Image recording device

Abstract

To reduce a size in a longitudinal direction of an image recording device 100.SOLUTION: In an image recording device 100, a front-side guide 21 guides a sheet S so that the sheet S does not skew between a conveying roller pair 16 and a recording head 20, more specifically just behind the recording head 20. This can prevent the sheet S from skewing just below the recording head 20, which can reduce a dimension in a longitudinal direction 8 of a rear-side guide 15 positioned closer to a rear side than the conveying roller pair 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] As an example of an image recording apparatus, a printer is described in Patent Document 1. In the printer, label paper is conveyed in a conveyance path toward a printing position by a recording head. Upstream of the printing position in the conveyance direction of the label paper in the conveyance path, two guide surfaces are provided. Each guide surface is parallel to both the conveyance direction and the vertical direction and has an outer shape that is long in the conveyance direction. Downstream of both guide surfaces in the conveyance direction, a pair of conveyance rollers for the paper is provided, and upstream of both guide surfaces in the conveyance direction, a pair of paper feed rollers is provided.

[0003] When conveying the label paper downstream in the conveyance direction, the pair of feed rollers are separated from each other to open the nip, and the pair of conveyance rollers are in contact with each other. Both guide surfaces contact both ends in the width direction of the label paper. The label paper is conveyed along the conveyance direction while both ends in the width direction are in contact with both guide surfaces. Thereby, skew of the label paper is prevented. The pair of conveyance rollers nip the label paper that has been conveyed while being guided by both guide surfaces and send it out toward the printing position.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The label paper needs to be conveyed parallel to the conveying direction without skewing from the pair of conveying rollers to the printing position. In Patent Document 1, the label paper is conveyed while being guided by both guide surfaces and pulled by the pair of conveying rollers. Therefore, on the conveying surface orthogonal to these between both guide surfaces, the label paper is conveyed without skewing with respect to the conveying direction.

[0006] In contrast, in Patent Document 1, the pair of feeding rollers and the pair of conveying rollers are arranged sufficiently apart in the conveying direction so that the pair of conveying rollers can convey the label paper to the printing position without skewing, and the length in the conveying direction of each of both guide surfaces is increased. As a result, there is a problem that the size of the printer of Patent Document 1 becomes large in the conveying direction.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an image recording apparatus whose size in the conveying direction does not increase.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The image recording apparatus of the present invention includes a pair of conveying rollers that send a sheet in the conveying direction, a recording unit that is located downstream of the pair of conveying rollers in the conveying direction and records an image on the sheet, and is located upstream of the pair of conveying rollers in the conveying direction, and abuts on at least one of both ends in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet, and a first side guide that is movable along the width direction, and is downstream of the pair of conveying rollers in the conveying direction and upstream of the recording unit in the conveying direction, and abuts on at least one of both ends of the sheet, and a second side guide that is movable along the width direction.

[0009] With the above configuration, since the second side guide positions the sheet in the width direction downstream in the conveying direction from the pair of conveying rollers, skewing hardly occurs in the sheet conveyed from the pair of conveying rollers to the recording unit. As a result, the dimension along the conveying direction of the first side guide becomes small, and the image recording apparatus is miniaturized.

Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, the size of the image recording apparatus in the conveyance direction does not increase.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, the image recording apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. It should be noted that the following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiments can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0013] [Definitions] Hereinafter, the progression from the starting point to the ending point of an arrow is expressed as the direction, and the movement on the line connecting the starting point and the ending point of the arrow is expressed as the orientation.

[0014] Based on the state in which the image recording apparatus 100 is installed for use (the state in FIG. 1(A)), the vertical direction 7 is defined. With the side where the discharge port B13 is provided in the image recording apparatus 100 as the front side, the front-rear direction 8 is defined. The left-right direction 9 is defined when viewing the image recording apparatus 100 from the front.

[0015] [Image Recording Method, Sheet S] In FIG. 1, the image recording apparatus 100 records an image on the sheet S by an inkjet recording method.

[0016] The sheet S is label roll paper and has a sheet core 41, a separator 42, and a plurality of labels 43. The sheet core 41 is, for example, a rigid paper tube. The separator 42 is an example of continuous paper and is wound in a roll shape from the inside to the outside around the sheet core 41 to form a roll body. Each label 43 has an adhesive layer (not shown) on the main surface 431 with an inward orientation R12, and by these adhesive layers, it is temporarily attached to the main surface 421 with an outward orientation R11 of the separator 42 at intervals in the circumferential direction θ12 of the central axis AX12. The main surface 432 with an outward orientation R11 of each label 43 is also a recording surface on which an image is recorded. A perforation may be formed between two adjacent labels 43.

[0017] A plurality of types of sheets S having different sheet widths can be loaded into the image recording apparatus 100. The sheet width is the distance between both ends in the width direction 9A of the sheet S. The width direction 9A is the direction in which the central axis AX12 extends.

[0018] [Housing 11 of the image recording apparatus 100] The image recording apparatus 100 includes a housing 11. The housing 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the front-rear direction and is sized to be installable on a desktop, a floor surface, or a rack. The housing 11 has a bottom wall 11A, an upper wall 11B, a front wall 11C, a rear wall 11D, a right wall 11E, and a left wall 11F, and partitions an internal space SP11 (see FIG. 2) from the outside. The housing 11 includes a housing case 111, a rear housing cover 112, and a front housing cover 113.

[0019] The housing case 111 is located below the rear housing cover 112 and the front housing cover 113 and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The housing case 111 has a bottom wall 111A, a front wall 111C, a rear wall 111D, a right wall 111E, and a left wall 111F, and partitions a lower space SP111 (see FIG. 2) that is the lower part of the internal space SP11 from the outside. The upper end of the housing case 111 is a peripheral edge that surrounds an upward opening AP111 (see FIG. 2). The opening AP111 is the upper end of the lower space SP111.

[0020] The rear housing cover 112 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the left-right direction. In FIG. 3, the rear housing cover 112 is rotatable in the circumferential direction θ11 of the rotation axis AX11 between a closed position P11 and an open position P12. As shown in FIG. 3(A), in the closed position P11, the rear housing cover 112 abuts on the upper end of the housing case 111 and closes a rear opening AP112 that is the rear part of the opening AP111. As shown in FIG. 3(B), in the open position P12, the rear housing cover 112 is separated from the upper end of the housing case 111 in the circumferential direction θ11 and opens the rear opening AP112. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the term "rear housing cover 112" means the rear housing cover 112 in the closed position P11. In FIG. 3(B), the illustration of the arm 113G of the front housing cover 113 is omitted.

[0021] In Fig. 1(A), the rear housing cover 112 has an upper wall 112B, a rear wall 112D, and a left wall 112F, and partitions the rear upper space SP112, which is the portion at the rear upper corner of the internal space SP11, from the outside. As shown in Fig. 2, the rear upper space SP112 is the portion above the rear part of the lower space SP111 in the internal space SP11. As shown in Fig. 3(A), the front end and the lower end of the rear housing cover 112 are open.

[0022] In Fig. 3(A) and Fig. 4, the front housing cover 113 is rotatable in the circumferential direction θ11 of the rotation axis AX11 between the closed position P21 and the open position P22. As shown in Fig. 3(A), in the closed position P21, the front housing cover 113 abuts against the upper end of the housing case 111 and closes the front opening AP113, which is the portion of the opening AP111 excluding the rear opening AP112. As shown in Fig. 4, in the open position P22, the front housing cover 113 is separated from the upper end of the housing case 111 and opens the front opening AP113. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the term "front housing cover 113" means the front housing cover 113 in the closed position P21.

[0023] In Fig. 1(A), the front housing cover 113 has, as a main body, an upper wall 113B, a front wall 113C, a right wall 113E, and a left wall 113F, and partitions the front upper space SP113 from the outside. In Fig. 2, the front upper space SP113 is a space that is continuous with the rear upper space SP112 in the front and continuous with the lower space SP111 in the upper. As shown in Fig. 3(A), the lower end of the front housing cover 113 is open.

