over a long distance, rather than simply contacting each other. The retard roller 13B and the rectangular brush 51 rub against each other over a long distance, allowing the retard roller 13B to be thoroughly cleaned by the rectangular brush 51. Therefore, the recording device 1 of this embodiment can improve the cleaning performance of the retard roller 13B with a simple configuration.

[0047] In the recording device 1 of this embodiment, the retard roller 13B is provided in the device body 35, and the cleaning member 50 is provided in the medium cassette 10A. That is, in the recording device 1 of this embodiment, the conveyance unit is provided in the device body, and the cleaning member is provided in the medium storage unit, and this configuration improves the cleaning performance of the conveyance unit. Furthermore, this configuration allows the cleaning member to be removed from the device body along with the medium storage unit, making it easy to check for dirt on the cleaning member and to replace it.

[0048] 2, the cleaning member 50 is provided behind (toward the -X direction) the medium cassette 10A relative to the retard roller 13B in the +X direction, which corresponds to the direction in which the medium cassette 10A is removed from the device body 35 within the first direction corresponding to the X axis direction, based on the state in which the medium cassette 10A is inserted into the device body 35. With this configuration, the recording device 1 of this embodiment, in a configuration in which the transport unit is provided in the device body and the cleaning member is provided in the medium storage unit, can efficiently rub the retard roller 13B as the transport unit against the rectangular brush 51 over a long distance, thereby efficiently improving the cleaning performance of the retard roller 13B as the transport unit.

[0049] 2, when medium cassette 10A is inserted into device main body 35 of recording device 1 of this embodiment, length L1 from the center of retard roller 13B to the rear end of rectangular brush 51 of cleaning member 50 in the +X direction is longer than length L2 from the center of rectangular brush 51 to the rear end of the medium storage range of medium cassette 10A. Here, the medium storage range refers to the range that stores media P that can be recorded by recording device 1 and that can be stored in recording device 1. With this configuration, recording device 1 of this embodiment has a particularly long relative movement distance between retard roller 13B and cleaning member 50 as a transport unit, which allows for particularly efficient improvement in the cleaning performance of retard roller 13B as a transport unit.

[0050] 2, when the recording device 1 of this embodiment has the medium cassette 10A inserted in the device main body 35, the retard roller 13B and the rectangular brush 51 of the cleaning member 50 are positioned so as not to overlap when viewed from a third direction corresponding to the Z axis direction that intersects with the first direction corresponding to the X axis direction and the second direction corresponding to the Y axis direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the retard roller 13B and the rectangular brush 51 of the cleaning member 50 are positioned so as to overlap when viewed from the X axis direction that corresponds to the first direction.

[0051] With this configuration, the recording device 1 of this embodiment can bring the retard roller 13B and the rectangular brush 51 into contact with and separate from each other simply by attaching or detaching the medium cassette 10A to or from the device body 35, and therefore can both clean the retard roller 13B and transport the medium P with a simple configuration that does not use a mechanism for moving the cleaning member 50 in a direction different from the first direction. Furthermore, with this configuration, the retard roller 13B and the rectangular brush 51 can be rubbed against each other efficiently over a long distance, efficiently improving the cleaning performance of the retard roller 13B.

[0052] 3, in the recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the rectangular brush 51 of the cleaning member 50 has a length L3 in a first direction corresponding to the X-axis direction that is longer than a length L4 in a second direction corresponding to the Y-axis direction. Therefore, in the recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the relative movement distance between the retard roller 13B and the cleaning member 50 is long, and the cleaning performance of the retard roller 13B can be efficiently improved.

[0053] Furthermore, as described above, in the recording device 1 of this embodiment, the transport section to be cleaned is the retard roller 13B, which together with the feed roller 13A that feeds the medium P constitutes the separation roller pair 13 and separates multiple-fed media P together with the feed roller 13A. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to efficiently improve the cleaning performance of the transport section in a configuration in which the transport section is a retard roller.

[0054] [Example 2] Next, a recording apparatus of Example 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, components common to those of Example 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Note that FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4 showing the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1. Here, the recording apparatus of this example has the same configuration as the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1, except for the configuration of the cleaning member 50. Therefore, except for the parts described below, the recording apparatus of this example has the same features as the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1.

[0055] 5, in the recording device of this embodiment, the cleaning member 50 is bent when viewed from a first direction corresponding to the X-axis direction, and is a bent brush 52 that can come into contact with the retard roller 13B serving as the transport unit at multiple contact surfaces 52a, 52b, and 52c. By coming into contact with the transport unit at multiple contact surfaces in this manner, the cleaning performance of the transport unit can be efficiently improved.

