SHEET CONVEYING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Abstract

To reduce the possibility that a liquid adheres to sheets.SOLUTION: A sheet transport device includes: a first housing 14 having a discharge tray 21 which supports a sheet 12; and a second housing 80 having an operation panel 17 and located above the discharge tray 21. The second housing 80 has a passage 91 in which a liquid flows from an internal space 87 to the outside. A first position 67 set by projecting a discharge end 92, in which the liquid flows from the passage 91 to the outside, on a horizontal surface is located at the outer side of a second position 68 set by projecting an end of a placement area 66, i.e., an area on which a maximum sheet 12 is placed in the discharge tray 21, on the horizontal surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device having an operation panel. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been proposed techniques for dealing with liquid that has flowed into the inside of a housing that constitutes an operation panel. Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a rubber key covers a circuit board as a waterproof structure suitable for an operation panel of a non-portable electronic device. Patent Document 2 discloses a structure in which a drainage duct is provided in the lower housing of an image forming apparatus in which a panel cover is attached to the upper housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-203989 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-138991 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When liquid is splashed on a sheet conveying device, which is an example of an electronic device or an image forming device, a user can wipe off the liquid that has flowed onto the surface of the device or the surface on which the device is placed, but for example, if the liquid flows into the inside of a housing that constitutes an operation panel, the liquid may accumulate inside the housing. The accumulated liquid may flow out from gaps or holes in the housing due to an increase in the environmental temperature or vibration of the device. In other words, although the liquid outside the device housing can be removed immediately, there is a risk that the liquid may later flow out from the housing of the operation panel and adhere to a sheet set in the device or a sheet discharged from the device.

[0005] In the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a discharge port for discharging liquid is provided at the bottom end of the groove in the housing of the operation panel. However, no consideration is given to the positional relationship between the sheet set in the device and the discharge port.

[0006] In the device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the housing of the operation panel and the upper housing of the device are integrally configured. Therefore, the outlet for discharging liquid that has overflowed onto the operation panel and flowed into the housing can be arranged relatively freely. However, if the housing of the operation panel and the upper housing of the device are configured as separate bodies, the housing of the operation panel needs to have a structure for discharging liquid that has flowed into the inside.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a means for reducing the possibility of liquid adhering to a sheet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] (1) A sheet transport device according to the present invention includes a first housing having a tray for supporting a sheet, and a second housing having an operation panel and positioned above the tray. The second housing has a flow path through which liquid flows from an internal space to the outside. A first position, as determined by projecting onto a horizontal plane a discharge end through which liquid flows out of the flow path to the outside, is located outside a second position, as determined by projecting onto a horizontal plane an end of a loading area, which is an area on the tray where the largest sheet is loaded.

[0009] According to this configuration, since the first position is located outside the second position, the liquid flowing out from the discharge end falls outside the placement area, thereby reducing the possibility that the sheet will be stained or deformed by the liquid.

[0010] (2) At least a portion of the second housing protrudes forward from a front surface of the first housing, and the discharge end is located forward of the front surface of the first housing.

[0011] According to this configuration, since the discharge end is located forward of the front surface of the first housing, the liquid flowing out from the discharge end falls forward of the front surface of the first housing, which reduces the possibility of the first housing becoming soiled with liquid, and also reduces the possibility of the sheet becoming soiled with liquid or deformed.

[0012] (3) The discharge end is an opening exposed to the outside in a communication hole that communicates between the internal space of the second housing and the outside.

[0013] It is preferable that the discharge end be an opening exposed to the outside of the communication hole, because this has a simple structure and reduces the possibility of the sheet becoming soiled with liquid or deformed.

[0014] (4) The discharge end is an end of a flow path formed on the outer surface of the second housing.

[0015] It is preferable that the discharge end is the end of a flow path formed on the outer surface of the second housing, as this can reduce the possibility of the sheet becoming soiled or deformed by liquid through a simple configuration, and also allows for greater freedom in arranging the flow path.

[0016] (5) The flow path includes a space between a pair of protrusions protruding from an outer surface of the second housing, a first end of the space being connected to a communication hole that communicates an internal space of the second housing with the outside, and a second end of the space being the discharge end.

[0017] It is preferable that the flow path include the space between a pair of protrusions protruding from the outer surface of the second housing, as this has a simple configuration and reduces the possibility of the sheet becoming soiled with liquid or deformed.

[0018] (6) The second housing has a first rib and a second rib in its internal space. An upper end of the first rib supports a substrate, and an upper end of the second rib is located lower than an upper end of the first rib.

[0019] When the upper end of the second rib is located lower than the upper end of the first rib, the possibility of the liquid coming into contact with the substrate supported by the first rib when liquid in the internal space of the second housing moves over the second rib can be reduced.

[0020] (7) The first housing has a space that is open to the outside, the tray is located in the space of the first housing, and at least a portion of the second housing is located in the space of the first housing.

[0021] The above configuration is suitably applicable to a sheet conveying device in which the first housing has a space that opens to the outside, the tray is located in the space, and at least a portion of the second housing is located in the space.

