Image recording device

Abstract

To avoid interference between a member provided to a housing and a feed tray when the feed tray is in an inserting / extracting movement.SOLUTION: A guide guides a first feed tray 2, which moves between a first position and an intermediate position where a moving mechanism 25 provided on a bottom wall 21 of the first feed tray 2 is farther away from an opening 11a than from an actuator 82 provided to a housing 1, to be inserted / extracted in front / back directions, and also guides the first feed tray 2, which moves between the intermediate position and a second position, to be inserted / extracted in inclined directions. In the state in which the first feed tracy 2 is guided to be inserted / extracted in the front / back directions, the moving mechanism 25 and actuator 82 do not overlap each other when viewed from the front / back direction, and in the state in which the first feed tray 2 is guided to be inserted / extracted in the inclined directions, the moving mechanism 25 and actuator 82 do not overlap each other when viewed from the inclined directions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus provided with a feeding tray.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a feeding tray that can accommodate a recording medium and is insertable and removable with respect to a housing has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When inserting and removing the feeding tray as described above with respect to the housing, if a member provided on the housing and the bottom of the feeding tray interfere with each other, there is a risk that these members will be damaged.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of avoiding interference between a member provided on a housing and the bottom of a feeding tray during the insertion and removal operation of the feeding tray.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The image recording apparatus of the present invention is From the first perspective,The device comprises a housing with an opening formed therein, a guide, a feeding tray for accommodating a recording medium, the feeding tray being insertable into and removeable from the housing through the opening and movable along the guide between a first position mounted on the housing and a second position located outside the housing relative to the first position, a recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium fed from the feeding tray, and an installation member installed on the housing, the installation member being located below the bottom of the feeding tray and closer to the opening than a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray when the feeding tray is in the first position. The guide is configured to guide the feeding tray so that the insertion and removal direction is a first direction when it moves between a first position and an intermediate position between the first position and the second position, where a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray is located further from the opening than the installation member, and to guide the feeding tray so that the insertion and removal direction is a second direction when it moves between the intermediate position and the second position. When the feeding tray is guided by the guide so that the insertion and removal direction is a first direction, a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member overlap when viewed from the first direction, and when the feeding tray is guided by the guide so that the insertion and removal direction is a second direction, a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member do not overlap when viewed from the second direction. When the feeding tray is guided by the guide so that the insertion / removal direction is the second direction, the feeding tray is inclined such that the downstream end of the feeding tray in the withdrawal direction is positioned above the upstream end in the withdrawal direction. The guide is provided on the housing and has a guide surface that faces the bottom of the feeding tray and extends along the second direction when the feeding tray is in the first position. The feeding tray has a first contact surface that contacts the guide surface when it is located between the intermediate position and the second position. The guide guides the feeding tray so that the insertion / removal direction is the second direction by the first contact surface of the feeding tray contacting the guide surface. In a second aspect, the image recording apparatus of the present invention comprises a housing having an opening, a guide, a feeding tray for accommodating a recording medium, the feeding tray being insertable into and removeable from the housing through the opening, and movable along the guide between a first position mounted on the housing and a second position located outside the housing relative to the first position, a recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium fed from the feeding tray, and an installation member installed on the housing, the installation member being located below the bottom of the feeding tray and closer to the opening than a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray when the feeding tray is in the first position, wherein the guide is located between the first position and the second position The guide is configured to guide the feeding tray so that the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray is a first direction when it moves between an intermediate position, where a part of the bottom of the feeding tray is located further from the opening than the installation member, and the intermediate position and the second position so that the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray is a second direction when it moves between the intermediate position and the second position. When the feeding tray is guided by the guide so that the insertion and removal direction is a first direction, when viewed from the first direction, a part of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member overlap, and when the feeding tray is guided by the guide so that the insertion and removal direction is a second direction, when viewed from the second direction, a part of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member do not overlap. The guide further has a housing side facing the rear of the housing, and the feeding tray further has a tray side facing the downstream side in the withdrawal direction, and when the guide guides the feeding tray from the intermediate position to the second position, the housing side comes into contact with the tray side of the feeding tray, thereby stopping the movement of the feeding tray. The feeding tray has a gripping portion, and when the feeding tray is in a position where the housing side of the guide and the tray side come into contact, the gripping portion is located outside the housing.The present invention further comprises a feeding roller capable of feeding a recording medium contained in the feeding tray, an arm rotatably supported on a pivot shaft extending in a horizontal axial direction perpendicular to the inward-outward direction from the inside to the outside of the housing and rotatably supporting the feeding roller, and a roller attached to the arm, wherein the feeding tray has a side wall extending along the insertion / removal direction and having a notch formed at the top of the side wall, and when the feeding tray is located inside the housing, the roller contacts the upper surface of the side wall, when the roller is located inside the notch, the arm is in a lowered position where the feeding roller can contact the recording medium, and when the roller is located outside the notch, the arm is in an elevated position above the lowered position, and the portion of the side wall in which the notch is formed is the gripping portion. In a third aspect, the image recording apparatus of the present invention comprises a housing having an opening, a guide, a feeding tray for accommodating a recording medium, the feeding tray being insertable into and removeable from the housing through the opening, and movable along the guide between a first position mounted on the housing and a second position located outside the housing relative to the first position, a recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium fed from the feeding tray, and an installation member installed on the housing, the installation member being located below the bottom of the feeding tray and closer to the opening than a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray when the feeding tray is in the first position, wherein the guide is located between the first position and the second position The guide is configured to guide the feeding tray so that the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray is a first direction when it moves between an intermediate position, where a part of the bottom of the feeding tray is located further from the opening than the installation member, and the intermediate position and the second position so that the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray is a second direction when it moves between the intermediate position and the second position. When the feeding tray is guided by the guide so that the insertion and removal direction is a first direction, when viewed from the first direction, a part of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member overlap, and when the feeding tray is guided by the guide so that the insertion and removal direction is a second direction, when viewed from the second direction, a part of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member do not overlap. The feeding tray has a roll body housing section capable of housing a roll body in which a sheet-like recording medium is wound into a roll shape, and further comprises a media detection section provided in the housing capable of detecting a recording medium that is unwound from the roll body housed in the roll body housing section and transported within the feeding tray, and the installation member is a member constituting the media detection section, and a part of it is movable between an advance position located in the transport path of the recording medium being transported within the feeding tray and a retracted position that is moved away from the transport path. In a fourth aspect, the image recording apparatus of the present invention comprises a housing having an opening, a guide, a feeding tray for accommodating a recording medium, the feeding tray being insertable into and removeable from the housing through the opening, and movable along the guide between a first position mounted on the housing and a second position located outside the housing relative to the first position, a recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium fed from the feeding tray, and an installation member installed on the housing, the installation member being located below the bottom of the feeding tray and closer to the opening than a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray when the feeding tray is in the first position, wherein the guide is located between the first position and the second position The feed tray is guided to move between an intermediate position, where a portion of the bottom of the feed tray is located further from the opening than the installation member, and the intermediate position, so that the insertion and removal direction of the feed tray is a first direction, and the feed tray is guided to move between the intermediate position and the second position so that the insertion and removal direction of the feed tray is a second direction, wherein when the feed tray is guided by the guide so that the insertion and removal direction is a first direction, when viewed from the first direction, a portion of the bottom of the feed tray and the installation member overlap, and when the feed tray is guided by the guide so that the insertion and removal direction is a second direction, when viewed from the second direction, a portion of the bottom of the feed tray and the installation member do not overlap. The feed tray has a pair of side guides that abut the end faces of the recording medium contained in the feed tray in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording medium from the feed tray, and a moving mechanism that moves at least one of the pair of side guides toward and toward the other, and a portion of the bottom of the feed tray includes the moving mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the image recording device of the present invention, when inserting or removing the feeding tray, interference between the mounting member provided on the housing and the bottom of the feeding tray can be avoided when the feeding tray moves between a first position and a second position. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic side view showing the internal structure of a printer according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This shows the arm supporting the second feed roller in the raised position. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the movement of the actuator in the paper detection unit. (a) shows the case where there is no paper at the detection position, and (b) shows the case where there is paper at the detection position. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the positional relationship between the actuator and the moving mechanism. (a) shows the case where the insertion / removal direction of the first feeding tray is the front-to-back direction, and (b) shows the case where the insertion / removal direction of the first feeding tray is the inclined direction. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the movement of the first feeding tray guided by the guide, with (a) showing the tray in the first position and (b) showing the tray in the intermediate position. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates the movement of the first feeding tray guided by the guide, with (a) showing the state between the intermediate position and the second position, and (b) showing the state at the second position. [Figure 7] The first feeding tray is shown in contact with the inclined surface. (a) shows the insertion / removal direction as the inclined direction, and (b) shows the insertion / removal direction as the front-back direction. [Figure 8] (a) is a perspective view showing the guide surface and contact surface provided on the second support section, and (b) is a perspective view showing the first contact surface, second contact surface and third contact surface provided on the first feeding tray. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] A printer 100 (corresponding to the "image recording device" of the present invention) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figure 1. The vertical, horizontal, and front-to-back directions shown in Figure 1 refer to the vertical, horizontal, and front-to-back directions of the printer 100.

