Image recording device

Abstract

To provide an image recording device which includes a cutting part for cutting a sheet and enables downsizing in a vertical direction.SOLUTION: An image recording device 10 includes a housing 20, an operation panel 19 provided on a front surface of the housing 20, a transport section 43 which transports a sheet 16 along a transport passage 21 and discharges the sheet 16 in a forward direction, a recording section 17 which records images to the sheet 16 on the transport passage 21, and a cutting part 45 which is located forward of the recording section 17 and rearward of the operation panel 19 and cuts the sheet 16. The cutting part 45 includes: a cutter carriage 82 which may move in lateral directions 55, 56 which is a horizontal direction orthogonal to front-back directions 51, 52; and a cutter 83 mounted on the cutter carriage 82. The operation panel 19 overlaps with a movable area 92 of the cutter carriage 82 when viewed from the front-back directions 51, 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having a sheet cutting function. [Background technology]

[0002] A known example of an image recording device equipped with a sheet cutting function is the printing device described in Patent Document 1. The printing device in Patent Document 1 includes an operation panel located on the front of a housing, a recording unit that records on roll paper transported along a transport path, and a cutter unit that cuts the roll paper recorded by the recording unit. The cutter unit is located below the operation panel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-011393 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-described printing device, the cutting unit is located below the operation panel, which causes a problem that the printing device becomes large in the vertical direction.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that is provided with a cutting section for cutting a sheet and that can be made smaller in size in the vertical direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The image recording device according to the present invention includes a housing, an operation panel provided on the front surface of the housing, a conveying unit that conveys a sheet along a conveying path and discharges it forward, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet along the conveying path, and a cutting unit that is located forward of the recording unit and rearward of the operation panel and cuts the sheet. The cutting unit has a cutter carriage that can move left and right, which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, and a cutter mounted on the cutter carriage. The operation panel overlaps the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage when viewed from the front-to-rear direction.

[0007] According to the present invention, the operation panel overlaps the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage when viewed from the front-rear direction, so the image recording device can be made smaller in size in the vertical direction.

[0008] (2) The image recording device may further include a circuit board on which an electronic circuit is mounted. The housing may have a circuit board accommodating space for accommodating the circuit board between the operation panel and the cutting unit in the front-rear direction. The circuit board accommodating space may overlap with the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage when viewed from the front-rear direction.

[0009] Since the substrate accommodating space overlaps with the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage when viewed from the front-rear direction, the image recording device can be made smaller in size in the vertical direction.

[0010] (3) The front surface of the operation panel may extend in the vertical direction.

[0011] Since the front surface of the operation panel does not expand in the front-rear direction, the image recording device can be made smaller in the front-rear direction.

[0012] (4) The operation panel may be movable between a first position and a second position. When the operation panel is at the first position, a portion of the operation panel may be located within the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage. When the operation panel is at the second position, a portion of the operation panel may not be located within the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage.

[0013] A portion of the operation panel in the first position is located within the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage, and is therefore positioned so as to overlap with the cutter carriage when viewed from the left and right. On the other hand, the operation panel in the second position is not located within the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage, and the cutting unit can move left and right without coming into contact with the operation panel. Therefore, when the cutting unit is not operating, for example, during packaging, the operation panel is in the first position, which allows the image recording device to be made smaller in the front-to-back and up-to-down directions, and when the sheet is being transported, the operation panel is in the second position, which allows the cutting unit to move left and right to cut the sheet.

[0014] (5) The operation panel may be rotatable about an axis along the left-right direction. The operation panel at the first position may have a lower portion positioned in a movement area of ​​the cutter carriage. The image recording device according to claim 4, wherein the lower portion of the operation panel at the second position is located forward of the first position.

[0015] As the operation panel rotates about an axis along the left-right direction, the lower portion of the operation panel moves to a second position that is further forward than the first position. As a result, the operation panel in the second position faces upward, making it easier for the user to operate the operation panel.

[0016] (6) The operation panel in the first position may be in an upright state extending downward from the axis to the lower portion.

[0017] When the cutting section is not in operation, for example, when packaging, the image recording device is made smaller in size in the front-rear direction compared to when the operation panel faces upward.

[0018] (7) The transport section may have a pair of discharge rollers, and the pair of discharge rollers may be located below the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage.

[0019] The image recording device is made smaller in size in the front-to-rear direction.

[0020] (8) The cutting device may further include a discharge tray positioned below the cutting section and configured to support the sheet.

[0021] The sheet cut by the cutting section is supported on a discharge tray. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present invention, the image recording device having the cutting section is made smaller in size in the vertical direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an image recording device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the image recording device 10 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the main configuration of the image recording device 10 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of the cutting section 45 of the image recording device 10 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a modified example of the image recording device 10 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of an image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7(A) is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the operation panel 19 of the image recording device according to the second embodiment is in a first position, and Figure 7(B) is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the operation panel 19 of the image recording device according to the second embodiment is in a second position.