[0056] The bent brush 52 in this embodiment is bent at two points to form a U-shape when viewed from the first direction corresponding to the X-axis direction. However, the bent brush 52 is not limited to this configuration, and may be bent at one point to form an L-shape when viewed from the first direction corresponding to the X-axis direction, or may be bent at three or more points when viewed from the first direction corresponding to the X-axis direction.

[0057] [Example 3] Next, a recording apparatus of Example 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, components common to Examples 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Note that FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 4 showing the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1. Here, the recording apparatus of this example has the same configuration as the recording apparatus of Example 1, except for the configuration of the cleaning member 50. Therefore, except for the parts described below, the recording apparatus of this example has the same features as the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1.

[0058] 6, in the recording apparatus of this embodiment, the cleaning member 50 is a cylindrical brush 53 having a contact surface 53a with a curved shape that follows the shape of the retard roller 13B serving as the transport unit when viewed from a first direction corresponding to the X-axis direction. By configuring the cleaning member 50 to have a contact surface with a curved shape that follows the shape of the transport unit, it is possible to efficiently improve the cleaning performance of the transport unit.

[0059] [Example 4] Next, a recording apparatus of Example 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIGS. 7 and 8, components common to Examples 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Note that FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 2 showing the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1. Here, the recording apparatus of this Example has the same configuration as the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1, except that it has a rotation mechanism for the retard roller 13B. Therefore, except for the parts described below, the recording apparatus of this Example has the same features as the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1.

[0060] 7, the recording device of this embodiment is provided with a rotation mechanism 60 that rotates the retard roller 13B in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the medium cassette 10A into and from the device main body 35. With this configuration, the recording device of this embodiment can efficiently rub the retard roller 13B as the conveying section against the rectangular brush 51 as the cleaning member 50 while rotating, thereby efficiently improving the cleaning performance of the conveying section.

[0061] Here, the detailed configuration of the rotation mechanism 60 will be described. The rotation mechanism 60 has a fixed portion 61 that is fixed to the medium cassette 10A. The fixed portion 61 has a female screw portion 61a. The rotation mechanism 60 also has a shaft portion 62 that is inserted into the female screw portion 61a. The shaft portion 62 has a male screw portion 62a that is fitted into the female screw portion 61a of the fixed portion 61. The male screw portion 62a rotates relative to the female screw portion 61a in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the medium cassette 10A into and from the device main body 35, causing the shaft portion 62 to rotate in the rotation directions C1 and C2. The shaft portion 62 is connected to the retard roller 13B, and the retard roller 13B rotates as the shaft portion 62 rotates.

[0062] [Example 5] Next, a recording apparatus of Example 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. In FIGS. 9 and 10, components common to Examples 1 to 4 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Note that FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1, and FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1. Here, the recording apparatus of this example has the same configuration as the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1, except for the arrangement of the feed roller 12 and separation roller pair 13 as a conveying unit, and the cleaning member 50. Therefore, except for the parts described below, the recording apparatus of this example has the same features as the recording apparatus 1 of Example 1.

[0063] As described above, the recording device 1 of Example 1 was configured such that the feed roller 12 and separation roller pair 13 serving as the transport unit were provided in the device main body 35, and the cleaning member 50 was provided in the medium cassette 10A serving as the medium storage unit. However, the present invention may also be configured such that the cleaning member is provided in the device main body and the transport unit is provided in the medium storage unit. The recording device of this example is configured such that the cleaning member is provided in the device main body and the transport unit is provided in the medium storage unit. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9 , the cleaning member 50 is provided further forward (toward the +X direction) than the retard roller 13B in the +X direction, which is the direction in which the medium cassette 10A is removed from the device main body 35, of the first direction corresponding to the X-axis direction, based on the state in which the medium cassette 10A is inserted in the device main body 35. This configuration allows the transport unit and the cleaning member to rub against each other over a long distance, thereby efficiently improving the cleaning performance of the transport unit in a configuration in which the transport unit is provided in the medium storage unit and the cleaning member is provided in the device main body.

