Feeding device and recording device

Abstract

To solve the problem in which there is a risk that, in the case where thickness or number of media to be conveyed is changed, the action of handling the media deteriorates, by the load acting on the media between a conveyance roller and a friction member varying.SOLUTION: A feeding unit 50 includes a paper feed tray 21, a lifter 29, a feeding roller 46, a guide plate 142, and a handling part 150. The lifter 29 can displace a sheet P in the paper feed tray 21 in the +B direction. The guide plate 142 guides a downstream end of the sheet P lifted by the lifter 29 in the +A direction toward the feeding roller 46. The handling part 150 handles the sheet P going toward the feeding roller 46. The guide plate 142 forms a frontage 49 where the sheet P can pass between itself and an outer peripheral surface 48A of the feeding roller 46, and is provided so as to adjust the size of the frontage 49. The handling part 150 is provided integrally at the guide plate 142.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a feeding device and a recording device. [Background technology]

[0002] The paper feeder in Patent Document 1 has a primary separation unit upstream of the transport roller. A friction member is attached to the primary separation unit. The leading edges of multiple sheets of media are separated along the inclined surface of the friction member due to the frictional force and inclination of the friction member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-78887 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the paper feeder of Patent Document 1, the position of the friction member is not adjusted relative to the position of the transport roller. Therefore, when the thickness or number of sheets of media being transported changes, the load acting on the media between the transport roller and the friction member changes, which may reduce the media handling effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, the feeding device of the present invention comprises a media loading section for loading media, a lifting section that can displace the media in the media loading section in the loading direction, a rotating member that feeds the media raised by the lifting section in the feeding direction, a guide section that guides the downstream end in the feeding direction of the media raised by the lifting section toward the rotating member, and a handling section that handles the media toward the rotating member, wherein the guide section forms an opening between the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member through which the media can pass, and the size of the opening is adjustable, and the handling section is integrally formed with the guide section.

[0006] The recording device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a feeding device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, and a recording unit that records on the medium fed from the feeding device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a feeding unit and a printer according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an open state of the paper feed tray of the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an open state of the paper feed tray of the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing a configuration in a position in the width direction different from that shown in FIG. 3 when the paper feed tray of the feeding unit according to the first embodiment is in an open state. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a base guide and a detachable unit of the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a feed roller is removed from the feed unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the detachable unit is detached from the base guide of the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a detachable unit of the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the back side of the detachable unit of the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of a detachable unit of the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 4 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the separating section of the feeding unit and the leading edge of the smallest size paper according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a path from a lifter to a nip portion via a separating portion in the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 13]3 is a schematic diagram showing a path from a lifter to a nip portion via a separating portion in the feeding unit according to the first embodiment, together with a plurality of sheets of paper. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a separation section and an outer separation section of the feeding unit according to the first embodiment, together with a paper path. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the detachable unit is housed in the base guide in the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a release lever of the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 17] 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which an engagement portion of the release lever and a dowel of the second holder are engaged in the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the detachable unit is attached to the base guide in the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the restriction on the detachable unit is released in the feeding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 3 is a front view showing an engagement state between the release lever of the feeding unit and the detachable unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a path of a sheet from a lifter of a feeding unit to a nip portion according to a second embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a modified example of the feeding unit according to the first and second embodiments, in which a plurality of separating sections are provided at different angles. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention will be briefly described below. The feeding device of the first aspect comprises a medium loading section for loading media, a lifting section that can displace the media in the medium loading section in the loading direction, a rotating member that feeds the media raised by the lifting section in the feeding direction, a guide section that guides the downstream end in the feeding direction of the media raised by the lifting section toward the rotating member, and a handling section that handles the media toward the rotating member, wherein the guide section forms an opening between the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member through which the media can pass, and the size of the opening is adjustable, and the handling section is integrally formed with the guide section.

[0009] According to this aspect, since the handling section is integrally provided with the guide section, positional deviation between the handling section and the guide section is suppressed compared to a configuration in which the handling section is provided separately from the guide section. Here, the size of the opening is adjusted by changing the position of the guide portion relative to the rotating member, so that the number of sheets of media supplied to the rotating member through the opening can be limited to a predetermined number. Furthermore, because the separating section is integral with the guide section, when the size of the opening is adjusted, not only the position of the guide section relative to the rotating member but also the position of the separating section relative to the rotating member is adjusted. In other words, the distance between the rotating member and the separating section is also adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of the size of the opening. This allows a predetermined load to be applied to the media sandwiched between the rotating member and the separating section, thereby preventing a decrease in the function of the separating section to separate the media.

[0010] The feeding device of the second aspect is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the separating sections are provided at intervals in the width direction of the medium which intersects with the feeding direction, and when viewed from the feeding direction, one separating section is located on one side of the center of the width direction of the rotating member, and another separating section is located on the other side of the center of the width direction of the rotating member. According to this aspect, the one separating section contacts one side of the medium relative to the center in the width direction as it is fed toward the rotating member, and the other separating section contacts the other side, which makes it possible to prevent the medium from skewing in the feeding direction compared to a configuration in which the separating section contacts only one point on the medium.

[0011] The feeding device according to the third aspect is the second aspect, characterized in that, when viewed from the feeding direction, the plurality of separating sections are located outside in the width direction relative to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating member. According to this aspect, the rotating member and the separating section do not come into contact with the same position in the width direction of the medium, so it is possible to prevent a portion of the medium from being more susceptible to wear than other portions.

[0012] The feeding device of the fourth aspect is characterized in that, in the second or third aspect, the widthwise distance between the one separating section and the other separating section is smaller than the widthwise distance of the smallest size medium among the media to be fed. According to this aspect, the media of all sizes that can be fed by the feeding device can be separated in the separating section.

[0013] The feeding device according to the fifth aspect is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, a retard roller is provided that forms a nip portion by contacting the outer peripheral surface, and the tangent to the outer peripheral surface that passes through an imaginary point at the center of the nip portion in the feeding direction is used as a reference line, and the handling surface of the handling portion that contacts the medium extends along the reference line. According to this aspect, the nip portion is formed between the rotating member and the retard roller. Therefore, the position where the downstream end of the medium first contacts the outer peripheral surface and the position of the imaginary point are shifted in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface. As a result, the directions of the tangents at the respective positions are different, and the medium moving forward as the rotating member rotates has its direction of travel changed by contacting the separating portion, and moves toward the nip portion. Here, since the separating surface of the separating unit extends along the reference line, the separating unit comes into contact with the medium more frequently and the medium is more easily guided to the nip portion than in a configuration in which the separating surface extends in a direction different from the reference line, thereby improving the effectiveness of the separating unit in separating the medium moving toward the nip portion.

[0014] The feeding device of the sixth aspect is the same as that of the fifth aspect, and is characterized in that it comprises a holder portion that rotatably holds the retard roller and a storage portion that stores the holder portion, and the holder portion is detachably attached to the storage portion. According to this aspect, the retard roller can be replaced by removing the holder portion from the housing portion.

[0015] A feeding device according to a seventh aspect is the sixth aspect, characterized in that the guide portion is provided in the holder portion. According to this aspect, the retard roller and the guide portion are provided in the holder portion, so that the positional accuracy of the guide portion relative to the retard roller can be improved compared to a configuration in which the guide portion is provided in a member different from the holder portion.

[0016] The feeding device of the eighth aspect is characterized in that, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, an outer handling section is provided on the outside of the handling section in the width direction of the medium that intersects the feeding direction, to handle the medium toward the rotating member, and the outer handling surface of the outer handling section that contacts the medium is located higher in the vertical direction than the handling surface of the handling section that contacts the medium. Due to the same principle as that of a cantilever beam, the fed medium tends to sag downward in the vertical direction as the distance from the center in the width direction increases. According to this aspect, the outer handling surface located on the outside in the width direction is located vertically above the handling surface, so that even if both ends of the medium in the width direction sag, the outer handling surface can lift both ends of the medium upward while handling them, making it easier to handle both ends of the medium in the width direction.