[0024] [First embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiment can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the following description, the direction in which the opening 13 of the printer unit 11 faces is referred to as the forward direction 51, and the direction opposite to the forward direction is referred to as the rearward direction 52. Front and rear together refer to the front-rear directions 51 and 52. The up and down directions perpendicular to the front-rear directions 51 and 52 are referred to as the up and down directions 53 and 54. The direction perpendicular to the front-rear directions 51 and 52 and the up and down directions 53 and 54 are referred to as the left and right directions 55 and 56. The upward direction of the up and down directions 53 and 54 is referred to as the upward direction 53, and the downward direction is referred to as the downward direction 54. When viewing the image recording device 10 from the rear 52, the leftward direction of the left and right directions 55 and 56 is referred to as the leftward direction 55, and the rightward direction is referred to as the rightward direction 56.

[0025] 1, image recording device 10 is a multifunction device that integrally includes a printer unit 11 provided at the bottom and a scanner unit 12 provided at the top. Image recording device 10 has print, scan, copy, and facsimile functions. Note that image recording device 10 does not necessarily have to include scanner unit 12, and may be implemented as a single-function printer without the scan or copy functions.

[0026] The image recording device 10 is used while connected to an external information device (not shown), such as a computer. The printer unit 11 records an image on recording paper 16 based on print data received from the external information device and image data of a document read by the scanner unit 12.

[0027] The scanner unit 12 is located above the printer unit 11. The scanner unit 12 is a so-called flatbed scanner. The scanner unit 12 has a scanner main body 12a provided above the printer unit 11 and a document cover 12b provided above the scanner main body 12a. A platen glass (not shown) on which a document is placed is provided on the top surface of the scanner main body 12a. An image sensor (not shown) capable of optically reading an image of the document on the platen glass is provided inside the scanner main body 12a. The document cover 12b is provided with an ADF 12c, which is an automatic transport mechanism that picks up and transports multiple documents one by one, the images of which are to be read.

[0028] [Printer section 11] The configuration of the printer unit 11 will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Note that in Figure 2, the illustration of the paper feed cassette 14 is omitted for the sake of simplicity.

[0029] 1 and 2, the printer unit 11 has a housing 20. The housing 20 contains a paper feed cassette 14, a paper feed cassette 15, a recording unit 17, a cutting unit 45, and other functional components. An operation panel 19 is provided on a front surface 20a of the housing 20.

[0030] The operation panel 19 is formed in a flat plate shape having a thickness in the front-rear directions 51, 52. The front surface 19b and rear surface 19d of the operation panel 19 are rectangular and long in the left-right directions 55, 56. The operation panel 19 is located at the center of the front surface 20a of the housing 20 in the left-right directions 55, 56. The operation panel 19 is located at the top of the front surface 20a of the housing 20. The upper end of the operation panel 19 is located near the upper end of the front surface 20a of the housing 20. The lower end 19a of the operation panel 19 is located above the middle position of the front surface 20a of the housing 20 in the up-down directions 53, 54.

[0031] The operation panel 19 is configured to be rotatable about an axis A extending along left-right directions 55 and 56. The axis A is located at the top of the operation panel 19. The operation panel 19 is configured to be rotatable from a position where the front surface 19b faces forward 51 (an example of a first position) to a position (an example of a second position) located further forward than the first position. In other words, the operation panel 19 is rotatable from a position where the front surface 19b faces forward 51 to a position where the front surface 19b faces upward 53 and forward 51. When the front surface 19b of the operation panel 19 faces forward 51, the operation panel 19 is in an upright state extending downward 54 from the axis A to a lower portion 19c (an example of a portion). In other words, with the operation panel 19 in an upright state, the front surface 19b facing forward 51 forms a surface perpendicular to the horizontal plane. The lower portion 19c is a portion of the operation panel 19 below the midpoint between the vertical directions 53 and 54.

[0032] A display for displaying various information and input keys for receiving information input are provided on the front surface 19b of the operation panel 19. The image recording device 10 operates based on instruction information input from the operation panel 19 or instruction information transmitted from an external information device via a printer driver, scanner driver, or the like.

[0033] An opening 13 is located below 54 the operation panel 19 on the front surface 20a of the housing 20. The opening 13 is located approximately in the center of the front surface 20a of the housing 20 in the left-right directions 55, 56. The opening 13 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right directions 55, 56. The opening 13 extends from the lower end 19a of the operation panel 19 to the lower end of the housing 20.

[0034] The housing 20 has an internal space 20a extending rearward 52 from the opening 13. The internal space 20a is in communication with a transport path 21, which will be described later. The upper end of the internal space 20a is defined by an upper wall portion 71 extending rearward 52 from the upper end of the opening 13. Both ends of the internal space 20a in the left-right directions 55, 56 are defined by inner wall portions (not shown). The lower end of the internal space 20a is at the same position as the lower end of the housing 20.