[0024] In Fig. 1(A), the front housing cover 113 further has an arm 113G. The arm 113G extends rearward from the rear left corner of the main body of the front housing cover 113, passes through the left side of the rear housing cover 112, and reaches the rear end of the housing case 111.

[0025] In FIG. 1, the bottom wall 11A of the housing 11 is the bottom wall 111A of the housing case 111. The upper wall 11B consists of upper walls 112B and 113B. The front wall 11C consists of front walls 111C and 113C. The rear wall 11D includes rear walls 111D and 112D. The right wall 11E consists of right walls 111E to 113E. The left wall 11F includes left walls 111F and 113F.

[0026] In FIG. 1(A), near the upper end of the front wall 111C, a discharge port B13 is formed. The discharge port B13 is a slit that is elongated in the left-right direction and penetrates the front wall 111C. From the discharge port B13, the sheet S on which an image has been recorded is discharged.

[0027] An operation panel 116 operated by the user is located on the front wall 113C.

[0028] Near the left end of the front wall 111C, an opening B12 that is substantially rectangular in a front view is formed. A front cover 115 for opening and closing the opening B12 is located on the front wall 111C. By opening and closing the front cover 115, the tank 12 (see FIG. 2) is exposed or shielded.

[0029] Near the rear end of the right wall 111E, an opening B11 that is substantially rectangular in a side view is formed. A right cover 114 for opening and closing the opening B11 is located on the right wall 111E. The right cover 114 opens and closes the opening B11 by sliding back and forth. By opening and closing the right cover 114, the roll support portion 13 (see FIG. 2) is exposed or shielded.

[0030] [Internal Configuration of the Image Recording Apparatus 100] In FIG. 2, the image recording apparatus 100 includes an operation panel 116, a tank 12, a roll support portion 13, a tensioner 14, a rear side guide 15, a pair of conveyance rollers 16, a lower guide 17, a sensor 18, a belt conveyance mechanism 19, a recording head 20, a front side guide 21, a heater 22, a heater cover 23, an image reading unit 24, a cooling unit 25, and a cutter 26 in the internal space SP11.

[0031] The tensoner 14, the rear side guide 15, the drive roller 161 of the pair of conveyance rollers 16, the lower guide 17, the belt conveyance mechanism 19, the heater 22, and the white reference plate 24A of the image reading unit 24 are supported by the left wall 111F and the right wall 111E of the housing case 111 and extend horizontally.

[0032] The pinch roller 162 of the pair of conveyance rollers 16 is supported by the left wall 112F and the right wall 112E of the rear housing cover 112 and extends horizontally. The front side guide 21 extends horizontally between the left wall 112F and the right wall 112E of the rear housing cover 112.

[0033] The CIS 24B, the cooling unit 25, and the cutter 26 of the image reading unit 24 are supported by the left wall 113F and the right wall 113E of the front housing cover 113 and extend horizontally.

[0034] In FIG. 9, the image recording apparatus 100 further includes motors 27, 28, a pump 29, and a controller 30.

[0035] [Tank 12] In FIG. 2, the tank 12 is located immediately behind the front cover 115 on the bottom wall 111A and stores ink therein. The ink in the tank 12 is supplied to the recording head 20 through an ink tube (not shown).

[0036] [Roll support portion 13 (an example of a roll support member)] In the lower space SP111, to the left of the opening B11, a roll storage space SP114 is partitioned by a partition wall 135. The roll storage space SP114 is isolated from the recording head 20 and the like by the partition wall 135. An elongated gap B14 extending from the right wall 111E to the left wall 111F is formed between the rear end of the partition wall 135 and the rear wall 111D. The sheet S conveyed between the roll support portion 13 and the tensoner 14 passes through the gap B14.

[0037] In FIG. 5, the roll support portion 13 is located in the roll storage space SP114 and rotatably supports the sheet S forming the roll body about the circumferential direction θ12 of the central axis AX12. The roll support portion 13 includes a left support portion 131, a right support portion 132, a roll holder 133, and a power transmission mechanism 134.

[0038] The left support portion 131 and the right support portion 132 are plate-like members that extend upward from positions separated from each other left and right on the bottom wall 111A and expand in the vertical, front, and rear directions.

[0039] The roll holder 133 includes a holder core 133A, a left flange portion 133B, a right flange portion 133C, and a rack and pinion mechanism 133D of a rack and pinion.

[0040] The holder core 133A generally has a cylindrical shape and is spanned between the vicinity of the upper ends of the left support portion 131 and the right support portion 132. The holder core 133A is rotatable about the circumferential direction θ31 of the central axis AX31 parallel to the left-right direction 9. The inner peripheral surface of the sheet core 41 (see FIG. 1(B)) is inserted and fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the holder core 133A.

[0041] Each of the left flange portion 133B and the right flange portion 133C has a disk shape with a through hole formed in the central portion. The holder core 133A is inserted and fitted into each through hole. The left flange portion 133B and the right flange portion 133C are attached to the left and right of the paper passage center C11 on the outer peripheral surface of the holder core 133A. The paper passage center C11 is a virtual plane that passes through the left and right positions of the central axis AX32 of the pinion gear 133E (see FIG. 5(B)) and is parallel to the vertical direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8. The left flange portion 133B and the right flange portion 133C slide left and right along the outer peripheral surface of the holder core 133A.

[0042] In Fig. 5(B), the rack and pinion mechanism 133D has a pinion gear 133E, a left rack gear 133F, and a right rack gear 133G within the holder core 133A. When either the left flange portion 133B or the right flange portion 133C moves leftward or rightward, the other is moved rightward or leftward by the same distance accordingly. Each of the left flange portion 133B and the right flange portion 133C abuts against both sides of the sheet S in the width direction 9A from the holder core 133A, and by moving in the direction approaching the paper feed center C11 (i.e., inward), the center of the sheet S in the width direction 9A is aligned with the paper feed center C11 in the left - right direction 9.

[0043] Note that for the replacement of the sheet S, the roll support portion 13 is configured to be removable from the left support portion 131 and the right support portion 132. The right flange portion 133C is configured to be removable rightward from the holder core 133A.

[0044] In Fig. 5(A), the power transmission mechanism 134 includes gears and the like and is located to the left of the left support portion 131. The power transmission mechanism 134 is mechanically connected to the roll holder 133 attached between the left support portion 131 and the right support portion 132. The power transmission mechanism 134 transmits the power generated by the motor 28 to the roll holder 133. Thereby, the roll holder 133 rotates in the circumferential direction θ31, feeding out the sheet S forming the roll body from the sheet core 41 or winding it onto the sheet core 41.

[0045] [Tensioner 14] In Fig. 2, the tensioner 14 is located above the gap B14 in the lower space SP111. The tensioner 14 has a curved surface 141 and an upward - facing surface 142 that are symmetric about the paper feed center C11 (see Fig. 5(B)). The curved surface 141 curves from the lower end towards the upper end and faces substantially upward. The upward - facing surface 142 is continuous with the upper end and the front end of the curved surface 141 and is a flat surface that extends in the front - rear and left - right directions. The vertical position of the upward - facing surface 142 is approximately the same as that of the discharge port B13. From the upward - facing surface 142, the conveyance path 200 of the sheet S extends linearly towards the discharge port B13.

[0046] The sheet S drawn from the roll holder 133 is hung on the tensoner 14. The sheet S curves along the tensoner 14 and extends forward. The tensoner 14 is biased rearward by a biasing member such as a spring. Thereby, tension is applied to the sheet S hung on the tensoner 14.

[0047] [Conveyor roller pair 16] As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor roller pair 16 is positioned forward and away from the tensoner 14 in the internal space SP11. The conveyor roller pair 16 has a driving roller 161 and a pinch roller 162. The driving roller 161 and the pinch roller 162 abut against each other at substantially the same vertical position as the upward surface 142 and nip the sheet S extending forward from the tensoner 14. The driving roller 161 rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the left - right direction 9 by the power generated by the motor 28 (see FIG. 9), and the pinch roller 162 rotates following the driving roller 161. Thereby, the conveyor roller pair 16 further conveys the sheet S fed out from the roll body forward and conveys the sheet S wound around the roll body rearward. Since the pinch roller 162 is supported by the left wall 112F (see FIG. 1(A)) and the right wall 112E, as shown in FIG. 3, it moves together with the rear housing cover 112.