[0010] (Overall configuration of printer 100) The printer 100 mainly comprises a housing 1, a first feed tray 2, a second feed tray 3, a transport unit 4, a cutter 5, a recording unit 6, a paper output tray 7, a paper detection unit 8, and a control unit 10.

[0011] Three openings 11a to 11c are formed in the front wall 11 of the housing 1. The three openings 11a to 11c are arranged in this order from bottom to top. Opening 11a is an entrance / exit for inserting and removing the first feed tray 2 into the housing 1. Opening 11b is an entrance / exit for inserting and removing the second feed tray 3 into the housing 1. Opening 11c is an entrance / exit for inserting and removing the output tray 7 into the housing 1.

[0012] The bottom wall 12 of the housing 1 has a first support portion 13 and a second support portion 14 that support the bottom of the first feeding tray 2 mounted on the housing 1. The first support portion 13 supports the rear end of the first feeding tray 2 mounted on the housing 1. The second support portion 14 supports the front end of the first feeding tray 2 mounted on the housing 1.

[0013] The first feeding tray 2 is detachably supported by the housing 1. The first feeding tray 2 can be inserted into and removed from the housing 1 through an opening 11a formed in the housing 1. In the following description, the direction along the front-rear direction when the first feeding tray 2 is mounted on the housing 1 will be referred to as the "insertion / removal direction". The direction from rear to front when the first feeding tray 2 is mounted on the housing 1 will be referred to as the "pull-out direction". Furthermore, the left-right direction when the first feeding tray 2 is mounted on the housing 1 will simply be referred to as the "left-right direction".

[0014] The first paper feed tray 2 has a box shape that opens upward. At the upstream end in the drawing direction on the bottom wall 21 located at the bottom of the first paper feed tray 2, a rear wall 22 is provided. On the rear wall 22, a guide surface 22a is formed that is inclined such that the upper end is located on the upstream side in the drawing direction than the lower end. Also, at both ends in the left - right direction of the bottom wall 21, a pair of side walls 23 extending along the drawing direction are provided. At the upper part of the side wall 23, a notch 23a is formed. Further, on the side wall 23, a plurality of ribs 23b (see FIG. 8) protruding outward in the left - right direction from its surface are provided.

[0015] The first paper feed tray 2 has a roll body housing portion 20 capable of housing the roll body R. Note that the first paper feed tray 2 may be configured to be able to house cut paper in addition to the roll body R. The roll body R is formed by winding a long sheet P (corresponding to the "recording medium" of the present invention) in a roll shape around the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical core member Rc. The roll body housing portion 20 houses the roll body R in a posture where its axial direction coincides with the left - right direction.

[0016] The roll body housing portion 20 has two support bases 26, 27 and two rollers 26a, 27a. The two support bases 26, 27 are arranged at intervals in the front - rear direction. The support base 26 is located behind the support base 27. The two support bases 26, 27 both extend along the left - right direction. The two rollers 26a, 27a are arranged at intervals in the front - rear direction. The roller 26a is rotatably attached to the support base 26 around a rotation axis extending along the left - right direction. The roller 27a is rotatably attached to the support base 27 around a rotation axis extending along the left - right direction. The rollers 26a, 27a support the roll body R from below in a state of being in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower part of the roll body R.

