Image recording device

Abstract

To guide a roll medium fed from a feed tray to a transport path at the downstream side of the feed tray in a feeding direction properly.SOLUTION: A feed tray 1 includes a guide member 9 which may guide a roll sheet Rp to a transport path 45 provided in a housing 100a and located at the downstream side of the feed tray 1 with respect to a feed direction. The guide member 9 has: a support part 93 which supports the roll sheet Rp located at the downstream side relative to a feed roller 2 with respect to the feed direction; and a pressing part 97 which presses the roll sheet Rp supported by the support part 93.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having a feed tray capable of accommodating a roll of sheet-like media. [Background technology]

[0002] The facsimile (image recording device) disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a support unit for roll paper (roll medium) and a paper feed cassette (feed tray) that can accommodate the roll paper. The roll paper is fed from the paper feed cassette and sent to a transport path within the facsimile main body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2-264556 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the rolled medium is unwound from the roll, it curls in the longitudinal direction, which can cause the rolled medium to be misguided to the downstream side of the feed tray in the feeding direction.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device that can properly guide a roll medium fed from a feed tray to a transport path downstream of the feed tray in the feeding direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The image recording device of the present invention comprises a housing, a feed tray having a tray main body capable of accommodating a roll of long sheet-like medium, the feed tray being movable in an insertion / removal direction between an outer position outside the housing and an inner position inside the housing, a roller that contacts the roll medium, i.e., the sheet-like medium unwound from the roll medium accommodated in the tray main body, and feeds it in a feeding direction, a transport path provided in the housing and located downstream of the feed tray in the feeding direction, and a recording unit that records an image on the roll medium fed from the feed tray by the feed roller. The feed tray also comprises a support portion that supports the roll medium, located downstream of the feed roller in the feeding direction, and a guide member having a press portion that presses the roll medium supported by the support portion, and the support portion and the press portion can guide the roll medium to the transport path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the image recording device of the present invention, the pressing unit can press down on the roll medium supported by the support unit and guide it toward the transport path, thereby properly guiding the curled roll medium fed from the feed tray to the transport path downstream of the feed tray in the feeding direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view showing the internal structure of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the feeding tray shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding tray taken along line III-III of FIG. 2, illustrating a state where the feeding tray is located at an inner position. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding tray taken along line III-III of FIG. 2, showing the state in which the feeding tray is pulled out from the inner position. [Figure 5]10A to 10C are diagrams showing a guide member, in which (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Vc-Vc in (a). [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a feeding tray according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 7A is a perspective view of the guide member shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7B is a side view, and FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIc-VIIc in FIG. 7A. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a feeding tray according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9A and 9B are perspective views of the guide member shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the guide member with the cover removed. [Figure 10] 9(a) is a side view of the guide member shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 9(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Xb-Xb in FIG. 9(a). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] First Embodiment A printer 100 (corresponding to the "image recording device" of the present invention) according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 1. The up-down, front-rear, and left-right directions shown in Fig. 1 are the up-down, front-rear, and left-right directions of the printer 100.

[0010] (Overall configuration of the printer 100) The printer 100 mainly comprises a housing 100a, a feeding mechanism 3, a transport mechanism 4, a cutter 5, a head 6 (corresponding to the "recording unit" of the present invention), a paper discharge tray 7, and a control unit 10. The feeding mechanism 3 has a feeding tray 1, a feeding roller 2, and a separation piece 31.

[0011] The feed tray 1 is detachably attached to the bottom of the housing 100a. The feed tray 1 is disposed below the head 6 inside the housing 100a. The feed tray 1 is insertable into and removable from the housing 100a in the front-rear direction (corresponding to the "insertion / removal direction" of the present invention) through an opening 101 formed in the front wall of the housing 100a. That is, the feed tray 1 is movable in the front-rear direction between an outer position outside the housing 100a and an inner position inside the housing 100a.

[0012] The feed tray 1 can accommodate a roll R and cut sheets. The feed tray 1 has a roll accommodation section 8 that supports the roll R and a loading surface 18 on which cut sheets (not shown) are placed. The roll R is a long sheet of paper (corresponding to the "sheet medium" of the present invention) wound in a roll shape around the outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical core member Rc. The cut sheets are shorter sheets of paper (corresponding to the "sheet medium" of the present invention) than the long sheets that make up the roll R, such as A4 or B5 size paper. The width direction of the roll paper Rp unwound from the roll R in the feed tray 1 coincides with the left-right direction. In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between the roll paper Rp and the cut sheets, they may be referred to as "paper P."

[0013] As will be described in detail later, the feed tray 1 also has a guide member 9 for guiding the roll paper Rp fed from the feed tray 1 to a transport path 45 formed inside the housing 100a. The guide member 9 is removable from the feed tray 1.

[0014] The feed roller 2 comes into contact with the roll paper Rp unwound from the roll R supported in the roll storage section 8 or the cut paper placed on the loading surface 18, and feeds it in a direction from front to rear. The feed roller 2 is supported on the tip of an arm 2a and rotates by the drive of a feed motor (not shown). The arm 2a is rotatably supported on a support shaft 2b. The support shaft 2b is supported on the housing 100a. The arm 2a is biased by a biasing member (not shown) so that the feed roller 2 approaches the bottom surface 11a of the feed tray 1.