[0048] [Rear side guide 15] In FIGS. 2 and 6, the rear side guide 15 is an example of the first side guide and is positioned forward of the tensoner 14 and rearward of the conveyor roller pair 16 within the internal space SP11. In FIG. 7, the rear side guide 15 includes a base 151, a left guide member 152, a right guide member 153, and a rack - and - pinion mechanism 154.

[0049] The base 151 is a vertically flat and horizontally elongated box. The base 151 is symmetric with respect to the paper - passing center C11 and has an upper surface 151A that is substantially rectangular in plan view. The upper surface 151A has substantially the same vertical position as the upward surface 142 (see FIG. 2) and partitions the lower side of the conveyance path 200.

[0050] The left guide member 152 is attached to be movable in the left - right direction 9 at a position to the left of the paper - passing center C11 on the upper surface 151A. The left guide member 152 has an L - shaped configuration in a front view and has an upward - facing surface 152A and a right - facing surface 152B. The upward - facing surface 152A is generally flush with the upper surface 151A. Being flush means being parallel without a step. The right - facing surface 152B is connected to the left end of the upward - facing surface 152A at the lower end and extends upward from the left end of the upward - facing surface 152A. The right - facing surface 152B has an elongated shape in the front - rear direction.

[0051] The right guide member 153 has an upward - facing surface 153A and a left - facing surface 153B, and has a shape that is symmetrical to the left guide member 152 with respect to the paper - passing center C11.

[0052] In FIG. 7(B), the rack - and - pinion mechanism 154 has a pinion gear 154A, a left rack gear 154B, and a right rack gear 154C. In response to either the left guide member 152 or the right guide member 153 moving leftward or rightward, the other is moved rightward or leftward by the same distance. Each of the left guide member 152 and the right guide member 153 abuts against both sides of the sheet S in the width direction 9A from both sides while passing between them. Thereby, the center of the sheet S in the width direction 9A is aligned with the central axis AX41 of the pinion gear 154A in the left - right direction 9. The left - right position of the central axis AX41 is the same as the paper - passing center C11 and is parallel to the paper - passing center C11.

[0053] [Lower guide 17, sensor 18] In FIGS. 2 and 6, the lower guide 17 is made of resin, is located in front of the conveying roller pair 16 in the internal space SP11, and is located behind the belt conveying mechanism 19 and the front side guide 21. The lower guide 17 has an upper surface. The upper surface of the lower guide 17 is symmetrical with respect to the paper - passing center C11 (see FIG. 5(B)) and has a substantially rectangular outer shape in a plan view, and is located at substantially the same vertical position as the upward - facing surface 142.

[0054] On the upper surface of the lower guide 17, recesses that are recessed downward are formed at left and right positions near the paper conveyance center C11. In the recesses of the lower guide 17, the sensor 18 is arranged so as not to protrude from the upper surface of the lower guide 17. The sensor 18 has a light emitting element and a light receiving element. In the sensor 18, the light emitting element emits light upward. In the sensor 18, the light receiving element has an upward-facing light receiving surface at a position close to the light emitting element, and outputs signals with different levels to the controller 30 according to the amount of incident light on the light receiving surface.

[0055] [Belt conveyance mechanism 19] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the belt conveyance mechanism 19 is located in the front-rear direction 8 in front of the lower guide 17 and behind the heater 22. The belt conveyance mechanism 19 is located slightly below the upward-facing surface 142 in the vertical direction 7. In FIG. 8, the belt conveyance mechanism 19 includes a rear pulley 191A, a front pulley 191B, an endless belt 192, a left rear roller 193A, a right rear roller 193B, a left front roller 194A, a right front roller 194B, a pinch roller 195, a plurality of contact members 196, and a suction platen 197. As shown in FIG. 9, the belt conveyance mechanism 19 further includes a pump 29.

[0056] [Rear pulley 191A, front pulley 191B] In FIG. 8, each of the rear pulley 191A and the front pulley 191B has a shape that is symmetric about the paper conveyance center C11 (see FIG. 5(B)).

[0057] In FIG. 2, the rear pulley 191A is located slightly in front of the lower guide 17. As shown in FIG. 10(A), a rear shaft 1911 extends straight leftward and rightward from the shaft hole of the rear pulley 191A. The right end of the rear shaft 1911 is supported by a right bearing 1913A provided on the right wall 111E, and the left end thereof is supported by a left bearing 1913B provided on the left wall 111F. The rear shaft 1911 is rotatable in the circumferential direction θ51 of a rotation axis AX51 parallel to the left-right direction 9.

[0058] In FIG. 2, the front pulley 191B is located in front of the rear pulley 191A and behind the heater 22 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 10(B), from the axial hole of the front pulley 191B, the front shaft 1914 extends straight to the left and right. The right end of the front shaft 1914 is supported by a right bearing 1915A provided on the right wall 111E, and its left end is supported by a bearing 1915B provided on the left wall 111F. The front shaft 1914 is rotatable in the circumferential direction θ52 about a rotation axis AX52 parallel to the left-right direction 9.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 9, the power generated by the motor 27 is transmitted to the front pulley 191B via the front shaft 1914. The front pulley 191B rotates in the circumferential direction θ52 by the transmitted power. In the image recording apparatus 100, when the sheet S is fed out from the roll body, it is conveyed forward on the conveying path 200 from the upper surface 142. At this time, the front pulley 191B rotates forward, that is, clockwise when viewed from the left.

[0060] In FIG. 10(A), the rear pulley 191A has a rear engagement portion 1917A with which the endless belt 192 engages. In FIG. 10(B), the front pulley 191B has a front engagement portion 1917B with which the endless belt 192 engages. The left-right centers of the rear engagement portion 1917A and the front engagement portion 1917B are substantially the same as the left-right positions of the paper conveyance center C11. The up-down positions of the upper ends of the rear engagement portion 1917A and the front engagement portion 1917B are the same as each other.

[0061] [Endless belt 192] In FIG. 2, the endless belt 192 is wound around the rear pulley 191A and the front pulley 191B and has an upper end surface 1921 that extends between their upper ends. The upper end surface 1921 extends in the front-back, left-right directions and is an elongated rectangle in plan view. The upper end surface 1921 moves along the front-back direction 8 between the upper ends of the rear engagement portion 1917A and the front engagement portion 1917B due to the forward rotation of the front pulley 191B.

[0062] [Left rear roller 193A, right rear roller 193B] In FIG. 10(A), each of the left rear roller 193A and the right rear roller 193B is a rubber roller or the like in which a roller core is coated with an elastic material such as rubber. Each of the left rear roller 193A and the right rear roller 193B is located to the left and right of the rear pulley 191A respectively and is attached to the rear shaft 1911. The left rear roller 193A and the right rear roller 193B are symmetric with respect to each other with the paper passing center C11 as a reference. The vertical positions of the upper ends of the left rear roller 193A and the right rear roller 193B are below the upper end surface 1921. The horizontal distance between the left end of the left rear roller 193A and the right end of the right rear roller 193B is longer than the maximum sheet width.

[0063] [Left front roller 194A, right front roller 194B] In FIG. 10(B), each of the left front roller 194A and the right front roller 194B is a rubber roller or the like similar to the left rear roller 193A. The left front roller 194A and the right front roller 194B are located to the left and right of the front pulley 191B respectively and are attached to the front shaft 1914. The left front roller 194A and the right front roller 194B are symmetric with respect to each other with the paper passing center C11 as a reference. The horizontal distance between the left end of the left front roller 194A and the right end of the right front roller 194B is longer than the maximum sheet width.