[0017] The paper P unwound from the roll body R housed in the roll body housing portion 20 is drawn from the front side to the rear side of the support base 26 through the gap between the lower surface of the support base 26 and the bottom surface 21a of the first paper feed tray 2.

[0018] The first feeding tray 2 includes a pair of side guides 24 and a moving mechanism 25 for moving the pair of side guides 24. The pair of side guides 24 contact both end faces of the paper P in the width direction (a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the paper P from the first feeding tray 2) of the paper P pulled out from the roll body R housed in the roll body storage section 20. The pair of side guides 24 are arranged facing each other in the left-right direction. The moving mechanism 25 moves the pair of side guides 24 in a linked direction toward and away from each other. The moving mechanism 25 is, for example, a known interlocking mechanism (not shown) consisting of opposing racks and pinions that mesh with both racks.

[0019] The moving mechanism 25 is provided on the bottom wall 21 of the first feeding tray 2. When the first feeding tray 2 is mounted on the housing 1, the portion of the bottom wall 21 on which the moving mechanism 25 is provided faces the first support portion 13.

[0020] The first feed tray 2 is equipped with a transport roller pair 28 consisting of two rollers 28a and 28b arranged vertically. The transport roller pair 28 is capable of transporting paper P as it is unwound from the roll body R and passes through the gap between the lower surface of the support base 26 and the bottom surface 21a of the first feed tray 2 while gripping it. The transport roller pair 28 transports the paper P in the direction of rewinding it back onto the roll body R. The transport roller pair 28 rotates in the direction of rewinding the gripped paper P back onto the roll body R by an interlocking mechanism (not shown) that is linked to the first feed tray 2 being pulled out of the housing 1.

[0021] The second feeding tray 3 is detachably supported by the housing 1. The second feeding tray 3 can be inserted into and removed from the housing 1 through an opening 11b formed in the housing 1. The second feeding tray 3 is capable of accommodating paper P, which is a cut sheet of a predetermined size. The second feeding tray 3 is expandable and contractible in the front-to-back direction. When the second feeding tray 3 is most retracted, its front surface is almost flush with the front surface of the housing 1. As shown by the dashed line in Figure 1, when the second feeding tray 3 is extended, its front end is pulled out from the housing 1. By extending the second feeding tray 3, it can accommodate cut sheets of relatively large sizes, such as A3 size.

[0022] The transport unit 4 selectively transports either the paper P unwound from the roll R contained in the first feed tray 2 or the paper P contained in the second feed tray 3. The transport unit 4 includes a first feed roller 51, a second feed roller 52, an intermediate roller pair 41, a transport roller pair 42, a paper discharge roller pair 43, and a guide member 44.

[0023] The first feed roller 51 is capable of feeding the paper P contained in the first feed tray 2. The first feed roller 51 rotates around an axis aligned in the left-right direction by the drive of a first feed motor (not shown). The support configuration of the first feed roller 51 will be described later.

[0024] When the first feed motor is driven by the control unit 10, the first feed roller 51 rotates, and a transport force is applied to the paper P in contact with the first feed roller 51 in a direction from front to back. As a result, the paper P is fed out of the first feed tray 2. The paper P fed out of the first feed tray 2 is guided diagonally upward by the guide surface 22a of the first feed tray 2.

[0025] The second feed roller 52 is capable of feeding the paper P contained in the second feed tray 3. The second feed roller 52 rotates around an axis aligned in the left-right direction by the drive of a second feed motor (not shown). When the second feed motor is driven by the control unit 10, the second feed roller 52 rotates, and a transport force is applied to the paper P in contact with the second feed roller 52 in a direction from front to back. As a result, the paper P is fed out from the second feed tray 3.

[0026] Furthermore, in the second feed tray 3 when mounted in the housing 1, a guide surface 3b is formed on the rear wall 3a located at the rear end, such that the upper end is positioned behind the lower end. Therefore, the paper P fed from the second feed tray 3 is guided diagonally upward by the guide surface 3b of the second feed tray 3.

[0027] The intermediate roller pair 41 consists of a drive roller that rotates by the drive of an intermediate motor (not shown) and a driven roller that moves along with the drive roller. When the intermediate motor (not shown) is driven by the control unit 10, the intermediate roller pair 41 rotates while gripping the paper P and transports the paper P. The intermediate roller pair 41 is located above the rear wall 3a of the second feed tray 3. The intermediate roller pair 41 transports the paper P upward while gripping it as it is fed diagonally upward from either the first feed tray 2 or the second feed tray 3. The guide member 44 is located above the intermediate roller pair 41. The guide member 44 guides the paper P being transported upward by the intermediate roller pair 41 forward.

[0028] The transport roller pair 42 consists of a drive roller that rotates by the drive of a transport motor (not shown) and a driven roller that moves along with the drive roller. The paper discharge roller pair 43 consists of a drive roller that rotates by the drive of a paper discharge motor (not shown) and a driven roller that moves along with the drive roller. When the transport motor and paper discharge motor (not shown) are driven by the control unit 10, the transport roller pair 42 and the paper discharge roller pair 43 rotate while gripping the paper P to transport the paper P. The transport roller pair 42 is located behind the recording unit 6, and the paper discharge roller pair 43 is located in front of the recording unit 6. The transport roller pair 42 transports the paper P forward while gripping the paper P that has been guided forward by the guide member 44. The paper discharge roller pair 43 transports the paper P forward while gripping the paper P that has been transported forward by the transport roller pair 42.

[0029] The cutter 5 is located between the rear wall 22 of the first feed tray 2 and the intermediate roller pair 41. The cutter 5 consists of a rotating blade and a fixed blade. Alternatively, the cutter 5 may consist of a disc-shaped rotating blade and a driven blade. The cutter 5 rotates and reciprocates along the left-right direction, driven by a cutting motor (not shown). The paper P, unwound from the roll body R and transported, is cut in the width direction by the cutter 5 when the cutting motor is driven by the control unit 10.

