Media transport device and recording device

Abstract

To facilitate removal of a medium which has failed in conveyance within a conveyance passage.SOLUTION: A medium conveying device 1 includes: a conveyance passage of a medium P which has a first conveyance passage T3, a second conveyance passage T0 and a third conveyance passage T1 formed by making the first conveyance passage T3 and the second conveyance passage T0 confluent at a confluent point P1; a door section 17 which can be displaced between a closed state constituting at least a part of the first conveyance passage T3 and an open state opening at least a part of the first conveyance passage T3; and a switching section 100 which is provided at the confluent point P1 and can be displaced between a first state opening the second conveyance passage T0 and a second state opening the first conveyance passage T3 when the door section 17 is positioned under a closed state. The switching section 100 can be displaced to a third state opening at least a part of the second conveyance passage T0 when the door section 17 is positioned under an opening state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a medium conveyance device and a recording device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, medium conveyance devices with various configurations have been used, such as a recording device represented by a printer. Among these, there is a medium conveyance device having a plurality of medium conveyance paths. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that includes a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path, and an intermediate guide at the confluence of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in a conventional medium conveyance device having a plurality of medium conveyance paths, it may be difficult to easily remove a medium that has become a conveyance failure within the conveyance path. For example, in the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1, when a conveyance failure of a medium occurs within the conveyance path, an operator has to hold the gripping portion provided on the intermediate guide and rotate the intermediate guide while holding the gripping portion to open the conveyance path, which makes the removal work of the medium complicated for the operator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, the media conveyance device of the present invention includes a first conveyance path, a second conveyance path, and a third conveyance path formed by the confluence of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path at a confluence point. It also includes a media conveyance path having these paths, a door portion displaceable between a closed state constituting at least a part of the first conveyance path and an open state opening at least a part of the first conveyance path, and a switching portion of the conveyance path provided at the confluence point and displaceable between a first state of opening the second conveyance path and a second state of opening the first conveyance path when the door portion is in the closed state. The switching portion is displaceable to a third state of opening at least a part of the second conveyance path when the door portion is in the open state.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Hereinafter, the present invention will be schematically described. The media conveyance device according to the first aspect includes a first conveyance path, a second conveyance path, and a third conveyance path formed by the confluence of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path at a confluence point, a conveyance path for the media, a door portion displaceable between a closed state constituting at least a part of the first conveyance path and an open state for opening at least a part of the first conveyance path, and a switching portion provided at the confluence point and displaceable between a first state for opening the second conveyance path and a second state for opening the first conveyance path when the door portion is in the closed state. The switching portion is displaceable to a third state for opening at least a part of the second conveyance path when the door portion is in the open state.

[0008] According to this aspect, a door portion displaceable between a closed state constituting at least a part of the first conveyance path and an open state for opening at least a part of the first conveyance path is provided. Therefore, by opening the door portion, the first conveyance path is opened, and the medium that has become defective in conveyance within the first conveyance path can be easily removed. Further, the switching portion is displaceable to a third state for opening the second conveyance path when the door portion is in the open state. Therefore, by opening the door portion, the second conveyance path is opened, and the medium that has become defective in conveyance within the second conveyance path can be easily removed.

[0009] The media conveyance device according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, the switching portion has a protruding portion and a switching portion rotation axis along the width direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the media in the conveyance path, the door portion is movable with respect to the protruding portion as the door portion is displaced between the closed state and the open state, and the switching portion rotates with respect to the switching portion rotation axis by the movement of the protruding portion accompanying the displacement of the door portion.

[0010] According to this aspect, the switching portion has a protruding portion and a switching portion rotation axis, the door portion is movable with respect to the protruding portion as the door portion is displaced between the closed state and the open state, and the switching portion rotates with respect to the switching portion rotation axis by the movement of the protruding portion accompanying the displacement of the door portion. By adopting such a configuration, the switching portion can be rotated by moving the protruding portion as the door portion is opened and closed, and the device configuration can be simplified.

[0011] In the third aspect, the medium transport device includes, in the second aspect, an engaging portion displaceable in a state of being engaged with the protruding portion, and a biasing portion that biases the engaging portion so that the switching portion is biased in a direction in which the switching portion is displaced to the third state when the door portion is in the closed state.

[0012] According to this aspect, it includes an engaging portion displaceable in a state of being engaged with the protruding portion, and a biasing portion that biases the engaging portion so that the switching portion is biased in a direction in which the switching portion is displaced to the third state when the door portion is in the closed state. For this reason, as the door portion is displaced from the closed state to the open state, the switching portion can be displaced to the third state with a simple configuration of only the biasing portion.

[0013] In the fourth aspect, the medium transport device, in the third aspect, is characterized in that the engaging portion is linearly movable in a state of being engaged with the protruding portion.

[0014] According to this aspect, the engaging portion is linearly movable in a state of being engaged with the protruding portion. By configuring the engaging portion to be linearly movable, the moving area can be narrowed, and an increase in the size of the device can be suppressed.

[0015] In the fifth aspect, the medium transport device, in any one of the second to fourth aspects, when the direction in which the switching portion is displaced from the first state to the second state is defined as the first direction, when the door portion is in the closed state, the switching portion is configured such that a force due to its own weight acts thereon so as to rotate toward the first direction side with respect to the switching portion rotation axis.