[0064] [Pinch roller 195] In FIG. 10(A), the pinch roller 195 is a rubber roller or the like. Shafts 1951 project rightward and leftward from the right end and the left end of the pinch roller 195 respectively. The right end of the shaft 1951 is supported by a right bearing 1953A provided on the right wall 111E, and the left end thereof is supported by a left bearing 1953B provided on the left wall 111F. The shaft 1951 is rotatable in the circumferential direction θ53 of a rotation axis AX53 parallel to the horizontal direction 9.

[0065] The pinch roller 195 extends horizontally above the rear pulley 191A, the left rear roller 193A, and the right rear roller 193B. The distance between the left and right ends of the pinch roller 195 is substantially the same as the horizontal distance between the left end of the left rear roller 193A and the right end of the right rear roller 193B.

[0066] The pinch roller 195 has different outer diameter dimensions in the left - right direction 9. Specifically, the pinch roller 195 abuts on the left rear roller 193A and the right rear roller 193B from above. On the other hand, the pinch roller 195 is spaced upward from the upper end surface 1921 of the endless belt 192 at the central portion and is non - contact with the upper end surface 1921.

[0067] [Plurality of contact members 196] In FIG. 10(B), each of the plurality of contact members 196 is a cam, and is rotatably supported in the circumferential direction of a rotation axis parallel to the left - right direction 9 by a cam holder 1961. The plurality of contact members 196 are arranged in a row at intervals on the left and right. In the present embodiment, five contact members 196 are provided. The two left - hand contact members 196 abut on the left front roller 194A from directly above. The two right - hand contact members 196 abut on the right front roller 194B from directly above. The central contact member 196 abuts on the vicinity of the front end of the endless belt 192 from directly above. Each contact member 196 rotates following the rotation of the endless belt 192, the left front roller 194A, and the right front roller 194B.

[0068] [Suction platen 197] In FIG. 8, the suction platen 197 is located between the rear pulley 191A and the front pulley 191B in the front - rear direction 8. The suction platen 197 has a left - hand side portion 197A and a right - hand side portion 197B on the left and right adjacent to the endless belt 192, respectively.

[0069] In FIGS. 8 and 9, the left - hand side portion 197A has a bottom wall 1971A, a rear wall 1972A, and a plurality of partition walls 1973A. In the present embodiment, there are six rear walls 1972A and seven partition walls 1973A. However, in FIG. 8, the reference sign "1973A" is attached only to three partition walls, and the reference sign "1972A" is attached only to two rear walls. In FIG. 9, the illustration of some of the rear walls 1972A and partition walls 1973A is omitted.

[0070] In FIG. 9, the bottom wall 1971A is rectangular in a plan view from above and extends in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The bottom wall 1971A is located below the upper end surface 1921 in the up-down direction 7 and to the left of the upper end surface 1921 in the left-right direction 9. The rear end of the bottom wall 1871 is located slightly forward from the left rear roller 193A and the right rear roller 193B. The front end of the bottom wall 1971A is located slightly rearward from the left front roller 194A and the right front roller 194B.

[0071] In FIGS. 8 and 9, the rear wall 1972A extends upward from near the rear end of the bottom wall 1971A and extends in the up, down, left, and right directions. The vertical position of the upper end of the rear wall 1972 is below the vertical position of the upper end surface 1921 throughout the entire left-right direction 9.

[0072] Each partition wall 1973A has a flat plate shape that is thin in the left-right direction and long in the front-rear direction, and extends upward from different left-right positions on the bottom wall 1971A. The upper end of each partition wall 1973A is located below the upper end surface 1921 throughout the entire front-rear direction 8, and forms the left support surface 1976A of the sheet S on the left side of the upper end surface 1921. The vertical position of the left support surface 1976A is below the upper end surface 1921.

[0073] Two adjacent partition walls 1973A, together with the bottom wall 1971A and the rear wall 1972A, form the left air flow path 1974A. Each left air flow path 1974A has an opening facing forward and upward in a state where the sheet S is not on the suction platen 197.

[0074] In the bottom wall 1971A, an upward opening, the left suction port 1975A, is formed near the rear end of each left air flow path 1974A.

[0075] The right part 197B has a bottom wall 1971B, a rear wall 1972B, a plurality of partition walls 1973B, a plurality of right flow paths 1974B, a plurality of right suction ports 1975B, and a right support surface 1976B. The bottom wall 1971B, the rear wall 1972B, the plurality of partition walls 1973B, the plurality of right flow paths 1974B, the plurality of right suction ports 1975B, and the right support surface 1976B each have a shape symmetric to the bottom wall 1971A, the rear wall 1972A, the plurality of partition walls 1973A, the plurality of left flow paths 1974A, the plurality of left suction ports 1975A, and the left support surface 1976A with respect to the paper passage center C11. Therefore, the detailed description of the right part 197B is omitted.

[0076] [Motor 27, Pump 29, Controller 30] In FIG. 9, the motor 27 generates power for rotating the front pulley 191B and the drive roller 161 under the control of the controller 30. This power is transmitted to the front shaft 1914 through gears or the like. The front shaft 1914 rotates in the circumferential direction θ52 by this power.

[0077] The pump 29 communicates with each left suction port 1975A and each right suction port 1975B via the pipe 291. The pump 29 is driven under the control of the controller 30, and sucks air in each left flow path 1974A from each left suction port 1975A and sucks air in the right flow path 1974B from each right suction port 1975B.

[0078] [Controller 30] The controller 30 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, and an ASIC that are interconnected by an internal bus or the like, and controls each part of the image recording apparatus 100.

[0079] [Recording head 20] In FIGS. 2 and 6, the recording head 20 is an example of a recording unit and is a line head or a serial head. The recording head 20 faces the upper end surface 1921 of the endless belt 192 and the upper end of the suction platen 197 above. In the front-rear direction 8, the recording head 20 is disposed so as to cross the suction platen 197 horizontally, at a position farther forward than the rear walls 1972A and 1972B of the suction platen 197 and farther rearward than the front end of the suction platen 197.

[0080] The recording head 20 has a lower surface that is substantially rectangular in plan view as a nozzle surface 201. A plurality of nozzles 202 are arranged in the front-rear and left-right directions on the nozzle surface 201. The recording head 20 stores the ink supplied from the tank 12 (see FIG. 2) in an internal ink chamber. Under the control of the controller 30, the recording head 20 discharges the ink stored in the ink chamber toward the label 43 on the sheet S conveyed directly below the recording head 20. As a result, the ink in the ink chamber is consumed. In response to the consumption of the ink, ink is supplied from the tank 12 to the ink chamber.

[0081] [Front side guide 21] In FIGS. 2 and 6, the front side guide 21 is an example of a second side guide and is located in the internal space SP11, in front of the conveying roller pair 16 and behind the recording head 20. In the vertical direction 7, the front side guide 21 is located above the left support surface 1976A and the right support surface 1976B of the suction platen 197. In FIGS. 11 and 12, the front side guide 21 includes a base 211, a guide rail 212, a left guide unit 213, a right guide unit 214, and a front rack and pinion mechanism 215.

[0082] [Base 211, guide rail 212] In FIGS. 11 and 12(A), the base 211 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is thin in the vertical direction 7 and elongated in the left-right direction 9. The base 211 is located slightly above and separated from directly above the pinch roller 195. The base 211 is fixed to the left wall 111F and the right wall 111E at both its left and right ends by fastening members such as screws. As shown in FIG. 12(A), the base 211 is partitioned from the outside by an upper wall 211A, a lower wall 211B, a front wall 211C, and a rear wall 211D to form an internal space SP211. In FIGS. 11 and 12(A), a left front through-hole 211E is formed in the front wall 211C. The left front through-hole 211E has an elongated rectangular shape in the left-right direction when viewed from the front and penetrates the front wall 211C in the front-rear direction. In the rear wall 211D, a right rear through-hole 211F is formed at a position facing the rear of the left front through-hole 211E. The right rear through-hole 211F penetrates the rear wall 211D in the front-rear direction.

[0083] In FIGS. 11 and 12(A), the guide rail 212 has an elongated cylindrical shape in the left-right direction 9. The guide rail 212 is located obliquely downward and rearward of the base 211. The guide rail 212 is fixed to the left wall 111F and the right wall 111E at both its left and right ends.