[0030] The recording unit 6 includes a head (not shown) with multiple nozzles formed on its lower surface and a driver IC (not shown). The recording unit 6 records an image on paper P that is fed and transported by the transport unit 4 from the first feed tray 2 or the second feed tray 3. When the driver IC is driven by the control unit 10, ink is ejected from the nozzles of the head, and an image is formed on the paper P as it passes the image recording position opposite the lower surface of the head, which is transported by the transport unit 4. The recording unit 6 may be either a line type, which ejects ink from nozzles of a head that are in a fixed position, or a serial type, which ejects ink from nozzles of a head that moves in the left-right direction.

[0031] The output tray 7 is located in front of the recording unit 6 within the housing 1 and above the second feed tray 3. The output tray 7 can be inserted into and removed from the housing 1 in the front-to-back direction through an opening 11c formed in the housing 1. The output tray 7 receives the paper P on which an image has been formed by the recording unit 6 and which has been transported forward by the pair of output rollers 43.

[0032] The paper detection unit 8 is capable of detecting the paper P being transported by the transport unit 4 below the roll storage unit 20 in the first feeding tray 2. In other words, the paper detection unit 8 corresponds to the "media detection unit" of the present invention. The specific configuration of the paper detection unit 8 will be described later.

[0033] The control unit 10 is connected to the first feeding motor, second feeding motor, intermediate motor, transport motor, paper discharge motor, cutting motor, paper detection unit 8, and driver IC, etc., via an internal bus (not shown). The control unit 10 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM stores programs and data for the CPU to perform various controls. The RAM temporarily stores data used by the CPU when executing programs.

[0034] (Support configuration of the first feeding roller 51) Here, with further reference to Figure 2, the support configuration of the first feeding roller 51 will be described. The first feeding roller 51 is pivotally supported at the tip of the arm 51a. The arm 51a is rotatably supported on a pivot shaft 51b that extends along the left-right direction. The pivot shaft 51b is supported by the housing 1. The arm 51a is biased by a biasing member (not shown) so that the first feeding roller 51 approaches the bottom surface 21a of the first feeding tray 2.

[0035] The arm 51a of the first feeding roller 51 is provided with an extended portion 51c that extends in the left-right direction. A roller 51d, which can rotate around a rotation axis that extends in the left-right direction, is attached to the left-right end of the extended portion 51c. The roller 51d contacts the upper surface of the side wall 23 of the first feeding tray 2.

[0036] As shown in Figure 1, when the first feed tray 2 is mounted on the housing 1, the roller 51d is located within the notch 23a formed in the side wall 23. At this time, the arm 51a is in a lowered position where the first feed roller 51 can contact the paper P in the first feed tray 2.

[0037] On the other hand, when the first feeding tray 2 is pulled out from inside the housing 1, the roller 51d moves over the notch 23a and out of the notch 23a, as shown in Figure 2. At this time, the arm 51a rotates upward around the pivot axis 51b. As a result, the arm 51a moves to an elevated position that is above the lowered position and does not interfere with the first feeding tray 2 being pulled out from inside the housing 1.

[0038] (Configuration of the paper detection unit 8) Next, the configuration of the paper detection unit 8 will be described with further reference to Figures 3 and 4. As shown in Figure 3, the paper detection unit 8 mainly comprises a pivot shaft 81 extending in the left-right direction and an actuator 82 that can rotate around the pivot shaft.

[0039] The paper detection unit 8 is located in the storage space within the second support portion 14 in the bottom wall 12 of the housing 1. The actuator 82 is biased upward (clockwise in Figure 3) by a spring (not shown). A part of the actuator 82 protrudes above the second support portion 14 through an opening 15a formed in the upper wall 15 of the second support portion 14. When the first feed tray 2 is mounted in the housing 1, a part of the actuator 82 enters the first feed tray 2 through an opening 21b formed in the bottom wall 21 of the first feed tray 2.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3(a), when there is no paper P at the detection position of the paper detection unit 8, the actuator 82 is positioned in an advanced position where a part of the actuator 82 is located on the transport path of the paper P (shown by a dashed line in the figure). On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3(b), when the paper P is located at the detection position of the paper detection unit 8, the actuator 82 rotates downward (counterclockwise in the figure) by contacting the paper P, and moves to a retracted position away from the transport path.

[0041] The paper detection unit 8 can detect whether the actuator 82 is in the extended position (see Figure 3(a)) or the retracted position (see Figure 3(b)) by, for example, a photosensor having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element (not shown). By detecting the position of the actuator 82, the paper detection unit 8 detects the presence or absence of paper P at the detection position.

[0042] In Figure 3(b), the actuator 82, located in the lowest retracted position, is shown by a dashed line. Even when the actuator 82 is in the retracted position, a portion of it protrudes above the second support portion 14. The actuator 82 corresponds to the "installation member" of the present invention.

[0043] As shown in Figure 4(a), the actuator 82 is located below the bottom wall 21 of the first feeding tray 2 when the first feeding tray 2 is mounted in the housing 1. Furthermore, the actuator 82 is located closer to the opening 11a than the moving mechanism 25 provided on the bottom wall 21 of the first feeding tray 2.

[0044] As shown in Figure 4(a), the movement mechanism 25 of the first feeding tray 2 is located on a first straight line L1 that extends in the front-rear direction, passing over the upper end of the actuator 82 located in the retracted position. That is, when viewed from the front, the movement mechanism 25 of the first feeding tray 2 and the upper end of the actuator 82 located in the retracted position overlap. Therefore, when the first feeding tray 2 is inserted into or removed from the housing 1 along the front-rear direction, a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2, including the movement mechanism 25, interferes with the actuator 82. To address this, the housing 1 is provided with a guide 9 that guides the first feeding tray 2 to be inserted into or removed from the housing 1 in a trajectory that prevents interference between a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2 and the actuator 82.

[0045] (Structure of Guide 9) Next, the configuration of the guide 9 will be explained with further reference to Figures 5 to 8. The guide 9 guides the first feeding tray 2 as it moves between a first position (see Figure 5(a)) mounted on the housing 1 and a second position (see Figure 6(b)) located outside the housing 1, which is further outside the first position.