[0017] The feeding device according to the ninth aspect is any one of the first to eighth aspects, characterized in that the separating section has a plurality of separating surfaces that are aligned in the feeding direction and come into contact with the medium. According to this aspect, since the plurality of separating surfaces increases the contact opportunities between the media and the separating section, the performance of separating the media by the separating section can be improved.

[0018] A recording device according to a tenth aspect is characterized by comprising a feeding device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, and a recording unit that records on the medium fed from the feeding device. According to this aspect, it is possible to obtain the same functions and effects as any one of the first to ninth aspects.

[0019] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, a printer 10 and a feeding unit 50 will be specifically described as a first embodiment, which is an example of a recording device and a feeding device according to the present invention. 1 shows a printer 10. The printer 10 is an example of a recording device that performs recording by ejecting ink Q, which is an example of a liquid, onto paper P, which is an example of a medium. Specifically, the printer 10 includes a feeding unit 50, which is an example of a feeding device, and a recording head 24, which is an example of a recording section that records on the paper P fed from the feeding unit 50.

[0020] The XYZ coordinate system shown in each figure is a Cartesian coordinate system. The X direction is the horizontal direction and is the width direction of the device as seen by the user of the printer 10. Within the X direction, the direction to the left is the +X direction, and the direction to the right is the -X direction. The Y direction is the horizontal direction, which is the width direction of the paper P and the depth direction of the device, intersecting the feeding direction of the paper P. The direction toward the front of the Y direction is the −Y direction, and the direction toward the back is the +Y direction. The Z direction is the height direction of the device, and is, for example, the vertical direction. The upward Z direction is the +Z direction, and the downward Z direction is the -Z direction. The +Z direction is an example of a retraction direction. The -Z direction is an example of the opposite direction.

[0021] The direction in which paper P is fed in the paper feed tray 21 (described later) is defined as the +A direction. In other words, the +A direction is an example of the feeding direction. The direction opposite to the +A direction is defined as the -A direction. The A direction intersects with the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction. The direction in which the paper P is stacked in the paper feed tray 21 is defined as the +B direction. That is, the +B direction is an example of a stacking direction, and is a direction that intersects with the A direction, X direction, Y direction, and Z direction. The direction opposite to the +B direction is defined as the -B direction.

[0022] The printer 10 has a main body 12. Inside the main body 12, paper P is transported along a transport path T indicated by a dashed line. The main body 12 has a housing 14 that forms the outer shell of the printer 10. The side of the housing 14 in the -X direction has a door 17 that stands upright along the Z direction. An opening 19 that opens in the -X direction is formed in the door section 17. The door section 17 is also provided with a paper feed tray 21 that can open and close the opening 19. The paper feed tray 21 will be described later.

[0023] An ejection section 16, to which recorded paper P is ejected, is formed in the +Z direction from the center of the housing 14 in the Z direction. The housing 14 is also provided with a plurality of cassettes 18. The plurality of cassettes 18 stores paper P. The paper P stored in each cassette 18 is transported along a transport path T by a pick roller 13 and a transport roller pair 15.

[0024] The transport path T merges with the feeding path T1. The feeding path T1 is a path along which the paper P is fed from the paper feed tray 21 by the feeding unit 50, which will be described later. Note that the supply of the paper P by the feeding unit 50 toward the transport path T is referred to as "feeding," and is distinguished from the "transport" of the paper P on other paths. The transport path T is also connected to a reversing path T2 for reversing the front and back of the paper P. Furthermore, the transport path T is provided with a plurality of pairs of transport rollers (not shown) for transporting the paper P, a flap 23 for switching the transport path, and a sensor (not shown) for detecting the width of the paper P in the Y direction. Also, on the transport path T, the above-mentioned recording head 24 and a support table 26 that supports the paper P at a position opposite the recording head 24 are arranged.

[0025] The main body 12 has a control unit 28 . The control unit 28 is configured to include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and storage (not shown), and controls the transport of paper P in the printer 10 and the operation of each part, including the recording head 24.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, door unit 17 is configured as an opening / closing member that opens and closes a portion of housing 14 (FIG. 1). The +Y end of door unit 17 is rotatably supported relative to housing 14 by a hinge (not shown). A lock unit 32 is provided at the −Y end of door unit 17. Lock unit 32 locks or unlocks door unit 17 to or from housing 14. In this way, door unit 17 is opened and closed in the horizontal direction.

[0027] In the door portion 17, an upper wall 33 and a lower wall 34 are provided inside the opening 19. The upper wall 33 comes into contact with the end of the upright paper feed tray 21 in the +Z direction. The lower wall 34 is provided at a position in the −Z direction and +X direction relative to the upper wall 33. A roller cover 36 is provided on the lower wall 34. A base guide 62, which will be described later, is provided in the −Z direction relative to the lower wall 34.

[0028] The roller cover 36 is an example of a cover member that covers a feed roller 46 (FIG. 3), which will be described later. The roller cover 36 also has a plate-shaped mounting portion 37 and a grip portion 38 that protrudes in the -X direction from the mounting portion 37. The roller cover 36 can be detached from the door portion 17 by removing screws (not shown). When the roller cover 36 is attached to the door portion 17, the roller cover 36 covers the feed roller 46 (FIG. 3), the knob 112 (FIG. 10), and the operation unit 164 (FIG. 6), which will be described later, from the +Z direction and the -X direction. On the other hand, when the roller cover 36 is detached from the door portion 17, the feed roller 46, the knob 112, and the operation unit 164 are exposed from the +Z direction and the -X direction.

[0029] Next, the feeding unit 50 will be described. 2, 3, and 4, the feeding unit 50 includes a paper feed tray 21, a lifter 29, a feeding roller 46, a retard roller 52, a base guide 62, a storage section 70, a first pressing section 80, a holder section 94, and a guide plate 142. The feeding unit 50 also includes a separating section 150 (FIG. 4), a second pressing section 156 (FIG. 7), a release lever 162 (FIG. 16), a second restricting section 182 (FIG. 7), and an outer separating section 167 (FIG. 6).

[0030] 2, the paper feed tray 21 is an example of a medium loading section for loading paper sheets P. The paper feed tray 21 is supported by a hinge (not shown) provided on the edge of the opening 19 in the -Z direction so as to be rotatable about the Y direction as its axis. The paper feed tray 21 closes the opening 19 in an upright position along the Z direction. The paper feed tray 21 opens the opening 19 in a tilted position in which the end in the -X direction is positioned further in the +Z direction than the end in the +X direction. The paper feed tray 21 is formed in a plate shape. The paper feed tray 21 has a loading surface 21A on which the paper sheets P are placed. The loading surface 21A is provided with side guides 22. The side guides 22 align both ends in the Y direction of the multiple paper sheets P loaded on the loading surface 21A.

[0031] The lifter 29 is provided between the side guide 22 and a base guide 62, which will be described later. The lifter 29 is an example of an elevation unit that can displace the paper P in the paper feed tray 21 in the +B direction. The lifter 29 includes, for example, a motor and a cam (not shown). Specifically, the lifter 29 raises the downstream end of the paper P in the +A direction stacked on the loading surface 21A in the +B direction.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, a drive shaft 42 and a feed roller 46 are provided in the door portion 17 at a location facing the paper feed tray 21 in the X direction. The drive shaft 42 extends with its axial direction aligned in the Y direction. The drive shaft 42 is rotatably supported by the door portion 17. The drive shaft 42 is rotated by a motor and gears (not shown).

[0033] The feed roller 46 is an example of a rotating member that feeds the paper P, which has been lifted in the +B direction by the lifter 29, in the +A direction. The feed roller 46 has a cylindrical roller body 47 and an elastic portion 48 that covers the outer periphery of the roller body 47. An outer periphery 48A of the elastic portion 48 is an example of the outer periphery of the feed roller 46. The feed roller 46 is disposed with its axial direction aligned with the Y direction. The feed roller 46 is attached to the drive shaft 42, and is thereby capable of rotating in accordance with the rotation of the drive shaft 42. The feed roller 46 is detachably attached to the drive shaft 42.