[0035] The upper wall portion 71 separates the board accommodating space 65 located behind the operation panel 19 from the internal space 20a. The board accommodating space 65 is a space located above the internal space 20a. The lower end of the board accommodating space 65 is defined by the upper wall portion 71. The upper end of the board accommodating space 65 is defined by the upper wall of the housing 20. The front end of the board accommodating space 65 is defined by a front wall portion 72 extending upward 53 from the tip of the upper wall portion 71. The front surface of the front wall portion 72 is adjacent to the rear surface 19d of the operation panel 19, which is positioned so that the front surface 19b faces forward 51. Both ends of the board accommodating space 65 in the left-right directions 55, 56 are defined by inner wall portions not shown.

[0036] The board accommodating space 65 accommodates a board 22 on which an electronic circuit 22a electrically connected to the operation panel 19 and the recording head 37 is mounted. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the board 22 has a flat plate shape with thickness in the up-down directions 53 and 54. The board 22 has a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right directions 55 and 56 in a plan view. The electronic circuit 22a functions as a control unit that controls the operation of the operation panel 19 and the carriage 35, for example.

[0037] An access cover 41 is attached to the front surface 20a of the housing 20 to the right of the opening 13. When the access cover 41 is opened, the cartridge installation space is exposed, allowing an ink cartridge 40 that stores ink to be installed or removed from the housing 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink cartridge 40 is located in front of the recording unit 17 in the housing 20. In this embodiment, four ink cartridges 40, each containing four different color inks, can be installed in the housing 20. Each ink cartridge 40 supplies ink to the recording head 37 of the recording unit 17 through a tube 44. Details of the tube 44 will be described later.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed cassette 14 and the paper feed cassette 15 are inserted into the opening 13 and attached to the housing 20. The paper feed cassette 14 and the paper feed cassette 15 can be inserted into and removed from the housing 20 along the front-rear directions 51 and 52. When attached to the housing 20, the paper feed cassette 14 is located below the paper feed cassette 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed cassette 15 stores a stack of multiple sheets of standard-sized recording paper 16 (an example of a sheet). Standard sizes of the recording paper 16 include A3, A4, and B5 sizes according to the Japanese Industrial Standards. A paper output tray 18 (an example of an output tray) is located above the paper feed cassette 15. The paper output tray 18 supports sheets ejected from the conveyance path 21. Note that, although two types of paper feed cassettes 14 and 15 are provided in this embodiment, the paper feed cassette 14 may be omitted.

[0039] The paper feed cassette 15 holds a plurality of recording papers 16. The paper feed cassette 15 is formed in the shape of a container with a portion open on the rear side (left side in FIG. 2) of the image recording device 10. The recording papers 16 are held in a stacked state in the internal space of the paper feed cassette 15. The paper output tray 18 of the paper feed cassette 15 is formed on the front side (right side in FIG. 2) of the image recording device 10. FIG. 2 shows the state in which the paper feed cassette 15 is inserted into the housing 20.

[0040] 2, a transport unit 43 is disposed in the housing 20, which transports the recording paper 16 along a transport path 21 from the paper feed cassette 15 to the paper discharge tray 18. The transport path 21 is a so-called U-turn path that curves upward 53 and forward 51 from the paper feed cassette 15, makes a U-turn, and then extends linearly forward 51 toward the paper discharge tray 18. The downstream end of the transport path 21 communicates with the internal space 20a.

[0041] In the conveying path 21, a paper feed roller 32, a pair of intermediate rollers 24, a pair of PF rollers 25, a first pair of discharge rollers 27, and a second pair of discharge rollers 28 (an example of a pair of discharge rollers) are arranged in this order from the upstream side along the conveying direction from the paper feed cassette 15 to the paper discharge tray 18. The paper feed roller 32 and the roller pairs 24, 25, 27, and 28 constitute a conveying section 43.

[0042] The paper feed roller 32 is located above the paper feed cassette 15. The paper feed roller 32 is mounted on the tip of an arm 33 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the left-right directions 55 and 56. The base end of the arm 33 is rotatable around an axis 34. As the arm 33 rotates, the paper feed roller 32 moves in a direction toward and away from the paper feed cassette 15. The weight of the paper feed roller 32 causes the arm 33 to rotate in a direction toward the paper feed cassette 15. As a result, the paper feed roller 32 comes into contact with the uppermost recording sheet 16 of the multiple sheets of recording paper 16 stacked in the paper feed cassette 15. When the paper feed roller 32 rotates in this state, the uppermost recording sheet 16 is sent from the paper feed cassette 15 to the conveyance path 21.

[0043] The intermediate roller pair 24 is located in a curved portion of the conveying path 21. The intermediate roller pair 24 is rotatable about its axis in the left-right directions 55 and 56. The intermediate roller pair 24 is rotated by the drive of a motor (not shown). The recording paper 16 sent from the paper feed cassette 15 to the conveying path 21 is sandwiched between the intermediate roller pair 24 and conveyed toward the PF roller pair 25.