[0046] Guide 9 guides the first feeding tray 2 so that its insertion / removal direction (pulling direction) is in the front-to-back direction (corresponding to the "first direction" of the present invention) as it moves between the first position and an intermediate position between the first position (see Figure 5(a)) and the second position (see Figure 5(b)). When the first feeding tray 2 is in the intermediate position, the movement mechanism 25 of the first feeding tray 2 is located further from the opening 11a than the actuator 82.

[0047] Guide 9 guides the first feeding tray 2, which moves between an intermediate position (see Figure 5(b)) and a second position (see Figure 6(b)), so that its insertion / removal direction (pulling direction) is inclined relative to the front-rear direction (corresponding to the "second direction" of the present invention). As shown in Figure 6, the first feeding tray 2, guided by guide 9 so that its insertion / removal direction is inclined, is in an inclined position such that its downstream end in the pulling direction is positioned above its upstream end in the pulling direction.

[0048] In addition to the first support portion 13 and the second support portion 14 described above, the guide 9 includes a first upper member 97 and a second upper member 98. As shown in Figure 5(a), the first upper member 97 and the second upper member 98 are located above the side wall 23 of the first feeding tray 2 when the first feeding tray 2 is in the first position. The first upper member 97 and the second upper member 98 are arranged side by side, front to back. The first upper member 97 is positioned opposite the first support portion 13 in the vertical direction. The second upper member 98 is positioned opposite the second support portion 14 in the vertical direction. The second upper member 98 is located near the opening 11a.

[0049] As described above, the first support portion 13 and the second support portion 14 support the bottom wall 21 of the first feeding tray 2 mounted on the housing 1. The upper part of the first support portion 13 is provided with a horizontal top surface 13a (see Figures 5 to 7). The upper part of the second support portion 14 is provided with a horizontal top surface 14a (see Figure 8(a)). The top surface 13a of the first support portion 13 and the top surface 14a of the second support portion 14 are in contact with the bottom wall 21 of the first feeding tray 2.

[0050] As shown in Figure 8(a), the second support portion 14 is provided with a guide surface 91. The guide surface 91 is an upward-facing surface and extends along the inclined direction and the left-right direction. That is, the guide surface 91 is inclined such that its front end is positioned higher than its rear end. The guide surface 91 faces the bottom wall 21 of the first feeding tray 2 when the first feeding tray 2 is in the first position.

[0051] Here, as shown in Figure 8(a), the guide surface 91 is divided into two adjacent regions 91a and 91b. Region 91a, located on the outside in the left-right direction (right side in the figure), extends further forward than region 91b, located on the inside in the left-right direction (left side in the figure).

[0052] As shown in Figure 8(a), the second support portion 14 is provided with a contact surface 92 in addition to the guide surface 91. The contact surface 92 is located near the opening 11a. The contact surface 92 faces the rear side (the back side of the housing 1). That is, the contact surface 92 corresponds to the "side surface of the housing" in this invention. The contact surface 92 is a surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The contact surface 92 extends upward from the front end of the region 91a on the guide surface 91.

[0053] As shown in Figure 8(b), the first feeding tray 2 is provided with a first contact surface 31, a second contact surface 32, and a third contact surface. The first contact surface 31 and the second contact surface 32 can contact the guide surface 91. The third contact surface 33 can contact the contact surface 92.

[0054] The first contact surface 31 extends along the front-rear and left-right directions when the first feeding tray 2 is in the first position. As shown in Figure 6(b), the first contact surface 31 contacts the guide surface 91 when the first feeding tray 2 is located between the intermediate position and the second position.

[0055] Here, as shown in Figure 8(b), the first contact surface 31 is divided into two adjacent regions 31a and 31b. At this time, region 31a located on the outside in the left-right direction (left side in the figure) is in contact with region 91a of the guide surface 91. Also, region 31b located on the inside in the left-right direction (right side in the figure) is in contact with region 91b of the guide surface 91. The downstream end of region 31a in the pull-out direction and the upstream end of region 31b in the pull-out direction are adjacent in the left-right direction. Region 31a extends further upstream in the pull-out direction than region 31b. Region 31b extends further downstream in the pull-out direction than region 31a.

[0056] The second contact surface 32 is connected to the downstream end of the region 31b of the first contact surface 31 in the withdrawal direction. The second contact surface 32 extends along the inclined direction and the left-right direction when the first feeding tray 2 is in the first position. As shown in Figures 5(b) and 6(a), the second contact surface 32 contacts the region 91b of the guide surface 91 when the first feeding tray 2 is located near the intermediate position.

[0057] The third contact surface 33 is a surface perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction of the first feeding tray 2. The third contact surface 33 faces downstream in the withdrawal direction. The third contact surface 33 corresponds to the "tray side surface" of the present invention. The third contact surface 33 extends upward from the downstream end in the withdrawal direction of region 31a of the first contact surface 31. As shown in Figure 6(b), the third contact surface 33 contacts the contact surface 92 when the first feeding tray 2 is in the second position.

[0058] The first upper member 97 contacts the upstream end of the side wall 23 of the first feeding tray 2 in the withdrawal direction when the second contact surface 32 of the first feeding tray 2 is in contact with the guide surface 91. In other words, when the second contact surface 32 of the first feeding tray 2 is in contact with the guide surface 91, the first upper member 97 contacts the portion of the first feeding tray 2 upstream of the contact point with the guide surface 91 in the withdrawal direction.

[0059] The second upper member 98 is inclined such that its front end (the front side of the housing 1) is positioned higher than its rear end (the rear side of the housing 1), and has a downward-facing inclined surface 98a. The inclined surface 98a is positioned above the first feeding tray 2 when the first feeding tray 2 is in the first position. As shown in Figure 7, the inclined surface 98a contacts the upstream end in the withdrawal direction on the upper surface of the side wall 23 of the first feeding tray 2.

[0060] (Guide by Guide 9) Next, we will explain how the guide 9 guides the first feeding tray 2. First, we will explain the case when the first feeding tray 2, which is mounted in the housing 1, is pulled out of the housing 1. As shown in Figure 5(a), when the first feeding tray 2 is in the first position, the first feeding tray 2 is in a position where its pulling direction is in the front-to-back direction. When the first feeding tray 2 is in the first position, the second contact surface 32 of the first feeding tray 2 is located behind the guide surface 91.