[0022] (8) The second housing is supported rotatably relative to the first housing.

[0023] According to this configuration, since the second housing is supported rotatably relative to the first housing, the angle of the operation panel can be changed, and the operability of the sheet conveying device can be improved. Effect of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, the possibility of liquid adhering to the sheet can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a multifunction device 10 according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic internal structure of the multifunction device 10. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic internal structure of the printer unit 11. As shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the carriage 23 and the ink tanks 100. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the second housing 80. As shown in FIG. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the second housing 80. As shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the second housing 80. As shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a top view showing the structure of the lower inclined wall 83 of the second housing 80. As shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing the structure of the lower inclined wall 83 of the second housing 80. As shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a top view of the multifunction device 10. As shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second housing 80 according to a modified example. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view that shows a schematic internal structure of a multifunction device 10 according to a modified example. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing the structure of a lower inclined wall 83 of a second housing 80 according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the embodiment described below is merely one example of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention. In addition, in the following description, the progress from the starting point of the arrow to the end point is expressed as a direction, and the movement on the line connecting the starting point and the end point of the arrow is expressed as a direction. In other words, a direction is one component of a direction. Furthermore, a vertical direction 7 is defined based on a state (the state in FIG. 1, which may be referred to as a "use state") or a posture (the posture in FIG. 1, which may be referred to as a "use posture") in which the multifunction device 10 is installed so as to be usable, a front-rear direction 8 is defined with the side in which the opening 13 of the multifunction device 10 is provided as the near side (front), and a left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction device 10 is viewed from the near side (front). Upward and downward directions are each one component of the vertical direction 7, and are opposite to each other. Leftward and rightward directions are each one component of the left-right direction 9, and are opposite to each other. The forward and backward directions are opposite to each other and are each a component of the front-rear direction 8. In this embodiment, the up-down direction 7 corresponds to the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 correspond to the horizontal direction.

[0027] [First embodiment] [Overall configuration of multifunction device 10] As shown in Fig. 1, the multifunction device 10 is formed into a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. The multifunction device 10 has a printer unit 11 at the bottom that records an image on paper 12 (an example of a sheet, see Fig. 3) by inkjet recording. As shown in Fig. 3, the printer unit 11 has a feed unit 15, a feed tray 20, a discharge tray 21, a transport roller unit 54, a recording unit 24, a discharge roller unit 55, a platen 42, and an ink tank 100. The multifunction device 10 also has a flatbed scanner at the top, and has various functions such as a scanner function, a facsimile function, and a copy function in addition to a print function. The multifunction device 10 is an example of a sheet transport device.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multifunction device 10 has a first housing 14 and a second housing 80.

[0029] The first housing 14, which defines the external shape of the multifunction device 10, is a thin, flat rectangular parallelepiped whose dimension in the up-down direction 7 is shorter than each of the dimensions in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The normal installation state of the multifunction device 10 is when the bottom surface of the first housing 14 is in contact with a placement surface such as a desk. An opening 13, a cover 70, and a second housing 80 are provided on the front wall 14A of the first housing 14. That is, the second housing 80 is located in front of the first housing 14.

[0030] An opening 13 is formed in the front wall 14A of the first housing 14 at the center in the left-right direction 9 and below in the up-down direction 7. A space 69 (an example of a space that opens to the outside) of the first housing 14 expands rearward in the front-rear direction 8 from the opening 13. The feed tray 20 and the discharge tray 21 can be inserted into and removed from this space 69 through the opening 13.

[0031] A cover 70 is provided on the side (right side in FIG. 1) of the opening 13 in the front wall 14A of the first housing 14. The cover 70 opens and closes the opening formed in the front wall 14A of the first housing 14. Through the opening, it is possible to access the ink tank 100 provided inside the first housing 14, for example, to refill the ink tank with ink.

[0032] The second housing 80 has a generally triangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction 9, and has a triangular prism shape with the left-right direction 9 as its height direction. The second housing 80 is located above the discharge tray 21. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a part of the front of the second housing 80 protrudes forward from the front surface (the outer surface of the front wall 14A) of the first housing 14, and a part of the rear of the second housing 80 protrudes rearward from the front surface of the first housing 14. In other words, a part of the rear of the second housing 80 is located in the space 69 of the first housing 14.

[0033] The top surface of the second housing 80 is configured as an operation panel 17. The operation panel 17 has input buttons 17A and a liquid crystal display (not shown) provided on its surface. The operation panel 17 is configured to be long in the left-right direction 9, and its surface faces diagonally upward.

[0034] [Feed tray 20, output tray 21] As shown in FIG. 1, the feed tray 20 is inserted into and removed from the multifunction device 10 by a user along the front-rear direction 8 through an opening 13 formed in a front wall 14A of the first housing 14. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the feed tray 20 is attached to the first housing 14, and the feed tray 20 is removed from the first housing 14 by pulling the feed tray 20 forward in the front-rear direction 8 from this state. The feed tray 20 can support a plurality of stacked sheets of paper 12. The discharge tray 21 (an example of a tray) is disposed above the feed tray 20, and is inserted and removed together with the feed tray 20. The discharge tray 21 is located in a space 69 of the first housing 14. The discharge tray 21 supports the sheets of paper 12 discharged from between the recording unit 24 and the platen 42 by the discharge roller unit 55.