[0016] When the door portion is in the closed state, if the switching portion is configured such that a force due to its own weight acts to rotate it toward the first direction side with respect to the switching portion rotation axis, when the door portion is in the open state, it is difficult to open the second conveyance path. However, as described above, according to this aspect, the switching portion can be displaced to a third state in which the second conveyance path is opened in conjunction with the displacement of the door portion when the door portion is in the open state. Therefore, by opening the door portion, the second conveyance path is opened, and the medium that has become a conveyance defect in the second conveyance path can be easily removed.

[0017] The medium conveyance device according to the sixth aspect is characterized in that, in any one of the second to fifth aspects, the door portion has a door portion rotation axis along a direction intersecting the width direction.

[0018] According to this aspect, the door portion has a door portion rotation axis along a direction intersecting the width direction. That is, the directions of the door portion rotation axis and the switching portion rotation axis are different. When the directions of the door portion rotation axis and the switching portion rotation axis are different, it is generally difficult to displace the door portion and the switching portion integrally. However, as described above, according to this aspect, the protruding portion can be moved along with the displacement of the door portion, and the movement of the protruding portion causes rotation with respect to the switching portion rotation axis, so that the door portion and the switching portion can be displaced integrally.

[0019] The medium conveyance device according to the seventh aspect is characterized in that, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the door portion constitutes at least a part of the first conveyance path and at least a part of the conveyance path other than the first conveyance path when the door portion is in the closed state.

[0020] According to this aspect, the door portion constitutes at least a part of the first conveyance path and at least a part of the conveyance path other than the first conveyance path when the door portion is in the closed state. Therefore, the number of constituent members of the conveyance path can be reduced, and the device can be made less costly and smaller.

[0021] The media conveyance device according to the eighth aspect is characterized in that, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path are arranged at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps in the gravitational direction.

[0022] According to this aspect, the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path are arranged at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps in the gravitational direction. Therefore, the device can be miniaturized. Also, when the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path are arranged at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps in the gravitational direction, generally, the area where the switching unit covers the second conveyance path becomes wider, and it becomes difficult to easily remove the medium that has become a conveyance failure within the second conveyance path. However, as described above, according to this aspect, the switching unit is displaceable to a third state in which the second conveyance path is opened when the door portion is in the open state. Therefore, by opening the door portion, the second conveyance path is opened, and the medium that has become a conveyance failure within the second conveyance path can be easily removed.

[0023] The recording device according to the ninth aspect is characterized by including the media conveyance device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects and a recording unit that performs recording on the media.

[0024] According to this aspect, a recording unit that performs recording on the media is provided. Therefore, it is possible to easily remove the medium that has become a conveyance failure in the conveyance path when recording is performed on the media.

[0025] The recording device according to the tenth aspect is, in the ninth aspect, provided with a medium storage unit that stores the media, the first conveyance path is a reversing path that reverses the recorded medium recorded by the recording unit and conveys it to the third conveyance path, the second conveyance path is a feeding path that feeds the media stored in the medium storage unit to the third conveyance path, and the third conveyance path is a conveyance path during recording that includes the recording position by the recording unit.

[0026] According to this aspect, a medium storage unit for storing a medium is provided. The first conveyance path is a reversal path that reverses a recorded medium recorded by a recording unit and conveys it to the third conveyance path. The second conveyance path is a feeding path that feeds the medium stored in the medium storage unit to the third conveyance path. The third conveyance path is a conveyance path during recording that includes a recording position by the recording unit. Therefore, by opening the door portion, the reversal path and the feeding path are opened, and the medium that has become defective in conveyance within the reversal path and the feeding path can be easily removed.

[0027] The recording apparatus according to the eleventh aspect is characterized in that, in the tenth aspect, the first conveyance path and the medium storage unit are arranged at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps in the gravitational direction.

[0028] According to this aspect, the first conveyance path and the medium storage unit are arranged at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps in the gravitational direction. Therefore, the apparatus can be miniaturized.

[0029] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described. First, an inkjet printer 1 which is a medium conveyance apparatus and also a recording apparatus of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, the inkjet printer 1 will be abbreviated as the printer 1. The X - Y - Z coordinate system shown in each figure is a rectangular coordinate system. The Y - axis direction intersects the conveyance direction of the medium P, that is, it is the medium width direction and also the apparatus depth direction. Among the Y - axis directions, the + Y direction is the direction from the front of the apparatus to the back of the apparatus, and the - Y direction is the direction from the back of the apparatus to the front of the apparatus. The X - axis direction is the apparatus width direction. When viewed from the operator of the printer 1, the + X direction is on the left side and the - X direction is on the right side. The Z - axis direction is the vertical direction, that is, the apparatus height direction. The + Z direction is the upward direction and the - Z direction is the downward direction. Hereinafter, the direction in which the medium P is sent may be referred to as "downstream", and the opposite direction may be referred to as "upstream". Also, in each figure, the medium conveyance path is indicated by a broken line. In the printer 1, the medium P is conveyed through the medium conveyance path indicated by the broken line.