[0044] The PF roller pair 25 is located near the downstream end of the curved portion of the conveying path 21 in the conveying direction. The PF roller pair 25 is rotatable about its axis in the left-right directions 55, 56. The PF roller pair 25 is rotated by the drive of a motor (not shown). The recording paper 16 conveyed by the intermediate roller pair 24 is sandwiched between the PF roller pair 25 and conveyed below the recording head 37.

[0045] The first discharge roller pair 27 and the second discharge roller pair 28 are located downstream of the recording head 37 in the transport direction on the transport path 21. The first discharge roller pair 27 is located upstream of the second discharge roller pair 28 in the transport direction. The first discharge roller pair 27 and the second discharge roller pair 28 are rotated by the drive of a motor (not shown). The recording paper 16 transported by the PF roller pair 25 is sandwiched between the first discharge roller pair 27 and the second discharge roller pair 28 and transported to the paper output tray 18.

[0046] 2, the recording unit 17 is located on the conveying path 21 between the PF roller pair 25 and the first discharge roller pair 27. The recording unit 17 has a carriage 35 located above the conveying path 21, a platen 36 located below the conveying path 21, and a recording head 37 mounted on the carriage 35. The detailed structure of the carriage 35 will be described later.

[0047] 3, the recording head 37 is of a so-called inkjet type, in which cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) inks are supplied from the ink cartridges 40 through tubes 44 and ejected as tiny ink droplets. While the carriage 35 reciprocates in left and right directions 55 and 56, ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 37, thereby recording an image on the recording paper 16 transported on the platen 36.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3 , the carriage 35 is separated in the front-rear directions 51 and 52 and is supported by guide frames 61 and 62 that extend in the left-right directions 55 and 56, respectively. The carriage 35 is mounted so as to straddle the guide frames 61 and 62 and be able to move back and forth in the left-right directions 55 and 56. The guide frame 61, located at the rear, is flat and has a length in the left-right directions 55 and 56 that is longer than the range of reciprocating movement of the carriage 35, and the upper surface of the guide frame 61 slidably supports the rear end of the carriage 35. As shown in FIG. 4 , the front end 35 a of the carriage 35 has portions that overlap with the guide frame 62 in the up-down directions 53 and 54, thereby preventing the carriage 35 from slipping out of the guide frame 62 in the upward direction 53.

[0049] 3, the guide frame 62 located in the front is a flat plate whose length in the left-right directions 55 and 56 is approximately the same as that of the guide frame 61, and an edge 63 that supports the front end of the carriage 35 is bent at an approximately right angle upward 53. The carriage 35 is slidably supported on the upper surface of the guide frame 62, and the edge 63 is held between rollers (not shown) or the like. Therefore, the carriage 35 is slidably supported on the guide frames 61 and 62, and can move back and forth in the left-right directions 55 and 56 with the edge 63 of the guide frame 62 as a reference.

[0050] A belt drive mechanism 46 is disposed on the upper surface of the guide frame 62. The belt drive mechanism 46 includes a first pulley 47 and a second pulley 48, which are disposed near both ends of the conveying path 21 in the left-right direction 55, 56, respectively, and an endless, circular belt 49 with teeth on the inside stretched between them. The first pulley 47 and the second pulley 48 are disposed at both ends of the area in which the carriage 35 reciprocates. A driving force is input to the shaft of the first pulley 47 from a CR motor (not shown), which serves as a drive source, causing the first pulley 47 to rotate. The rotation of the first pulley 47 causes the belt 49 to move in a circular motion, and the second pulley 48 is driven by this rotation. Note that the belt 49 may be an endless, circular belt, or may be a belt with ends, both ends of which are fixed to the carriage 35.

[0051] The carriage 35 is fixed to the belt 49. Although the connection between the carriage 35 and the belt 49 is not shown in detail in the drawings, the belt 49 is pulled slightly upward while connected to the carriage 35. This generates tension in the belt 49 that causes it to elastically return downward, and this tension elastically urges the carriage 35 toward the guide frames 61 and 62. When the belt 49 rotates as described above, the carriage 35 moves back and forth on the guide frames 61 and 62, with the edge 63 as the reference. A recording head 37 is mounted on this carriage 35, and the recording head 37 can move back and forth in the left-right directions 55 and 56 of the conveying path 21 as the main scanning direction.

[0052] The tubes 44 are made of synthetic resin and are flexible enough to bend in response to the reciprocating movement of the carriage 35. Four tubes 44 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 40. One end of each tube 44 is connected to a case (not shown) that houses the ink cartridge 40. The other end of each tube 44 is connected to the recording head 37 in the carriage 35. Between the front and rear directions 51, 52 of the carriage 35 and the ink cartridge 40, each tube 44 extends from the carriage 35 to the left 55, then curves in a U-turn to the right 56, and extends again to the right 56, and is fixed to the housing 20 at a fixing position 96. The tubes 44 are appropriately arranged from the fixing position 96 to the case of the ink cartridge 40. As the carriage 35 moves in the left-right directions 55, 56, each tube 44 changes its curved U-turn shape to follow the carriage 35.