[0034] The retard roller 52 is located in the -Z direction relative to the feed roller 46 and is rotatable with the Y direction as its axial direction. The retard roller 52 is rotated by contact with the feed roller 46. The retard roller 52 forms a nip portion NP by contacting the outer circumferential surface 48A. The nip portion NP is the portion where the paper P is sandwiched between the feed roller 46 and the retard roller 52. The retard roller 52 is an example of a separating member that separates the paper P.

[0035] The retard roller 52 has a shaft portion 53 extending along the Y direction and a cylindrical elastic portion 54 wrapped around the shaft portion 53. An outer peripheral surface 54A of the elastic portion 54 contacts the outer peripheral surface 48A when no paper P is present. When viewed from the Y direction, the rotation direction of the retard roller 52 is opposite to that of the feed roller 46. As a result, one of the multiple sheets of paper P is fed in the +A direction, and the remaining sheets of paper P are separated and retained. The outer diameter of the retard roller 52 is smaller than that of the feed roller 46. A torque limiter 55 (FIG. 8) is provided on a part of the shaft portion 53.

[0036] 5 and 6, the base guide 62 is made of resin, for example, and is formed in a columnar shape extending in the Y direction. The base guide 62 is disposed in the -Z direction with respect to the feeding path T1 (FIG. 1). Specifically, the base guide 62 includes a front wall portion 63 disposed facing the paper feed tray 21, an upper wall portion 64 extending from the end of the front wall portion 63 in the +Z direction along the feeding path T1, side wall portions 65 located at both ends in the Y direction, and a storage portion 70, which will be described later. The storage section 70 is formed across the Y-direction center of the front wall section 63 and the Y-direction center of the upper wall section 64. Specifically, the storage section 70 is formed as a recess that is open in the +Z direction.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 7, the storage section 70 is, for example, a recess surrounded by a bottom wall 72, a front wall 75, a rear wall 86, and two inner walls 92. The storage section 70 also has an edge 88, which will be described later, and stores a holder section 94 (FIG. 5). In other words, the storage section 70 stores a second holder 114 (FIG. 5). The storage section 70 is also provided with a first pressing section 80, which will be described later. The bottom wall 72 is disposed substantially along the XY plane. A through-hole 73 is formed at the end of the bottom wall 72 in the +Y direction. Two guide walls 74 are provided at the edge of the through-hole 73, spaced apart in the Y direction. The two guide walls 74 stand upright from the bottom wall 72 in the +Z direction.

[0038] The front wall 75 extends obliquely upward, intersecting the X direction, from the -X direction end of the bottom wall 72. Two vertical wall portions 76 are provided at both Y direction end portions of the front wall 75. Note that the -Y direction vertical wall portion 76 (FIG. 17) is not shown in FIG. The two vertical wall portions 76 protrude in the +X direction and the +Z direction from the front wall 75. The height of the two vertical wall portions 76 is lower than the height of an inner wall 92, which will be described later. Contact surfaces 77 are formed at the ends of the two vertical wall portions 76 in the +X direction. An upper surface 78 (FIG. 17) is formed at the end of the vertical wall portions 76 in the +Z direction.

[0039] As an example, the contact surface 77 is a plane along the YZ plane. The contact surface 77 is also a surface that is arranged so as to be able to come into contact with the dowels 119 and 128 (FIG. 9) described below. In other words, the contact surface 77 is a surface that guides the dowels 119 and 128 in the Z direction and also a surface that prevents the dowels 119 and 128 from shifting in the -X direction. The upper surface 78 (Figure 17) is a slope for swinging the release lever 162 (Figure 16) by pushing in the dowels 119 and 128 when the second holder 114 is attached to the storage section 70, and also serves to hold the dowels 119 and 128 when the second holder 114 is removed. In this way, the accommodating portion 70 is provided with the vertical wall portion 76 that guides the dowels 119 and 128 in the Z direction.

[0040] A circular through-hole 75A is formed in the center in the Y direction of the front wall 75. Furthermore, insertion holes 79 are formed in the front wall 75 at positions on the +Y and −Y sides of the through-hole 75A. A rectangular pillar-shaped stopper portion 81 extending in the Y direction is provided on the edge of each insertion hole 79.

[0041] A mounting plate 82 is provided in the accommodation section 70. The mounting plate 82 protrudes in the +Z direction from the through-hole 73 and is fixed to the accommodation section 70. A screw hole 82A is formed in the mounting plate 82. A screw (not shown) can be fastened to the mounting hole 82A. The mounting plate 82 can be used to fix a guide plate 142 (FIG. 5), which will be described later, after the position of the guide plate 142 has been adjusted.

[0042] Two ribs 84 are provided on the bottom wall 72 and the front wall 75. The two ribs 84 are arranged with an interval in the Y direction. The two ribs 84 are formed with connecting holes (not shown) that penetrate the ribs 84 in the Y direction. Two through holes 87 are formed in the rear wall 86 with a gap in the Y direction. An edge 88 of the through hole 87 is a portion where a protrusion 132 (FIG. 9), which will be described later, is held. The inner wall 92 stands upright in the Z direction from both Y-direction ends of the bottom wall 72, the front wall 75, and the rear wall 86. The inner wall 92 is disposed along the XZ plane. The inner wall 92 is provided with a recess 93 that exposes an engagement portion 172 (described later) in the Y direction.

[0043] The first pressing portion 80 is an example of another pressing portion that presses a first holder 96 (FIG. 9) described later so that the retard roller 52 (FIG. 3) comes into contact with the feed roller 46 (FIG. 3). Specifically, the first pressing portion 80 has, as an example, a pressing lever 83 and a coil spring 85. The coil spring 85 is attached to a frame (not shown) and protrudes in the +Z direction from the front wall 75 through the through-hole 75A.

[0044] The pressing lever 83 has, for example, two extension portions 83A, a cap portion 83B, and a contact portion 83C. The two extending portions 83A are spaced apart in the Y direction and each extend in the X direction. A connecting pin (not shown) is formed at the +X direction end of each of the two extending portions 83A. The connecting pin is connected to a connecting hole (not shown) of the rib 84. This allows the pressing lever 83 to rotate around the connecting pin.

[0045] The cap portion 83B connects the −X direction ends of the two extension portions 83A in the Y direction. The cap portion 83B is also attached to the +Z direction end of the coil spring 85. The contact portion 83C is a portion that protrudes in the +Z direction from the center of the cap portion 83B in the Y direction. The contact portion 83C is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape that extends in the Y direction. The pressing lever 83 is pressed in the +Z direction by the coil spring 85. Then, the contact portion 83C comes into contact with a curved wall 99 (FIG. 9) described later from the -Z direction, thereby pressing the first holder 96 (FIG. 9) in the +Z direction.

[0046] 8, the holder portion 94 includes a first holder 96 that rotatably holds the retard roller 52, and a second holder 114 that swingably holds the first holder 96. In other words, the holder portion 94 rotatably holds the retard roller 52. The holder portion 94 also comes into contact with an engagement portion 172 and a second restriction portion 182 (FIG. 7), which will be described later. The holder part 94 is housed in the housing part 70 (FIG. 7). At least a portion of the holder part 94 in the +Z direction is exposed to the outside from the base guide 62 (FIG. 7). Here, the retard roller 52, the torque limiter 55, the holder portion 94, and the guide plate 142 described below are collectively referred to as the detachable unit 90. The detachable unit 90 can be attached to and detached from the storage portion 70. In other words, the holder portion 94 is provided detachably to the storage portion 70.

[0047] 9 and 10, the first holder 96 includes a roller accommodating portion 98, a knob 104, a connecting pin 108, and a knob 112. The first holder 96 holds the retard roller 52 and the torque limiter 55. The roller accommodating portion 98 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape and has a curved wall 99, a left side wall 101, and a right side wall 102. The curved wall 99 is formed so as to be able to accommodate a part of the retard roller 52 therein.