[0061] When the first feeding tray 2 is withdrawn from its first position (see Figure 5(a)), the guide 9 guides the first feeding tray 2 with the upper surface 13a of the first support portion 13 and the upper surface 14a of the second support portion 14 so that the withdrawal direction is in the front-rear direction. As a result, the first feeding tray 2 moves forward in a posture in which the withdrawal direction is in the front-rear direction. Then, as shown in Figure 5(b), the second contact surface 32 of the first feeding tray 2 comes into contact with the guide surface 91.

[0062] When the first feeding tray 2 is pulled out (moved forward) with the second contact surface 32 in contact with the guide surface 91, the guide 9 pushes the first feeding tray 2 upward with the guide surface 91. As a result, the first feeding tray 2 moves upward while maintaining a posture in which the pulling direction is the front-rear direction. At this time, the upstream end of the first feeding tray 2 in the pulling direction comes into contact with the first upper member 97. That is, the guide 9 pushes the upstream end of the first feeding tray 2 in the pulling direction downward with the first upper member 97. As a result, the first feeding tray 2 assumes an inclined posture in which the downstream end in the pulling direction is positioned above the upstream end in the pulling direction, as shown in Figure 6(a). That is, the pulling direction of the first feeding tray 2 becomes the inclined direction. The position in which the pulling direction of the first feeding tray 2 changes from the front-rear direction to the inclined direction is the "intermediate position" of the present invention.

[0063] Furthermore, when the first feeding tray 2 is pulled out, the first contact surface 31 of the first feeding tray 2 comes into contact with the guide surface 91. The guide 9 then uses the guide surface 91 to guide the first feeding tray 2 so that the direction of withdrawal is inclined.

[0064] At this time, as shown in Figure 4(b), the moving mechanism 25 provided on the bottom wall 21 of the first feeding tray 2 is located above the second straight line L2 that passes through the upper end of the actuator 82 located in the retracted position and extends in the inclined direction. That is, when viewed from the inclined direction, a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2 including the moving mechanism 25 and the upper end of the actuator 82 located in the retracted position do not overlap. Therefore, a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2 including the moving mechanism 25, which is pulled out guided in the inclined direction by the guide 9, does not interfere with the actuator 82.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(a), the extended second feeding tray 3 is located above the second straight line L3 that passes over the upper end of the first feeding tray 2 and extends in the inclined direction. Therefore, the first feeding tray 2, which is guided and pulled out in the inclined direction by the guide 9, does not interfere with the extended second feeding tray 3.

[0066] As shown in Figure 6(b), the first feeding tray 2, guided to the second position by the guide 9 in a position where the withdrawal direction is inclined, has its third contact surface 33 in contact with the contact surface 92. As a result, the guide 9 stops the movement of the first feeding tray 2, which has moved from the first position to the second position.

[0067] When the first feeding tray 2 is in the second position, there is a small gap between the upper surface of the side wall 23 of the first feeding tray 2 and the second upper member 98 located above the side wall 23. Therefore, the user can completely remove the first feeding tray 2 from the housing 1 by lifting the first feeding tray 2 to a position where the third contact surface 33 of the first feeding tray 2 does not come into contact with the contact surface 92.

[0068] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(b), when the first feeding tray 2 is in the second position, the portion of the side wall 23 of the first feeding tray 2 in which the notch 23a is formed is located outside the housing 1. Therefore, the user can grasp the notch 23a and pull the first feeding tray 2 out of the housing 1. In other words, the portion of the side wall 23 in which the notch 23a is formed functions as a gripping portion 23d. The gripping portion 23d is located at the center of gravity of the first feeding tray 2 when it is fully loaded.

[0069] Next, we will describe the case when the first feeding tray 2 is inserted into the housing 1. When inserting the first feeding tray 2 into the housing 1, first, as shown in Figure 7(b), the downstream end of the first feeding tray 2 in the insertion direction (upstream end in the withdrawal direction) comes into contact with the inclined surface 98a of the second upper member 98. At this time, the guide 9 uses the inclined surface 98a to guide the first feeding tray 2 so that the insertion direction (withdrawal direction) becomes the inclined direction, as shown in Figure 7(a).

[0070] As the first feeding tray 2 is inserted, the first contact surface 31 of the first feeding tray 2 comes into contact with the guide surface 91, as shown in Figure 6(b). The guide 9 then guides the first feeding tray 2 so that it is inserted in an inclined position with the insertion direction (withdrawal direction) being inclined, as shown in Figure 5(b). Subsequently, the second contact surface 32 of the first feeding tray 2 comes into contact with the guide surface 91, as shown in Figure 5(b). This causes the first feeding tray 2 to be in an inclined position with the insertion direction (withdrawal direction) being in the front-to-back direction. The guide 9 then guides the first feeding tray 2 so that it is inserted to the first position with the insertion direction (withdrawal direction) being in the front-to-back direction, as shown in Figure 6(b).

[0071] (Features of the embodiment) As described above, the printer 100 of this embodiment includes a guide 9 and a first feed tray 2 that is movable along the guide 9 between a first position mounted on the housing 1 and a second position located outside the housing 1 relative to the first position. The printer 100 is also housed in a second support portion 14 of the housing 1 and includes an actuator 82 that, when the first feed tray 2 is in the first position, is located below the bottom wall 21 of the first feed tray 2 and closer to the opening 11a than a movement mechanism 25 provided on the bottom wall 21 of the first feed tray 2. The guide 9 is configured to guide the insertion and removal direction of the first feed tray 2 as it moves between the first position and an intermediate position between the first and second positions, where the movement mechanism 25 is located further from the opening 11a than the actuator 82, so that it is in the front-to-back direction, and to guide the insertion and removal direction of the first feed tray 2 as it moves between the intermediate position and the second position, so that it is in the inclined direction. When the first feeding tray 2 is guided by the guide 9 so that the insertion / removal direction is the front-to-back direction, when viewed from the front-to-back direction, a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2 including the movement mechanism 25 and the actuator 82 overlap. When the first feeding tray 2 is guided by the guide 9 so that the insertion / removal direction is the inclined direction, when viewed from the inclined direction, a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2 including the movement mechanism 25 and the actuator 82 do not overlap.