[0053] [Cutting part] 2 and 3, the cutting unit 45 is located above the transport path 21 in front of the recording unit 17. When stopped, the cutting unit 45 is located to the left of the image recording area A1 (hereinafter referred to as the stop position). The image recording area A1 is the maximum width in which ink is ejected from the recording head 37, which reciprocates together with the carriage 35, to record an image on the recording paper 16. If the maximum size that can be recorded by the printer unit 11 is A4 size, the image recording area A1 is slightly wider than the width of the A4 size.

[0054] The cutting unit 45 cuts the recording paper 16 conveyed by the conveying unit 43 along the left-right directions 55, 56. The cutting unit 45 cuts the recording paper 16 by moving rightward 56 from a stop position (the position of the cutting unit 45 shown in FIG. 3) to the left of the image recording area A1. For example, one A4-sized recording paper 16 is cut into two A5-sized recording papers 16 by the cutting unit 45. As shown in FIG. 4, the cutting unit 45 includes a guide rail 81 extending along the left-right directions 55, 56, a cutter carriage 82 that moves while being guided by the guide rail 81, a cutter 83 mounted on the cutter carriage 82, and a fixed blade 95. Note that in FIG. 4, an endless belt 90 (described later) is shown in cross section to make the structure of the cutting unit 45 easier to understand. Also, in FIG. 2, the cutting unit 45 is shown in a simplified manner, with detailed configuration omitted.

[0055] The guide rail 81 has a flat shape extending in the left-right directions 55, 56. The length of the guide rail 81 in the left-right directions 55, 56 is longer than the length of the conveying path 21 in the left-right directions 55, 56. The left and right ends of the guide rail 81 extend outward from the image recording area A1. Both end portions of the guide rail 81 in the left-right directions 55, 56 are fixed to side frames (not shown) that support the rotation shafts of the discharge roller pair 28.

[0056] The guide rail 81 has a base plate 81a extending in the left-right directions 55 and 56, a first upright plate 81b extending upward 53 from the rear end of the base plate 81a, a first extending plate 81c extending backward 52 from the upper end of the first upright plate 81b, a second upright plate 81d extending upward 53 from the front end of the base plate 81a, and a second extending plate 81e extending forward 51 from the upper end of the second upright plate 81d. The base plate 81a, the first upright plate 81b, the first extending plate 81c, the second upright plate 81d, and the second extending plate 81e are formed by bending a single rectangular steel plate.

[0057] The cutter carriage 82 has a cutter holding portion 82a that holds the cutter 83, and a connecting portion 82b that is connected to the guide rail 81. The cutter holding portion 82a is located behind the guide rail 81. However, the cutter holding portion 82a may also be located in front of the guide rail 81. The cutter holding portion 82a extends downward beyond the guide rail 81.

[0058] The cutter holding portion 82a has an inclined surface 82c on the upper outer surface. The inclined surface 82c faces rearward 52 and upward 53. When viewed from the left and right directions 55 and 56, the inclined surface 82c overlaps with the front end portion 35a of the front side of the carriage 35 in the up-down directions 53 and 54 and the front-rear directions 51 and 52. This allows the image recording device 10 to be made smaller in the up-down directions 53 and 54 and the front-rear directions 51 and 52. By providing the cutter holding portion 82a with the inclined surface 82c, the front portion of the cutter holding portion 82a, i.e., the portion near the connecting portion 82b, can be made thicker in the up-down directions 53 and 54 and the front-rear directions 51 and 52, thereby providing strength, while reducing the gap between the cutter carriage 82 and the carriage 35.

[0059] The connecting portion 82b extends from the cutter holding portion 82a toward the forward direction 51 and is connected to the guide rail 81. The connecting portion 82b has a first abutting portion 84 that abuts against the upper surface of the first extending plate 81c, a second abutting portion 85 that can abut against the lower surface of the second extending plate 81e, a third abutting portion 86 that abuts against the surface of the first upright plate 81b that faces backward direction 52, a fourth abutting portion 87 that abuts against the surface of the first upright plate 81b that faces forward direction 51, a fifth abutting portion 88 that abuts against the upper surface of the second extending plate 81e, and a sixth abutting portion 89 that can abut against the lower surface of the first extending plate 81c.

[0060] The guide rail 81 supports the cutter carriage 82 downward 54 by abutting against the first abutment portion 84 and the fifth abutment portion 88. This positions the cutter carriage 82 in the up-down directions 53, 54. The guide rail 81 positions the cutter carriage 82 in the front-rear directions 51, 52 by abutting against the third abutment portion 86 and the fourth abutment portion 87, respectively. When the cutter carriage 82 moves upward 53 relative to the guide rail 81, at least one of the second abutment portion 85 or the sixth abutment portion 89 abuts against the guide rail 81. This prevents the cutter carriage 82 from coming off the guide rail 81 in the upward direction 53.