[0048] The knob 104 is provided in the roller accommodating portion 98 and is capable of elastic deformation in the Y direction. The connecting pin 108 protrudes in the +Y direction and the -Y direction from the knob portion 104. The connecting pin 108 in the -Y direction is not shown. The connecting pin 108 is connected to the left frame 116 and the right frame 117, which will be described later, by the knob portion 104 being elastically deformed. This allows the first holder 96 to rotate relative to the second holder 114.

[0049] The knob 112 is provided on the right side wall 102. When the knob 112 receives an external force, the knob 112 transmits the external force to the roller accommodating portion 98 and the knob 104, causing the roller accommodating portion 98 and the knob 104 to rotate around the connecting pin 108. The retard roller 52 moves away from the feed roller 46 (FIG. 3) when the knob 112 is operated in a direction including a component in the −Z direction.

[0050] 10 , the second holder 114 includes, for example, a front frame 115, a left frame 116, a right frame 117, and an upper frame 118. The space surrounded by the front frame 115, the left frame 116, the right frame 117, and the upper frame 118 is defined as an opening 125. The front frame 115 constitutes the portions in the −X direction and −Z direction with respect to the center of the second holder 114. The front frame 115 also extends in the Y direction. The front frame 115 is in contact with the lower end of a coil spring 146, which will be described later.

[0051] The left frame 116 is a wall that stands upright along the XZ plane and is connected to the -Y direction end of the front frame 115. The -Z direction end of the left frame 116 is shaped to be in surface contact with the bottom wall 72 and the front wall 75 (FIG. 7). Dowels 119 are provided on the left frame 116 at positions in the -X and -Z directions. The dowel 119 is formed in a cylindrical shape and protrudes in the −Y direction from the left frame 116. A connecting hole (not shown) is formed in the left frame 116 at a position in the +X direction and +Z direction.

[0052] The right frame 117 has vertical walls 117A and 117B spaced apart in the Y direction. The vertical walls 117A and 117B stand upright along the XZ plane. The vertical wall 117A is connected to the -Y direction end of the front frame 115. The vertical wall 117B is located in the +Y direction relative to the vertical wall 117A. The -X and -Z direction portions of the vertical wall 117A and the -X and -Z direction portions of the vertical wall 117B are connected by a bottom wall 117C.

[0053] The vertical walls 117A, 117B and the bottom wall 117C form a window 122. When the second holder 114 is housed in the housing portion 70 (FIG. 7) and the guide plate 142 is not attached, the window 122 exposes the mounting plate 82 (FIG. 7) in the -X direction. This allows the guide plate 142 to be fixed to the mounting plate 82. The upper frame 118 is formed in a U-shape that opens in the −X direction when viewed from the Z direction. The upper frame 118 also covers the left frame 116 and the right frame 117 from the +Z direction.

[0054] A connecting hole 126 (FIG. 9) is formed in vertical wall 117A at a position in the +X direction and the +Z direction. A dowel 128 (FIG. 9) is provided in vertical wall 117B at a position in the -X direction and the -Z direction. Dowel 128 is formed in a cylindrical shape and protrudes from vertical wall 117B in the +Y direction. Dowel 128 is also arranged on the same axis as dowel 119. The dowels 119 and 128 are examples of engaged portions provided on both ends of the second holder 114 in the Y direction.

[0055] 9, two protrusions 132 are provided at the end of the upper frame 118 in the +X direction. The two protrusions 132 are spaced apart in the Y direction. The protrusion 132 is formed in an L-shape when viewed from the Y direction, and is capable of elastic deformation in the X direction. The protrusion 132 is capable of swinging relative to the edge 88 (FIG. 7) while maintaining contact with the edge 88. In other words, the protrusion 132 serves as a fulcrum for the swinging of the holder part 94 when viewed from the Y direction.

[0056] A pressed portion 136 is provided in the upper frame 118 between the vertical wall 117A and the vertical wall 117B. The pressed portion 136 extends in the -Z direction from the upper frame 118. Moreover, the pressed portion 136 is formed, for example, in a cross shape when viewed in the +Z direction. A pressed surface 139 is formed at the end of the pressed portion 136 in the -Z direction. A second pressing portion 156 (FIG. 7), which will be described later, comes into contact with the pressed surface 139. In this way, the pressed portion 136 is a portion that is pressed in the +Z direction by the second pressing portion 156. The first holder 96 and the second holder 114 are connected by a connecting pin 108 or the like. When an external force is applied to the first holder 96, the first holder 96 swings.

[0057] 10, a sheet metal member 103 is attached to the front frame 115. Screw holes 103A are formed in the sheet metal member 103. Screws 109 can be fastened into the screw holes 103A. Here, a guide plate 142 is provided on the second holder 114. The guide plate 142 is provided on the front frame 115 of the second holder 114. In other words, the guide plate 142 is provided on the holder portion 94.

[0058] 3, the guide plate 142 is an example of a guide portion that guides the downstream end of the paper sheet P in the +A direction toward the feed roller 46. Specifically, when the guide plate 142 is attached to the second holder 114 (FIG. 10), the guide plate 142 guides the downstream end of the paper sheet P in the +A direction that is lifted by the lifter 29 toward the outer peripheral surface 48A of the feed roller 46.

[0059] As shown in Figure 10, the guide plate 142 is formed in a rectangular shape with the dimension in the Y direction longer than the dimension in the B direction. When the guide plate 142 is attached to the second holder 114 and the second holder 114 is housed in the housing section 70 (Figure 7), the guide plate 142 is in an inclined state with the end in the +B direction positioned further in the +A direction than the end in the -B direction. The surface of the guide plate 142 that can come into contact with the end of the paper sheet P is referred to as the guide surface 142A. The inclination direction of the guide surface 142A and the inclination direction of the guide plate 142 are aligned.

[0060] Two adjustment holes 143 and one hole 144 are formed at the end of the guide plate 142 in the −Z direction. The two adjustment holes 143 are elongated holes extending in the direction B. The two adjustment holes 143 are arranged spaced apart in the Y direction so as to be able to communicate with the two screw holes 103A. The hole 144 is located further in the +Y direction than the +Y direction adjustment hole 143 and at the end of the guide plate 142 in the +Y direction.

[0061] Two flange portions 147 are formed on the end portion of the guide plate 142 in the +B direction. The two flanges 147 are plate-shaped portions that extend in the +A direction from both ends of the guide plate 142 in the Y direction. A separating section 150, which will be described later, is provided on the two flanges 147. In other words, the separating section 150 is provided integrally with the guide plate 142 and is capable of coming into contact with the paper P.

[0062] One axial end of the coil spring 146 is attached to the front frame 115. The coil spring 146 is capable of elastic deformation with the axial direction being in the direction B. As a result, the coil spring 146 comes into contact with the end of the guide plate 142 in the -B direction before being fixed, thereby supporting the guide plate 142 so that it can be displaced in the direction B. When the screw 109 is loosened relative to the screw hole 103A and the end of the guide plate 142 in the -B direction before fixing comes into contact with the coil spring 146, the coil spring 146 presses the guide plate 142 toward the feed roller 46 (FIG. 3). In this state, the magnitude of the external force acting on the guide plate 142 changes, and the position of the guide plate 142 in the +B direction changes.

[0063] The separating unit 150 separates the paper sheets P heading toward the feed roller 46 (FIG. 3). A plurality of separating units 150 are provided at intervals in the Y direction on the guide plate 142. Specifically, each of the plurality of separating units 150 is configured by two first pads 152. The two first pads 152 are provided on the flange portion 147. When viewed from the +A direction, the two first pads 152 are positioned on the outer side in the Y direction relative to the outer circumferential surface 48A (FIG. 3) of the feed roller 46.