[0030] The X - axis direction is the apparatus width direction. When viewed from the operator of the printer 1, the + X direction is on the left side and the - X direction is on the right side. The Z - axis direction is the vertical direction, that is, the apparatus height direction. The + Z direction is the upward direction and the - Z direction is the downward direction. Hereinafter, the direction in which the medium P is sent may be referred to as "downstream", and the opposite direction may be referred to as "upstream". Also, in each figure, the medium conveyance path is indicated by a broken line. In the printer 1, the medium P is conveyed through the medium conveyance path indicated by the broken line.

[0031] Also, the F-axis direction is the direction between the line head 51 and the conveyor belt 13 described later, that is, the medium conveyance direction in the recording area. The +F direction is the downstream of the conveyance direction, and the opposite -F direction is the upstream of the conveyance direction. The V-axis direction is the moving direction of the head unit 50 described later. Among the V-axis directions, the +V direction is the direction in which the head unit 50 moves away from the conveyor belt 13, and the -V direction is the direction in which the head unit 50 approaches the conveyor belt 13. In this embodiment, the +V direction is set as the medium discharge direction. In this embodiment, the V-axis direction is also the direction along the inclination of the discharge tray 8 described later.

[0032] The printer 1 includes a housing portion 16 of the apparatus main body 2 and a door portion 17 that is rotatable about the Z-axis direction with respect to the housing portion 16. The printer 1 also includes a first medium cassette 3 that houses the medium P at the lower part of the apparatus main body 2, and is further configured such that an additional unit 6 can be connected to the lower side of the apparatus main body 2. When the additional unit 6 is connected, the second medium cassette 4 and the third medium cassette 5 are located below the first medium cassette 3. The medium P sent out from each medium cassette is conveyed along the medium conveyance path indicated by the broken line inside the printer 1.

[0033] For each medium cassette, a pick roller is provided to send out the housed medium P in the -X direction. The pick rollers 21, 22, and 23 are pick rollers provided for the first medium cassette 3, the second medium cassette 4, and the third medium cassette 5, respectively. For each medium cassette, a pair of feed rollers is provided to feed the medium P sent out in the -X direction in an obliquely upward direction. The pairs of feed rollers 25, 26, and 27 are pairs of feed rollers provided for the first medium cassette 3, the second medium cassette 4, and the third medium cassette 5, respectively. Hereinafter, the "roller pair" is composed of a driving roller driven by a motor (not shown) unless otherwise specified and a driven roller that rotates following contact with this driving roller.

[0034] The medium P sent out from the third medium cassette 5 is sent to the reversing roller 39 by the pair of conveying rollers 29 and 28. Also, the medium P sent out from the second medium cassette 4 is sent to the reversing roller 39 by the pair of conveying rollers 28. The medium P is nipped between the reversing roller 39 and the driven roller 40 and sent to the pair of conveying rollers 31. The medium P sent out from the first medium cassette 3 is sent to the pair of conveying rollers 31 without passing through the reversing roller 39. Note that the supply roller 19 and the separating roller 20 provided near the reversing roller 39 are a pair of rollers that send out the medium P from a supply tray 12 represented in FIG. 4 and not shown in FIG. 1.

[0035] The conveyance path of the medium P from the pair of feeding rollers 25 to the pair of conveying rollers 31 is curved so as to be convex downward. Also, the conveyance path of the medium P from the nip position between the reversing roller 39 and the driven roller 40 to the pair of conveying rollers 31 is also curved so as to be convex downward. Hereinafter, the conveyance path of the medium P from the pair of feeding rollers 25 to the pair of conveying rollers 31 and the conveyance path of the medium P from the nip position between the reversing roller 39 and the driven roller 40 to the pair of conveying rollers 31 are referred to as the curved conveyance path R1.

[0036] The curved conveyance path R1 is provided with a detection means 70 for detecting the medium P and a switching unit 100 for switching the conveyance path of the medium P. The detection means 70 detects the presence or absence of the medium P being conveyed along the curved conveyance path R1 and detects the width of the medium P by detecting the end portions of the medium P in the medium width direction. Details of the switching unit 100, which is a main part of the printer 1 in the present embodiment, will be described later.

[0037] The medium P receiving the feeding force from the pair of conveying rollers 31 is sent between the line head 51, which is an example of a recording unit, and the conveying belt 13, that is, to the recording position facing the line head 51. Hereinafter, the medium conveyance path from the pair of conveying rollers 31 to the pair of conveying rollers 32 is referred to as the conveyance path T1 during recording.

[0038] The line head 51 constitutes the head unit 50. The line head 51 performs recording by discharging ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto the surface of the medium P. The line head 51 is an ink ejection head configured such that the nozzles for ejecting ink cover the entire width of the medium in the medium width direction, and is configured as an ink ejection head capable of performing recording over the entire width of the medium without moving in the medium width direction. However, the ink ejection head is not limited to this, and it may be of a type mounted on a carriage and ejecting ink while moving in the medium width direction. Also, as the recording unit, for example, a recording unit of a thermal transfer method or the like, a configuration other than the ink ejection head can be used.