[0061] The cutter carriage 82 is driven by a drive mechanism 101. The drive mechanism 101 includes a drive pulley 102 and a driven pulley 103 disposed on the upper surface of the base plate 81a, and an endless belt 90 wound around the drive pulley 102 and the driven pulley 103. The drive pulley 102 and the driven pulley 103 are disposed at both ends of the upper surface of the base plate 81a in the left-right directions 55 and 56. The drive pulley 102 and the driven pulley 103 rotate around axes extending in the up-down directions 53 and 54. A driving force from a motor (not shown) is transmitted to the drive pulley 102. The endless belt 90 is connected to the cutter carriage 82 on the front side of the fourth contact portion 87 of the connecting portion 82b of the cutter carriage 82. When the drive pulley 102 rotates, the endless belt 90 moves in a circular motion, and the driven pulley 103 is rotated accordingly. The circumferential motion of the endless belt 90 causes the cutter carriage 82 to reciprocate in the left and right directions 55 and 56 along the guide rail 81. At this time, a movement area 92 for the cutter carriage 82 is formed along the guide rail 81, as shown in FIG.

[0062] The cutter 83 is supported by the cutter holding portion 82a in a state where it protrudes downward from the lower end of the cutter holding portion 82a. The cutter 83 has a disk shape and is supported by the cutter holding portion 82a so as to be rotatable about its axis in the front-rear directions 51 and 52.

[0063] The fixed blade 95 is located below the cutter holding portion 82a of the cutter carriage 82. The fixed blade 95 is supported by a side frame (not shown) and extends in the left-right directions 55 and 56 across the image recording area A1. The cutting edge of the fixed blade 95 abuts against the cutter 83 from behind. The recording paper 16 is cut by being sandwiched between the cutter 83 and the fixed blade 95.

[0064] Layout 2 and 3, the cutting unit 45 is located in front of the recording unit 17 and behind the operation panel 19. When viewed from the front-rear directions 51 and 52, the operation panel 19 overlaps with the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82. In other words, when viewed from the front-rear directions 51 and 52, the lower portion 19c of the operation panel 19 overlaps with the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82.

[0065] The substrate accommodating space 65 is located between the operation panel 19 and the cutting unit 45 in the front-rear directions 51, 52. When viewed from the front-rear directions 51, 52, the substrate accommodating space 65 overlaps with the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82. In other words, when viewed from the front-rear directions 51, 52, the lower part of the substrate accommodating space 65 overlaps with the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82.

[0066] The discharge roller pair 28 is located below the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82. In other words, as shown in Fig. 3, the discharge roller pair 28 overlaps with the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82 when viewed in the vertical direction.

[0067] The paper discharge tray 18 is located below the cutting section 45. In other words, the paper discharge tray 18 overlaps with the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82 when viewed in the vertical direction.

[0068] The operation of the image recording device 10 to cut one sheet of A4 recording paper 16 into two sheets of A5 recording paper will be described below.

[0069] When the paper feed roller 32 rotates, the topmost sheet of A4 recording paper 16 is sent from the paper feed cassette 15 to the transport path 21. The recording paper 16 sent from the paper feed cassette 15 to the transport path 21 is transported below the recording head 37 by the intermediate roller pair 24 and the PF roller pair 25. The recording paper 16 transported below the recording head 37 is supported from below by the platen 36. While the transport of the recording paper 16 is stopped, the carriage 35 moves left and right in the directions 55 and 56, and ink is ejected from the recording head 37 toward the recording paper 16. This records an image for one pass on the recording paper 16. The transport and stopping of the recording paper 16 is repeated, and image recording for a predetermined number of passes is performed, completing image recording on the recording paper 16. Here, images equivalent to two A5 sheets of recording paper are recorded onto the A4 recording paper 16. During image recording, the recording paper 16 that has passed through the platen 36 is transported below the cutting section 45 by the first discharge roller pair 27.

[0070] When the center of the recording paper 16 in the conveyance direction is conveyed below the cutting section 45, the cutter carriage 82 moves from the stop position (the position of the cutting section 45 shown in FIG. 3) to the right 56 ​​along the guide rail 81 as the drive pulley 102 rotates. At this time, the first abutment portion 84 and the fifth abutment portion 88 of the cutter carriage 82 slide on the upper surfaces of the first extension plate 81c and the second extension plate 81e of the guide rail 81, respectively. The A4 recording paper 16 is sandwiched between the cutter 83 and the fixed blade 95 and cut in the left-right directions 55, 56 into two A5 recording sheets. The two A5 recording sheets are discharged from the conveyance path 21 to the paper discharge tray 18 by the second discharge roller pair 28.