[0035] [Feeding section 15] The feeding section 15 feeds the paper 12 supported by the feeding tray 20 to the transport path 65. As shown in FIG. 3, the feeding section 15 includes a feeding roller 25, a feeding arm 26, and a shaft 27. The feeding roller 25 is rotatably supported at the tip end of the feeding arm 26. The feeding roller 25 rotates in a direction to transport the paper 12 in the transport direction 16 by reverse rotation of a transport motor (not shown). Hereinafter, the rotation of the feeding roller 25, the transport roller 60, and the discharge roller 62 in a direction to transport the paper 12 in the transport direction 16 is referred to as "forward rotation". The feeding arm 26 is rotatably supported by the shaft 27 supported by the frame of the printer section 11. The feeding arm 26 is urged to rotate toward the feeding tray 20 by its own weight or elastic force of a spring or the like.

[0036] [Transportation Route 65] The transport path 65 is formed inside the first housing 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the transport path 65 refers to a space formed by the outer guide member 18 and the inner guide member 19, which face each other at a predetermined interval, inside the printer unit 11. The transport path 65 is a path that extends from the rear end of the feed tray 20 to the rear side of the printer unit 11. The transport path 65 also extends from the bottom to the top at the rear side of the printer unit 11, makes a U-turn, and reaches the discharge tray 21 through the space between the recording unit 24 and the platen 42. The transport path 65 also extends from the rear end of the discharge tray 21 through the tip of the discharge tray 21 to the front side of the printer unit 11, that is, to the front of the first housing 14. The transport path 65 between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 is provided in approximately the center of the multifunction device 10 in the left-right direction 9, and extends in the front-rear direction 8, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Here, the width of the transport path 65 in the left-right direction 9 varies depending on the size of the paper 12 being transported, but Fig. 4 shows the transport path 65 corresponding to the maximum size of paper 12 that is transported and image-recorded by the printer unit 11. Although not shown in Fig. 4, the feed tray 20 and the discharge tray 21 are disposed at positions overlapping with an area along the left-right direction 9 of the transport path 65 when viewed from the top-bottom direction 7. The transport direction 16 of the paper 12 in the transport path 65 is indicated by a dashed arrow in Fig. 3.

[0037] [Transport roller unit 54] As shown in Fig. 3, the transport roller unit 54 is disposed upstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction 16. The transport roller unit 54 has a transport roller 60 and a pinch roller 61 that face each other. The transport roller 60 is driven by a transport motor. The pinch roller 61 rotates with the rotation of the transport roller 60. The paper 12 is sandwiched between the transport roller 60 and the pinch roller 61, which rotate forward due to the forward rotation of the transport motor, and transported in the transport direction 16.

[0038] [Discharge roller section 55] As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge roller unit 55 is disposed downstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction 16. The discharge roller unit 55 has a discharge roller 62 and a spur 63 that face each other. The discharge roller 62 is driven by a transport motor. The spur 63 rotates with the rotation of the discharge roller 62. The paper 12 is sandwiched between the discharge roller 62 and the spur 63, which rotate forward due to the forward rotation of the transport motor, and transported in the transport direction 16.

[0039] [Record 24] 3, the recording unit 24 is disposed between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the transport direction 16. The recording unit 24 is disposed facing the platen 42 in the up-down direction 7 with the transport path 65 in between. In other words, the recording unit 24 is disposed above the transport path 65 in the up-down direction 7 and facing the transport path 65. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 23 and a recording head 39.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, the carriage 23 is supported by guide rails 43, 44 that extend in the left-right direction 9 at positions spaced apart in the front-rear direction 8. The guide rails 43, 44 are supported by a frame of the printer unit 11. The carriage 23 is connected to a known belt mechanism provided on the guide rail 44. This belt mechanism is driven by a carriage motor (not shown). In other words, the carriage 23 connected to the belt mechanism reciprocates in the left-right direction 9 by being driven by the carriage motor. The range of movement of the carriage 23 extends to the right and left in the left-right direction 9 from the transport path 65, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 4.

[0041] Also extending from the carriage 23 are ink tubes 32 connecting the ink tank 100 and the recording head 39, and a flexible flat cable 33 electrically connecting a control board on which a control unit (not shown) is mounted and the recording head 39. The ink tubes 32 supply ink stored in the ink tank 100 to the recording head 39. More specifically, four ink tubes 32B, 32M, 32C, and 32Y (which may be collectively referred to as "ink tubes 32") through which ink of each color (black, magenta, cyan, and yellow) flows extend from the ink tank 100 and are connected to the carriage 23 in a bundled state. The flexible flat cable 33 transmits a control signal output from the control unit to the recording head 39.