[0084] [Left guide unit 213] The left guide unit 213 includes a left main body 213A, a left rear arm 213B, a lower left protrusion 213C, a left front arm 213D, a left guide member 213E, and a left screw 213F.

[0085] The left main body 213A generally has a three-dimensional shape that is flat in the left-right direction 9. Specifically, the left-right dimension of the left main body 213A is much smaller than the left-right dimension of the base 211. The front-rear dimension of the left main body 213A is slightly larger than the front-rear dimension of the base 211. The left main body 213A is placed movably in the left-right direction 9 on the upper wall 211A of the base 211.

[0086] In FIG. 12(A), the left rear arm 213B extends obliquely downward rearward from the rear end of the left main body 213A and reaches the guide rail 212. Near the extending end of the left rear arm 213B, a left rear through hole 213G penetrating in the left - right direction 9 is formed. The guide rail 212 is inserted and fitted into the left rear through hole 213G.

[0087] The lower left protrusion 213C protrudes forward from the lower end of the left main body 213A and sandwiches the base 211 together with the left main body 213A. Thereby, the left guide unit 213 can move in the left - right direction 9 with respect to the base 211.

[0088] The left front arm 213D extends obliquely downward forward from the front end of the left main body 213A and reaches directly above the left rear corner of the left support surface 1976A. At the extending end of the left front arm 213D, a lower left - facing surface 213H is formed. The lower left - facing surface 213H is a surface that extends in the front - rear and left - right directions and faces downward. The left rear corner of the left support surface 1976A is, in detail, slightly forward in the front - rear direction 8 than the rear end of the left support surface 1976A and slightly to the right in the left - right direction 9 than the left end of the left support surface 1976A.

[0089] The left guide member 213E is made of sheet metal and has an L - shaped form in a front view. The left guide member 213E is attached to the lower left - facing surface 213H and is located directly above the left rear corner of the left support surface 1976A. That is, the left guide member 213E overlaps with the left rear corner of the left support surface 1976A in the up - down direction 7 (an example of an orthogonal direction). The left guide member 213E has a left - inward surface 213I and an upper left - facing surface 213J. The left - inward surface 213I is an example of one of a pair of guide contact surfaces, extends downward from the left end of the lower left - facing surface 213H, and is a right - facing flat surface that extends in the front - rear and up - down directions between the lower left - facing surface 213H and the upper left - facing surface 213J. The upper left - facing surface 213J is an example of one of a pair of guide support surfaces and is an upward - facing surface that extends rightward from the lower end of the left - inward surface 213I. Hereinafter, the space partitioned by the left - inward surface 213I and the upper left - facing surface 213J together with the lower left - facing surface 213H is also referred to as a left guide space.

[0090] In Fig. 12(A), the vertical distance between the lower left-facing surface 213H and the upper left-facing surface 213J is slightly wider than the maximum sheet thickness and is substantially constant in the front-rear direction 8, except for the portion near the rear end. In the portion near the rear end, it has a tapered shape that expands as it approaches the rear end.

[0091] A plurality of left through-holes 213L penetrating vertically from the upper left-facing surface 213J to the lower end of the left guide member 213E are formed in the left guide member 213E.

[0092] A left screw hole 213K penetrating the left main body 213A in the vertical direction 7 is formed in the left main body 213A directly above the upper wall 211A of the base 211. The left screw 213F has a threaded portion that engages with the left screw hole 213K. By rotating the head of the left screw 213F, the lower end of the left screw 213F protrudes below the left screw hole 213K and abuts against the upper wall 211A. Thereby, the left guide unit 213 is positioned with respect to the base 211.

[0093] [Right guide unit 214] In FIG. 11, the right guide unit 214 includes, as its respective components, a right main body 214A, a right rear arm 214B, a lower left protruding portion 214C, a right front arm 214D, a right guide member 214E, and a right screw 214F. The right main body 214A, the right rear arm 214B, the lower left protruding portion 214C, the right front arm 214D, the right guide member 214E, and the right screw 214F are symmetric with the left main body 213A, the left rear arm 213B, the lower left protruding portion 213C, the left front arm 213D, the left guide member 213E, and the left screw 213F with respect to the paper passage center C11. Therefore, a detailed description of each component of the right guide unit 214 will be omitted. The right rear arm 214B has a right rear through hole 214G into which the guide rail 212 is inserted near the extending end. The right front arm 214D has a lower right-facing surface 214H at the extending end. The right guide member 214E has a right inward-facing surface 214I and an upper right-facing surface 214J. The right inward-facing surface 214I is an example of the other of a pair of guide contact surfaces, and the upper right-facing surface 214J is an example of the other of a pair of guide support surfaces. The right inward-facing surface 214I and the upper right-facing surface 214J, together with the lower right-facing surface 214H, define a right guide space. A right screw hole 214K that penetrates the right main body 214A in the vertical direction 7 is formed directly above the upper wall 211A of the base 211 in the right main body 214A. A right screw 214F is screwed into the right screw hole 214K.

[0094] [Front rack and pinion mechanism 215] In FIG. 12(A), the front rack and pinion mechanism 215 has a pinion gear 215A, a left front rack gear 215B, and a right front rack gear 215C. The pinion gear 215A is located at the center in both the front-rear and left-right directions within the base 211. The pinion gear 215A is positioned between the right end of the left front through-hole 211E and the left end of the right rear through-hole 211F in the front-rear direction 8, and is disposed at approximately the same position as the left front through-hole 211E and the right rear through-hole 211F in the up-down direction 7. The pinion gear 215A has a rotation axis AX61 extending along the up-down direction 7 and is rotatable in the circumferential direction θ61 of the rotation axis AX61. The left front rack gear 215B and the right front rack gear 215C are common in that they mesh with the pinion gear 215A within the base 211 and extend in the left-right direction 9. The left front rack gear 215B extends rightward from near the front end of the left main body 213A of the left guide unit 213 along the front wall 211C of the base 211. The left front rack gear 215B has a gear formed on its rearward-facing surface and meshes with the pinion gear 215A via the left front through-hole 211E. The right front rack gear 215C has a shape that is rotationally symmetric by 180° in the circumferential direction θ61 with respect to the left front rack gear 215B, and extends leftward from near the front end of the right main body 214A of the right guide unit 214 along the rear wall 211D of the base 211. The right front rack gear 215C has a gear formed on its forward-facing surface and meshes with the pinion gear 215A via the right rear through-hole 211F.

[0095] When either one of the left guide unit 213 and the right guide unit 214 moves leftward or rightward, the front rack and pinion mechanism 215 moves the other one of the left guide unit 213 and the right guide unit 214 rightward or leftward by the same distance. Thereby, the left inward-facing surface 213I and the right inward-facing surface 214I are positioned so as to be equidistant from each other from the paper passage center C11.

[0096] [Other Configurations of the Image Recording Apparatus 100] In FIG. 2, the heater 22 extends in the left - right direction 9 between the right wall 111E and the left wall 111F at a position in front of the endless belt 192. The heater 22 has a contact surface 22A that extends in the front - rear, left - right directions at substantially the same position as the upward surface 142 in the up - down direction 7. The heater 22 generates heat under the control of the controller 30 and gives heat to the sheet S passing over the contact surface 22A through the contact surface 22A. Thereby, the ink ejected onto the sheet S dries. That is, the image is fixed on the sheet S.

[0097] The heater cover 23 has a facing surface 23A that is slightly separated above the contact surface 22A and faces the contact surface 22A. By covering the heat - generating contact surface 22A, the heater cover 23 prevents the user from touching the contact surface 22A.

[0098] The contact surface 22A and the facing surface 23A partition the conveyance path 200 of the sheet S.

