Recording device

Abstract

This design enables more appropriate and convenient maintenance of the recording device, while maintaining a relatively simple configuration. [Solution] A recording device comprising a recording head for recording on a recording medium and one or more transport units for transporting the recording medium, further comprising a storage cassette capable of accommodating a recording medium and being insertable and removable from the device body, wherein the one or more transport units include an attachment / detachment unit that forms part of the transport path for the recording medium and is attachable and detachable from the device body, the attachment / detachment unit is exposed when the storage cassette is removed from the device body, and the storage cassette is held in a second position in which the attachment / detachment unit can be removed from the device body when it is pulled out from a first position in which it is inserted into the device body.

Description

Technical Field

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[0005]

[0001] The present invention mainly relates to a recording apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Recording apparatuses represented by inkjet printers and the like may require a predetermined maintenance to enable continuous proper use. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration of a paper feeding apparatus capable of pulling out a paper feeding cassette in two stages. According to Patent Document 1, when paper is replenished in the paper feeding cassette in a state where the paper feeding cassette is pulled out to the first stage and a jam (paper clogging) occurs in the paper feeding mechanism, maintenance is performed in a state where the paper feeding cassette is pulled out to the second stage. Further, Patent Document 2 describes a configuration of a recording apparatus provided with an opening / closing cover on the front surface and enabling replacement of an ink cartridge and a drainage tank by opening the opening / closing cover. According to Patent Document 2, the operation of the recording apparatus stops in response to detection that the opening / closing cover has been opened.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] <​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This invention was made in response to the inventor's recognition of the above-mentioned problems, and its exemplary objective is to realize a structure that allows for more appropriate and convenient maintenance of the recording device with a relatively simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a recording device, and the recording device is A recording head that records to the recording medium, A recording device comprising one or more transport units for transporting a recording medium, The device further includes a storage cassette capable of accommodating a recording medium and being removable from the main body of the device. The one or more transport units described above form part of the transport path for the recording medium and include a detachable unit that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the device. The detachable unit is exposed when the storage cassette is removed from the main body of the device. The storage cassette is configured to be held in a second position, where the detachable unit can be removed from the device body, when it is pulled out from a first position in which it is inserted into the device body. It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, maintenance of the recording device can be performed appropriately and easily. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the recording device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram showing the configuration of a recording device. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram showing how to remove a cassette from a recording device. [Figure 4] A schematic diagram showing the external appearance of the recording device and the cassette it contains. [Figure 5] A schematic diagram showing the intermediate drawer position of the storage cassette. [Figure 6] A schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the recording device with the detachable unit removed. [Figure 7] A schematic diagram showing the external appearance of the detachable unit. [Figure 8] A schematic diagram illustrating a procedure for performing maintenance by removing the attachment / detachment unit while the storage cassette is in the intermediate pull-out position. [Figure 9] A schematic diagram illustrating the procedure for removing the waste ink tank for maintenance while the storage cassette is in an intermediate pull-out position. [Figure 10] A perspective view of the recording device with the ink tank cover removed. [Figure 11] A perspective view of the recording device with the cassette removed. [Figure 12] A schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a recording device according to another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention as defined in the claims. While the embodiments describe multiple features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any way. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, identical or similar configurations are given the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0010] ≪First Embodiment≫ (Regarding the overall configuration of the recording device) Figure 1(A) is an external view of the recording device 1 according to the first embodiment. As with the other figures described later, the X, Y, and Z directions, which intersect (substantially orthogonal) with each other, are shown in the figures to facilitate understanding of the structure. In this embodiment, the X direction corresponds to the left-right direction or width direction, the Y direction corresponds to the front-back direction or depth direction, and the Z direction corresponds to the up-down direction or height direction. Here, the -X side is taken as the left side, the +X side as the right side, the -Y side as the front side, the +Y side as the back side, the -Z side as the bottom side, and the +Z side as the top side. However, in the following description, when the distinction between one side or the other side is not necessary, it is simply indicated as the X, Y, or Z direction. Also, both the X and Y directions may be expressed as horizontal directions, and the Z direction may be expressed as a vertical direction.

[0011] In this embodiment, the recording device 1 is an inkjet printer that ejects ink for recording by driving while relatively moving the recording head 12 with respect to a sheet SH (typically a paper material, but may also be other sheet-like recording media). (See Fig. 2(B)). Note that the recording device 1 may be a copying machine that has a recording function as its main function and further has additional functions such as a copying function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, etc. as subsidiary functions.

[0012] In this embodiment, recording is realized by alternately repeating an operation of transporting the sheet SH by a predetermined amount (intermittent transport) and an operation of ejecting ink while scanning the recording head 12 in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the sheet SH while the transport is suppressed (recording scan). Such a recording head 12 is referred to as a serial head. As another embodiment, the recording head 12 may be a line head that performs recording on the entire width direction of the sheet SH at once.