[0072] With the above configuration, when inserting or removing the first feeding tray 2, interference between the actuator 82 provided on the housing 1 and a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2, including the moving mechanism 25, can be avoided when the first feeding tray 2 moves between the first and second positions.

[0073] Furthermore, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, when the first feed tray 2 is guided by the guide 9 so that the insertion / removal direction is the inclined direction, the first feed tray 2 is in an inclined position such that the downstream end of the first feed tray 2 in the withdrawal direction is positioned above the upstream end in the withdrawal direction. The guide 9 is provided on the second support portion 14 of the housing 1 and has a guide surface 91 that faces the bottom wall 21 of the first feed tray 2 and extends along the inclined direction when the first feed tray 2 is in the first position, and the first feed tray 2 has a first contact surface 31 that contacts the guide surface 91 when it is located between the intermediate position and the second position. The guide 9 guides the insertion / removal direction of the first feed tray 2 so that it is the inclined direction by having the first contact surface 31 of the first feed tray 2 contact the guide surface 91. With this configuration, the first feeding tray 2 can be guided in the inclined direction by inserting and removing the first feeding tray 2 while the first contact surface 31 is in contact with the guide surface 91.

[0074] Furthermore, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the first feed tray 2 is capable of contacting the guide surface 91 and is connected to the downstream end of the first contact surface 31 in the withdrawal direction. When the first feed tray 2 is in the first position, it has a second contact surface 32 that extends along the inclination direction. When the first feed tray 2 is mounted in the housing 1, the first contact surface 31 of the first feed tray 2 contacts the guide surface 91 of the guide 9, causing the first feed tray 2 to assume an inclined position such that the downstream end in the withdrawal direction is positioned above the upstream end in the withdrawal direction (see Figure 6(b)). If the insertion of the first feed tray 2 continues in this position, the downstream end of the first feed tray 2 in the insertion direction will come into contact with the bottom wall 21 of the housing 1. In the above configuration, after the first contact surface 31 of the first feeding tray 2 comes into contact with the guide surface 91 of the guide 9, the second contact surface 32 of the first feeding tray 2 comes into contact with the guide surface 91 of the guide 9, thereby guiding the insertion and removal direction of the first feeding tray 2 to be in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, contact between the first feeding tray 2 and the bottom wall 21 of the housing 1 can be avoided.

[0075] In addition, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the guide 9 is provided on the housing 1 and has a first upper member 97 located above the first feed tray 2 when the first feed tray 2 is in a first position. The first upper member 97 contacts the portion of the first feed tray 2 upstream in the withdrawal direction from the contact point with the guide surface 91 when the first feed tray 2 is in a position where the guide surface 91 and the second contact surface 32 are in contact. When the first feed tray 2 is withdrawn while the second contact surface 32 of the first feed tray 2 is in contact with the guide surface 91, the first feed tray 2 is pushed upward by the guide surface 91 in a posture where the insertion / withdrawal direction is the front-to-back direction. According to the above configuration, when the first feeding tray 2 is pushed upward by the guide surface 91, the portion of the first feeding tray 2 upstream in the withdrawal direction from the contact point with the guide surface 91 is pushed downward by the first upper member 97. As a result, the first feeding tray 2 smoothly assumes an inclined position such that the downstream end in the withdrawal direction is positioned above the upstream end in the withdrawal direction.

[0076] Furthermore, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the guide 9 is provided near the opening 11a in the housing 1 and is located above the first feed tray 2 when the first feed tray 2 is in the first position. The guide 9 has an inclined surface 98a that is inclined such that its front end is higher than its rear end and faces downward. The inclined surface 98a contacts the upstream end of the first feed tray 2 in the withdrawal direction. With this configuration, when the first feed tray 2 is inserted into the housing 1, the downstream end of the first feed tray 2 in the insertion direction (upstream end in the withdrawal direction) contacts the inclined surface 98a of the guide 9. This allows the first feed tray 2 to be guided so that its downstream end in the withdrawal direction is positioned higher than its upstream end in the withdrawal direction.

[0077] Furthermore, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the guide 9 has a contact surface 92 facing the rear side of the housing 1. The first feed tray 2 has a third contact surface 33 facing the downstream side in the withdrawal direction. When the guide 9 guides the first feed tray 2 from the intermediate position to the second position, the contact surface 92 contacts the third contact surface 33 of the first feed tray 2, thereby stopping the movement of the first feed tray 2. With this configuration, the contact between the contact surface 92 and the third contact surface 33 of the first feed tray 2 allows the first feed tray 2 to be stopped just before it is completely withdrawn from the housing 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the first feed tray 2 from being forcefully withdrawn from the housing 1.

[0078] Furthermore, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the first feed tray 2 has a gripping portion 23d. When the first feed tray 2 is in a position where the contact surface 92 of the guide 9 and the third contact surface 33 are in contact, the gripping portion 23d is located outside the housing 1. With this configuration, after pulling out the first feed tray 2 to a position where the third contact surface 33 is in contact with the contact surface 92 of the guide 9, the gripping portion 23d can be gripped to completely pull out the first feed tray 2 from the housing 1.

[0079] In addition, in the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the first feed tray 2 has a plurality of ribs 23b formed on the side wall 23 where the gripping portion 23d is provided. With this configuration, the strength of the gripping portion 23d can be increased by the ribs 23b.

[0080] Furthermore, the printer 100 of the above-described embodiment includes a first feed roller 51 capable of feeding paper P contained in a first feed tray 2, an arm 51a rotatably supported on a pivot shaft 51b extending in the left-right direction and rotatably supporting the first feed roller 51, and a roller 51d attached to the arm 51a. The first feed tray 2 has a side wall 23 extending in the insertion / removal direction, with a notch 23a formed at the top of the side wall 23. When the first feed tray 2 is located inside the housing 1, the roller 51d contacts the upper surface of the side wall 23. When the roller 51d is located inside the notch 23a, the arm 51a is in a lowered position where the first feed roller 51 can contact the paper P. When the roller 51d is located outside the notch 23a, the arm 51a is in an elevated position above the lowered position. The portion of the side wall 23 with the notch 23a functions as a gripping portion 23d. With this configuration, the notch 23a formed in the side wall 23 of the first feeding tray 2 can be used as a gripping portion 23d to move the arm 51a supporting the first feeding roller 51 between a lowered position and an raised position.