[0015] As will be described in detail later, the feed roller 2 can be retracted from a feed position where it comes into contact with the paper P and can feed it, to a retracted position where it does not interfere with the tray body 16 of the feed tray 1 which moves from the inner position to the outer position, in conjunction with the movement of the feed tray 1 from the inner position to the outer position.

[0016] When the feed motor is driven under the control of the control unit 10, the feed roller 2 rotates, and a conveying force is applied to the paper P in contact with the feed roller 2. As a result, the paper P is sent out from the feed tray 1.

[0017] The separation piece 31 is intended to prevent double feeding when cutting paper is fed from the feed tray 1. The separation piece 31 is located on the rear side of the feed tray 1. The separation piece 31 is inclined so that the rear end is positioned higher than the front end.

[0018] When feeding roll paper Rp from the feed tray 1 and recording an image on the roll paper Rp, the roll paper Rp is fed with the guide member 9 attached to the feed tray 1. On the other hand, when feeding cut paper from the feed tray 1 and recording an image on the cut paper, the guide member 9 is removed from the feed tray 1 and the cut paper is fed.

[0019] The roll paper Rp is supported by the support portion 93 of the guide member 9 at the rear end of the feed tray 1 and is fed diagonally upward from the feed tray 1. The cut paper is supported by the rear wall 15 (see FIG. 2) and the separation piece 31 of the tray main body 16 at the rear end of the feed tray 1 and is fed diagonally upward from the feed tray 1. In other words, the feeding direction of the paper P in the feed tray 1 is from the front to the rear at the bottom surface 11a of the feed tray 1, and is a diagonally upward direction at the rear end of the feed tray 1.

[0020] The conveying mechanism 4 has an intermediate roller pair 41, a conveying roller pair 42, a paper discharge roller pair 43, and a guide member 44. The intermediate roller pair 41 is composed of a drive roller that rotates when driven by an intermediate motor (not shown) and a driven roller that rotates along with the drive roller. When the intermediate motor (not shown) is driven under the control of the control unit 10, the intermediate roller pair 41 rotates while sandwiching the paper P, thereby conveying the paper P. The intermediate roller pair 41 is located above the rear end of the feed tray 1. The intermediate roller pair 41 sandwiches and conveys the paper P upward, as the paper P is fed from the feed tray 1 by the feed roller 2 and heads diagonally upward. The guide member 44 is located above the intermediate roller pair 41. The guide member 44 guides the paper P conveyed upward by the intermediate roller pair 41 forward.

[0021] The conveying roller pair 42 is composed of a drive roller that rotates when driven by a conveying motor (not shown), and a driven roller that rotates along with the drive roller. The paper discharge roller pair 43 is composed of a drive roller that rotates when driven by a paper discharge motor (not shown), and a driven roller that rotates along with the drive roller. When the conveying motor and paper discharge motor (not shown) are driven under the control of the control unit 10, the conveying roller pair 42 and the paper discharge roller pair 43 rotate while sandwiching the paper P to convey the paper P. The conveying roller pair 42 is located behind the head 6, and the paper discharge roller pair 43 is located in front of the head 6. The conveying roller pair 42 sandwiches and conveys the paper P guided forward by the guide member 44. The paper discharge roller pair 43 sandwiches and conveys the paper P conveyed forward by the conveying roller pair 42.

[0022] The cutter 5 is located between the rear end of the feed tray 1 and the pair of intermediate rollers 41. The cutter 5 is made up of, for example, a disk-shaped rotary blade and a driven blade. Alternatively, the cutter 5 may be made up of a rotary blade and a fixed blade. The rotary blade of the cutter 5 is rotated by the drive of a cutting motor (not shown) and moves back and forth in the left-right direction. The roll paper Rp that has been unwound from the roll R and transported is cut widthwise by the cutter 5 when the cutting motor is driven under the control of the control unit 10.

[0023] The head 6 includes a plurality of nozzles (not shown) formed on its underside, and a driver IC (not shown). The head 6 records an image on paper P that is fed by the feed roller 2, sent out from the feed tray 1, and transported by the transport mechanism 4. When the driver IC is driven under the control of the control unit 10, ink is ejected from the nozzles, and an image is recorded on the paper P when the paper P transported by the transport mechanism 4 passes an image recording position facing the underside of the head 6. The head 6 may be either a line type that ejects ink from nozzles while remaining fixed in position, or a serial type that ejects ink from nozzles while moving left and right.

[0024] The paper output tray 7 is disposed in front of the head 6 within the housing 100a and above the feed tray 1. The paper output tray 7 can be inserted into and removed from the housing 100a in the front-to-rear direction through an opening 102 formed in the front wall of the housing 100a. The paper P on which an image has been recorded by the head 6 is received in the paper output tray 7.

[0025] A transport path 45 is provided within the housing 100a and is located downstream of the feed tray 1. In the transport path 45, the paper P sent diagonally upward from the feed tray 1 is transported upward and passes the cutting position of the cutter 5, and then transported forward and passes the image recording position by the head 6.

[0026] The control unit 10 is connected to the feed motor, intermediate motor, transport motor, paper discharge motor, cutting motor, and driver IC via an internal bus (not shown). The control unit 10 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM stores programs and data for the CPU to perform various controls. The RAM temporarily stores data used when the CPU executes programs.