[0042] The recording head 39 is mounted on the carriage 23 as shown in FIG. 3. A plurality of nozzles 40 are formed on the bottom surface of the recording head 39. The tips of the plurality of nozzles 40 are exposed from the bottom surface of the recording head 39 and the carriage 23 on which the recording head 39 is mounted. Hereinafter, the surface on which the tips of the nozzles 40 are exposed may be referred to as the "nozzle surface." The recording head 39 ejects ink as minute ink droplets from the nozzles 40. As the carriage 23 moves, the recording head 39 ejects ink droplets toward the paper 12 supported by a platen 42. As a result, an image is recorded on the paper 12.

[0043] [Platen 42] 3 and 4, the platen 42 is disposed between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the transport direction 16. The platen 42 is disposed so as to face the recording unit 24 in the up-down direction 7, and supports the paper 12 transported by the transport roller unit 54 from below.

[0044] [Second housing 80] The structure of the second housing 80 will be described in detail below. The outer shape of the second housing 80 is a generally triangular prism shape, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The second housing 80 has an upper wall 81, an upper inclined wall 82, a lower inclined wall 83, a rear wall 84, a right wall 85, and a left wall 86. The upper inclined wall 82 is inclined downward toward the front. The lower inclined wall 83 is inclined upward toward the front. An internal space 87 of the second housing 80 is a space (an example of an internal space) defined by the upper wall 81, the upper inclined wall 82, the lower inclined wall 83, the rear wall 84, the right wall 85, and the left wall 86.

[0045] As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the first rib 93 protrudes upward from the lower inclined wall 83 and extends in the front-rear direction 8 between the lower inclined wall 83 and the rear wall 84. The groove portion 88 is a space formed between the first rib 93 and an upper surface of the lower inclined wall 83. The second rib 94 protrudes upward from the lower inclined wall 83 and extends in the front-rear direction 8 between the lower inclined wall 83 and the first rib 93. A part of the second rib 94 is located in the groove portion 88. As shown in Fig. 7, an upper end 94A of the second rib 94 is located lower than an upper end 93A of the first rib 93 in the up-down direction 7.

[0046] A first rib 93 for supporting a liquid crystal display (not shown), a circuit board 96 (one example of a board), and a rubber key 97 are arranged on the second housing 80. The display surface of the liquid crystal display is protected by a transparent sheet, and the liquid crystal display is supported on the first rib 93 so that its surface is exposed from the opening 82A, that is, so that the user can view the display surface of the liquid crystal display. The circuit board 96 is an electric board on which an electric circuit is formed for receiving an operation of the input button 17A and generating an electric signal corresponding to the operation. The rubber key 97 is an elastic key that is arranged to cover the upper side of the circuit board 96 and transmits the operating force from the user to the circuit board while elastically deforming upon receiving the operating force. The rubber key 97 is configured to have a plate portion 97A and an operating protrusion portion 97B that protrudes upward from the plate portion 97A and receives the operating force from the user. A rib 98 protruding upward is provided around the plate portion 97A. The rib 98 is not provided on the front side of the plate portion 97A, which is approximately at the center in the left-right direction 9. That is, the plate portion 97A has a flat portion 98A on the front side approximately in the center in the left-right direction 9, where no rib 98 is provided.

[0047] 6 and 7, a circuit board 96 is placed on the upper surface of the first rib 93. A rubber key 97 is placed on the upper surface of the circuit board 96. In other words, an upper end 93A of the first rib 93 supports the circuit board 96. The rubber key 97 is arranged so as to cover the upper side of the circuit board 96 and so that an operation protrusion 97B is exposed from an opening 82B of the upper inclined wall 82. An upper end 94A of the second rib 94 is located below the circuit board 96 in the up-down direction 7 and does not abut against the circuit board 96. In this manner, the operation panel 17 is provided in the second housing 80.

[0048] 8 and 9, the second housing 80 has a communication hole 89 that communicates an internal space 87 of the second housing 80 with the outside. In this embodiment, two communication holes 89 are formed in the lower inclined wall 83, spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction 9. The positions of the two communication holes 89 will be described later.

[0049] Next, a description will be given of the flow of liquid when liquid overflows onto the operation panel 17 of the second housing 80. The liquid that overflows onto the operation panel 17 flows into the internal space 87 of the second housing 80 through the opening in the upper inclined wall 82. The liquid then flows from the internal space 87 to the outside of the second housing 80 through the communication hole 89.

[0050] The flow of liquid in the internal space 87 is shown by dashed lines in Figs. 6 and 7. The liquid flowing in from the opening 82B of the upper inclined wall 82 flows downward along the surface of the operation protrusion 97B of the rubber key 97, and reaches the surface of the plate portion 97A. Most of the liquid on the surface of the plate portion 97A flows along the rib 98 around the plate portion 97A, falls downward from the flat portion 98A, and flows into the groove portion 88. Note that a part of the liquid on the surface of the plate portion 97A falls downward over the rib 98 and flows into the groove portion 88. When the liquid level reaches the upper end 94A of the second rib 94, a part of the liquid that flows into the groove portion 88 flows to the right or left over the second rib 94 and reaches the communication hole 89. The liquid that reaches the communication hole 89 flows to the outside of the second housing 80 through the communication hole 89. The liquid falls downward from the opening 90 exposed to the outside of the communication hole 89.