[0099] The image reading unit 24 is located in front of the heater 22 and has a white reference plate 24A and a CIS 24B. The white reference plate 24A has an elongated rectangular shape in the left - right direction 9 in plan view. The white reference plate 24A is fixed to the right wall 111E and the left wall 111F at its left and right ends and extends in the front - rear, left - right directions therebetween. The white reference plate 24A has a support surface 24C at substantially the same position as the upward surface 142 in the up - down direction 7. The white reference plate 24A supports the sheet S on the support surface 24C. The CIS 24B is a contact image sensor elongated in the left - right direction 9. The CIS 24B is fixed to the right wall 113E and the left wall 113F of the front housing cover 113 at its left and right ends. The CIS 24B emits light from a light source such as an LED. In the CIS 24B, the reflected light reflected by the sheet S on the white reference plate 24A is condensed onto the line sensor by a refractive index distribution type lens. The line sensor outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of incident light to the controller 30. Thus, the CIS 24B reads the image recorded on the label 43 of the sheet S.

[0100] Since the CIS24B is supported by the left wall 113F and the right wall 113E, as shown in FIG. 4, it rotates together with the front housing cover 113 and moves away from or close to the white reference plate 24A.

[0101] In FIG. 2, the cooling unit 25 is located above the heater cover 23 and the image reading unit 24. In FIG. 12(B), the cooling unit 25 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in the left - right direction 9 and is fixed to the right wall 113E and the left wall 113F at both its left and right ends. An air intake port B15 is provided in the right wall 113E, and an exhaust port B21 is provided in the left wall 113F. In the front housing cover 113, a duct 25A that partitions a flow path (see the arrow) from the air intake port B15 to the exhaust port B21 is provided. In the duct 25A, a suction fan 25B and an exhaust fan 25C are provided. The suction fan 25B rotates under the control of the controller 30 to take in the outside air of the housing 11 from the air intake port B15 into the duct 25A. As shown in FIG. 2, by rotating, the suction fan 25B sends the air flow to the CIS24B of the image reading unit 24 located below the duct 25A. In FIG. 12(B), the exhaust fan 25C is located immediately upstream of the exhaust port B21 in the flow path partitioned by the duct 25A. The exhaust fan 25C rotates under the control of the controller 30 to guide the air around the CIS24B between the heater 22 and the heater cover 23 (see FIG. 2). The exhaust fan 25C takes in this air again into the duct 25A and discharges it outside the housing 11 from the exhaust port B21.

[0102] The cutter 26 is located in front of the image reading unit 24. The cutter 26 cuts the sheet S conveyed in the conveyance path 200 along the left - right direction 9 under the control of the controller 30. The cut sheet S is discharged outside the housing 11 from the discharge port B13.

[0103] [Operation of the Image Recording Apparatus 100] In order to record an image on the sheet S by the image recording apparatus 100, the user sets the sheet S on the image recording apparatus 100. When setting the sheet S, the user first opens the right cover 114 (see FIG. 1) and attaches the sheet S to the roll support portion 13 (see FIG. 5). Thereby, the width direction 9A of the sheet S is orthogonal to the vertical direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8 and parallel to the left-right direction 9.

[0104] Next, the user moves the rear housing cover 112 from the closed position P11 (see FIG. 3(A)) to the open position P12 (see FIG. 3(B)), and as shown in FIG. 3(B), exposes the tensioner 14, the rear side guide 15, the drive roller 161, the lower guide 17, the sensor 18, and the front side guide 21 from the rear opening AP112.

[0105] Next, the user pulls out the leading end of the sheet S attached to the roll support portion 13 from the roll body and passes it through the gap B14 (see FIG. 2). Thereafter, the user winds the sheet S around the tensioner 14 and then passes it between the left guide member 152 and the right guide member 153 (see FIG. 7(A)). The user further moves at least one of the left guide member 152 and the right guide member 153 to the left or right to align the center in the width direction 9A of the sheet S with the left and right positions of the paper feed center C11 (see FIG. 5). Thereafter, the user brings the vicinity of the leading end of the sheet S into contact with the upper end of the drive roller 161 (see FIG. 3(B)).

[0106] If necessary, the user loosens the left screw 213F and the right screw 214F (see FIG. 11), and then moves at least one of the left guide member 213E and the right guide member 214E to the left or right. By means of the front rack and pinion mechanism 215, the left and right positions of the left inner surface 213I are adjusted to the positions through which the left end of the sheet S passes, and the left and right positions of the right inner surface 214I are adjusted to the positions through which the right end of the sheet S passes. After this alignment, the user tightens the left screw 213F and the right screw 214F (see FIG. 11) to fix the left and right positions of the left guide member 213E and the right guide member 214E on the base 211. That is, the left screw 213F and the right screw 214F, as an example of fixing members, fix the left guide member 213E and the right guide member 214E with respect to the width direction 9A of the sheet S (see FIG. 1(B)).

[0107] Next, the user returns the rear housing cover 112 to the closed position P11 and closes the right cover 114. Thereby, the setting of the sheet S is completed.

[0108] After the setting of the sheet S is completed, in the image recording apparatus 100, the controller 30 (see FIG. 9) outputs a control signal to the pump 29 and starts driving the pump 29 in response to an operation of the operation panel 116 by the user. Thereby, the pump 29 applies a suction pressure to each of the left suction ports 1975A and each of the right suction ports 1975B, and starts sucking the air around these from each of the left suction ports 1975A and each of the right suction ports 1975B.

[0109] Next, the controller 30 executes the leading-out process. In the leading-out process, the controller 30 outputs a control signal to the motor 27 to rotate the drive roller 161 and the front pulley 191B forward. The controller 30 further outputs a control signal to the motor 28 to rotate the roll holder 133 forward. The linear speeds of the drive roller 161 and the front pulley 191B and the linear speed of the roll holder 133 are set appropriately as needed. The pair of conveyance rollers 16 is an example of a pair of conveyance rollers. By rotating forward, the vicinity of the leading end of the sheet S is nipped, and the conveyance of the sheet S forward is started. The roll holder 133 starts to feed out the sheet S from the roll body by rotating forward. The rear side guide 15, as an example of the first side guide, contacts both ends in the width direction 9A of the sheet S conveyed from the roll holder 133 via the tensioner 14 at a position behind the pair of conveyance rollers 16 (an example of the upstream in the conveyance direction), and regulates the left and right positions of the sheet S. As a result of the above, the sheet S starts to be conveyed forward (an example of the conveyance direction) in the conveyance path 200, and the leading end of the sheet S will eventually pass from behind to in front directly above the sensor 18 (see FIG. 2). The sensor 18 outputs a high-level signal with a voltage value higher than the threshold to the controller 30 when the sheet S exists above its light-receiving surface, and outputs a low-level signal with a voltage value equal to or lower than the threshold to the controller 30 when the sheet S does not exist above its light-receiving surface. The controller 30 regards that the leading end of the sheet S has reached above the sensor 18 in response to the signal from the sensor 18 transitioning from the low level to the high level, and stops outputting the control signal to the motors 27 and 28. As a result, the leading end of the sheet S stops directly above the sensor 18, and the leading-out process ends.

[0110] When the controller 30 receives print data indicating an image to be recorded on the sheet S from an information processing device (e.g., a PC) capable of communicating with the image recording apparatus 100, it executes image recording control. In the image recording control, the controller 30 outputs a control signal to the motor 27 to rotate the drive roller 161 and the front pulley 191B forward. The controller 30 further outputs a control signal to the motor 28 to rotate the roll holder 133 forward. The linear speeds of the drive roller 161 and the front pulley 191B and the linear speed of the roll holder 133 are appropriately set. Thereby, the transport roller pair 16 starts to transport the sheet S forward from a position directly above the sensor 18. The roll holder 133 feeds out the sheet S from the roll body.

[0111] After the start of conveyance of the sheet S, the center of the leading end of the sheet S abuts against the rear end of the endless belt 192 (see FIG. 8). The left and right sides of the center of the leading end of the sheet S are nipped by the left rear roller 193A and the right rear roller 193B and the pinch roller 195. The upper end surface 1921 has a higher coefficient of friction than the left support surface 1976A and the right support surface 1976B and frictionally transports the sheet S. The left rear roller 193A and the right rear roller 193B, together with the pinch roller 195, nip and transport the sheet S. Thereby, the leading end of the sheet S is transported further forward than the left rear roller 193A and the right rear roller 193B toward the front side guide 21 (see FIG. 11) in the transport path 200.