[0013] By such recording, a desired image can be formed on the sheet SH. The concept of the image here includes characters, numbers, symbols, figures, photographs, etc., and whether or not they are visible is not questioned. The ink is typically a liquid containing dyes or pigments, but may also be a colorless and transparent reaction liquid, and may be expressed as a liquid including them. From this perspective, the recording device 1 may be referred to as a liquid ejection device, and similarly, the recording head 12 may be referred to as a liquid ejection head.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1(A), the recording device 1 includes a storage cassette 2 and an ink tank cover 601.

[0015] The storage cassette 2 is configured to accommodate one or more sheets SH, as will be described in detail later (see Figure 2(B)). The storage cassette 2 is attached to the main body (device body) 100 of the recording device 1, which is defined by the housing 101, so as to be insertable and removable in the Y direction, and the cover member 2c of the storage cassette 2 (see Figure 4(B)) forms part of the front portion 101a of the housing 101.

[0016] The ink tank cover 601 is a cover member for sealing the ink tank 600, which will be installed inside the main body 100 of the device (see Figure 2(B)). The ink tank cover 601 is detachably attached to the main body 100 below the storage cassette 2 and forms another part of the front portion 101a.

[0017] In the above explanation, insertion and removal were distinguished from attachment and removal, with "insertion and removal" referring to insertion and withdrawal, and "attachment and removal" referring to attachment and removal. However, attachment and removal can be considered a concept that includes insertion and removal. For the sake of simplicity in the following explanation, insertion or removal (or insertion and removal) may be expressed as attachment or removal (or attachment and removal). Furthermore, attachment and removal and insertion and removal may be interchangeable depending on the distance and / or direction of movement of the object.

[0018] Figure 1(B) shows the recording device 1 with the storage cassette 2 and ink tank cover 601 removed. The recording device 1 further comprises a slot 111, a detachable unit 40, a waste ink tank 500, and an ink tank 600.

[0019] Slot 111 extends in the Y direction so that the storage cassette 2 can be inserted, and therefore may be referred to as the storage cassette slot. The detachable unit 40 is detachably positioned above slot 111 when the storage cassette 2 is removed, and the user can remove the detachable unit 40 during maintenance as described later. The waste ink tank 500 is detachably positioned to the side of slot 111 when the storage cassette 2 is removed, and the user can remove the waste ink tank 500 during other maintenance.

[0020] The ink tank 600 is detachably located below the slot 111 when the ink tank cover 601 is removed, allowing the user to remove the ink tank 600 for further maintenance. The ink tank 600 is configured to accommodate one or more ink bags / bottles, and if multiple colors of ink are used, the ink bags / bottles are stored separately for each color.

[0021] Specifically, when the storage cassette 2 is removed, the slot 111, the attachment / detachment unit 40, and the waste ink tank 500 are exposed, and when the ink tank cover 601 is removed, the ink tank 600 is exposed. As will be described in detail later, this allows the user to remove the storage cassette 2 and / or the ink tank cover 601 from the front of the recording device 1 as needed to perform various maintenance tasks. With this configuration, the recording device 1 does not require the user to go around to the back of the recording device 1 during various maintenance tasks, which is advantageous in terms of improving usability.

[0022] In this embodiment, the waste ink tank 500 is located to the left of slot 111, but it can be located anywhere around slot 111.

[0023] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1(A) to 1(B), a paper output tray 17 is provided in the upper part of the housing 101 on which the sheets SH discharged outside the main body 100 are placed, and the recorded sheets SH are stacked sequentially on the paper output tray 17. Here, an opening 70 is provided in the upper part of the housing 101, and the paper output tray 17 includes an opening / closing member 17a attached to the housing 101 so as to be able to open and close this opening 70. The opening / closing member 17a can open and close the opening 70 by rotating with an axis parallel to the X direction as the pivot axis 17b.

[0024] The open and closed states of the opening / closing member 17a correspond to the open and closed states of the opening 70, respectively, and also to the open and closed states inside the device body 100, respectively. Figures 1(A) and 1(B) show the opening / closing member 17a in the open state, and Figure 2(B) shows the opening / closing member 17a in the closed state. Although a detailed explanation is omitted here, the user can also access the inside of the device body 100 through the opening 70 opened by the opening / closing member 17a to perform further maintenance.

[0025] (Regarding the composition of the recovery unit) Figure 2(A) is a perspective view showing the configuration of a recovery unit 51, which includes a waste ink tank 500 and several elements within the device body 100 connected thereto. The recovery unit 51 includes a cap 60, a suction pump 61, and tubes 62 and 63.

[0026] The cap 60 is positioned to face the recording head 12 and can cap the recording head 12 (the ink ejection surface on the recording head 12) when it is moved to a retracted position when recording is not taking place. In this embodiment, the cap 60 caps the recording head 12 by rising via a lifting mechanism (not shown) and releases the cap by lowering.