[0027] (Feed Tray 1 Configuration) Next, the configuration of the feed tray 1 will be described with further reference to Figures 2 to 5. In the following explanation, the direction of each part of the feed tray 1 will be explained based on the orientation of the feed tray 1 when attached to the housing 100a. The feed tray 1 mainly includes a tray main body 16, a pair of side guides 17, a roll body accommodating section 8, and a guide member 9.

[0028] The tray body 16 has a generally rectangular shape in top view, and is formed like a box that is open upward. The tray body 16 has a bottom wall 11, side walls 12 and 13, a front wall 14, and a rear wall 15.

[0029] The upper surface of the bottom wall 11 forms the bottom surface 11a of the feed tray 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the side walls 12 and 13 are erected on both left and right end edges of the bottom wall 11. The side walls 12 and 13 extend in the front-to-rear direction from the front end to the rear end of the bottom wall 11. Of the two side walls 12 and 13, the side wall 12 located on the left in FIG. 2 has a notch 12a that is open at the top. The front wall 14 is erected on the front edge of the bottom wall 11. The front wall 14 extends in the left-to-right direction from the right end to the left end of the bottom wall 11.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the rear walls 15 are erected on the rear edge of the bottom wall 11, and four of them are provided spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear walls 15 are inclined so that their upper ends are located further rearward than their lower ends. The rear walls 15 intersect in the front-to-rear direction. Of the four rear walls 15, the two outer rear walls 15 are connected to the rear ends of the side walls 12 and 13, respectively. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, when the feed tray 1 is attached to the housing 100a, a separation piece 31 is located between the two inner rear walls 15 of the four rear walls 15.

[0031] The pair of side guides 17 are disposed inside the pair of side walls 12, 13 and are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. The pair of side guides 17 are supported by the bottom wall 11 so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and are disposed facing each other in the left-right direction. One side guide 17 and the other side guide 17 are interlockingly movable in directions toward and away from each other by a known interlocking mechanism (not shown) consisting of, for example, racks facing each other and pinions meshing with both racks.

[0032] The roll accommodating section 8 is provided at the front end of the tray body 16. The roll accommodating section 8 accommodates the roll R in an orientation in which the axial direction of the roll R coincides with the left-right direction. The roll accommodating section 8 has a support base 81 on which two rollers 82a, 82b are provided, and a cover 83.

[0033] The support base 81 extends in the left-right direction. The rollers 82a, 82b also extend in the left-right direction and are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The rollers 82a, 82b are supported on the upper end of the support base 81 so as to be rotatable around rotation axes that extend in the left-right direction. The rollers 82a, 82b support the roll R from below while in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the roll R.

[0034] The cover 83 covers the upper and front sides of the roll R supported by the rollers 82a and 82b. The cover 83 is rotatable around a rotation shaft (not shown) that extends in the left-right direction. By rotating the cover 83 around the rotation shaft (not shown), the storage space for the roll R above the support base 81 can be exposed.

[0035] The placement surface 18 is part of the bottom surface 11a of the feed tray 1, and is located rearward of the roll accommodating section 8. The placement surface 18 is the area indicated by A in Fig. 3. The placement surface 18 can support a stack of cut sheets from below.

[0036] As described above, the guide member 9 can guide the roll paper Rp to the transport path 45 provided in the housing 100a. The guide member 9 can be removed from the feed tray 1. In the following explanation, the direction of each part of the guide member will be explained based on the position of the guide member 9 when attached to the feed tray 1 attached to the housing 100a.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5(a), the guide member 9 has side walls 91 and 92 that are parallel to the side walls 12 and 13 of the tray main body 16, a support portion 93 that supports the roll paper Rp, and a pressing portion 97 that presses the roll paper Rp supported by the support portion 93.

[0038] The support portion 93 extends in the left-right direction, and both left and right ends thereof are connected to the side walls 91, 92, respectively. The support portion 93 has an inclined portion 94 and a horizontal portion 95. As shown in FIG. 5(c), the inclined portion 94 is inclined so that its upper end is located rearward of its lower end. The horizontal portion 95 is connected to the lower end (the upstream end in the feeding direction) of the inclined portion 94 and extends horizontally forward. As shown in FIG. 5(a), a notch 94a is formed in the left-right center of the inclined portion 94, with the upper end (the downstream end in the feeding direction) being open. A platform portion 96 that protrudes forward is formed in the left-right center of the horizontal portion 95.

[0039] When the support portion 93 is not supporting the roll paper Rp, the feed roller 2 comes into contact with the upper surface 96a of the base portion 96. That is, the inclined portion 94 of the support portion 93 supports the roll paper Rp located downstream of the feed roller 2 in the feeding direction.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, when the guide member 9 is attached to the tray body 16, the inclined portion 94 of the support portion 93 is positioned along the rear wall 15 of the tray body 16, and the horizontal portion 95 of the support portion 93 is positioned along the bottom wall 11 of the tray body 16.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 3, the pressing portion 97 is located on the opposite side of the support portion 93 across the roll paper Rp supported by the support portion 93. As shown in Fig. 5(a), two pressing portions 97 are provided spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. One of the two pressing portions 97 is connected to the side wall 91, and the other is connected to the side wall 92. The two pressing portions 97 face both sides of the notch 94a in the inclined portion 94 of the support portion 93.