[0064] The first pad 152 in the -Y direction is an example of one separation portion, and the first pad 152 in the +Y direction is an example of another separation portion. The first pad 152 is a rectangular plate material whose dimension in the Y direction is larger than its dimension in the +A direction. The first pad 152 is made of a resin material, for example. The first pad 152 may also be made of an elastic material such as rubber. The first pad 152 is adhered to the flange portion 147. A separating surface 152A, which is the surface of the first pad 152 in the +B direction, comes into contact with the paper P. The friction coefficient μ1 of the separating surface 152A when it comes into contact with the paper P is set to a predetermined value.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 11, the size of the interval in the Y direction between the two first pads 152 is smaller than the size in the Y direction of the smallest-sized paper PS among the papers P to be fed. Let the length L1 [mm] correspond to the interval from the +Y direction end face to the -Y direction end face of the first pad 152 in the -Y direction. Let the length L2 [mm] correspond to the width in the Y direction of the paper PS. Here, L1 < L2. In other words, when the paper PS is fed in the center registration method, both end portions in the Y direction of the paper PS contact the two first pads 152.

[0066] FIG. 12 shows a state where one sheet of paper P is lifted by the lifter 29. The nip portion NP is formed by the contact between the feed roller 46 and the retard roller 52. In a state where the feed roller 46 and the retard roller 52 are in line contact, the nip portion NP is formed linearly along the Y direction. In a state where the feed roller 46 and the retard roller 52 are in surface contact, the nip portion NP is formed in a strip shape having a predetermined width in the +A direction and extending in the Y direction. Let the virtual point C at the center in the +A direction of the nip portion NP be the reference line M with the tangent line of the outer peripheral surface 48A passing through the virtual point C. The virtual point C is the separation nip point where the paper P is separated. Let the line perpendicular to the reference line M passing through the virtual point C be the perpendicular line D. Viewed from the Y direction, the discharge surface 152A extends along the reference line M.

[0067] The guide plate 142 forms a frontage 49 through which the paper P can pass between it and the outer peripheral surface 48A. The guide plate 142 is provided so that the size of the frontage 49 can be adjusted. Specifically, the frontage 49 is defined as the space between the -A direction end portion of the discharge surface 152A and the outer peripheral surface 48A. The guide plate 142 is provided in the second holder 114 (FIG. 8) so that the interval d [mm] in the +B direction of the frontage 49 can be adjusted. Note that the adjustment of the interval d is performed by shifting the position of the guide plate 142 in the +B direction or -B direction with a spacer of a predetermined thickness sandwiched between the outer peripheral surface 48A and the discharge surface 152A. After the position of the guide plate 142 in the +B direction is determined, the guide plate 142 is attached to the second holder 114 using screws 109 (FIG. 10).

[0068] In Figure 12, an extension line E extending the movement trajectory of the leading edge of the lifter 29 in the +A direction is shown by a dashed line. The point on the outer peripheral surface 48A of the feed roller 46 where the paper P is picked up is designated as point K. When the lifter 29 lifts one sheet of paper P, point K is located on the extension line E. Furthermore, a tangent line to the outer peripheral surface 48A that passes through point K is designated as tangent line G. Tangent line G is the approach line of the paper P from the lifter 29 toward the nip portion NP. When viewed from the Y direction, tangent line G intersects with the separation surface 152A. The position where tangent line G and the separation surface 152A intersect is designated as point H. The length from point H to the end of the separating surface 152A in the +A direction is defined as L3 (mm). The length L3 corresponds to the distance that the paper P slides on the separating surface 152A.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 13, when a large number of sheets P are stacked on the lifter 29, the weight of the sheets P causes them to drop, narrowing the gap between the sheets P and the lifter 29. In other words, the inclination angle of the sheets P decreases. As a result, point K shifts in the +X direction relative to the extension line E, and the angle between the tangent line G and the reference line M decreases. This reduces the angle at which the sheets P approach the separation section 150, and point H shifts in the +X direction. Due to these effects, the length from point H to the end of the separation surface 152A in the +A direction is length L4 (mm), which is shorter than length L3 (FIG. 12). In this embodiment, even when the length is L4, the separation section 150 can still effectively separate the sheets P.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 6, in the base guide 62, an outer handling portion 167 is provided on the outer side of the handling portion 150 in the Y direction. The outer separating section 167 separates the paper sheets P heading toward the feed roller 46 (FIG. 3). As an example, a plurality of outer separating sections 167 are provided at intervals in the Y direction. Specifically, each of the plurality of outer separating sections 167 is configured by two second pads 168. Two second pads 168 are adhesively attached to the top wall portion 64 .

[0071] The second pad 168 is a rectangular plate whose dimension in the Y direction is larger than its dimension in the +A direction. As an example, the second pad 168 is made of a resin material. The second pad 168 may also be made of an elastic material such as rubber. The outer handling surface 168A of the second pad 168 in the +B direction comes into contact with the paper P. The value of the friction coefficient μ2 when the outer handling surface 168A comes into contact with the paper P is set within a predetermined range. As an example, μ2 = μ1.

[0072] FIG. 14 shows the positional relationship between the separating section 150 and the outer separating section 167 when viewed from the Y direction. An outer separating surface 168A of the outer separating section 167 that comes into contact with the paper sheets P is positioned higher in the Z direction than a separating surface 152A of the separating section 150 that comes into contact with the paper sheets P. The angle formed by the outer parting surface 168A and the X direction is larger than the angle formed by the parting surface 152A and the X direction.

[0073] 15 , the second pressing portion 156 is an example of a pressing portion that presses the second holder 114 in the +Z direction in which the second holder 114 moves away from the storage portion 70. The second pressing portion 156 has a coil spring 157 and a cap 158. The coil spring 157 is disposed so that its axial direction is substantially along the Z direction. The −Z direction end of the coil spring 157 is attached to a part of the base guide 62. The coil spring 157 also extends in the +Z direction between two guide walls 74 (FIG. 7).

[0074] Cap 158 is a hollow, rectangular parallelepiped member with an open portion in the -Z direction. The +Z direction end of coil spring 157 is attached to cap 158. As a result, a pressing force in the +Z direction acts on cap 158 by coil spring 157. Note that cap 158 is sandwiched between two guide walls 74, so that movement in the Y direction is restricted and cap 158 is guided in the Z direction.

[0075] The end of cap 158 in the +Z direction has contact surface 159 that is substantially aligned with the XY plane. Contact surface 159 presses second holder 114 in the +Z direction by coming into contact with pressed surface 139 of second holder 114. In this way, second pressing portion 156 presses holder portion 94 in the +Z direction.

[0076] 16, the release lever 162 is an example of a first restricting portion that restricts movement of the second holder 114 (FIG. 15) in the +Z direction. The release lever 162 has, for example, a shaft portion 163, an operating portion 164, and two engagement portions 172. The shaft portion 163 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the Y direction. Both ends of the shaft portion 163 in the Y direction are rotatably supported by support portions (not shown) provided on the base guide 62 (FIG. 15). A torsion spring (not shown) is provided on the shaft portion 163. As a result, a pressing force acts on the shaft portion 163, pressing an engaging portion 172 (described later) toward the restricted position.

[0077] The operating portion 164 extends radially from the end of the shaft portion 163 in the -Y direction. The end of the operating portion 164 in the +Z direction is exposed at the base guide 62 (FIG. 5). This makes it possible to operate the operating portion 164. When the operating portion 164 is pressed down in the -Z direction, the shaft portion 163 is rotated. At this time, the rotation direction of the shaft portion 163 is the direction in which the two engagement portions 172 move away from the dowels 119, 128 (FIG. 9). In this way, when the operating portion 164 is operated, the engagement portions 172 can be swung.

[0078] The two engaging portions 172 are provided on the shaft portion 163 with a gap between them in the Y direction. The engaging portions 172 restrict movement of the second holder 114 in the +Z direction by engaging with the dowels 119, 128. As an example, the engaging portion 172 has an arm portion 173 that extends from the shaft portion 163 in the radial direction of the shaft portion 163 and is bent, and a peak portion 174 that is provided on the arm portion 173 on the opposite side from the shaft portion 163. The peaks 174 are trapezoidal when viewed from the Y direction. The peaks 174 are exposed to the inside of the accommodating portion 70 in the recesses 93 (FIG. 7). The peaks 174 are engaged with the dowels 119, 128 (FIG. 9).