[0071] [Effects of the first embodiment] In the image recording device 10 of the first embodiment, the operation panel 19 overlaps with the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82 when viewed from the front-rear directions 51 and 52. Therefore, the image recording device 10 is made smaller in size in the up-down directions 53 and 54.

[0072] In the image recording device 10 of the first embodiment, the substrate accommodating space 65 overlaps with the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82 when viewed from the front-rear directions 51 and 52. Therefore, the image recording device 10 is made smaller in size in the up-down directions 53 and 54.

[0073] In image recording device 10 of the first embodiment, front surface 19b of operation panel 19 extends along up-down directions 53 and 54. Therefore, front surface 19b of operation panel 19 does not extend in front-rear directions 51 and 52, and image recording device 10 is made smaller in size in front-rear directions 51 and 52.

[0074] In the image recording device 10 of the first embodiment, the discharge roller pair 28 is located below the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82. Therefore, the image recording device 10 is made smaller in size in the front-rear directions 51 and 52.

[0075] In the image recording device 10 of the first embodiment, the paper discharge tray 18 is located below the cutting section 45, so the recording paper 16 cut by the cutting section 45 is supported on the paper discharge tray 18.

[0076] [Modification of the first embodiment] In the first embodiment, the discharge roller pair 28 was located below the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82, but it may also be located in front 51 or behind 52 of the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82, as shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B), respectively.

[0077] [Second embodiment] An image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Elements corresponding to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0078] The image recording device of the second embodiment differs from the image recording device 10 of the first embodiment in that the cutting portion 45 is located at the opening 13 of the housing 20.

[0079] Specifically, when viewed from the left-right directions 55, 56, the inclined surface 82c of the cutting portion 45 overlaps with the tip of the upper wall portion 71 in the up-down directions 53, 54 and the front-rear directions 51, 52. The rear end of the cutter holding portion 82a is located rearward of the rear surface 19d of the operation panel 19. Note that the front end of the connecting portion 82b is located forward 51 of the front surface 19b of the operation panel 19, but the cutting portion 45 may be structured so that its front end is located rearward of the front surface 19b of the operation panel 19 when it is located in the opening 13.

[0080] 7(A), when stopped, the cutting unit 45 is in a stop position located to the left of the operation panel 19 (a position to the left of the image recording area A1). The discharge roller pair 28 is located below the upper wall portion 71 so that the recording paper 16 can be transported to the cutting unit 45. The discharge roller pair 28 may be located below the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82. In this case, a roller pair for transporting the recording paper 16 to the cutting unit 45 may be added below the upper wall portion 71. The downstream end of the transport path 21 extends forward to the opening 13.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 6, the operation panel 19 is configured to be rotatable about axis A between a first position and a second position. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7(A), the first position is a position where the operation panel 19 is in an upright state, i.e., a state where the front surface 19b of the operation panel 19 faces forward 51, and a lower portion 19c of the operation panel 19 is located in a movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82. The second position is located forward of the first position. The second position is a position where the operation panel 19 in the first position rotates about axis A and the front surface 19b of the operation panel 19 faces forward 51 and upward 53 (see the solid line in FIG. 6). In other words, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7(B), the second position is a position where the operation panel 19 is not located in the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82.

[0082] In the image recording device 10 of the second embodiment, one sheet of A4 recording paper 16 is cut into two sheets of A5 recording paper as follows. Note that only the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and explanations of the similarities to the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0083] First, the user pulls out the paper output tray 18 forward from the opening 13. Then, when the user issues a print command to the image recording device 10 using an external information device, the operation panel 19 rotates from the first position about the axis A and moves to the second position. The recording paper 16 that has passed the platen 36 is transported below the cutting section 45 by the first discharge roller pair 27 and the second discharge roller pair 28. At this time, the recording paper 16 is sandwiched between the second discharge roller pair 28 with the front half of the recording paper 16 protruding forward from the opening 13. In this state, the cutter carriage 82 moves from the stopped position toward the right 56, cutting one A4 sheet of recording paper 16 into two A5 sheets of recording paper 16. The two A5 sheets of recording paper 16 are then supported by the paper output tray 18. When printing is completed, the operation panel 19 rotates from the second position about the axis A and moves to the first position.

[0084] [Effects of the second embodiment] In the image recording device of the second embodiment, the operation panel 19 at the first position has a lower portion 19c located in the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82, and is therefore positioned to overlap the cutter carriage 82 when viewed from the left-right directions 55 and 56. On the other hand, the operation panel 19 at the second position is not located in the movement area 92 of the cutter carriage 82, and therefore the cutting unit 45 can move in the left-right directions 55 and 56 without coming into contact with the operation panel 19. Therefore, when the cutting unit 45 is not operating, for example, during packaging, the operation panel 19 is at the first position, thereby reducing the size of the image recording device 10 in the front-rear directions 51 and 52 and the up-down directions 53 and 54, and when the recording paper 16 is being transported, the operation panel 19 is at the second position, thereby allowing the cutting unit 45 to move in the left-right directions 55 and 56 to cut the recording paper 16.