[0042] 5(c), the pressing portion 97 has an inclined portion 98 that is inclined so that its upper end is located further rearward than its lower end, and a curved portion 99 that is connected to the lower end (the upstream end in the feeding direction) of the inclined portion 98 and is curved in the front-to-rear direction so as to be convex downward. The inclination angle of the inclined portion 98 of the pressing portion 97 with respect to a plane perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction is greater than the inclination angle of the inclined portion 94 of the support portion 93. As a result, the pressing portion 97 is shaped so that the distance from the support portion 93 increases the further upstream in the feeding direction the pressing portion 97 is.

[0043] As shown in Figure 5(a), the position of the end of the curved portion 99 opposite the side connected to the inclined portion 98 is located at the front and uppermost end opposite the side connected to the side wall 91 (or side wall 92), and becomes more rearward and lower as it approaches the side connected to the side wall 91 (or side wall 92).

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5(a), both left-right ends of the guide member 9, i.e., side walls 91 and 92 of the guide member 9, are formed with protrusions 91a and 92a (corresponding to the "first engagement portion" of the present invention) that protrude in the left-right direction. Furthermore, holes 12b and 13b (see FIG. 3; corresponding to the "second engagement portion" of the present invention) into which the protrusions 91a and 92a of the guide member 9 are fitted are formed in the side walls 12 and 13 of the tray main body 16. The guide member 9 is fixed to the tray main body 16 by fitting the protrusions 91a and 92a into the holes 12b and 13b. Furthermore, the guide member 9 is elastically deformable. Therefore, by elastically deforming the guide member 9, the protrusions 91a and 92a can be removed from the tray main body 16 by removing the protrusions 91a and 92a from the holes 12b and 13b.

[0045] (Retraction mechanism for feed roller 2) Here, the retraction mechanism of the feed roller 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an extension portion 2c extending in the left-right direction is provided on the arm 2a of the feed roller 2. A roller 2d rotatable about a rotation shaft extending in the left-right direction is attached to the end of one side (side wall 12) of the extension portion 2c in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 3, when the feed tray 1 is located in the inner position, the feed roller 2 is located in the feed position. At this time, the roller 2d is located in a notch 12a formed in the side wall 12. When the feed tray 1 is pulled out from the inner position and moves from the rear side to the front side, the roller 2d passes over the notch 12a and rolls onto the upper surface of the side wall 12, as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the arm 2a rotates upward about the support shaft 2b, and the feed roller 2 moves to the upper retracted position.

[0046] The portion of the guide member 9 where the notch 94a is formed overlaps with the locus of movement of the feed roller 2 between the feed position and the retracted position.

[0047] (Effects of the first embodiment) As described above, the printer 100 of the first embodiment includes a feed tray 1 having a tray main body 16 that can accommodate a roll R, which is a long sheet of paper P wound in a roll shape. The feed tray 1 is movable in the front-to-rear direction between an outer position outside the housing 100a and an inner position inside the housing 100a. The feed tray 1 is provided in the housing 100a and has a guide member 9 that can guide the roll paper Rp to the transport path 45 located downstream of the feed tray 1 in the feed direction. The guide member 9 has a support portion 93 that supports the roll paper Rp located downstream of the feed roller 2 in the feed direction, and a presser portion 97 that presses down the roll paper Rp supported by the support portion 93. With this configuration, the presser portion 97 can press down the roll paper Rp supported by the support portion 93 and guide it toward the transport path 45. Therefore, curled roll paper Rp fed from the feed tray 1 can be properly guided to the transport path 45 downstream of the feed tray 1 in the feed direction.

[0048] Furthermore, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the tray body 16 of the feed tray 1 has two side walls 12, 13 that stand upright in the front-to-rear direction, and a rear wall 15 that is connected to the rear ends of the side walls 12, 13 and stands upright in a direction intersecting the front-to-rear direction. The support parts 93 of the guide member 9 are arranged along the rear wall 15. With this configuration, by arranging the support parts 93 that support the roll paper Rp along the rear wall 15 of the tray body 16, it is possible to reduce the width of the transport path for the roll paper Rp defined by the support parts 93 and the presser part 97, and improve the transport performance of the roll paper Rp.

[0049] Furthermore, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the tray body 16 of the feed tray 1 can accommodate a plurality of stacked cut sheets, and the guide member 9 is removable from the feed tray 1. With this configuration, the cut sheets stacked on the tray body 16 are unlikely to curl, so when feeding the cut sheets, the guide member 9 is not necessary to guide the cut sheets to the transport path 45 downstream of the feed tray 1 in the feeding direction. By removing the guide member 9 from the feed tray 1, it becomes possible to properly guide a larger number of stacked cut sheets to the transport path 45 downstream of the feed tray 1 in the feeding direction.

[0050] Additionally, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the guide member 9 has protrusions 91a, 92a provided on both left and right ends, and holes 12b, 13b into which the protrusions 91a, 92a of the guide member 9 fit are formed in the side walls 12, 13 of the tray main body 16. When the guide member 9 elastically deforms, the protrusions 91a, 92a of the guide member 9 are removed from the holes 12b, 13b of the side walls 12, 13, and the engagement between the protrusions 91a, 92a and the holes 12b, 13b is released. This configuration makes it possible to remove the guide member 9 from the feed tray 1 with a simple structure.