[0112] The vicinity of the left end of the tip of the sheet S is fed into the rear end of the aforementioned left guide space, that is, the space partitioned by the lower left-facing surface 213H, the upper left-facing surface 213J, and the left inward-facing surface 213I (see Fig. 12(A)). The vicinity of the right end of the tip of the sheet S is fed into the rear end of the aforementioned right guide space. As described above, in the left guide space and the right guide space, the vertical interval is relatively narrow in the portion closer to the front end. Therefore, as the sheet S is conveyed toward the front end within the left guide space and the right guide space, the posture of the sheet S becomes closer to being parallel in the front-rear, left-right directions and becomes stable. Also, the left inward-facing surface 213I and the right inward-facing surface 214I regulate the left-right position of the sheet S. In this way, the front side guide 21, as an example of the second side guide, abuts against both the left and right ends of the sheet S at a position in the front-rear direction 8 that is in front of the pair of conveyance rollers 16 and behind the recording head 20. The sheet S is sent out from the front side guide 21 in a parallel manner in the front-rear, left-right directions without being inclined with respect to the front-rear direction 8. That is, the front side guide 21 makes it difficult for the sheet S to skew.

[0113] Also, while the sheet S is being conveyed within the aforementioned left guide space and right guide space, the pump 29 is driven. Due to the driving of the pump 29, air is being sucked in from each left suction port 1975A and each right suction port 1975B (see Fig. 9). Therefore, the air between the sheet S and the upper left-facing surface 213J and the upper right-facing surface 214J (see Fig. 11(B)) flows toward the left suction port 1975A and the right suction port 1975B (see Fig. 9) through the left through-hole 213L (see Figs. 11 and 12) and the right through-hole 214L (see Fig. 11). As a result, the sheet S is adsorbed to the upper left-facing surface 213J and the upper right-facing surface 214J and conveyed forward. Thereby, the posture of the sheet S becomes even closer to being parallel in the front-rear, left-right directions and becomes more stable.

[0114] As described above, in the left and right guide spaces of the front side guide 21, in order for the posture of the sheet S to be stable, no skew occurs in the sheet S, or the skew that occurs in the sheet S is corrected by the lower left facing surface 213H, the upper left facing surface 213J, the left inner facing surface 213I, the lower right facing surface 214H, the upper right facing surface 214J, and the right inner facing surface 214I. Thereafter, the sheet S is sent out from the front ends of the left and right guide spaces to the left support surface 1976A and the right support surface 1976B of the suction platen 197.

[0115] After the sheet S is sent out to the suction platen 197, it is conveyed forward while being in contact with the upper end surface 1921, the left support surface 1976A, and the right support surface 1976B. The sheet S closes the upper ends of the left flow path 1974A and the right flow path 1974B during conveyance. Since the pump 29 is driven in this state, airflows from the respective front ends toward the respective left suction ports 1975A and the respective right suction ports 1975B are generated in the respective left flow paths 1974A and the respective right flow paths 1974B. As a result, the air pressure in the respective left flow paths 1974A and the respective right flow paths 1974B is lower than above the sheet S, and the sheet S is adsorbed to the left support surface 1976A and the right support surface 1976B. Note that the friction coefficients of the left support surface 1976A and the right support surface 1976B are made smaller than the upper end surface 1921, etc., so that the sheet S is configured to slide forward along the left support surface 1976A and the right support surface 1976B.

[0116] The leading end of the sheet S is conveyed forward on the upper end surface 1921, the left support surface 1976A, and the right support surface 1976B in the conveyance path 200 by friction conveyance by the endless belt 192 and nip conveyance by the left rear roller 193A and the right rear roller 193B. Thereafter, the leading end of the sheet S is nipped by the left front roller 194A and the right front roller 194B and the plurality of contact members 196. Then, by friction conveyance by the endless belt 192 and nip conveyance by the left front roller 194A and the right front roller 194B, the sheet S is sequentially sent out forward from the leading end by the belt conveyance mechanism 19.

[0117] While the sheet S is being conveyed between the left rear roller 193A and the right rear roller 193B, and the left front roller 194A and the right front roller 194B in the front-rear direction 8, the controller 30 discharges ink from each nozzle 202 of the recording head 20 based on the print data. As a result, the recording head 20 records an image on each label 43 of the sheet S at a position in front of the pair of conveying rollers 16 (an example of downstream in the conveying direction), as an example of the recording unit.

[0118] [Operation and Effect of Image Recording Apparatus 100] According to the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 and the like, since the image recording apparatus 100 includes the front side guide 21, the sheet S is guided between the pair of conveying rollers 16 and the recording head 20, more specifically, immediately behind the recording head 20 (that is, immediately upstream in the conveying direction), so that the sheet S does not skew. Therefore, it is difficult for the sheet S to skew directly below the recording head 20. As a result, the dimension in the front-rear direction 8 of the rear side guide 15 located behind the pair of conveying rollers 16 (that is, upstream in the conveying direction) can be shortened. Thereby, the front-rear size of the image recording apparatus 100 is reduced.

[0119] On the sheet S conveyed forward by the pair of conveying rollers 16, resistance to the rear is generated due to the rotation and weight of the roll body and the like. This resistance is not constant but distributed in the width direction 9A of the sheet S. Due to such resistance, the sheet S skews in the conveyance path 200. Also, once the continuous sheet S skews, the end positions of both sides of the sheet S at a specific position in the conveyance path 200 shift cumulatively to the left and right as the sheet S is conveyed. However, in this embodiment, since the rear side guide 15 and the front side guide 21 prevent skewing from occurring at multiple locations in the conveyance path 200, it is difficult for the continuous sheet S to skew.

[0120] In the embodiment, the left inward surface 213I and the upper left surface 213J are located closer to the recording head 20 than the left support surface 1976A in the vertical direction 7, and overlap the left support surface 1976A in a plan view from the vertical direction 7. That is, the left inward surface 213I and the upper left surface 213J are located forward of the rear end of the left support surface 1976A in the front-rear direction 8. The right inward surface 214I and the upper right surface 214J are located closer to the recording head 20 than the right support surface 1976B in the vertical direction 7 and overlap the right support surface 1976B in the vertical direction 7. As a result, the distances from the front ends of the left guide space and the right guide space to the left support surface 1976A and the right support surface 1976B are shortened. Thereby, it is difficult for the sheet S to skew between the front ends of the left guide space and the right guide space and the left support surface 1976A and the right support surface 1976B, and the front-rear size of the image recording apparatus 100 can be reduced.

[0121] In the embodiment, as described above, by driving the pump 29, the air between the sheet S in the left guide space and the right guide space and the upper left surface 213J and the upper right surface 214J (see FIG. 11(B)) flows downward from the left through hole 213L (see FIGS. 11 and 12) and the right through hole 214L (see FIG. 11). As a result, the sheet S is adsorbed to the upper left surface 213J and the upper right surface 214J, so that the posture of the sheet S becomes more stable.

[0122] In the embodiment, the left guide member 213E and the right guide member 214E are fixed by the left screw 213F and the right screw 214F and do not shift left and right. Thereby, it is difficult for the sheet S to skew in the width direction 9A with respect to the conveyance direction between the conveyance roller pair 16 and the recording head 20.

[0123] In the embodiment, since the left guide member 213E and the right guide member 214E can move left and right by the front rack and pinion mechanism 215, it is possible to prevent skewing or correct the generated skewing for a plurality of types of sheets S having different sheet widths.

[0124] [Modification Example] In the embodiment, the left guide member 152 provided in the rear side guide 15 and the left guide unit 213 provided in the front side guide 21 moved left and right independently of each other. Accordingly, the right guide member 153 provided in the rear side guide 15 and the right guide unit 214 provided in the front side guide 21 also moved left and right independently of each other.

[0125] However, not limited to the above, as shown in FIG. 13, the image recording apparatus 100 may further include a left connecting member 311 that connects the left guide member 152 (an example of a third guide member) and the left guide unit 213 (an example of a first guide member) to each other, and a right connecting member 312 that connects the right guide member 153 (an example of a fourth guide member) and the right guide unit 214 (an example of a second guide member) to each other.