[0039] The head unit 50 is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the recording conveyance path T1 during recording, and is provided so as to be displaceable between the recording position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 and the retracted position where it is most retracted from the conveyance belt 13 as shown by the two-dot chain line and the reference numeral 50-1 in FIG. 2. When the head unit 50 is in the retracted position, maintenance of the line head 51 is performed by maintenance means (not shown). In the present embodiment, the displacement direction of the head unit 50 is the V-axis direction along the inclination of the discharge tray 8. The head unit 50 is located on the upstream side in the medium discharge direction below the discharge tray 8 and is displaced along the lower surface 8e of the discharge tray 8.

[0040] The printer 1 includes ink storage units 61, 62, 63, 64 as liquid storage units. The ink ejected from the line head 51 is supplied from each ink storage unit to the line head 51 via a tube (not shown). Each ink storage unit is provided detachably. Also, the printer 1 includes a waste liquid storage unit 11 that stores ink as waste liquid ejected for maintenance from the line head 51 toward a flushing cap (not shown).

[0041] The conveying belt 13 is an endless belt wound around the pulleys 14 and 15, and at least one of the pulleys 14 and 15 is rotated by a motor (not shown). The medium P is conveyed to a position facing the line head 51 while being adsorbed on the belt surface of the conveying belt 13. As the adsorption of the medium P to the conveying belt 13, a known adsorption method such as an air suction method or an electrostatic adsorption method can be adopted.

[0042] The recording conveyance path T1 passing through the position facing the line head 51 forms an angle with respect to the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and is configured to convey the medium P upward. This upward conveyance direction is a direction including an -X direction component and a +Z direction component in FIG. 1. With such a configuration, the horizontal dimension of the printer 1 can be suppressed. In the present embodiment, the inclination angle of the recording conveyance path T1 is set in the range of 65° to 85° with respect to the horizontal direction, and more specifically, it is set to an inclination angle of approximately 75°. However, it is not limited to this angle.

[0043] The medium P on which recording has been performed on the first surface by the line head 51 is further sent upward by the conveying roller pair 32 located downstream of the conveying belt 13. A flap 41 is provided downstream of the conveying roller pair 32, and the conveying direction of the medium P is switched by this flap 41. When discharging the medium P as it is, the conveyance path of the medium P is switched by the flap 41 to face the upper conveying roller pair 35, and the medium P is discharged toward the discharge tray 8 by the conveying roller pair 35.

[0044] When recording is performed not only on the first surface of the medium P but also on the second surface opposite to the first surface, the conveyance direction of the medium P is directed by the flap 41 toward the branching position K1. Then, the medium P passes through the branching position K1 and enters the switchback path T2. In the present embodiment, the switchback path T2 is the upper medium conveyance path starting from the branching position K1. The switchback path T2 is provided with a pair of conveyance rollers 36, 37. The medium P that has entered the switchback path T2 is conveyed upward by the pair of conveyance rollers 36, 37. When the trailing edge of the medium P has passed through the branching position K1, the rotation direction of the pair of conveyance rollers 36, 37 is switched, and thereby the medium P is conveyed downward. Note that the term "upward" does not mean only the vertically upward direction but means any direction that includes a vector component in the vertically upward direction, and the term "downward" does not mean only the vertically downward direction but means any direction that includes a vector component in the vertically downward direction.

[0045] The inversion path T3 is connected to the switchback path T2. In the present embodiment, the inversion path T3 is the medium conveyance path at the merging point P1 starting from the branching position K1 and passing through the pair of conveyance rollers 33, 34 and the inversion roller 39. The medium P that has been conveyed downward from the branching position K1 receives a feeding force from the pair of conveyance rollers 33, 34 and reaches the inversion roller 39, where it is curved and inverted by the inversion roller 39 and sent toward the pair of conveyance rollers 31.

[0046] The medium P that has been conveyed by the pair of conveyance rollers 31 or the like and sent again to a position facing the line head 51 has the second surface opposite to the already recorded first surface facing the line head 51. Thereby, recording by the line head 51 on the second surface of the medium P becomes possible. Here, the medium conveyance path from the first medium cassette 3 to the switching unit 100 is referred to as the feeding path T0. Therefore, the switching unit 100 is provided at the merging point P1 of the feeding path T0 and the inversion path T3, and it can be expressed that the medium conveyance path up to the pair of conveyance rollers 32 on the downstream side of the merging point P1 of the feeding path T0 and the inversion path T3 constitutes the recording-time conveyance path T1.