[0051] Furthermore, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the pressing portion 97 is shaped so that the distance between it and the support portion 93 increases the further upstream in the feeding direction it is. This configuration makes it easier to guide curled roll paper Rp between the support portion 93 and the pressing portion 97.

[0052] Furthermore, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the feed roller 2 is provided in the housing 100a so as to be retractable from a feed position where it can feed the roll paper Rp to a retracted position where it does not interfere with the tray body 16 of the feed tray 1, which moves from the inner position to the outer position, in conjunction with the movement of the feed tray 1 from the inner position to the outer position. The guide member 9 has a notch 94a in a portion that overlaps the trajectory of the movement of the feed roller 2 between the feed position and the retracted position. With this configuration, the feed roller 2 provided in the housing 100a does not interfere with the tray body 16 and guide member 9 of the feed tray 1, which moves from the inner position to the outer position, so the feed tray 1 can be moved smoothly from the inner position to the outer position.

[0053] Second Embodiment Next, a feed tray 201 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The feed tray 201 of this embodiment differs from the feed tray 1 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the guide member. Hereinafter, components having the same configuration as those in the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0054] In this embodiment, the rear wall 15 of the tray body 16 functions as a support portion that supports the roll paper Rp located rearward of the feed roller 2 in the feeding direction. The guide member 209 does not have a support portion. The guide member 209 has a pressing portion 297 that presses down on the roll paper Rp supported by the rear wall 15.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 6, the pressing portion 297 is located on the opposite side of the rear wall 15 from the rear wall 15, with the roll paper Rp supported by the rear wall 15 sandwiched between them. As shown in Fig. 7(a), the pressing portion 297 extends in the left-right direction. A notch 297a is formed in the left-right center of the pressing portion 297, with its lower end (the end on the upstream side in the feeding direction) open. The notch 297a overlaps with the trajectory of movement of the feed roller 2 between the feeding position and the retracted position.

[0056] The pressing portion 297 has an inclined portion 298 that is inclined so that its upper end is located rearward of its lower end, and a curved portion 299 that is connected to the lower end (the upstream end in the feeding direction) of the inclined portion 298 and is curved in the front-to-rear direction. The curved portion 299 extends downward and forward from the lower end of the inclined portion 298. The curved portion 299 is not formed at either end of the pressing portion 297 in the left-to-right direction. The notch 297a is formed across the inclined portion 298 and the curved portion 299.

[0057] 7(a), side walls 291, 292, which are walls parallel to the side walls 12, 13 of the tray main body 16, are connected to both left and right ends of the inclined portion 298 of the pressing portion 297. Protrusions 291a, 292a (corresponding to the "first engagement portion" of the present invention) that protrude in the left and right directions are formed on both left and right ends of the pressing portion 297, i.e., the side walls 291, 292 of the pressing portion 297. The protrusions 291a, 292a are provided at the upper end of the pressing portion 297 (the end on the downstream side in the feeding direction).

[0058] Holes 212b and 213b (see FIG. 6 ; corresponding to the “second engagement portion” of the present invention) into which protrusions 291a and 292a of a pressing portion 297 are fitted are formed on the side walls 12 and 13 of the tray main body 16. The pressing portion 297 is fixed to the tray main body 16 by fitting the protrusions 291a and 292a into the holes 212b and 213b. The pressing portion 297 is also elastically deformable. Therefore, by elastically deforming the pressing portion 297, the protrusions 291a and 292a can be removed from the holes 212b and 213b, and the pressing portion 297 can be removed from the tray main body 16.

[0059] The pressing portion 297 is rotatable around protrusions 291a, 292a extending in the left-right direction. That is, the protrusions 291a, 292a function as a rotation axis of the pressing portion 297. By rotating, the pressing portion 297 can be retracted from the guide position where it presses the roll paper Rp supported by the rear wall 15. As shown in FIG. 6, when the pressing portion 297 is positioned in the guide position, the inclination angle of its inclined portion 298 is approximately the same as the inclination angle of the rear wall 15 of the tray main body 16. The pressing portion 297 is rotatable upward from the guide position and can be moved to a position retracted from the guide position, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 6.

[0060] (Effects of the second embodiment) As described above, the feed tray 201 of the second embodiment can use the pressure section 297 to press down on the roll paper Rp supported on the rear wall 15 of the tray body 16 and guide it toward the conveyance path 45. Therefore, similar to the feed tray 1 of the first embodiment, curled roll paper Rp sent out from the feed tray 201 can be properly guided to the conveyance path 45 downstream of the feed tray 201 in the feeding direction.

[0061] Furthermore, in the feed tray 201 of the above-described embodiment, the presser 297 can be retracted from the guide position where it presses the roll paper Rp supported by the rear wall 15. When setting the roll paper Rp in the feed tray 201, the roll R is first placed on the support base 81 of the roll accommodation unit 8, and the roll paper Rp is fed from the roll R. The roll paper Rp unwound from the roll R is then guided along the transport path defined by the rear wall 15 of the tray main body 16 and the presser 297. According to the configuration of this embodiment, with the presser 297 retracted from the guide position, the roll paper Rp unwound from the roll R is supported on the rear wall 15 of the tray main body 16, and then the presser 297 is moved to the guide position to press down on the roll paper Rp supported by the rear wall 15, making it possible to easily guide the curled roll paper Rp.