[0027] The suction pump 61 is connected to the cap 60 via a tube 62, and is capable of sucking up the ink in the recording head 12 capped by the cap 60 through the tube 62. The sucked-up ink is then pumped through a tube 63 as waste ink and stored in the waste ink tank 500.

[0028] With this configuration, the recovery unit 51 can maintain the freshness of the ink in the recording head 12 and restore the function of the recording head 12. When the amount of waste ink in the waste ink tank 500 reaches a standard amount, the user can remove the storage cassette 2 and replace the waste ink tank 500.

[0029] (Regarding the configuration of the transport mechanism) Figure 2(B) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the recording device 1. The recording device 1 further comprises a recording unit 10 and transport units 3 to 8.

[0030] The recording unit 10 includes a recording head 12, a carriage 11, and a drive unit 14. The recording head 12 is positioned to face a platen 15 that supports the sheet SH during transport. The carriage 11 is capable of mounting the recording head 12 and is capable of reciprocating in the X direction, thereby enabling the recording head 12 to scan in the X direction. The drive unit 14 is a belt-type transmission mechanism that reciprocates the carriage 11 based on the power of the carriage motor 21, but other known transmission mechanisms may also be used. Recording scanning by the recording head 12 can be realized with this configuration.

[0031] The drive unit 14 and its surrounding components are supported by a support member 20 extending in the X direction. The support member 20 is provided with a guide member 13 that enables the reciprocating movement of the carriage 11. In this embodiment, the guide member 13 includes a lower rail member 13a and an upper rail member 13b. The rail members 13a and 13b are spaced apart from each other in the Z direction and both extend in the X direction, thereby engaging with the carriage 11 and enabling the reciprocating movement of the carriage 11. In this embodiment, the position of the rail member 13a in the Z direction is adjustable, thereby allowing adjustment of the height of the recording head 12 relative to the platen 15. In addition, the position of the rail member 13b in the Y direction is adjustable, thereby allowing adjustment of the orientation of the recording head 12 relative to the platen 15.

[0032] Ink is supplied to the recording unit 10 from the ink tank 600 via a tube (not shown), and the recording unit 10 is capable of performing recording scans with the above configuration.

[0033] The transport units 3 to 8 are positioned at corresponding locations within the main body 100 along the transport path of the sheets SH, thereby transporting the sheets SH in the storage cassette 2 toward the recording unit 10, and further transporting the recorded sheets SH toward the output tray 17. In this embodiment, the transport units 3 to 8 are arranged sequentially from the upstream side to the downstream side of the transport path of the sheets SH. As will be described in detail later, each of the transport units 3 to 8 is typically composed of one or more pairs of rotating bodies.

[0034] In this specification, the upstream side refers to the side of the sheet SH transport path that is closer to the storage cassette 2, and the downstream side refers to the side of the transport path that is closer to the output tray 17.

[0035] Transport units 3 and 4 are positioned upstream of the recording unit 10 and are capable of transporting sheets SH from the storage cassette 2 downstream. Transport unit 3 picks up sheets SH one by one from the supply tray 2a in the storage cassette 2 and transports them downstream, and transport unit 4 transports the sheets SH received from transport unit 3 further downstream.

[0036] Transport units 5 and 6 are positioned upstream and downstream of the recording unit 10, respectively, and are capable of selectively performing intermittent and constant-speed transport of the sheet SH. Constant-speed transport here refers to transporting the sheet SH at a nearly constant speed without intermittent transport (without suppressing the transport of the sheet SH). For example, while recording is being performed on the sheet SH, intermittent transport is performed collaboratively by transport units 5 and 6. Furthermore, as will be described in detail later, in the case of double-sided printing, transport units 5 and 6 can transport (return) the sheet SH, which has been recorded on only one side, towards the upstream side at a nearly constant speed.

[0037] Transport units 7 and 8 are positioned downstream of the recording unit 10, enabling them to transport the sheets SH that have been recorded by the recording unit 10 further downstream. Transport unit 7 transports the sheets SH received from transport unit 6 downstream, and transport unit 8 transports the sheets SH received from transport unit 7 further downstream and discharges them outside the main body 100.

[0038] Furthermore, each of the transport units 3 to 8 may be referred to by a different name for distinction. For example, transport units 3 and 4 may be referred to as "feeding units" to distinguish them from the other transport units. Also, transport units 7 and 8 may be referred to as "discharge units" to distinguish them from the other transport units.

[0039] Here, the transport path for the sheet SH within the device body 100 includes a main transport path RT1 and a secondary transport path RT2. The main transport path R1 is the path from the storage cassette 2 to the output tray 17, and in the case of single-sided printing (when recording is performed on only one side of the sheet SH), the sheet SH will pass through the main transport path R1. On the other hand, the secondary transport path R2 is another path connected to the main transport path R1, and in the case of double-sided printing (when recording is performed on both sides of the sheet SH), the sheet SH will also pass through the secondary transport path R2. More specifically, the sheet SH, which has been recorded on one side, is returned to the transport unit 5 via the recording unit 10 by transport units 6-8, and guided to the secondary transport path R2 by a switching flapper. After that, the sheet SH is transported again towards the recording unit 10 by transport unit 4, and during this time, the other side of the sheet SH, which has been flipped over, is recorded by the recording unit 10. The sheet SH, which has been recorded on both sides in this way, is transported downstream by transport units 6-8 and discharged outside the main unit 100, and placed on the output tray 17.