[0047] Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8, the switching unit 100, which is a main part of the printer 1 of the present embodiment, will be described in detail. The switching unit 100 serves to switch between the feeding path T0 and the reversing path T3. Specifically, when feeding the medium P from the first medium cassette 3, as shown in FIG. 2, the feeding path T0 is opened and the reversing path T3 is closed. On the other hand, when recording is performed on the first surface of the medium P and subsequently on the second surface of the medium P, or when the additional unit 6 is connected to the apparatus main body 2 and the medium P is fed from the second medium cassette 4 or the third medium cassette 5, etc., as shown in FIG. 3, the reversing path T3 is opened and the feeding path T0 is closed.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 8, when the Y-axis direction is the longitudinal direction and the Z-axis direction is the short-side direction, the switching unit 100 is formed with a switching unit rotation axis 101 that is a rotation axis extending in the Y-axis direction on the -Z direction side, which is one end side in the short-side direction. The switching unit 100 can rotate around the switching unit rotation axis 101. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the tip 102 on the +Z direction side, which is the other end side in the short-side direction of the switching unit 100, is located on the +X direction side of the switching unit rotation axis 101. Also, there is a large play (gap) between the concave portion 111 and the protruding portion 103. For this reason, the switching unit 100 has the second state shown in FIG. 3 as its basic posture due to its own weight. However, when the medium P is fed from the first medium cassette 3, the tip of the medium P being fed in the feeding direction contacts the switching unit 100 and pushes the surface 105 of the switching unit 100 in the -X direction, causing the switching unit 100 to enter the first state shown in FIG. 2.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the switching unit 100 is provided at the confluence point P1 of the feeding path T0 and the reversing path T3. Therefore, the rotation range of the switching unit 100 is from the position where the tip 102 contacts the +X direction side portion of the feeding path T0 to the position where the tip 102 contacts the -X direction side portion of the reversing path T3. Note that when closing one of the feeding path T0 and the reversing path T3, it is only necessary to restrict the passage of the medium P, and it is not necessary to contact the path surface. Here, if the distance between the surfaces facing the first surface and the second surface of the medium P in the conveyance path of the medium P is defined as the conveyance path height, the conveyance path height at the confluence point P1 is approximately the conveyance path height of one of the feeding path T0 and the reversing path T3. Therefore, it can be said that the rotation range of the switching unit 100 is approximately the range corresponding to the conveyance path height of one conveyance path. However, since FIGS. 2 and 3 show the closed state in which the door portion 17 is closed with respect to the housing portion 16, the rotation range of the switching unit 100 is approximately the range corresponding to the conveyance path height of one conveyance path only in the closed state.

[0050] Here, FIGS. 2 and 3 show the closed state in which the door portion 17 is closed with respect to the housing portion 16. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the printer 1 of the present embodiment can be in an open state in which the door portion 17 is opened with respect to the housing portion 16. Note that when the printer 1 of the present embodiment is in the open state in which the door portion 17 is opened with respect to the housing portion 16, the switching unit 100 is in a third state as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 4 shows how the switching unit 100 in the second state is represented when in the open state. In the printer 1 of the present embodiment, this state does not actually occur.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 5, when the printer 1 of the present embodiment is in the open state in which the door portion 17 is opened with respect to the housing portion 16, the switching unit 100 changes from the second state to the third state. Specifically, as can be seen by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5, the switching unit 100 rotates to open the feeding path T0. Therefore, hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the mechanism by which the switching unit 100 changes from the second state to the third state when the door portion 17 changes from the closed state to the open state will be described.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 8, the switching unit 100 has a switching unit rotation axis 101 formed at both end portions in the Y-axis direction which is the longitudinal direction and on the -Z direction side in the Z-axis direction which is the short-side direction. Further, on the -Y direction side in the Y-axis direction which is the longitudinal direction and in the vicinity of the switching unit rotation axis 101, a protruding portion 103 protruding in the -Y direction is formed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the surface 104 on the -X direction side of the switching unit 100 constitutes a part of the inversion path T3, and the surface 105 on the +Z direction side and on the +X direction side of the switching unit 100 constitutes a part of the feeding path T0.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 7, the printer 1 is provided with a spring 120 and a slider 110 biased in the -X direction by the spring 120. In the closed state where the door portion 17 is closed, the end portion 112 on the -X direction side of the slider 110 abuts against the door portion 17 and is arranged at the position shown in FIG. 6, but in the open state where the door portion 17 is open, it is configured to protrude to the -X direction side as shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a concave portion 111 into which the protruding portion 103 of the switching unit 100 is fitted is formed in the slider 110, and the switching unit 100 is displaced from the state shown in FIG. 6 to the state shown in FIG. 7 as the slider 110 protrudes to the -X direction side. Since the protruding portion 103 is provided on the free end side of the switching unit 100 with respect to the switching unit rotation axis 101, the displacement of the slider 110 and the displacement of the switching unit 100 can be interlocked in this way. Here, it is preferable that the protruding portion 103 is provided at a position closer to the switching unit rotation axis 101 than half of the length of the switching unit 100. This is because the displacement distance of the slider 110 can be shortened as it is closer to the switching unit rotation axis 101. Here, the state shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the states shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, that is, corresponds to the second state. On the other hand, the state shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the state shown in FIG. 5, that is, corresponds to the third state. As the door portion 17 rotates from the open state to the closed state, the slider 110 is pushed by the door portion 17 at the end portion 112 and is pushed to the +X direction side, and the switching unit 100 rotates about the switching unit rotation axis 101 and is displaced from the third state shown in FIG. 7 to the second state shown in FIG. 6.

[0054] Here, summarizing once again, the printer 1 of the present embodiment includes an inversion path T3 as an example of a first conveyance path, a feeding path T0 as an example of a second conveyance path, and a recording-time conveyance path T1 as an example of a third conveyance path formed by the inversion path T3 and the feeding path T0 merging at a merging point P1. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, it is provided with a door portion 17 that can be displaced between a closed state that constitutes a part of the inversion path T3 and an open state that opens a part of the inversion path T3 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Further, when the door portion 17 is in the closed state, it can be displaced between a first state in which the inversion path T3 is closed and the feeding path T0 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, and a second state in which the feeding path T0 is closed and the inversion path T3 is opened as shown in FIG. 3, and is provided with a conveyance path switching portion 100 provided at the merging point P1. And, as shown in FIG. 5, the switching portion 100 can be displaced to a third state in which at least a part of the feeding path T0 is opened when the door portion 17 is in the open state.