[0079] The engaging portion 172 is provided so as to be able to swing between a restricting position where the peak portion 174 engages with the dowels 119 and 128, and a retracted position where the peak portion 174 retracts from the dowels 119 and 128. When the engaging portion 172 is engaged with the dowels 119 and 128, the engaging portion 172 presses the dowels 119 and 128 against the vertical wall portion 76 (FIG. 7).

[0080] As shown in FIG. 17, the engaging portion 172 has a first inclined surface 176 and a second inclined surface 178 formed on the peak portion 174 when viewed in the Y direction. The first inclined surface 176 comes into contact with the dowels 119 and 128, thereby applying a pressing force that includes a component in the −Z direction to the dowels 119 and 128 (FIG. 9). The second inclined surface 178 comes into contact with the dowels 119 and 128, and thereby applies a pressing force to the dowels 119 and 128 that includes a component in the +Z direction.

[0081] When viewed in the +Y direction, the center point of the shaft portion 163 is defined as point S. The contact point between the first inclined surface 176 and the outer peripheral surface of the dowel 119 in the engaged state is defined as point T. A line perpendicular to the line segment ST is defined as line A1. Furthermore, a line extending from the first inclined surface 176 is defined as line A2. Here, line A2 is inclined counterclockwise from line A1 with respect to point T. The counterclockwise direction is the direction in which engaging portion 172 moves away from dowels 119 and 128. That is, the inclination of first inclined surface 176 of engaging portion 172 is adjusted so that it can easily move away from dowels 119 and 128.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 18, in a state in which the attachment / detachment unit 90 is housed in the housing portion 70, the second restricting portion 182 restricts the movement of the second holder 114 in the −Z direction. The second restricting portion 182 has, for example, a restricting surface 186 provided on the accommodating portion 70 .

[0083] 9, as an example, a total of four regulated portions 184 are provided on the second holder 114. In the following description, the four regulated portions 184 may be distinguished as regulated portions 184A, 184B, 184C, and 184D. When the four regulated portions 184 are not distinguished from one another, they will simply be referred to as regulated portions 184. The four regulated portions 184 are provided two by two at intervals in each of the Y direction and the +A direction. That is, the four regulated portions 184 are arranged so as to be located at the vertices of a rectangle having a side in the Y direction and a side in the +A direction.

[0084] The regulated portion 184A is a convex portion that protrudes in the −B direction from an end portion of the left frame 116 that is located in the −Z direction and the −X direction. The regulated portion 184B is a convex portion that protrudes in the −Z direction from an end portion of the left frame 116 that is located in the −Z direction and the +X direction. The regulated portion 184C is a convex portion that protrudes in the −B direction from an end portion of the vertical wall 117B that is located in the −Z direction and the −X direction. The regulated portion 184D is a convex portion that protrudes in the −Z direction from an end portion of the vertical wall 117B that is located in the −Z direction and the +X direction. In this way, regulated portion 184B is located in the +A direction relative to regulated portion 184A. Regulated portion 184C is located in the +Y direction relative to regulated portion 184A. Regulated portion 184D is located in the +Y direction relative to regulated portion 184B and in the +A direction relative to regulated portion 184C.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 19, the restricting surface 186 is provided on the accommodation portion 70 and is a surface that can come into contact with the four restricted portions 184. The restriction surface 186 is, for example, composed of an upper surface 186A of the bottom wall 72 in the +Z direction and an upper surface 186B of the front wall 75 in the +B direction. Here, the restricted portions 184A and 184C come into contact with the upper surface 186A, and the restricted portions 184B and 184D come into contact with the upper surface 186B, thereby restricting movement of the second holder 114 in the −Z direction.

[0086] 20, the removable unit 90 is housed in the housing section 70. This state is referred to as the housed state of the removable unit 90. Also, a line passing through the center of the outer circumferential surface 54A of the retard roller 52 in the Y direction and extending along the Z direction is referred to as a center line CL. In the stored state, the portion of the detachable unit 90 in the -Y direction relative to the center line CL is restricted from moving in the +Z direction by the engagement of dowel 119 with the -Y direction engaging portion 172. The portion of the detachable unit 90 in the +Y direction relative to the center line CL is restricted from moving in the +Z direction by the engagement of dowel 128 with the +Y direction engaging portion 172. Furthermore, the four restricted portions 184 (FIG. 9) of the second holder 114 come into contact with the restricting surfaces 186 (FIG. 19), and are thereby restricted from moving in the −Z direction. In this way, in the housed state, the movement of the detachable unit 90 in the +Z direction and the −Z direction is restricted.

[0087] Next, we will explain how to replace the feed roller 46 and the retard roller 52. Note that the individual drawing numbers for each component may be omitted. 3 and 4, when replacing the feed roller 46 and the retard roller 52, the paper feed tray 21 is opened and the roller cover 36 is removed. The knob 112 of the first holder 96 is pressed down to release the pressure on the feed roller 46. Then, the feed roller 46 is removed in the -Y direction.

[0088] 18 and 19, the operating portion 164 is released, and the engaging portion 172 is moved to a retracted position away from the second holder 114. At this time, the pressing force of the second pressing portion 156 acts on the second holder 114, causing the detachable unit 90 to rise in the +Z direction. Then, the detachable unit 90 is removed.

[0089] 9, the knob 104 is operated to remove the first holder 96 from the second holder 114. At this time, the retard roller 52 and the torque limiter 55 are also removed together. Then, a new first holder 96, retard roller 52, and torque limiter 55 are attached to the second holder 114.

[0090] As shown in FIGS. 18 , 19 , and 20 , when the detachable unit 90 is attached to the base guide 62, the detachable unit 90 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 70. When an external force F is applied to the detachable unit 90, the dowels 119 and 128 push the peaks 174 in the +X direction from a state in which they are in contact with the +Z-direction end of the vertical wall portion 76 and the peaks 174. This causes the engaging portion 172 to rotate in the +X direction, which allows the dowels 119 and 128 to move in the −Z direction. The dowels 119 and 128 move in the −Z direction while being guided by the contact surface 77, which causes the engaging portion 172 to rotate in the −X direction. This causes the engaging portion 172 to engage with the dowels 119 and 128. In this manner, the detachable unit 90 is attached to the base guide 62. Next, the feed roller 46 is attached with the knob 112 of the first holder 96 pressed down. Next, the roller cover 36 is attached to the door portion 17, thereby completing the replacement work.

[0091] Next, we will explain the operation of the feeding unit 50 and the printer 10. Note that individual drawing numbers may be omitted for each component. According to the feeding unit 50, when the downstream end of the paper P comes into contact with the second holder 114 or the guide plate 142 and the second holder 114 attempts to displace in the +Z direction, the release lever 162 restricts the movement of the second holder 114 in the +Z direction. Furthermore, when paper P thicker than a predetermined thickness enters the nip portion NP formed by the feed roller 46 and the retard roller 52, the first holder 96 is swung in conjunction with the movement of the retard roller 52 in the -Z direction. As a result, a force in the -Z direction may act on the second holder 114, but when the second holder 114 attempts to displace in the -Z direction, at least one of the multiple regulated portions 184 comes into contact with the regulating surface 186 of the second regulating portion 182, thereby regulating the movement of the second holder 114 in the -Z direction. These actions can prevent the position of the second holder 114 from shifting in the +Z direction or the −Z direction.

[0092] According to feeding unit 50, engagement portions 172 engage with dowels 119 and 128 at both ends of second holder 114 in the Y direction, thereby restricting movement of second holder 114 in the +Z direction. This makes it less likely that unnecessary moments will act on second holder 114 when restricting its movement, compared to a configuration in which second holder 114 is restricted at only one point in the Y direction, and therefore makes it possible to suppress changes in the posture of second holder 114.

[0093] According to the feeding unit 50, the movement range of the release lever 162 can be made smaller than in a configuration in which the first restricting portion slides, so that the feeding unit 50 can be made smaller. According to the feeding unit 50, the operation portion 164 is provided, and therefore the operation of swinging the release lever 162 becomes easy.