[0040] Each of the transport units 3 to 8 is arranged along such a transport path and is typically configured with a pair of rotating bodies facing each other, and includes a drive roller and a driven rotating body (in this embodiment, a driven roller or driven spur) facing the drive roller. The driven rotating body is pressed against the drive roller by a predetermined biasing means, thereby enabling proper transport while gripping the sheet SH.

[0041] In this embodiment, the transport unit 3 includes a pickup roller 3a, a feed roller 3b, and a separation roller 3c. The pickup roller 3a picks up sheets SH one by one from the feed tray 2a based on the power of the motor 22. The feed roller 3b and the separation roller 3c face each other, and the feed roller 3b transports the picked-up sheets SH while gripping them with the separation roller 3c based on the power of the motor 22. The separation roller 3c is equipped with a torque limiter, and if there are two or more picked-up sheets SH (so-called double feeding occurs), the sheets SH other than the one sheet SH to be transported are separated from that one sheet and returned to the feed tray 2a.

[0042] The conveying unit 4 includes a roller pair 4' in which a drive roller 4'a and a driven roller 4'b are arranged to face each other, and a roller pair 4'' in which a drive roller 4''a and a driven roller 4''b are arranged to face each other. The drive rollers 4'a and 4''a rotate based on the power of the motor 23. Near the conveying unit 4, the main conveying path RT1 is formed in a curved shape, and conveying path forming members 40a and 40b are arranged to form an inner circumferential wall and an outer circumferential wall, respectively, to achieve this.

[0043] The transport unit 5 includes a pair of rollers, each consisting of a drive roller 5a and a driven roller 5b arranged opposite each other. The transport unit 6 includes a pair of rotating bodies 6', each consisting of a drive roller 6'a and a driven spur 6'b arranged opposite each other, and a pair of rotating bodies 6'', each consisting of a drive roller 6''a and a driven spur 6''b arranged opposite each other. The drive rollers 5a, 6'a, and 6''a rotate based on the power of the motor 24. The main transport path RT1 extends in a substantially straight line between the transport units 5 and 6.

[0044] The transport unit 7 includes a pair of rotating bodies, each consisting of a drive roller 7a and a driven spur 7b arranged opposite each other. The transport unit 8 includes a pair of rotating bodies, each consisting of a drive roller 8a and a driven spur 8b arranged opposite each other. The drive rollers 7a and 8a rotate based on the power of the motor 25. The main transport path RT1 curves upward and extends between the transport units 7 and 8, and the recorded sheet SH is discharged with the last recorded side (one side in the case of single-sided printing; the other side in the case of double-sided printing) facing downwards. This method of discharging the sheet SH is also referred to as face-down discharge.

[0045] The rotating body opposite the drive roller may be a roller or a spur, but typically a roller is used upstream of the recording unit 10, and a spur is used downstream of the recording unit 10. Other shapes of rotating bodies may be used for the spur.

[0046] Furthermore, the recording device 1 is further equipped with sensors 31 to 34 capable of detecting the presence or absence of sheet SH. Known optical sensors may be used for sensors 31 to 34. Sensor 31 is located near transport unit 4, sensor 32 is located near transport unit 5, sensor 33 is located near transport unit 6, and sensor 34 is located near transport unit 8. Each of the sensors 31 to 34 detects the passage of the leading and trailing ends of sheet SH at their corresponding positions, and the transport mode of sheet SH can be changed based on the detection results of sensors 31 to 34.

[0047] For example, when sensor 31 detects the leading edge of sheet SH, the drive of transport unit 3 is stopped, and the transport of the next sheet SH is suppressed. When sensor 32 detects the leading edge of sheet SH, the drive amount of transport units 4 and 5 (the amount of sheet SH transported) is adjusted to align the sheet SH. When sensor 33 detects the trailing edge of sheet SH, transport units 7 and 8 are controlled to discharge the sheet SH. Furthermore, when sensor 34 detects the trailing edge of sheet SH, the completion of sheet SH discharge is identified, and a notification of printing completion may be output if necessary.

[0048] (Regarding maintenance of recording devices) As mentioned above, the user can remove the storage cassette 2 and / or the ink tank cover 601 to perform the prescribed maintenance.

[0049] - Maintenance of the storage cassette Figures 3(A), 3(B), and 3(C) show perspective views of the recording device 1 in the state before the storage cassette 2 is removed, the state with the storage cassette 2 partially pulled out, and the state after the storage cassette 2 has been removed (after it has been pulled out completely), respectively. Figures 4(A) and 4(B) show perspective views of the recording device 1 with the storage cassette 2 removed, and a perspective view of the removed storage cassette 2, respectively.