[0051] As described above, the second housing 80 has a flow path 91 through which liquid flows from the internal space 87 to the outside. In this embodiment, the communication hole 89 corresponds to the flow path 91, and the opening 90 of the communication hole 89 corresponds to the discharge end 92 through which liquid flows out of the flow path 91 to the outside.

[0052] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 10, a first position 67 obtained by projecting the discharge end 92 onto a horizontal plane is located outside a second position 68 obtained by projecting the end of the placement area 66 onto the horizontal plane. As shown in Fig. 10, the discharge end 92 is located forward of the front surface of the first housing 14. The first position 67 is a virtual area having an area corresponding to the opening 90. The second position 68 is a virtual line corresponding to the end of the placement area 66.

[0053] Here, the placement area 66 is the area occupied by the maximum size paper 12 when the maximum size paper 12 is discharged from the transport path 65 and supported on the discharge tray 21. The maximum size paper 12 refers to the paper with the largest dimension (size) that can be transported and image-recorded by the printer unit 11.

[0054] 10, in this embodiment, a first position 67 of the discharge end 92 projected onto a horizontal plane is located outward in the left-right direction 9 from a second position 68 of the end of the mounting area 66 projected onto the horizontal plane. In other words, the first position 67 of the discharge end 92 located to the right of the center of the second housing 80 in the left-right direction 9 is located to the right of the second position 68 of the end of the mounting area 66 projected onto the horizontal plane. And the first position 67 of the discharge end 92 located to the left of the center of the second housing 80 in the left-right direction 9 is located to the left of the second position 68 of the end of the mounting area 66 projected onto the horizontal plane.

[0055] [Effects of the first embodiment] The multifunction device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a first housing 14 having a discharge tray 21 that supports the paper 12, and a second housing 80 having an operation panel 17 and positioned above the discharge tray 21. The second housing 80 has a flow path 91 through which liquid flows from an internal space 87 to the outside. A first position 67, which is a projection of a discharge end 92 through which liquid flows out of the flow path 91 to the outside, on a horizontal plane, is located outside a second position 68, which is a projection of an end of a placement area 66, which is an area in the discharge tray 21 where the largest paper 12 is placed, on a horizontal plane. According to the above configuration, since the first position 67 is located outside the second position 68, the liquid flowing out from the discharge end 92 falls outside the placement area 66. This reduces the possibility that the paper 12 will be stained or deformed by the liquid.

[0056] At least a portion of the second housing 80 protrudes forward from the front surface of the first housing 14, and the discharge end 92 is located forward of the front surface of the first housing 14. With the above configuration, since the discharge end 92 is located forward of the front surface of the first housing 14, liquid flowing out from the discharge end 92 falls forward of the front surface of the first housing 14. This reduces the possibility that the first housing 14 will become soiled with liquid, and also reduces the possibility that the paper 12 will become soiled with liquid or deformed.

[0057] The discharge end 92 is an opening 90 exposed to the outside in a communication hole 89 that communicates between the interior space 87 of the second housing 80 and the outside. If the discharge end 92 is the opening 90 exposed to the outside of the communication hole 89, this is preferable because it is possible to reduce the possibility of the paper 12 being soiled with liquid or deformed with a simple configuration.

[0058] The second housing 80 has a first rib 93 and a second rib 94 in its internal space 87. An upper end 93A of the first rib 93 supports a circuit board 96, and an upper end 94A of the second rib 94 is located lower than the upper end 93A of the first rib 93.

[0059] When the upper end 94A of the second rib 94 is located lower than the upper end 93A of the first rib 93, the possibility of liquid coming into contact with the circuit board 96 supported by the first rib 93 when liquid in the internal space 87 of the second housing 80 moves over the second rib 94 can be reduced.

[0060] The first housing 14 has a space 69 that opens to the outside, the discharge tray 21 is located in the space 69 of the first housing 14, and at least a portion of the second housing 80 is located in the space 69 of the first housing 14. The configuration of the second housing 80 described above can be suitably applied to the multifunction device 10 having the above configuration.

[0061] [Modification of the first embodiment] In this embodiment, the communication hole 89 is provided in the lower inclined wall 83 of the second housing 80, but as shown in Fig. 11, the communication hole 89 may be provided in the left wall 86 of the second housing 80. The communication hole 89 may be provided in the right wall 85. The communication hole 89 may be provided in both the right wall 85 and the left wall 86.