[0055] By providing a door portion 17 that is displaceable between a closed state that constitutes at least a part of the first conveyance path and an open state that opens at least a part of the first conveyance path, as in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, by opening the door portion 17, the first conveyance path is opened, and the medium P that has become a conveyance failure within the first conveyance path can be easily removed. Here, in the present embodiment, the door portion 17 constitutes a part of the reverse path T3 in the closed state, but may constitute all of the reverse path T3 in the closed state. Further, although the confluence point of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path where the switching unit 100 is provided is the confluence point P1 of the reverse path T3 and the feeding path T0, it is not limited to such a configuration. The first conveyance path may not be the reverse path T3, the second conveyance path may not be the feeding path T0, and the confluence point of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path may not be the confluence point of the reverse path T3 and the feeding path T0. For example, the feeding path from the paper feed cassette 4 or 5 (the medium conveyance path that is sent from the paper feed cassette 4 or 5 to the confluence point P1 via the reverse roller 39 and the driven roller 40) can also be regarded as the first conveyance path. Further, it may be a branch point instead of a confluence point. Since the medium conveyance path that converges at the confluence point P1 is the first conveyance path, the manual feed path and the feeding path from the paper feed cassette 4 or 5 can also be regarded as the first conveyance path.

[0056] In a general printer, it may be difficult to remove the medium P that has become a conveyance failure within the feeding path T0. However, as described above, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the switching unit 100 is displaceable to a third state that opens the feeding path T0 when the door portion 17 is in the open state. Therefore, the printer 1 of the present embodiment can open the feeding path T0 by opening the door portion 17, and can easily remove the medium P that has become a conveyance failure within the feeding path T0.

[0057] Further, when the door portion 17 is in the closed position, the switching unit 100 is configured to be displaceable between a first state in which the reverse path T3 is closed and the feeding path T0 is opened, and a second state in which the feeding path T0 is closed and the reverse path T3 is opened. That is, the displaceable range of the switching unit 100 when the door portion 17 is in the closed position can be configured to be narrow, enabling the miniaturization of the apparatus. This is because, as described above, with the configuration as in the present embodiment, the displaceable range of the switching unit 100 can be set to the range corresponding to one of the reverse path T3 and the feeding path T0. That is, the height of the conveying path after the confluence can be set to the range corresponding to one of the reverse path T3 and the feeding path T0. In a conventional general apparatus, a member such as a flap formed at the confluence point P1 of the reverse path T3 and the feeding path T0 generally has a configuration that simply guides the medium P in a fixed state in the conveying directions in the reverse path T3 and the feeding path T0, and is not configured to be displaced according to the conveying state of the medium P. Therefore, the height of the conveying path after the confluence is often in the range of two times the sum of the heights of the reverse path T3 and the feeding path T0.

[0058] Further, in the present embodiment, the direction of the door rotation axis 170 represented in FIGS. 4 and 5 corresponds to the vertical direction with respect to the Z-axis, and the direction of the switching unit rotation axis 101 corresponds to the horizontal direction with respect to the X-axis. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. The directions of the door rotation axis 170 and the switching unit rotation axis 101 are not particularly limited, and they may be in the same direction.

[0059] Further, in the present embodiment, the timing at which the door portion 17 starts to shift from the closed state to the open state is the same as the timing at which the switching unit 100 starts to be displaced to the third state. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the starting and ending timings of the shift between the closed state and the open state of the door portion 17 and the starting and ending timings of the displacement of the switching unit 100 to the third state may be shifted, such as a configuration in which the switching unit 100 is displaced to the third state after the door portion 17 has been shifted from the closed state to the open state for a while. Also, the displacement of the door portion 17 between the closed state and the open state may be performed by the self-weight of the switching unit 100.

[0060] Further, the printer 1 of the present embodiment is a medium conveyance device having the above-described features, and is also a recording device including the medium conveyance device having the above-described features and a line head 51 as a recording unit that records on the medium P. Therefore, the printer 1 of the present embodiment can easily remove the medium P that has become a conveyance failure in the conveyance path when recording is performed on the medium P.

[0061] Also, as shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the switching unit 100 has a protruding portion 103 and a switching unit rotation axis 101 along the Y-axis direction corresponding to the width direction that intersects the conveyance direction of the medium P in the conveyance path. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and the like, the door portion 17 is movable along the X-axis direction with respect to the displacement between the closed state and the open state, and the switching unit 100 rotates with respect to the switching unit rotation axis 101 by the movement of the protruding portion 103 accompanying the displacement of the door portion 17. Since the printer 1 of the present embodiment has such a configuration, the switching unit 100 can be rotated by moving the protruding portion 103 as the door portion 17 is opened and closed, and the device configuration can be simplified.