[0050] As shown in Figures 4(A) and 4(B), the slot 111 is provided with rails 80a and 80b on both sides in the X direction that support the storage cassette 2 so that it can slide in the Y direction, thereby guiding the movement of the storage cassette 2 when it is inserted into or removed from the slot.

[0051] Furthermore, of the rollers 3a, 3b, and 3c in the transport unit 3, the pickup roller 3a and the feeding roller 3b are rotatably held on the device body 100 side, while the separation roller 3c is rotatably held on the storage cassette 2 side. Therefore, when the storage cassette 2 is removed, the separation roller 3c is removed from the device body 100 together with the storage cassette 2, and the transport unit 3 is partially separated.

[0052] With this configuration, the user can remove the housing cassette 2 to access the slot 111 and replace the pickup roller 3a and the feed roller 3b. The pickup roller 3a and the feed roller 3b may be individually replaceable, or they may be unitized to be replaceable simultaneously. On the other hand, the separation roller 3c is attached to the separation roller holder 95 in the housing cassette 2, and the user can replace it by removing the separation roller holder 95 from the housing cassette 2, or by removing the separation roller 3a from the separation roller holder 95.

[0053] Here, within the storage cassette 2, a pressure plate 91 is provided on the feed tray 2a via a biasing means (not shown), allowing the sheet SH loaded on the feed tray 2a to be pressed against the pickup roller 3a. More specifically, in the state shown in Figure 4(B) when the storage cassette 2 is removed, the pressure plate 91 is approximately horizontal (approximately parallel to the upper surface of the feed tray 2a). When the storage cassette 2 is removed, pressure plate cams 83 provided on both sides in the X direction within the slot 111 press both ends of the pressure plate 91, causing the pressure plate 91 to descend, which is then held by a predetermined pressure plate holding part provided in the storage cassette 2. When the storage cassette 2 is installed, the pressure plate holding part releases the pressure plate 91 from the pressure plate release lever 96 within the slot 111. In this way, the pressure plate 91 is able to press the sheet SH on the feed tray 2a against the pickup roller 3a.

[0054] Furthermore, the storage cassette 2 is provided with side guides 85 and 86, as well as an end guide 89, to restrict the size of the sheet SH to be stored within it. The side guides 85 and 86 are interconnected below the pressure plate 91 by a rack and pinion (not shown), and when one of the side guides 85 or 86 is moved, the other moves in conjunction, thereby regulating the position of the sheet SH in the width direction. In this embodiment, the side guide 85 is provided with a biasing plate 88 that is biased in the X direction by a biasing means (not shown), which allows the sheet SH loaded on the feeding tray 2a to be regulated in the width direction. In addition, the side guide 85 is provided with a side lock 87, which allows the position of the side guide 85 to be fixed. The end guide 89 restricts the position of the sheet SH in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction). An end lock 90 including a latch 90a is provided in the center of the end guide 89, allowing the position of the end guide 89 to be fixed.

[0055] - Maintenance regarding jams (paper jams) Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship of the storage cassette 2 within the slot 111 when the storage cassette 2 is partially pulled out (see Figure 3(B)). The rail 80a is provided with a rail abutment portion 80a1, and the storage cassette 2 is provided with a cassette abutment portion 2b that abuts against the rail abutment portion 80a1 during sliding. As a result, when the storage cassette 2 is removed, the cassette abutment portion 2b abuts against the rail abutment portion 80a1, and the storage cassette 2 is held in the partially pulled-out state. From this perspective, both the cassette abutment portion 2b and the rail abutment portion 80a1 can be said to function as positioning portions that determine the position in which the storage cassette 2 can be held in the partially pulled-out state.

[0056] The cassette abutment portion 2b and the rail abutment portion 80a1 may each be simply referred to as abutment portion, and the rail abutment portion 80a1 may be referred to as abutted portion. Alternatively, the cassette abutment portion 2b may be referred to as an engaging portion, abutting portion, etc., and the rail abutment portion 80a1 may be referred to as a engaged portion, abutted portion, etc. Furthermore, the state in which the cassette abutment portion 2b abuts against the rail abutment portion 80a1 may be referred to as an intermediate pull-out state, and the position of the stored cassette 2 at that time may be referred to as an intermediate position.

[0057] Furthermore, the abutment portions 2b and 80a1 should be provided so that the storage cassette 2 is held in an intermediate position. For example, instead of the rail abutment portion 80a1, another abutment portion that abuts against the cassette abutment portion 2b may be provided at any part within the slot 111.

[0058] To further pull out and remove the storage cassette 2, the user can lift the storage cassette 2 to separate the cassette abutment portion 2b from the rail abutment portion 80a1, and then pull out the storage cassette 2. Furthermore, holding the storage cassette 2 in an intermediate position is not limited to this example and may be achieved by other known stoppers.