[0062] Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the outer surface of the left wall 86 is located at approximately the same position as the left end of the discharge tray 21 in the left-right direction 9. The opening 90 of the communication hole 89 exposed to the outside is located on the outer surface of the left wall 86. In this modified example, the first position, where the discharge end 92 from which the liquid flows out of the flow path 91 is projected onto a horizontal plane, is located outside the second position 68, where the end of the placement area 66 is projected onto a horizontal plane. This causes the liquid flowing out of the discharge end 92 to fall outside the placement area 66. This reduces the possibility that the paper 12 will be soiled or deformed by the liquid. The same applies when the communication hole 89 is provided in the right wall 85.

[0063] In this embodiment, the second housing 80 is fixed to the first housing 14, but the second housing 80 may be supported rotatably with respect to the first housing 14. For example, as shown in Fig. 12, the second housing 80 may be supported by the first housing 14 in a state in which the second housing 80 is rotatable about an axis 160. In this way, the angle of the operation panel 17 can be changed, and the operability of the multifunction device 10 can be improved.

[0064] [Second embodiment] In the second housing 80 according to the second embodiment, a discharge end 92 through which liquid flows out from a flow path 91 to the outside is an end of the flow path formed on the outer surface of the second housing 80. That is, the second housing 80 according to the second embodiment includes, as a flow path 91 through which liquid flows from an internal space 87 to the outside, a flow path (space 145, space 155) formed on the outer surface of the second housing 80 in addition to communication holes (communication holes 141, communication holes 151) that communicate between the internal space 87 of the second housing 80 and the outside.

[0065] 13, in the second housing 80 according to the second embodiment, a communication hole 141 and a communication hole 151 are provided in the lower inclined wall 83. The communication hole 141 is located to the right of the center in the left-right direction 9 of the second housing 80, and the communication hole 151 is located to the left of the center in the left-right direction 9 of the second housing 80. The communication holes 141 and 151 communicate between the internal space 87 of the second housing 80 and the outside.

[0066] The outer surface of the lower inclined wall 83 is provided with protrusions 142, 143, 144, 152, 153, and 154 which protrude from the outer surface.

[0067] The protrusion 142 is a rib extending in the left-right direction 9 and is arranged adjacent to the front side of the communication hole 141 . Its left end is located on the left side of the communication hole 141 and its right end is located near the right wall 85 . The protrusion 143 is a rib extending in the left-right direction 9 and is arranged adjacent to the rear side of the communication hole 141 . Its left end is located on the left side of the communication hole 141 and its right end is located near the right wall 85 . The protrusion 144 is a rib extending in the front-rear direction 8 , and is disposed adjacent to the left side of the communication hole 141 . The protrusion 144 is connected to the left ends of the protrusions 142 and 143 . Space 145 is a space between protrusion 142 and protrusion 143 (an example of a pair of protrusions). A left end 146 (an example of a first end) of space 145 is connected to communication hole 141. A right end 147 (an example of a second end) of space 145 is located between the right end of protrusion 142 and the right end of protrusion 143, and is located in the vicinity of right wall 85.

[0068] The liquid flowing out from the internal space 87 of the second housing 80 to the outside through the communication hole 141 flows into the space 145 from the left end 146 of the communication hole 141. The liquid flows to the right in the space 145 while in contact with the protrusions 143 and the protrusions 144. The liquid that reaches the right end 147 of the space 145 falls downward from the right end 147. That is, in this embodiment, the discharge end 92 from which the liquid flows out from the flow path 91 to the outside is the end (right end 147) of the flow path (space 145) formed on the outer surface of the second housing 80. Here, the right end 147 is located in the vicinity of the right wall 85. Therefore, the first position 67 obtained by projecting the right end 147 (discharge end 92) onto a horizontal plane is located outside (to the right) of the second position 68 obtained by projecting the end of the placement area 66 onto a horizontal plane.

[0069] The protrusion 152 is a rib extending in the left-right direction 9 and is arranged adjacent to the front side of the communication hole 151 . Its right end is located to the right of the communication hole 151 and its left end is located near the left wall 86 . The protrusion 153 is a rib extending in the left-right direction 9 and is arranged adjacent to the rear side of the communication hole 151 . Its right end is located to the right of the communication hole 151 and its left end is located near the left wall 86 . The protrusion 154 is a rib extending in the front-rear direction 8 , and is disposed adjacent to the right side of the communication hole 151 . The protrusion 154 is connected to the right end of the protrusion 152 and the right end of the protrusion 153 . Space 155 is a space between protrusion 152 and protrusion 153 (an example of a pair of protrusions). A right end 156 (an example of a first end) of space 155 is connected to communication hole 151. A left end 157 (an example of a second end) of space 155 is located between the left end of protrusion 152 and the left end of protrusion 153, and is located in the vicinity of left wall 86.

[0070] The liquid flowing out from the internal space 87 of the second housing 80 to the outside through the communication hole 151 flows into the space 155 from the right end 156 of the communication hole 151. The liquid flows leftward through the space 155 while in contact with the protrusions 153 and 154. The liquid that reaches the left end 157 of the space 155 falls downward from the left end 157. That is, in this embodiment, the discharge end 92 from which the liquid flows out from the flow path 91 to the outside is the end (left end 157) of the flow path (space 155) formed on the outer surface of the second housing 80. Here, the left end 157 is located in the vicinity of the left wall 86. Therefore, the first position 67 obtained by projecting the left end 157 (discharge end 92) onto a horizontal plane is located outside (leftward) of the second position 68 obtained by projecting the end of the placement area 66 onto a horizontal plane.