[0126] Note that since FIG. 13 is a side view of the main part of the modification example as viewed from the left, the left connecting member 311 and the right connecting member 312 are shown overlapping each other in the left-right direction 9. The same applies to the left guide member 152 and the right guide member 153, and the left guide unit 213 and the right guide unit 214.

[0127] When either one of the left guide member 152 and the left guide unit 213 moves leftward or rightward by the left connecting member 311, the other of the left guide member 152 and the left guide unit 213 moves in the same direction in conjunction with this movement.

[0128] Similarly, when either one of the right guide member 153 and the right guide unit 214 moves left and right by the right connecting member 312, the other moves left and right in the same direction in conjunction with this movement.

[0129] In the embodiment, since the rear housing cover 112 opens and closes (see FIG. 3), the left connecting member 311 and the right connecting member 312 need to be arranged so as not to interfere with the pinch roller 162 that rotates in the circumferential direction θ11 together with the rear housing cover 112. Specifically, the left connecting member 311 and the right connecting member 312 extend from the left guide unit 213 and the right guide unit 214, pass below the axis 162A of the pinch roller 162 without entering the movable range of the pinch roller 162, and reach the left guide member 152 and the right guide member 153, respectively.

[0130] In the example of FIG. 13, each of the left connecting member 311 and the right connecting member 312 passes between the axis 162A of the pinch roller 162 and the axis 161A of the drive roller 161. However, not limited to this, each of the left connecting member 311 and the right connecting member 312 may pass below the axis 161A of the drive roller 161.

[0131] According to the modification, the user does not need to operate the rear side guide 15 and the front side guide 21 individually, so the operability is good. It is easy to position the sheet S in the width direction 9A by the front side guide 21.

[0132] [Other Modifications] In the embodiment, the image recording method was the inkjet method. However, not limited to this, the image recording method may be the electrophotographic method or the thermal transfer method.

[0133] The sheet S in FIG. 1(B) had the sheet core 41. However, not limited to this, the sheet S may not have the sheet core 41. In this case, the separator 42 is wound in a roll shape so that a cylindrical through hole is formed in the central portion.

[0134] The sheet S in FIG. 1(B) was label roll paper. However, not limited to this, the sheet S may be roll paper, that is, continuous paper forming a roll body. In this case, an image is recorded on the roll paper itself.

[0135] The sheet S in FIG. 1(B) had a plurality of labels 43. However, not limited to this, the sheet S may consist of a separator and a single label temporarily attached to the separator. In this case, each of the separator and the label is a continuous paper forming a roll body, and an image is recorded on the main surface of the label.

[0136] Alternatively, the sheet S may be fan-folded paper or cut paper. In the case of fan-folded paper, the roll support portion 13 is unnecessary for the image recording apparatus 100. In the case of cut paper, the image recording apparatus 100 is provided with a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray instead of the roll support portion 13.

[0137] In FIG. 2, the image recording apparatus 100 included a heater 22 to fix the image on the sheet S. However, the image recording apparatus 100 may fix the image on the sheet S by an ultraviolet irradiator or a halogen heater instead of the heater 22.

[0138] In the embodiment, the suction platen 197 sucks the sheet S to the left support surface 1976A and the right support surface 1976B by reducing the air pressure in the left flow path 1974A and the right flow path 1974B by an air flow. However, not limited to this, the suction platen 197 may suck the sheet S from suction holes provided in the flat suction platen and make it adhere onto the suction platen. Alternatively, the suction platen 197 may charge the suction platen body to electrostatically adsorb the sheet S.

[0139] The image recording apparatus 100 may be a platen that does not suck the sheet S instead of the suction platen 197.

[0140] The endless belt 192 may be a so-called suction belt.

[0141] In the embodiment, all of the left flange portion 133B, the right flange portion 133C, the left guide member 152, the right guide member 153, the left guide unit 213, and the right guide unit 214 were slidable left and right. However, not limited to this, when the right cover 114 is provided on the right wall 111E as in the embodiment, the left flange portion 133B, the left guide member 152, and the left guide unit 213 may be fixed without moving left and right, and the right flange portion 133C, the right guide member 153, and the right guide unit 214 may be slidable left and right. Note that the left flange portion 133B, the left guide member 152, and the left guide unit 213 may be slidable left and right, and the right flange portion 133C, the right guide member 153, and the right guide unit 214 may be non-slidable left and right.

Explanation of Signs

[0142] 100 ··· Image recording apparatus 11 ··· Housing 13 ··· Roll support portion 15 ··· Rear side guide 152 ··· Left guide member 152A ··· Upward surface 152B ··· Rightward surface 153 ··· Right guide member 153A ··· Upward surface 153B ··· Leftward surface 16 ··· Pair of conveyance rollers 18 ··· Sensor 19 ··· Belt conveyance mechanism 197 ··· Suction platen 20 ··· Recording head 21 ··· Front side guide 213 ··· Left guide unit 213E ··· Left guide member 213F ··· Left screw 213H ··· Lower leftward surface 213I ··· Left inward surface 213J ··· Upper leftward surface 214 ··· Right guide unit 214E ··· Right guide member 214F ··· Right screw 214H ··· Lower rightward surface 214I ··· Right inward surface 214J ··· Upper right surface 29 ··· Pump 30 ··· Controller 200 ··· Conveyor path 311 ··· Left connecting member 312 ··· Right connecting member S ··· Sheet

Claims

1. A pair of conveyance rollers that send a sheet in the conveyance direction, A recording unit that is located downstream of the pair of conveyance rollers in the conveyance direction and records an image on the sheet, A first side guide that is located upstream of the pair of conveyance rollers in the conveyance direction, abuts against at least one of both ends in the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction on the sheet, and is movable along the width direction, A second side guide that is downstream of the pair of conveyance rollers in the conveyance direction and upstream of the recording unit in the conveyance direction, abuts against at least one of both ends of the sheet, and is movable along the width direction, A platen that faces the recording unit and has a support surface for supporting the sheet, The second side guide, A pair of guide abutting surfaces that abut against both ends of the sheet respectively and are movable so as to be separated from each other along the width direction, A pair of guide support surfaces that are respectively connected to the pair of guide abutting surfaces and support the sheet at a position closer to the recording unit than the support surface, An image recording apparatus in which the guide support surface overlaps the support surface in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to both the conveyance direction and the width direction.

2. The sheet is a roll body, The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a roll support member that rotatably supports the roll body around its central axis.

3. An opening is formed in the support surface of the platen, Further comprising a pump that applies a suction pressure to the opening, The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an opening to which the suction pressure acts is formed in each of the pair of guide support surfaces.

4. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, having a fixing member that fixes the second side guide with respect to the width direction.

5. One of the pair of guide abutting surfaces abuts against one end in the width direction of the sheet and is continuous with one of the pair of guide support surfaces, The other of the pair of guide abutting surfaces abuts against the other end in the width direction of the sheet and is continuous with the other of the pair of guide support surfaces, The second side guide, A first guide member having one of the pair of guide abutting surfaces and one of the pair of guide support surfaces and movable along the width direction, A second guide member having the other of the pair of guide abutting surfaces and the other of the pair of guide support surfaces and movable along the width direction, The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a rack and pinion mechanism that interlocks the movement of the first guide member and the movement of the second guide member.

6. The first side guide is a third guide member that abuts one end in the width direction of the sheet and is movable along the width direction, a fourth guide member that abuts the other end in the width direction of the sheet and is movable along the width direction, and a first connecting member that connects the first guide member and the third guide member to interlock the movement of the first guide member and the movement of the third guide member. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second connecting member that connects the second guide member and the fourth guide member to interlock the movement of the second guide member and the movement of the fourth guide member.

7. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a sensor that is downstream of the pair of conveying rollers in the conveying direction and upstream of the second side guide in the conveying direction and outputs different signals depending on the presence or absence of the sheet.

Images