[0094] According to the feeding unit 50, the first inclined surface 176 comes into contact with the dowels 119, 128, and a pressing force including a component in the −Z direction acts on the dowels 119, 128. This makes it easier to hold the second holder 114 in the accommodation portion 70. Furthermore, when the second inclined surface 178 comes into contact with the dowels 119 and 128, a pressing force including a component in the +Z direction acts on the dowels 119 and 128. This makes it easier to remove the second holder 114 from the accommodation portion .

[0095] According to the feeding unit 50, the dowels 119, 128 are sandwiched between the engaging portion 172 and the vertical wall portion 76, making them less likely to move, so that when the engaging portion 172 engages with the dowels 119, 128, positional deviation of the dowels 119, 128 in the X direction can be suppressed. According to the feeding unit 50, the pressure acting on the first holder 96 from the first pressing section 80 moves the retard roller 52 closer to the feeding roller 46. This makes it easier for the retard roller 52 to separate the paper P even when a relatively thick paper P enters the nip portion NP between the feeding roller 46 and the retard roller 52. According to the feeding unit 50, when the second holder 114 is housed in the housing portion 70, the position of the guide plate 142 can be adjusted with respect to the second holder 114. This makes it easier to adjust the distance d formed between the outer peripheral surface 48A of the feeding roller 46 and the guide plate 142.

[0096] According to the feeding unit 50, the separating section 150 is integrally formed with the guide plate 142, which reduces misalignment between the separating section 150 and the guide plate 142 compared to a configuration in which the separating section 150 is provided separately from the guide plate 142. Here, the size of the opening 49 is adjusted by changing the position of the guide plate 142 relative to the feed roller 46, so that the number of sheets of paper P supplied to the feed roller 46 through the opening 49 can be limited to a predetermined number. Furthermore, when the size of opening 49 is adjusted, because separating section 150 is provided integrally with guide plate 142, not only the position of guide plate 142 relative to feed roller 46 but also the position of separating section 150 relative to feed roller 46 is adjusted. In other words, the distance d between feed roller 46 and separating section 150 is also adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of the size of opening 49. This allows a predetermined load to be applied to paper P sandwiched between feed roller 46 and separating section 150, making it possible to prevent a decrease in the ability of separating paper P by separating section 150.

[0097] According to the feeding unit 50, the first pad 152 in the -Y direction contacts one side of the paper sheet P being fed toward the feeding roller 46 relative to the center in the Y direction, and the first pad 152 in the +Y direction contacts the other side. This makes it possible to prevent the paper sheet P from skewing in the +A direction, compared to a configuration in which the separating section 150 contacts only one point on the paper sheet P. According to the feeding unit 50, the feeding roller 46 and the separating section 150 do not come into contact with the same position on the paper P in the Y direction, so it is possible to prevent some parts of the paper P from being more susceptible to wear than other parts. According to the feeding unit 50, the separating section 150 is arranged so as to come into contact with even the smallest size of paper sheet PS, so that all sizes of paper sheets P that can be fed by the feeding unit 50 can be separated by the separating section 150.

[0098] According to the feeding unit 50, a nip portion NP is formed between the feeding roller 46 and the retard roller 52. Therefore, the position where the downstream end of the paper P first comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface 48A and the position of the imaginary point C are shifted in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 48A. As a result, the directions of the tangents at these positions are different, and the paper P moving forward as the feeding roller 46 rotates has its direction of travel changed by coming into contact with the separating portion 150, and moves toward the nip portion NP. Here, because the separating surface 152A of the separating section 150 extends along the reference line M, the separating section 150 comes into contact with the paper P more frequently and the paper P can be more easily guided to the nip section NP, compared to a configuration in which the separating surface 152A extends along a direction different from the direction of the reference line M. This increases the effectiveness of the separating section 150 in separating the paper P advancing toward the nip section NP.

[0099] According to the feeding unit 50, the retard roller 52 can be replaced by removing the holder portion 94 from the storage portion 70. According to the feeding unit 50, the retard roller 52 and the guide plate 142 are provided on the holder portion 94, so that the positional accuracy of the guide plate 142 relative to the retard roller 52 can be improved compared to a configuration in which the guide plate 142 is provided on a member different from the holder portion 94.

[0100] Due to the same principle as that of a cantilever beam, the paper P being fed tends to sag downward in the Z direction as the distance from the center in the Y direction increases. According to the feeding unit 50, the outer handling surface 168A located on the outside in the Y direction is located higher in the Z direction than the handling surface 152A. As a result, even if both ends of the paper P in the Y direction droop, the outer handling surface 168A can handle the paper P while lifting both ends upward, making it easier to handle both ends of the paper P in the Y direction. According to the feeding unit 50, since the outer separating surfaces 168A are provided in plurality, the contact opportunities between the paper sheets P and the outer separating section 167 increase, and therefore the performance of separating the paper sheets P by the outer separating section 167 can be improved.

[0101] According to the printer 10, the same functions and effects as any one of the feeding units 50 described above can be obtained.

[0102] [Embodiment 2] The following describes in detail the feeding unit 190 of embodiment 2. Note that the same components as those of the printer 10 and feeding unit 50 of embodiment 1 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0103] 21, feeding unit 190 is an example of a feeding device that feeds paper P. In addition, feeding unit 190 is provided with a separating section 192 instead of separating section 150 in feeding unit 50 (FIG. 4). The configuration other than separating section 192 is the same as that of feeding unit 50. The separating section 192 has separating surfaces 194A and 196A that are aligned in the +A direction and come into contact with the paper P. Specifically, the separating section 192 has a multi-layer structure in which a lower pad 194 and an upper pad 196 are stacked and bonded in the B direction.

[0104] The lower pad 194 is a rectangular plate material whose dimension in the Y direction is larger than its dimension in the +A direction. The lower pad 194 is made of a resin material, for example. The lower pad 194 may also be made of an elastic material such as rubber. The lower pad 194 is adhered to the flange portion 147 (FIG. 10). The separating surface 194A, which is the surface of the lower pad 194 in the +B direction, comes into contact with the paper P. The separating surface 194A is an example of multiple separating surfaces. The friction coefficient μ3 of the separating surface 194A when it comes into contact with the paper P is set to the same value as the friction coefficient μ1, for example.

[0105] The upper pad 196 is a rectangular plate material whose dimension in the Y direction is larger than its dimension in the +A direction. The upper pad 196 has the same configuration as the lower pad 194 except for its size. The dimension of the upper pad 196 in the Y direction is the same as the dimension of the lower pad 194 in the Y direction. The dimension of the upper pad 196 in the +A direction is smaller than the dimension of the lower pad 194 in the +A direction. The upper pad 196 is placed on and bonded to the lower pad 194 from the +B direction, with the end face of the upper pad 196 in the -A direction and the end face of the lower pad 194 in the -A direction aligned.

[0106] The separating surface 196A, which is the surface of the upper pad 196 in the +B direction, comes into contact with the paper P. The separating surface 196A is an example of a plurality of separating surfaces. The friction coefficient μ4 of the separating surface 196A when it comes into contact with the paper P is set to the same value as the friction coefficient μ1, for example. In this way, the parting surface 194A is located in the -B direction and the +A direction relative to the parting surface 196A.

[0107] Here, according to the feeding unit 190, by having the separating surface 194A and the separating surface 196A, the contact opportunities between the paper P and the separating section 192 are increased compared to a configuration with one separating surface, and therefore the separating performance of the paper P by the separating section 192 can be improved. As an example, when four sheets of paper P are fed, first, the four sheets of paper P are separated into three sheets at the upper pad 196. Next, the three sheets of paper P are separated into two sheets at the lower pad 194. Finally, the two sheets of paper P are separated into one sheet at the nip portion NP. In this way, pre-separation is performed upstream of the nip portion NP in the +A direction.