[0059] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the recording device 1 with the detachable unit 40 removed. The detachable unit 40 is configured to partially include a portion of the sheet SH transport path between transport units 4 and 5 and its surrounding area. In this embodiment, the detachable unit 40 includes transport path forming members 40a and 40b that form the inner and outer circumferential walls, respectively, of a curved portion of the main transport path RT1, as well as rollers 4'a, 4'b, and 4"a arranged thereon. The detachable unit 40 forms a portion of the main transport path RT1 and can also be said to form a portion of the transport unit 4, given that it includes rollers 4'a, 4'b, and 4"a.

[0060] According to such a configuration, when a jam occurs in the conveyance path between the conveyance units 4 and 5 and its vicinity, the user can remove the detachable unit 40 and perform maintenance to remove the jammed sheet (jam sheet) SH.

[0061] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the detachable unit 40. The detachable unit 40 includes gripping portions 41 and 42 on the front side surface 43. Between the gripping portions 41 and 42, biasing means (not shown) for biasing the gripping portions 41 and 42 outward is incorporated. The user can remove the detachable unit 40 while gripping the gripping portions 41 and 42 so as to press them in a direction opposite to the direction of this biasing.

[0062] FIG. 8 shows an aspect in which the detachable unit 40 can be removed to remove the jam sheet SH while the storage cassette 2 is in the intermediate drawer state (see FIG. 5). When the size of the detachable unit 40 in the Y direction (when viewed in the X direction) in a side view is N and the amount of extraction of the storage cassette 2 in the intermediate drawer state from the apparatus main body 100 is L, the intermediate position of the storage cassette 2 is set such that N < L holds.

[0063] The storage cassette 2 pulled out to the intermediate position is held in the intermediate drawer state with the cassette abutting portion 2b abutting against the rail abutting portion 80a1. Therefore, the user can remove the detachable unit 40 while keeping the storage cassette 2 in the intermediate drawer state and remove the jam sheet SH. Also, when removing the jam sheet SH, the user does not need to pull out the storage cassette 2 to the end and remove it, so there is no need to uselessly provide another space for temporarily placing the storage cassette 2. Further, when removing the jam sheet SH, since the storage cassette 2 in the intermediate drawer state is located below the detachable unit 40, the user will not accidentally drop the detachable unit 40 during handling. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it can be said that the recording apparatus 1 is advantageous for improving the usability during maintenance.

[0064] - Maintenance for replacing the waste ink tank As shown in FIG. 9, the user can also perform maintenance to replace the waste ink tank 500 while the storage cassette 2 is in the intermediate drawer state. When the size of the waste ink tank 500 in the Y direction in a side view is M, the intermediate position of the storage cassette 2 may be set such that M < L is further satisfied.

[0065] The waste ink tank 500 incorporates electronic components not shown. When the waste ink tank 500 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, this can be specified based on the energization state of the electronic components. The electronic components may include, for example, a counter for measuring the amount of waste ink in the waste ink tank 500 and a memory for storing the result of the measurement. When the amount of waste ink reaches the reference amount, the electronic components can output a signal indicating that the waste ink tank 500 needs to be replaced to the apparatus main body 100. The recording device 1 can output a notification based on this signal, and the user can replace the waste ink tank 500 in response to this notification.

[0066] - Maintenance for replacing the ink tank When the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank 600 becomes less than the reference amount, the user can remove the ink tank cover 601, access the ink tank 600, and replenish the ink. The replenishment of the ink can be realized by replacing the ink bag / ink bottle housed in the ink tank 600.

[0067] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the recording device 1 with the storage cassette 2 attached and the ink tank cover 601 removed. The attachment and detachment of the ink tank cover 601 are detected by a sensor not shown, and when it is detected by the sensor that the ink tank cover 601 has been removed, the execution of recording is suppressed and the ink can be replenished.

[0068] During the ink replenishment described above, the storage cassette 2 remains installed, thus restricting the user's access to the waste ink tank 500; in other words, the waste ink tank 500 remains installed. Therefore, during the ink replenishment, the recovery unit 51 may restore the function of the recording head 12, thereby enabling the continuation of proper recording and, consequently, reducing downtime.

[0069] Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the recording device 1 with the ink tank cover 601 attached and the storage cassette 2 removed. In this state, the waste ink tank 500 itself remains attached, so the recovery by the recovery unit 51 is still possible. In other words, whether or not the recovery by the recovery unit 51 can be performed is independent of whether the storage cassette 2 is inserted or removed. For example, the insertion or removal of the storage cassette 2 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and if the sensor detects that the storage cassette 2 has been removed while the recovery unit 51 is performing a recovery, the recovery unit 51 may continue the recovery. In this case, a predetermined notification may be output so that the user is aware that the storage cassette 2 has been removed. This allows the user to replenish the storage cassette 2 with sheet SH, while preventing the waste ink tank 500 from being accidentally removed while the recovery unit 51 is performing a recovery. Alternatively, the recovery by the recovery unit 51 may be interrupted when the sensor detects that the storage cassette 2 has been removed. In this case, the user can replace the waste ink tank 500. Furthermore, the need to replace the waste ink tank 500 may be determined when the sensor detects that the storage cassette 2 has been removed, and this may determine whether or not the recovery by the recovery unit 51 can be performed.