[0062] Note that the printer 1 of the present embodiment is configured to linearly move a slider 110 engaged with the protruding portion 103 along the X-axis direction as the door portion 17 is opened and closed, but is not limited to such a configuration. For example, as the door portion 17 is opened and closed, the door portion 17 may be configured to directly move the protruding portion 103 without using other members. Further, instead of the slider 110 that linearly moves, a configuration including a member that rotates the protruding portion 103 as the door portion 17 is opened and closed may be used.

[0063] In other words, the printer 1 of the present embodiment includes a slider 110 as an engaging portion that can be displaced while being engaged with the protruding portion 103. Further, the printer 1 of the present embodiment includes a spring 120 as a biasing portion that biases the slider 110 so that the switching portion 100 is biased in the direction of displacing to the third state when the door portion 17 is in the closed position. Therefore, the printer 1 of the present embodiment can displace the switching portion 100 to the third state with a simple configuration of only the biasing portion as the door portion 17 is displaced from the closed state to the open state.

[0064] As described above, the engaging portion of the present embodiment is the slider 110, and by being able to move linearly while being engaged with the protruding portion 103, the moving region of the engaging portion can be narrowed. Therefore, by adopting such a configuration, an increase in the size of the apparatus can be suppressed.

[0065] Also, as described above, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tip 102 on the +Z direction side, which is the other end side in the short direction of the switching portion 100, is located on the +X direction side with respect to the switching portion rotation axis 101. Therefore, the switching portion 100 has the second state shown in FIG. 3 as its basic posture due to its own weight. In other words, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, when the direction in which the switching portion 100 is displaced from the first state to the second state is defined as the first direction, when the door portion 17 is in the closed position, a force due to its own weight acts on the switching portion 100 so as to rotate toward the first direction side with respect to the switching portion rotation axis 101.

[0066] When the door portion 17 is in the closed position and the switching portion 100 is configured such that a force due to its own weight acts so as to rotate toward the first direction side with respect to the switching portion rotation axis 101, when the door portion 17 is in the open position, the feeding path T0 is difficult to be opened. However, with the above-described configuration, the switching portion 100 can be displaced to the third state of opening the feeding path T0 in conjunction with the displacement of the door portion when the door portion 17 is in the open position. Therefore, by opening the door portion 17, the feeding path T0 is opened, and the medium P that has become a conveyance failure in the feeding path T0 can be easily removed.

[0067] Also, as described above, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the door portion 17 has a door rotation axis 170 along the Z-axis direction, which is a direction intersecting the width direction. That is, the directions of the door rotation axis 170 and the switching portion rotation axis 101 are different. When the directions of the door rotation axis 170 and the switching portion rotation axis 101 are different, it is generally difficult to displace the door portion 17 and the switching portion 100 integrally. In a configuration where the directions of the door rotation axis 170 and the switching portion rotation axis 101 are the same, when the door portion 17 is closed, the door portion 17 can abut at the same timing across the entire width direction of the switching portion 100. On the other hand, in a configuration where the directions of the door rotation axis 170 and the switching portion rotation axis 101 are different, it is because the side surface of the switching portion 100 and the door portion 17 come into contact. However, as described above, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the protruding portion 103 is movable along with the displacement of the door portion 17, and the movement of the protruding portion 103 rotates the switching portion 100 with respect to the switching portion rotation axis 101. Therefore, the door portion 17 and the switching portion 100 can be displaced integrally.

[0068] Also, as described above, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, when the door portion 17 is in the closed state, the door portion 17 constitutes at least a part of the reverse path T3. Also, the door portion 17 may constitute at least a part of the reverse path T3 and at least a part of a conveyance path other than the reverse path T3. Specifically, the door portion 17 of the present embodiment constitutes a part of the reverse path T3 and also constitutes a part of the switchback path T2 or the manual feed path. By adopting such a configuration, the constituent members of the conveyance path can be reduced, and the apparatus can be made less costly and smaller. However, the conveyance path other than the reverse path T3 is not limited to the switchback path T2 or the manual feed path.

[0069] Note that, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, etc., the inversion path T3 and the feeding path T0 are arranged at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps in the Z-axis direction, that is, the gravitational direction. For this reason, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the apparatus can be miniaturized. Further, when the inversion path T3 and the feeding path T0 are arranged at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps in the gravitational direction, generally, the area where the switching unit 100 covers the feeding path T0 becomes wide, and it becomes difficult to easily remove the medium P that has become a conveyance failure in the feeding path T0. However, as described above, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the switching unit 100 can be displaced to a third state in which the feeding path T0 is opened when the door unit 17 is in the open position. For this reason, by opening the door unit 17, the feeding path T0 is opened, and the medium P that has become a conveyance failure in the feeding path T0 can be easily removed. Note that at least a part overlapping in the gravitational direction means, in other words, at least a part overlapping when viewed from the horizontal direction. For example, in FIG. 2, a part overlaps at least in the range S1.

[0070] Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 of the present embodiment includes a first medium cassette 3 as a medium storage unit that stores the medium P. The first conveyance path is an inversion path T3 that inverts the recorded medium recorded by the line head 51 and conveys it to the recording-time conveyance path T1. The second conveyance path is a feeding path T0 that feeds the medium P stored in the first medium cassette 3 to the recording-time conveyance path T1. The third conveyance path is the recording-time conveyance path T1 including the recording position by the line head 51. For this reason, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, by opening the door unit 17, the inversion path T3 and the feeding path T0 are opened, and the medium P that has become a conveyance failure in the inversion path T3 and the feeding path T0 can be easily removed.