[0064] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications. Various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims, and needless to say, these modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. For example, the recording device may be symmetrical to the recording devices of the above-described embodiments when viewed from the front. Furthermore, the medium cassette 10A may be connected to a generator so that electricity is generated when the medium cassette 10A is inserted into or removed from the device body 35. This configuration allows the generated electricity to be used to separate the retard roller 13B from the feed roller 13A, or to rotate the retard roller 13B when the medium cassette 10A is removed from the device body 35. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1...recording device (medium conveying device), 4...output tray, 6...opening / closing cover, 7...face-up output tray, 7a...rotating shaft, 8...recording head (recording unit), 9...control unit, 10A...medium cassette (medium storage unit), 11...hopper, 11a...shaft, 12...feed roller, 13...separation roller pair, 13A...feed roller, 13B...retard roller (conveying unit), 14...conveying roller pair, 15...feed roller, 16...separation roller, 17...registration roller pair, 18...belt unit, 20...conveying roller pair, 21...conveying roller pair, 22...conveying roller pair, 23...conveying roller pair, 24...conveying roller pair, 25...discharge roller pair, 26...conveying roller pair, 27...conveying roller pair, 28...conveying roller pair, 29...conveying roller pair, 33...flap, 35...device main body, 36...discharge mechanism portion, 41...manual feed tray, 41a...oscillating shaft, 50...cleaning member, 51...rectangular brush, 52...bent brush, 52a...contact surface, 52b...contact surface, 52c...contact surface, 53...cylindrical brush, 53a...contact surface, 60...rotation mechanism, 61...fixed portion, 61a...female thread portion, 62...shaft portion, 62a...male thread portion, 121...rotation shaft, 131...rotation shaft, 132...rotation shaft, 181...electrostatic adsorption belt, 182...drive Roller, 183... driven roller, L1... length, L2... length, L3... length, L4... length, P... medium, R1... recording transport path, R2... switchback path, R3... reversal path, R4... face-down discharge path, R5... face-up discharge path, S1... cassette feeding trajectory, S2... additional cassette feeding trajectory, S3... manual feed path, T1... face-up discharge trajectory, T2... face-down discharge trajectory

Claims

1. a medium storage section that can store a medium and that can be inserted into and removed from the device body along a first direction; a conveying unit that is provided in either the device body or the medium storage unit, has a rotation axis along the first direction, and contacts the medium to convey the medium in a second direction that intersects with the first direction; a cleaning member provided on the other of the device body or the medium storage unit, the cleaning member being capable of contacting the transport unit to clean the transport unit; Equipped with A media transport device characterized in that the transport unit and the cleaning member rub against each other as the transport unit and the cleaning member move relative to each other in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the media storage unit into and from the device main body.

2. 2. The medium transport device according to claim 1, the conveying unit is provided in the device body, The medium transport device, wherein the cleaning member is provided in the medium storage section.

3. 3. The medium transport device according to claim 2, A media conveying device characterized in that the cleaning member is located behind the media accommodating unit relative to the conveying unit in the direction of removing the media accommodating unit from the device main body in the first direction, based on the state in which the media accommodating unit is inserted into the device main body.

4. 4. The medium transport device according to claim 3, A media conveying device characterized in that when the device main body is in a state where the media storage unit is inserted, in the direction of removing the media storage unit from the device main body in the first direction, the length from the center of the conveying unit to the rear end of the cleaning member is longer than the length from the center of the conveying unit to the rear end of the media storage range of the media storage unit.

5. 2. The medium transport device according to claim 1, the transport unit is provided in the medium storage unit, the cleaning member is provided on the device body, A media conveying device characterized in that the cleaning member is arranged further forward than the conveying unit in the direction of removing the media storage unit from the device main body in the first direction, based on the state in which the media storage unit is inserted into the device main body.

6. 6. The medium transport device according to claim 3, A media conveying device characterized in that, when the media storage unit is inserted into the device main body, the conveying unit and the cleaning member are positioned so that they do not overlap when viewed from a third direction that intersects with the first direction and the second direction, and the conveying unit and the cleaning member are positioned so that they overlap when viewed from the first direction.

7. 2. The medium transport device according to claim 1, The medium transport device, wherein the cleaning member has a length in the first direction that is longer than a length in the second direction.

8. 2. The medium transport device according to claim 1, The medium transport device, wherein the cleaning member has a plurality of contact surfaces when viewed from the first direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the transport section at the plurality of contact surfaces.

9. 2. The medium transport device according to claim 1, The medium transport device, wherein the cleaning member has a contact surface that is curved to conform to the transport portion when viewed from the first direction.

10. 2. The medium transport device according to claim 1, A medium transport device comprising a rotation mechanism that rotates the transport unit in conjunction with insertion and removal of the medium storage unit into and from the device body.

11. 2. The medium transport device according to claim 1, The medium transport device is characterized in that the transport unit is a retard roller that forms a roller pair together with a feed roller that feeds the medium and separates the media that are fed in multiple times together with the feed roller.

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