[0070] Similarly, if the sensor detects that the storage cassette 2 has been removed while the recording head 12 is performing a recording scan, the recording scan by the recording head 12 on the sheet SH that is being recorded may continue. In this case, recording on sheet SH continues, but recording on the next sheet SH does not start (the supply of the next sheet SH is suppressed).

[0071] Furthermore, since the above can be achieved using the sensor used to detect the insertion and removal of the storage cassette 2, no additional sensors are required for the above determination.

[0072] Thus, multiple maintenance targets are sealed by different sealing means (in this example, the storage cassette 2 and the ink tank cover 601) depending on their use or purpose, and each sealing can be released individually. Therefore, even if the sealing of some elements is released when maintenance is required, other elements may be able to continue functioning (for example, recovery by the recovery unit 51, or recording in progress by the recording head 12). In addition, in such a configuration, the number of parts (for example, sensors) may be reduced.

[0073] The above-described control may be performed by a system control unit within the recording device 1 that is capable of exchanging signals with each element, and the calculation processing may be performed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory in a known manner.

[0074] ≪Second Embodiment≫ Figure 12(A) is an external view of the recording device 1 according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the recording device 1 includes a storage cassette 2, a main tank 602, and an opening / closing cover 603 on the front surface 101a. The main tank 602 is fixed to the device body 100. The opening / closing cover 603 is located above the main tank 602 and is arranged to be openable and closable relative to the device body 100. When closed, it seals the ink inlet 604 for injecting ink into the main tank 602.

[0075] Figure 12(B) shows the state in which the opening / closing cover 603 is open and ink can be injected from the injection port 604. The user can open the opening / closing cover 603 and inject ink into the main tank 602 to replenish the ink. At this time, since the storage cassette 2 is not removed, the user's access to the waste ink tank 500 is restricted. Therefore, in this embodiment as well, the function of the recording head 12 may be restored by the recovery unit 51 while the ink is being replenished. The main tank 602 should be configured so that the remaining ink level is visible. This allows the user to replenish the ink before a notification indicating that ink replenishment is needed is issued, thereby enabling proper continuous printing.

[0076] ≪Other≫ In the embodiments, individual elements are named using expressions based on their primary function, but the functions described in the embodiments may also be secondary functions, and the expressions are not strictly limited to these. Furthermore, these expressions can be replaced with other similar expressions. In the same vein, the expression "unit" can be replaced with "tool," "component," "member," "structure," "assembly," etc. Alternatively, these terms may be omitted or included.

[0077] Furthermore, the two or more elements exemplified as selectable in the embodiment are not strictly limited to those examples and may be combined arbitrarily. For example, each of the two or more exemplified elements may be additionally selected or substituted for others. For example, when arbitrarily combining two elements A and B, it may be expressed as "A and / or B" or "at least one of A and B" to indicate that it is either A only, B only, or both A and B.