[0071] Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the inversion path T3 and the first medium cassette 3 are arranged at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps in the gravitational direction. For this reason, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the apparatus can be miniaturized.

[0072] The present invention is not limited to each of the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and it goes without saying that these are also included in the scope of the present invention. For example, if it includes a conveyance path having a confluence point P1 as described above and a door portion 17, it is not limited to a printer, and may be applied to a scanner, an intermediate unit provided between various devices, a media conveyance device in a finisher, etc.

Explanation of Signs

[0073] 1... Inkjet printer (media conveyance device, recording device), 2... Device main body, 3... First media cassette (media storage unit), 4... Second media cassette, 5... Third media cassette, 6... Expansion unit, 7... Operation panel, 8... Discharge tray, 8e... Lower surface, 11... Waste liquid storage unit, 12... Supply tray, 13... Conveyor belt, 14... Pulley, 15... Pulley, 16... Housing portion, 17... Door portion, 19... Supply roller, 20... Separation roller, 21... Pick roller, 22... Pick roller, 23... Pick roller, 25... Feed roller pair, 26... Feed roller pair, 27... Feed roller pair, 28... Conveyor roller pair, 29... Conveyor roller pair, 31... Conveyor roller pair, 32... Conveyor roller pair, 33... Conveyor roller pair, 34... Conveyor roller pair, 35... Conveyor roller pair, 36... Conveyor roller pair, 37... Conveyor roller pair, 39... Reverse roller, 40... Driven roller, 41... Flap, 50... Head unit, 51... Line head (recording unit), 61... Ink storage unit, 62... Ink storage unit, 63... Ink storage unit, 64... Ink storage unit, 70... Detection means, 100... Switching unit, 101... Switching unit rotation axis, 102... Tip, 103... Protrusion, 104... Surface, 105... Surface, 110... Slider (engagement portion), 111... Recess, 112... End portion, 120... Spring (biasing portion), 170... Door portion rotation axis, K1... Branch position, P... Media, P1... Confluence point, R1... Curved conveyance path, T0... Feed path (second conveyance path), T1... Conveyance path during recording (third conveyance path), T2... Switchback path, T3... Reverse path (first conveyance path)

Claims

1. A conveyance path for a medium, comprising: a first conveyance path; a second conveyance path; and a third conveyance path formed by the confluence of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path at a confluence point. A door portion displaceable between a closed state in which at least a part of the first conveyance path is configured and an open state in which at least a part of the first conveyance path is opened. A switching unit provided at the confluence point and displaceable between a first state in which the second conveyance path is opened and a second state in which the first conveyance path is opened when the door portion is in the closed state. The switching unit is displaceable from the second state to a third state in which at least a part of the second conveyance path is opened in conjunction with the displacement of the door portion to the open state. A medium conveyance device characterized by this.

2. In the medium conveyance device according to Claim 1, The switching unit has a protruding portion and a switching unit rotation axis along a width direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the medium in the conveyance path. The door portion is movable to move the protruding portion as it is displaced between the closed state and the open state. The switching unit rotates about the switching unit rotation axis by the movement of the protruding portion accompanying the displacement of the door portion and is displaced to the third state. A medium conveyance device characterized by this.

3. In the medium conveyance device according to Claim 2, An engaging portion displaceable in a state of being engaged with the protruding portion, and a biasing portion that biases the engaging portion so that the switching unit is biased in a direction in which the switching unit is displaced to the third state when the door portion is in the closed state. A medium conveyance device characterized by comprising.

4. In the medium conveyance device according to Claim 3, The engaging portion is linearly movable in a state of being engaged with the protruding portion. A medium conveyance device characterized by this.

5. In the medium conveyance device according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, When the direction in which the switching unit is displaced from the first state to the second state is defined as a first direction, when the door portion is in the closed state, the switching unit is configured such that a force due to its own weight acts to rotate it toward the first direction side with respect to the switching unit rotation axis. A medium conveyance device characterized by this.

6. In the medium conveyance device according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, The door portion has a door portion rotation axis along a direction intersecting the width direction. A medium conveyance device characterized by this.

7. In the medium conveyance device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ When the door portion is in the closed state, at least a part of the first conveyance path and at least a part of the conveyance path other than the first conveyance path are configured. A medium conveyance device characterized by this.

8. In the medium conveyance device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path are arranged at positions where at least a part overlaps in the gravitational direction. A medium conveyance device characterized by this.

9. A recording device comprising: the medium conveyance device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8; and a recording unit that records on the medium.

10. In the recording device according to Claim 9, a medium storage unit that stores the medium is provided, the first conveyance path is a reversing path that reverses a recorded medium recorded by the recording unit and conveys it to the third conveyance path, the second conveyance path is a feeding path that feeds the medium stored in the medium storage unit to the third conveyance path, and the third conveyance path is a conveyance path during recording including a recording position by the recording unit. A recording device characterized by this.

11. In the recording device according to Claim 10, the first conveyance path and the medium storage unit are arranged at positions where at least a part overlaps in the gravitational direction. A recording device characterized by this. ​ ​

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