[0108] [Modification] The feeding units 50 and 190 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention are based on the configuration described above, but it is of course possible to modify or omit some of the configuration within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0109] As shown in FIG. 22, a modified separating section 198 may be used. The separating section 198 has a first plate section 198A and a second plate section 198B aligned in the +A direction, and these are integrated. When viewed from the Y direction, the first plate section 198A and the second plate section 198B extend at different angles relative to the +A direction. The corners of the second plate section 198B are located in the -A direction and the +B direction relative to the corners of the first plate section 198A. In this way, by providing multiple separating sections aligned in the +A direction, the opportunity for contact between the paper P and the separating sections may be increased.

[0110] [Other Modifications] In the feeding unit 50, either the engagement portion 172 between the dowel 119 and the -Y direction or the engagement portion 172 between the dowel 128 and the +Y direction may not be provided. The release lever 162 is not limited to a swinging type, and may be a type that slides in one direction. The release lever 162 may not have the operating portion 164. The engagement portion 172 may not have the second inclined surface 178. The vertical wall portion 76 may not have the first pressing portion 80. A configuration in which a plurality of regulated portions 184 are provided in each of the Y direction and the +A direction means a configuration in which there are a plurality of regulated portions 184 when viewed from the +A direction or the Y direction. In other words, the number of regulated portions 184 is not limited to four, and may be three or five or more.

[0111] In the feeding unit 50, the number of each of the separation sections 150, 190, 198 and the outer separation section 167 is not limited to two in the Y direction, but may be one or three or more. Furthermore, the width in the Y direction, the length in the +A direction, and the thickness in the +B direction of the separation sections 150, 190, 198 and the outer separation section 167 may be different from those in the above embodiment. The outer separation section 167 does not have to be provided. The size of the interval in the Y direction between the separating sections 150, 190, 198 may be larger than the size of the paper sheets PS in the Y direction. The separating surface 152A does not have to extend along the reference line M. The guide plate 142 may be provided on a member different from the second holder 114 . The separating sections 150, 190, 198 may be partially located inside the outer circumferential surface 48A of the feed roller 46 in the Y direction when viewed from the +A direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 10...printer, 12...main body, 13...pick roller, 14...casing, 15... conveying roller pair, 16... discharge portion, 17... door portion, 18... cassette, 19... opening portion, 21...paper feed tray, 21A...loading surface, 22...side guide, 23...flap, 24... recording head, 26... support base, 28... control unit, 29... lifter, 32... lock unit, 33...upper wall, 34...lower wall, 36...roller cover, 37...mounting portion, 38...gripping portion, 42... drive shaft, 46... feed roller, 47... roller body, 48... elastic portion, 48A... outer peripheral surface, 49... opening, 50... feeding unit, 52... retard roller, 53...shaft portion, 54...elastic portion, 54A...outer peripheral surface, 55...torque limiter, 62...base guide, 63...front wall portion, 64...upper wall portion, 65...side wall portion, 70...accommodation section, 72...bottom wall, 73...through hole, 74...guide wall, 75...front wall, 75A...through hole, 76...vertical wall portion, 77...contact surface, 78...upper surface, 79...insertion hole, 80...first pressing portion, 81...stopper portion, 82...mounting plate, 82A...mounting hole, 83...pressure lever, 83A...extension portion, 83B...cap portion, 83C...contact portion, 84...rib, 86...rear wall, 87...through hole, 88...edge, 90...detachable unit, 92...inner wall, 93...recessed portion, 94...holder portion, 96...first holder, 98... roller housing section, 99... curved wall, 101... left side wall, 102... right side wall, 103... sheet metal member, 103A... screw hole, 104... knob portion, 108... connecting pin, 112...knob, 114...second holder, 115...front frame, 116...left frame, 117...Right frame, 117A...Vertical wall, 117B...Vertical wall, 117C...Bottom wall, 118...upper frame, 119...dowel, 122...window portion, 125...opening, 126...connecting hole, 128... dowel, 132... protruding portion, 136... pressed portion, 139... pressed surface, 142... guide plate, 142A... guide surface, 143... adjustment hole, 144... hole portion, 146... coil spring, 147... flange portion, 150... separation portion, 152... first pad, 152A... separation surface, 156... second pressing portion, 158... cap, 159... contact surface, 162... release lever, 163... shaft portion, 164... operating portion, 167... outer handling portion, 168... second pad, 168A... outer handling surface, 172... engagement portion, 173... arm portion, 174...ridge portion, 176...first inclined surface, 178...second inclined surface, 182...second restricting portion, 184...Regulated part, 184A...Regulated part, 184B...Regulated part, 184C...Regulated part, 184D...Restricted part, 186...Restricted surface, 186A...Top surface, 186B...Top surface, 190...feeding unit, 192...separating section, 194...lower pad, 194A...separating surface, 196...upper pad, 196A...cutting surface, 198...cutting portion, 198A...first plate portion, 198B...Second plate part, A1...Line, A2...Line, C...Virtual point, CL...Center line, d...Distance, D...perpendicular line, E...extension line, F...external force, G...tangent line, H...point, K...point, L1...length, L2...length, L3...length, L4...length, M...reference line, NP...nip area, P...paper, PS...Paper, Q...Ink, S...Point, ST...Line, T...Point, T1...Feed path, T2...Reverse path

Claims

1. a medium loading section for loading the medium; a lifting unit that can displace the media in the media stacking unit in a stacking direction; a rotating member that feeds the medium raised by the lifting unit in a feeding direction; a guide portion that guides a downstream end of the medium in the feeding direction, the downstream end being raised by the lifting portion, toward the rotating member; a separating unit that separates the medium toward the rotating member; Equipped with the guide portion forms an opening between the guide portion and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member, through which the medium can pass, and the size of the opening is adjustable; The handling portion is integrally provided with the guide portion, a retard roller that contacts the outer peripheral surface to form a nip portion; a tangent to the outer peripheral surface passing through a virtual point at the center of the nip portion in the feeding direction is used as a reference line; a separating surface of the separating unit that comes into contact with the medium extends along the reference line; A feeding device characterized by:

2. a medium loading section for loading the medium; a lifting unit that can displace the media in the media stacking unit in a stacking direction; a rotating member that feeds the medium raised by the lifting unit in a feeding direction; a guide portion that guides a downstream end of the medium in the feeding direction, the downstream end being raised by the lifting portion, toward the rotating member; a separating unit that separates the medium toward the rotating member; Equipped with the guide portion forms an opening between the guide portion and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member, through which the medium can pass, and the size of the opening is adjustable; The handling portion is integrally provided with the guide portion, an outer sorting section that sorts the medium toward the rotating member is provided on the outer side of the sorting section in a width direction of the medium that intersects with the feeding direction; an outer handling surface of the outer handling section that contacts the medium is positioned higher in the vertical direction than the handling surface of the handling section that contacts the medium; A feeding device characterized by:

3. The feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, a plurality of the separating sections are provided at intervals in a width direction of the medium that intersects with the feeding direction; When viewed from the feeding direction, one of the separating sections is located on one side of the center of the width direction of the rotating member, and the other separating section is located on the other side of the center of the width direction of the rotating member. A feeding device characterized by:

4. 4. The feeding device according to claim 3, When viewed from the feeding direction, the plurality of separation portions are located outside the outer circumferential surface of the rotating member in the width direction. A feeding device characterized by:

5. 5. The feeding device according to claim 3 or 4, the size of the widthwise interval between the one separating unit and the other separating unit is smaller than the size of the smallest size of the medium to be fed in the widthwise direction; A feeding device characterized by:

6. 2. The feeding device according to claim 1, a holder portion that rotatably holds the retard roller; a housing portion that houses the holder portion; Equipped with The holder portion is detachably provided in the storage portion. A feeding device characterized by:

7. 7. The feeding device according to claim 6, The guide portion is provided on the holder portion. A feeding device characterized by:

8. The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the separating section has a plurality of separating surfaces that are aligned in the feeding direction and come into contact with the medium; A feeding device characterized by:

9. The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8; a recording unit that records on the medium fed from the feeding device; Equipped with A recording device characterized by:

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