[0071] In the second embodiment described above, on the right side of the second housing 80, the communication hole 141 and the space 145 correspond to the flow path 91 through which liquid flows from the internal space 87 of the second housing 80 to the outside. The space 145 corresponds to the flow path formed on the outer surface of the second housing 80. On the left side of the second housing 80, the communication hole 151 and the space 155 correspond to the flow path 91 through which liquid flows from the internal space 87 of the second housing 80 to the outside. The space 155 corresponds to the flow path formed on the outer surface of the second housing 80.

[0072] [Effects of the second embodiment] In the second housing 80 according to the present embodiment, the discharge end 92 is an end of a flow path formed on the outer surface of the second housing 80. If the discharge end 92 is an end of a flow path formed on the outer surface of the second housing 80, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the paper 12 will be stained or deformed by liquid with a simple configuration, and it is preferable because it allows for a high degree of freedom in arranging the flow path.

[0073] The flow path 91 includes a space 145 between protrusions 142 and 143 protruding from the outer surface of the second housing 80. A left end 146 of the space 145 is connected to a communication hole 141 that communicates between the internal space 87 of the second housing 80 and the outside, and a right end 147 is the discharge end 92. If the flow path 91 includes the space 145 between the protrusions 142 and 143 protruding from the outer surface of the second housing 80, this is preferable because it reduces the possibility that the paper 12 will be stained with liquid or deformed with a simple configuration.

[0074] The flow path 91 includes a space 155 between protrusions 152 and 153 protruding from the outer surface of the second housing 80. A right end 156 of the space 155 is connected to a communication hole 151 that communicates between the internal space 87 of the second housing 80 and the outside, and a left end 157 is the discharge end 92. If the flow path 91 includes the space 155 between the protrusions 152 and 153 protruding from the outer surface of the second housing 80, this is preferable because it is possible to reduce the possibility of the paper 12 being stained or deformed by liquid with a simple configuration.

[0075] [Modification of the second embodiment] The flow path formed on the outer surface of the second housing 80 may be formed by a configuration other than the protrusions 152, 153. For example, the flow path may be formed as a space between one rib extending in the left-right direction 9 and the second housing 80 in which liquid is held against gravity, or may be formed as a space between three or more ribs. The flow path may also be formed as a groove formed on the outer surface of the second housing 80, or may be formed as an internal space of a tube or the like.

[0076] [Other variations] In the multifunction device 10 according to the above embodiment, a so-called U-turn path is adopted as the conveying path 65, but a so-called straight path in which the conveying direction 16 is generally along a fixed direction may also be adopted.

[0077] The feed tray 20 or the discharge tray 21 may be extendable forward from the front wall 14A of the first housing 14. In this case, the front surface of the first housing 14 is not the front surface of the extended feed tray 20 or discharge tray 21, but the outer surface of the front wall 14A of the first housing 14.

[0078] The number of communication holes that the second housing 80 has is not limited to two, and may be one, or three or more. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 10... Multifunction machine (sheet transport device) 12...Paper (sheet) 17 Operation panel 21···Discharge tray (tray) 66... ​​Loading area 67...1st position 68...2nd position 80...Second housing 87...Interior space 91...Flow path 92...Discharge end

Claims

1. a first housing having a tray for supporting a sheet; a second housing having an operation panel and located above the tray; The second housing has a flow path through which liquid flows from an internal space to an outside, a first position, as determined by projecting a discharge end, at which liquid flows out of the flow path, onto a horizontal plane, is located outside a second position, as determined by projecting an end of a placement area, which is an area in the tray where the largest sheet is placed, onto the horizontal plane; the operation panel has an opening communicating with an internal space of the second housing, the opening overlaps with the placement area in a left-right direction perpendicular to a direction in which the sheet is discharged to the tray, The discharge end of the sheet transport device is located forward of a front surface of the first housing.

2. The sheet transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the discharge end is an end of a flow path formed on an outer surface of the second housing.

3. the flow path includes a space between a pair of protruding pieces protruding from an outer surface of the second housing, 3. The sheet transport device according to claim 2, wherein a first end of the space is connected to a communication hole that communicates the internal space of the second housing with the outside, and a second end of the space is the discharge end.

4. A first housing having a tray for supporting a sheet; a second housing having an operation panel and located above the tray; The second housing has a flow path through which liquid flows from an internal space to an outside, a first position, as determined by projecting a discharge end, at which liquid flows out of the flow path, onto a horizontal plane, is located outside a second position, as determined by projecting an end of a placement area, which is an area in the tray where the largest sheet is placed, onto the horizontal plane; the operation panel has an opening communicating with an internal space of the second housing, the opening overlaps with the placement area in a left-right direction perpendicular to a direction in which the sheet is discharged to the tray, the discharge end is an end of a flow path formed on an outer surface of the second housing, the flow path includes a space between a pair of protruding pieces protruding from an outer surface of the second housing, A sheet conveying device, wherein a first end of the space is connected to a communication hole that communicates the internal space of the second housing with the outside, and a second end of the space is the discharge end.