[0078] Summary of the Embodiments Some of the features illustrated in the above-described embodiment are as follows: [Item 1] A recording head (12) that records onto a recording medium (SH), A recording device (1) comprising one or more transport units (3 to 8) for transporting a recording medium, The device further includes a storage cassette (2) capable of accommodating a recording medium and which can be inserted into and removed from the main body of the device, The one or more transport units described above include a detachable unit (40) that forms part of the transport path for the recording medium and is detachable from the main body of the device. The detachable unit is exposed when the storage cassette is removed from the main body of the device. The storage cassette is configured to be held in a second position, where the detachable unit can be removed from the device body, when it is pulled out from a first position in which it is inserted into the device body. A recording device characterized by the following features. [Item 2] The one or more transport units include a first transport unit (4) that transports a recording medium from the storage cassette to the recording head. The attachment / detachment unit forms part of the first transport unit. The recording device according to [Item 1], characterized in that... [Item 3] The recording head is configured to perform recording by ejecting ink, The recording device further includes a waste ink tank (500) capable of storing waste ink from the recording head and detachable from the main body of the device. The waste ink tank is exposed when the storage cassette is removed from the main body of the device. The second position of the storage cassette is a position in which the waste ink tank can be removed from the main body of the device. A recording device according to [Item 1] or [Item 2], characterized in that it is a recording device according to [Item 1] or [Item 2]. [Item 4] The system further comprises a slot (111) into which the aforementioned storage cassette can be inserted, The storage cassette includes a stopper portion (2b) that abuts against any part within the slot at the second position. The recording apparatus according to any one of [Item 1] to [Item 3], characterized in that... [Item 5] Further comprising a slot into which the storage cassette can be inserted, In the slot, a contact portion (80a1) is provided so that the storage cassette abuts at the second position. The recording apparatus according to any one of [Item 1] to [Item 3], characterized in that... [Item 6] The insertion and extraction direction of the storage cassette is defined as the first direction (Y direction), The size of the detachable unit in the first direction is N, When the extraction amount of the storage cassette from the first position to the second position is L, The contact portion is provided such that N < L holds. The recording apparatus according to [Item 4] or [Item 5], characterized in that... [Item 7] A recording apparatus (1), comprising: A recording head (12) that performs recording on a recording medium (SH) by discharging ink; A storage cassette (2) that can accommodate a recording medium and is insertable and removable with respect to the apparatus main body; A waste ink tank (500) that can store waste ink of the recording head and is detachable with respect to the apparatus main body, The waste ink tank is exposed when the storage cassette is removed from the apparatus main body. The recording apparatus, characterized in that... [Item 8] Further comprising a recovery unit (51) for recovering the function of the recording head, Whether the recovery unit can execute the function recovery does not depend on the insertion / removal state of the storage cassette with respect to the apparatus main body. The recording apparatus according to [Item 7], characterized in that... [Item 9] Further comprising a notification means for notifying when the storage cassette is removed from the apparatus main body during the execution of the function recovery by the recovery unit. The recording device according to [Item 8], characterized in that it is a recording device. [Item 10] The system further includes a recovery unit (51) for restoring the function of the recording head, The device further includes interruption means for interrupting the recovery process if the storage cassette is removed from the main body of the device while the recovery unit is performing the recovery of the function. The recording device according to [Item 7], characterized in that it is a recording device. [Item 11] If the storage cassette is removed from the main body of the device while recording is being performed by the recording head, the recording by the recording head will continue. A recording device according to any one of items [7] to

[10] , characterized by the above.

[0079] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, claims are attached to disclose the scope of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0080] 1: Recording device, 12: Recording head, 2: Cassette, 3-8: Transport unit, 40: Detachable unit.

Claims

1. A recording head that records to the recording medium, A recording device comprising one or more transport units for transporting a recording medium, The device further includes a storage cassette capable of accommodating a recording medium and being removable from the main body of the device. The one or more transport units described above include a detachable unit that forms part of the transport path for the recording medium and is detachable from the main body of the device. The detachable unit is exposed when the storage cassette is removed from the main body of the device. The storage cassette is configured to be held in a second position, where the detachable unit can be removed from the device body, when it is pulled out from a first position in which it is inserted into the device body. A recording device characterized by the following features.

2. The one or more transport units include a first transport unit that transports a recording medium from the storage cassette to the recording head. The attachment / detachment unit forms part of the first transport unit. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a recording device.

3. The recording head is configured to perform recording by ejecting ink, The recording device further includes a waste ink tank capable of storing waste ink from the recording head and detachable from the main body of the device. The waste ink tank is exposed when the storage cassette is removed from the main body of the device. The second position of the storage cassette is a position in which the waste ink tank can be removed from the main body of the device. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a recording device.

4. The system further includes a slot into which the aforementioned storage cassette can be inserted, The storage cassette includes a stopper portion that abuts against any part within the slot at the second position. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a recording device.

5. The system further includes a slot into which the aforementioned storage cassette can be inserted, Within the slot, a stopper portion is provided such that the storage cassette abuts against it at the second position. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a recording device.

6. The direction in which the storage cassette is inserted and removed is defined as the first direction. Let N be the size of the attachment / detachment unit in the first direction. When L is the amount the storage cassette is pulled out from the first position to the second position, The aforementioned abutment portion is provided such that N < L holds true. A recording device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by the features described above.

7. A recording device, A recording head that records onto a recording medium by ejecting ink, A storage cassette capable of accommodating a recording medium and being insertable and removable from the main body of the device, The device comprises a waste ink tank capable of storing waste ink from the recording head and detachable from the main body of the device, The waste ink tank is exposed when the storage cassette is removed from the main body of the device. A recording device characterized by the following features.

8. The system further includes a recovery unit for restoring the function of the recording head, Whether or not the recovery unit can perform the recovery of the function is not related to the state of insertion or removal of the storage cassette from the main body of the device. The recording device according to claim 7, characterized in that it is a recording device.

9. The device further includes a notification means for notifying the device if the storage cassette is removed from the main body of the device while the recovery unit is performing the recovery of the function. The recording device according to claim 8, characterized in that it is a recording device.

10. The system further includes a recovery unit for restoring the function of the recording head, The device further includes interruption means for interrupting the recovery process if the storage cassette is removed from the main body of the device while the recovery unit is performing the recovery of the function. The recording device according to claim 7, characterized in that it is a recording device.

11. If the storage cassette is removed from the main body of the device while recording is being performed by the recording head, the recording by the recording head will continue. The recording device according to claim 7, characterized in that it is a recording device.

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