[0062] Furthermore, in the feed tray 201 of the above-described embodiment, the pressing portion 297 is rotatable about the protrusions 291a, 292a extending in the left-right direction at the end portion on the downstream side in the feeding direction of the pressing portion 297. With this configuration, the pressing portion 297 can be easily retracted from the guide position simply by rotating the pressing portion 297.

[0063] Third Embodiment Next, a feed tray 301 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 10. The feed tray 301 of this embodiment differs from the feed tray 1 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the guide members. Hereinafter, components having the same configuration as those in the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0064] In this embodiment, the rear wall 15 of the tray main body 16 functions as a support portion that supports the roll paper Rp located rearward of the feed roller 2 in the feeding direction. The guide member 309 does not have a support portion. The guide member 309 has a pressing portion 397 that presses down on the roll paper Rp supported by the rear wall 15.

[0065] As shown in Fig. 8, the pressing portion 397 is located on the opposite side of the rear wall 15 from the rear wall 15, with the roll paper Rp supported by the rear wall 15 sandwiched between them. As shown in Fig. 9(a), the pressing portion 397 extends in the left-right direction. A notch 397a with an open upper end (the end on the downstream side in the feeding direction) is formed in the left-right center of the pressing portion 397. The notch 397a overlaps with the trajectory of movement of the feed roller 2 between the feeding position and the retracted position.

[0066] As shown in FIGS. 9( a ) and 9 ( b ), the pressing portion 397 has side walls 391 and 392 , an inclined portion 393 , a horizontal portion 394 , a pair of slide members 395 and 396 , a pair of covers 398 and 399 , and a spring 400 .

[0067] The side walls 391, 392 are parallel to the side walls 12, 13 of the tray main body 16, and are located at both left and right ends of the pressing portion 397. As shown in Figures 9(b) and 10(a), the side walls 391, 392 are formed with notches 391a, 392a into which protrusions 395a, 396a of slide members 395, 396, which will be described later, are fitted, respectively. The notches 391a, 392a are open at the top.

[0068] The inclined portion 393 has both left and right ends connected to the side walls 391, 392, respectively, and is inclined so that its upper end is located further rearward than its lower end. The horizontal portion 394 has both left and right ends connected to the side walls 391, 392, respectively. The horizontal portion 394 is connected to the lower end of the inclined portion 393 (the end on the upstream side in the feeding direction), and extends forward from the lower end of the inclined portion 393.

[0069] Slide members 395 and 396 are disposed on the upper surface of horizontal portion 394. As shown in FIG. 9(b), slide members 395 and 396 have a generally L-shaped configuration consisting of rod-shaped long extensions 395b and 396b and rod-shaped short extensions 395c and 396c that are shorter than long extensions 395b and 396b. Slide member 395 is disposed such that long extension 395b is located at the front end of horizontal portion 394 and short extension 395c is located near side wall 391. Slide member 396 is disposed such that long extension 396b is located at the front end of horizontal portion 394 and short extension 396c is located near side wall 392.

[0070] As described above, a protrusion 395a is formed on the end of the short extension 395c of the slide member 395 opposite to the side where the long extension 395b is connected, and the protrusion 396a is formed on the end of the short extension 396c of the slide member 396 opposite to the side where the long extension 396 .... The protrusions 395a and 396a extend in the left-right direction.

[0071] An operating portion 395d to be operated by a user is formed at the end of long extension portion 395b of slide member 395 opposite the end to which short extension portion 395c is connected. An operating portion 396d to be operated by a user is formed at the end of long extension portion 396b of slide member 396 opposite the end to which short extension portion 396c is connected. Spring 400 is disposed between operating portion 395d of slide member 395 and operating portion 396d of slide member 396. Slide members 395 and 396 are biased by spring 400 in directions away from each other in the left-right direction.

[0072] Covers 398 and 399 both cover the upper surface of horizontal portion 394. Cover 398 covers slide member 395 arranged on the upper surface of horizontal portion 394. Operating portion 395d of slide member 395 is located outside cover 398. Cover 399 covers slide member 396 arranged on the upper surface of horizontal portion 394. Operating portion 396d of slide member 396 is located outside cover 399.

[0073] The pair of slide members 395, 396 are slidable in the left-right direction. As the pair of slide members 395, 396 slide in the left-right direction away from or toward each other, the protrusions 395a, 396a can take protruding positions where they protrude from both left-right ends of the pressing portion 397, and retracted positions where they do not protrude from both left-right ends of the pressing portion 397.

[0074] Holes 312b and 313b (see FIG. 8 ; corresponding to the “engagement portion” of the present invention) are formed in the side walls 12 and 13 of the tray main body 16, into which protrusions 395a and 396a located at the protruding position of the retaining portion 397 are fitted. The retaining portion 397 is fixed to the tray main body 16 by fitting the protrusions 395a and 396a into the holes 312b and 313b. When the user operates the operation portions 395d and 396d to move the pair of slide members 395 and 396 toward each other, the protrusions 395a and 396a move from the protruding position to the retracted position. This allows the protrusions 395a and 396a to be removed from the tray main body 16 by removing the protrusions 395a and 396a from the holes 312b and 313b.