[0085] In the image recording device of the second embodiment, operation panel 19 rotates about axis A along left-right directions 55, 56, and thereby lower portion 19c of operation panel 19 moves to a second position that is forward of the first position. Therefore, operation panel 19 in the second position faces upward 53, making it easier for the user to operate operation panel 19.

[0086] In the image recording device of the second embodiment, the operation panel 19 in the first position is in an upright state extending downward 54 from the axis A to the lower part 19c. Therefore, when the cutting unit 45 is not operating, for example, during packaging, the image recording device of the second embodiment is made smaller in the front-rear directions 51 and 52 than when the operation panel 19 faces upward 53.

[0087] [Modifications of the first and second embodiments] In the first and second embodiments, the cutting unit 45 cuts the recording paper 16 using the cutter 83 and the fixed blade 95, but the structure of the cutting unit 45 is not particularly limited as long as it can cut the recording paper 16 in the left-right directions 55, 56. For example, instead of the fixed blade 95, the cutting unit 45 may have two disk-shaped rotary blades like the cutter 83 mounted on the cutter carriage 82.

[0088] In the first and second embodiments, the cutting section 45 cuts a standard rectangular recording paper 16, but it may also cut a medium pulled out from a roll into a standard rectangular recording paper 16.

[0089] In the first and second embodiments, the conveying path 21 forms a so-called U-turn path that curves and makes a U-turn from the paper feed cassette 15 toward the upward direction 5, but it may also be provided with a double-sided conveying path for recording images on both sides of the recording paper 16.

[0090] In the image recording devices of the first and second embodiments, the first position is a position where the front surface 19b of the operation panel 19 faces forward 51, but it may also be a position where the front surface 19b of the operation panel 19 faces forward 51 and upward 53. Also, the second position is a position where the front surface 19b of the operation panel 19 faces forward 51 and upward 53, but it may also be a position where the front surface 19b of the operation panel 19 faces upward 53.

[0091] In the image recording devices of the first and second embodiments, the operation panel 19 is configured to be rotatable about the axis A from a first position where the front surface 19b faces forward 51 to a second position located in front of the first position, but is not limited to the above-described rotational structure as long as it can move between the first and second positions. For example, the operation panel 19 may be configured so that the lower portion 19c of the operation panel 19 is movable from the first position to the second position by a link mechanism. Furthermore, the operation panel 19 may be configured so that it can move from the first position to the second position by a mechanism such as an actuator moving the operation panel 19 in parallel forward with the front surface 19b facing forward 51. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 10. Image recording device 16 seats 17. Recording section 18. Output tray 19. Operation panel 19b...Front 20.. Enclosure 20a...Front 22... Circuit board 22a...electronic circuit 28. Ejection roller 43 Transfer section 45...cutting section 65... Circuit board storage space 82···Cutter carriage 83···Cutter 92...Moving area A...Axis line

Claims

1. The housing and an operation panel provided on the front surface of the housing; a conveying section that conveys the sheet along a conveying path and discharges it forward; a recording unit that records an image on a sheet in the conveying path; a cutting unit that is located forward of the recording unit and rearward of the operation panel and cuts a sheet; a substrate carrying an electronic circuit, The cut portion is a cutter carriage that is movable in a left-right direction, which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction; a cutter mounted on the cutter carriage, the operation panel overlaps with a movement area of ​​the cutter carriage when viewed from the front-rear direction, the housing has a board accommodating space for accommodating the board between the operation panel and the cutting portion in the front-rear direction, The image recording device wherein the substrate accommodating space overlaps with the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage when viewed from the front-rear direction.

2. 2. The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of the operation panel extends in the vertical direction.

3. A housing, an operation panel provided on the front surface of the housing; a conveying section that conveys the sheet along a conveying path and discharges it forward; a recording unit that records an image on a sheet in the conveying path; a cutting unit that is located forward of the recording unit and rearward of the operation panel and that cuts the sheet, The cut portion is a cutter carriage that is movable in a left-right direction, which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction; a cutter mounted on the cutter carriage, the operation panel is movable between a first position and a second position; a portion of the operation panel in the first position is located in the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage; The image recording device wherein the operation panel in the second position is not located in the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage.

4. the operation panel is rotatable around an axis along the left-right direction, The operation panel in the first position has a lower portion which is the part located in a movement area of ​​the cutter carriage, 4. The image recording device according to claim 3, wherein the second position is such that the lower portion of the operation panel is located further forward than the first position.

5. 5. The image recording device according to claim 4, wherein the operation panel in the first position is in an upright state extending downward from the axis to the lower portion.

6. The conveying section has a pair of discharge rollers, 6. The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of discharge rollers is located below the movement area of ​​the cutter carriage.

7. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a discharge tray positioned below the cutting section and supporting the sheet.

Images