5. The second housing is A first wall including an inner surface that defines the interior space; a first rib protruding from the inner surface of the first wall; a second wall including an inner surface covering the inner surface of the first wall and the first rib to form the internal space, and a surface configured as the operation panel; a circuit board on which an electric circuit is formed for generating an electric signal corresponding to an operation of the operation panel; the flow passage formed between a lower end of the inner surface of the first wall and the first rib, 5. The sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein a protruding end of the first rib supports the circuit board.

6. A first housing having a tray for supporting a sheet; a second housing having an operation panel and located above the tray; The second housing is a first wall including an interior surface defining an interior space; a first rib protruding from the inner surface of the first wall; a second wall including an inner surface covering the inner surface of the first wall and the first rib to form the internal space, and a surface configured as the operation panel; a flow path through which liquid flows from the internal space to the outside, the flow path being formed between a lower end of the inner surface of the first wall and the first rib; a circuit board on which an electric circuit is formed for generating an electric signal corresponding to an operation of the operation panel, a first position, as determined by projecting a discharge end, at which liquid flows out of the flow path, onto a horizontal plane, is located outside a second position, as determined by projecting an end of a placement area, which is an area in the tray where the largest sheet is placed, onto the horizontal plane; the operation panel has an opening communicating with an internal space of the second housing, the opening overlaps with the placement area in a left-right direction perpendicular to a direction in which the sheet is discharged to the tray, A sheet conveying device in which the protruding end of the first rib supports the circuit board.

7. The sheet transport device according to claim 6 , wherein the first rib is located forward of a front surface of the first housing.

8. the second housing has a second rib protruding from the inner surface of the first wall, 8. The sheet transport device according to claim 6, wherein the second rib is located between the first rib and the lower end of the inner surface of the first wall.

9. the second housing has a second rib protruding from the inner surface of the first wall, 9. The sheet transport device according to claim 6, wherein the protruding end of the second rib does not abut on the circuit board.

10. A sheet conveying device as described in any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the discharge end is located forward of the front surface of the first housing.

11. A sheet conveying device as described in any one of claims 1, 6 to 10, wherein the discharge end is an opening exposed to the outside in a communication hole that connects the internal space of the second housing with the outside.

12. A sheet conveying device as described in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least a portion of the second housing is located forward of the front surface of the first housing.

13. A sheet conveying device as described in claim 12, wherein the second housing is supported rotatably relative to the first housing.

14. The first housing has a front wall, the second housing has a surface configured as the operation panel, the second housing is supported by the first housing in a state in which it can rotate about an axis extending along the front wall between a third position and a fourth position at which an angle of a second imaginary plane including the surface of the operation panel with respect to a first imaginary plane including an outer surface of the front wall is larger than that of the third position; The sheet transport device according to claim 13 , wherein when the second housing is located at the fourth position, the discharge end is located forward of a front surface of the first housing.

15. The tray has a discharge tray, The sheet transport device according to claim 14 , wherein the front surface of the first housing is a front surface of the ejection tray.

16. A sheet conveying device as described in Claim 14, wherein the front surface of the first housing is the outer surface of the front wall.

17. The tray has a feed tray, The sheet transport device according to claim 14 , wherein the front surface of the first housing is a front surface of the feed tray.

18. The tray has a discharge tray, The sheet transport device according to claim 1 , wherein a front surface of the first housing is a front surface of the discharge tray.

19. The first housing has a front wall, The sheet transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the front surface of the first housing is an outer surface of the front wall.

20. The operation panel is provided with input buttons and a liquid crystal display, 20. The sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the operation panel is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front.

21. The operation panel is provided with input buttons, 21. The sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the operation panel has an opening through which the input buttons are exposed and which communicates with the internal space.

22. The operation panel is provided with a liquid crystal display, 22. The sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the operation panel has an opening through which the liquid crystal display is exposed and which communicates with the internal space.

23. The first housing has a space that is open to the outside, the tray is located in the space of the first housing, The sheet transport device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second housing is located in the space of the first housing.

24. the second housing has a first wall intersecting with a surface configured as the operation panel; the flow path has a communication hole that communicates an internal space of the second housing with the outside, The sheet transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication hole is formed in the first wall.

25. a recording unit that records an image on a sheet; A transport path formed inside the first housing, The tray includes a feed tray and a discharge tray, 25. The sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the transport path is a U-turn path from the feed tray through the recording unit to the discharge tray.

26. 26. The sheet transport device according to claim 25, wherein the recording section has a recording head that ejects ink.

27. 27. The sheet transport device according to claim 26, wherein the recording section has a carriage that carries the recording head and moves reciprocally in the left and right direction.

Images