[0075] (Effects of the third embodiment) As described above, the feed tray 301 of the third embodiment can use the pressure section 397 to press down on the roll paper Rp supported on the rear wall 15 of the tray body 16 and guide it toward the conveyance path 45. Therefore, similar to the feed tray 1 of the first embodiment, curled roll paper Rp sent out from the feed tray 301 can be properly guided to the conveyance path 45 downstream of the feed tray 301 in the feeding direction.

[0076] Furthermore, in the feed tray 301 of the above-described embodiment, the presser 397 can be retracted from the guide position where it presses down on the roll paper Rp supported by the rear wall 15. Therefore, with the presser 397 removed from the feed tray 301, the roll paper Rp unwound from the roll body R can be supported on the rear wall 15 of the tray main body 16, and then the presser 397 can be attached to the feed tray 301 to press down on the roll paper Rp supported by the rear wall 15, making it possible to easily guide the curled roll paper Rp.

[0077] Furthermore, in the feed tray 301 of the above-described embodiment, a pair of slide members 395, 396 that are slidable in the left-right direction are attached to the presser portion 397. The slide members 395, 396 have protrusions 395a, 396a, respectively, that can be slid toward or away from each other in the left-right direction to take a protruding position where they protrude from both left-right ends of the presser portion 397 and a retracted position where they do not protrude from both left-right ends of the presser portion 397. The presser portion 397 also has a spring 400 that biases the pair of slide members 395, 396 in directions that move them away from each other in the left-right direction. The spring 400 is disposed between the slide members 395, 396. Furthermore, holes 312b and 313b are formed in the side walls 12 and 13 of the tray main body 16, and are engageable with the protrusions 395a and 396a when the protrusions 395a and 396a are in the protruding position, and the protrusions 395a and 396a are disengaged from the holes 312b and 313b when the protrusions 395a and 396a are in the retracted position. With this configuration, by performing a simple operation of sliding the pair of slide members 395 and 396 toward each other, the protrusions 395a and 396a are in the retracted position, and the engagement between the protrusions 395a and 396a and the holes 312b and 313b is disengaged, allowing the pressing portion 397 to be removed from or attached to the feed tray 301.

[0078] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations should not be considered to be limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims rather than the above description of the embodiments, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0079] In the above-described first to third embodiments, the guide members 9 (209, 309) are described as being detachable from the feed tray 1 (201, 301), but the guide members 9 (209, 309) do not have to be detachable from the feed tray 1 (201, 301).

[0080] Furthermore, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the guide member 9 (209) is fixed to the tray main body 16 by fitting the protrusions 91a, 92a (291a, 292a) provided on both left and right ends of the guide member 9 (209) into the holes 12b, 13b (212b, 213b) formed in the tray main body 16, but this is not limited to this. That is, for example, openings may be formed in the tray main body 16 instead of the holes 12b, 13b (212b, 213b). Also, protrusions formed on the tray main body 16 may be fitted into holes formed in the guide member 9 (209). The guide member 9 (209) may be fixed to the tray main body 16 by screws or the like.

[0081] In the above-described first to third embodiments, the guide member 9 (209, 309) has the notch 94a (notch 297a, 397a) formed in a portion overlapping the trajectory of movement of the feed roller 2 between the feed position and the retracted position, but this is not limiting. For example, an opening may be formed instead of the notch.

[0082] Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments described above, the feed tray 1 (201, 301) is capable of accommodating the roll R and cut sheets, but this is not limiting. The feed tray 1 (201, 301) only needs to be capable of accommodating at least the roll R.

[0083] Additionally, in the first embodiment, the pressing portion 97 has a shape in which the distance from the support portion 93 increases toward the upstream side in the feeding direction, but this is not limited to this. That is, for example, the distance from the support portion 93 at the end of the pressing portion 97 on the upstream side in the feeding direction may be greater than that at other portions, and the distance from the support portion 93 at other portions may be constant. Also, the distance between the pressing portion 97 and the support portion 93 may be constant in the feeding direction.

[0084] In the second embodiment described above, the pressing portion 297 is described as being able to rotate about the protrusions 291a, 292a extending in the left-right direction and retreat from the guide position, but this is not limiting. For example, the pressing portion 297 may be able to retreat from the guide position by sliding downstream in the feeding direction.

[0085] Furthermore, in the third embodiment described above, the spring 400 is disposed between the pair of slide members 395, 396 and biases the pair of slide members 395, 396 in directions away from each other. However, this is not limiting. For example, a spring that biases the slide member 395 to the left in FIG. 9(b) and a spring that biases the slide member 396 to the right in FIG. 9(b) may be provided. The pair of slide members 395, 396 may also be biased by members other than springs. For example, the slide member 395 may be biased to the left in FIG. 9(b) by a rubber, and the slide member 396 may be biased to the right in FIG. 9(b) by a rubber.

[0086] The present invention can be applied to image recording devices in general that have a feed tray that can accommodate a roll. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to inkjet printers, but also to electrophotographic printers equipped with a laser-type recording unit that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing a photosensitive member to a laser, or an LED-type recording unit that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing a photosensitive member to an LED. Furthermore, the sheet-like medium is not limited to paper; it can also be a sheet-like medium such as cloth. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1, 201, 301 feed tray 2 Feeding roller 6 head (recording unit) 9, 209, 309 Guide members 12, 13 side wall 12b, 13b, 212b, 213b holes (second engagement part) 14 Front wall (connecting wall) 15 Rear wall (connection wall, support part) 16 Tray body 45 Transport Route 91a, 92a, 291a, 292a protrusion (first engagement part) 93 Support part 94a, 297a, 397a notch 97, 207, 307 Presser foot 100 Printer (image recording device) 100a housing 312b, 313b hole (engaging part) 395, 396 Slide members 395a, 396a protrusion 400 Spring (biasing member) R roll body Rp roll paper (roll media)

Claims

1. The housing and a feed tray having a tray body capable of accommodating a roll of long sheet-like media, the feed tray being movable along an insertion / removal direction between an outer position outside the housing and an inner position inside the housing; a feed roller that contacts the roll medium, which is the sheet-like medium unwound from the roll body stored in the tray body, and feeds the roll medium in a feed direction; a conveyance path provided in the housing and located downstream of the feed tray in the feed direction; a recording unit that records an image on the roll medium fed from the feed tray by the feed roller, The feed tray is a support portion for supporting the roll medium, the support portion being located downstream of the feed roller in the feed direction; a guide member having a pressing portion that presses the roll medium supported by the support portion, The roll medium can be guided to the transport path by the support portion and the pressing portion, the tray body has two side walls extending in the insertion / removal direction, and two connecting walls connected to the two side walls, the two connecting walls extending in a direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction, The image recording device is characterized in that the support portion is formed on the guide member and is disposed along one of the two connecting walls that is located on the inner side in the insertion / removal direction.

2. The housing and a feed tray having a tray body capable of accommodating a roll of long sheet-like media, the feed tray being movable along an insertion / removal direction between an outer position outside the housing and an inner position inside the housing; a feed roller that contacts the roll medium, which is the sheet-like medium unwound from the roll body stored in the tray body, and feeds the roll medium in a feed direction; a conveyance path provided in the housing and located downstream of the feed tray in the feed direction; a recording unit that records an image on the roll medium fed from the feed tray by the feed roller, The feed tray is a support portion for supporting the roll medium, the support portion being located downstream of the feed roller in the feed direction; a guide member having a pressing portion that presses the roll medium supported by the support portion, The roll medium can be guided to the transport path by the support portion and the pressing portion, the feed tray is capable of accommodating sheet media shorter than the long sheet media; the feeding roller contacts the short sheet medium accommodated in the feeding tray and feeds the short sheet medium in a feeding direction; the guide member is removable from the feed tray; The image recording apparatus is characterized in that the feeding roller feeds the short sheet medium in a state where the guide member is removed from the feeding tray.

3. the guide member has first engagement portions at both ends in the axial direction of the roll body, the tray body has a second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion of the guide member, 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the engagement between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion is released by elastic deformation of the guide member.

4. a pair of slide members attached to the guide member and slidable in the axial direction of the roll body, the pair of slide members having protruding portions that can take protruding positions protruding from both end portions of the guide member in the axial direction and retracted positions not protruding from both end portions of the guide member in the axial direction by sliding in directions away from and toward each other in the axial direction; a biasing member that biases the pair of slide members in directions away from each other in the axial direction, the tray body has an engaging portion that can engage with the protruding portion when the protruding portion is located at the protruding position, 3. The image recording device according to claim 2, wherein the engagement between the protrusion and the engagement portion is released when the protrusion is in the retracted position.

5. The housing and a feed tray having a tray body capable of accommodating a roll of long sheet-like media, the feed tray being movable along an insertion / removal direction between an outer position outside the housing and an inner position inside the housing; a feed roller that contacts the roll medium, which is the sheet-like medium unwound from the roll body stored in the tray body, and feeds the roll medium in a feed direction; a conveyance path provided in the housing and located downstream of the feed tray in the feed direction; a recording unit that records an image on the roll medium fed from the feed tray by the feed roller, The feed tray is a support portion for supporting the roll medium, the support portion being located downstream of the feed roller in the feed direction; a guide member having a pressing portion that presses the roll medium supported by the support portion, The roll medium can be guided to the transport path by the support portion and the pressing portion, the feed roller is provided in the housing so as to be retractable from a feed position where the roll medium can be fed to a retracted position where the feed roller does not interfere with the tray body of the feed tray that moves from the inner position to the outer position in conjunction with the movement of the feed tray from the inner position to the outer position, The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide member has a notch at a portion overlapping a locus of movement of the feed roller between the feed position and the retracted position.

6. 6. The image recording device according to claim 2, wherein the pressing portion is retractable from a guide position where the pressing portion presses the roll medium supported by the support portion.

7. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the pressing portion is rotatable about a rotation axis extending along the axial direction of the roll body at an end portion of the pressing portion on the downstream side in the feeding direction.

8. 8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion has a shape such that the distance between the pressing portion and the supporting portion increases toward the upstream side in the feeding direction.

Images