[0081] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than the above description of embodiments, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included.

[0082] In the above-described embodiment, the first feeding tray 2 is guided by the guide 9 to prevent interference between the actuator 82 of the paper detection unit 8 installed in the housing 1 and a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2 including the moving mechanism 25. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. The guide 9 is installed in the housing 1 and, when the first feeding tray 2 is in the first position, any member located below the bottom of the first feeding tray 2 and closer to the opening 11a than a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2 can avoid interfering with a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2.

[0083] That is, for example, the housing 1 is provided with a biasing mechanism that biases the lower roller 28b of the two rollers 28a and 28b that constitute the transport roller pair 28 upward, and the guide 9 may be configured so that this biasing mechanism does not interfere with a part of the bottom of the first feed tray 2. Alternatively, the guide 9 may be configured so that both the actuator 82 of the paper detection unit 8 and the biasing mechanism described above do not interfere with a part of the bottom of the first feed tray 2. Furthermore, the housing 1 may not be provided with a paper detection unit 8, and the guide 9 may be configured so that only the biasing mechanism described above does not interfere with a part of the bottom of the first feed tray 2.

[0084] Furthermore, the member provided on a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2 is not limited to the moving mechanism 25. If the guide 9 is intended to prevent members other than the moving mechanism 25 provided on a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2 from interfering with members installed on the housing 1, the moving mechanism 25 may be omitted.

[0085] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the insertion and removal direction of the first feeding tray 2 guided by the guide 9 between the first position and the intermediate position is the front-rear direction, and the insertion and removal direction of the first feeding tray 2 guided by the guide 9 between the intermediate position and the second position is an inclined direction with respect to the front-rear direction. However, the guiding direction of the first feeding tray 2 by the guide 9 is not limited to this. That is, the guiding direction of the first feeding tray 2 by the guide 9 between the first position and the intermediate position is such that, when the first feeding tray 2, guided by the guide 9 between the first position and the intermediate position, is viewed from the insertion and removal direction, a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2, including the moving mechanism 25, and the actuator 82 overlap. Also, the guiding direction of the first feeding tray 2 by the guide 9 between the intermediate position and the second position is such that, when the first feeding tray 2, guided by the guide 9 between the intermediate position and the second position, is viewed from the insertion and removal direction, a part of the bottom of the first feeding tray 2, including the moving mechanism 25, and the actuator 82 do not overlap.

[0086] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a first contact surface 31 is provided on the first feeding tray 2 that extends along the front-rear direction and contacts a guide surface 91 that extends along the inclined direction when the first feeding tray 2 is in a first position. However, the first contact surface 31 may be omitted.

[0087] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the first feeding tray 2 is pulled out while the second contact surface 32 of the first feeding tray 2 is in contact with the guide surface 91, the first feeding tray 2 is pushed upward by the guide surface 91, and the upstream end of the first feeding tray 2 in the pulling direction is pushed downward by the first upper member 97, thereby changing the insertion / removal direction of the first feeding tray 2 from the front-to-back direction to the inclined direction. However, the mechanism for changing the insertion / removal direction of the first feeding tray 2 is not limited to this.

[0088] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the first feeding tray 2 is inserted into the housing 1, the downstream end of the first feeding tray 2 in the insertion direction contacts an inclined surface 98a provided near the opening 11a in the housing 1. However, the inclined surface 98a may be omitted.

[0089] In addition, although the above embodiment described a case in which the guide 9 has a contact surface 92 that contacts the third contact surface 33 of the first feeding tray 2, the contact surface 92 may be omitted.

[0090] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case in which the gripping portion 23d is located outside the housing 1 when the first feeding tray 2 is in a position where the contact surface 92 of the guide 9 and the third contact surface 33 are in contact was described, but the invention is not limited to this. That is, when the first feeding tray 2 is in a position where the contact surface 92 of the guide 9 and the third contact surface 33 are in contact, the gripping portion 23d may be located inside the housing 1. Moreover, the gripping portion 23d may not be provided on the first feeding tray 2.

[0091] In addition, although the above-described embodiment described a case in which the first feeding tray 2 has multiple ribs 23b formed on the side wall 23 on which the gripping portion 23d is provided, the ribs 23b do not necessarily have to be formed.

[0092] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a case was explained in which a notch 23a formed in the side wall 23 of the first feeding tray 2 is used as a gripping portion 23d in order to move the arm 51a supporting the first feeding roller 51 between a lowered position and an raised position, but the embodiment is not limited to this. That is, the gripping portion 23d may be provided separately from the notch 23a.

[0093] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment described a case in which the printer 100 has two feed trays, a first feed tray 2 and a second feed tray 3, the second feed tray 3 may be omitted. Also, the first feed tray 2 may only be capable of accommodating cut sheets.

[0094] The present invention can be applied to any image recording device equipped with a feeding tray capable of accommodating a recording medium. That is, for example, the present invention can be applied not only to inkjet printers equipped with a head that ejects ink from nozzles as the recording unit, but also to electrophotographic printers equipped with a laser recording unit in which an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing a photoreceptor with a laser, or an LED recording unit in which an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing a photoreceptor with an LED. Furthermore, the recording medium is not limited to paper, but may be cloth, film or other resin materials, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1 cabinet 2. First feeding tray (feeding tray) 6. Records Section 8. Paper detection unit (media detection unit) 9 Guide 11a opening 20 Roll storage section 23 Side wall 23a Notch 23b Rib 23d grip part 24 Side Guides 25 Moving mechanism 31 1st contact surface 32 Second contact surface 33 Third contact surface (side of tray) 51 First feed roller (feed roller) 51a Arm 51b Rotary shaft 51d Koro 82 Actuator (Installation component) 91 Guide surface 92. Contact surface (side of the casing) 97 First upper member (upper member) 98a Slope

Claims

1. A housing with an opening formed therein, Guide and, A feeding tray for accommodating a recording medium, the feeding tray being insertable into and removable from the housing through the opening, and movable along the guide between a first position mounted on the housing and a second position located outside the housing relative to the first position, A recording unit that records an image onto a recording medium fed from the aforementioned feeding tray, The housing includes an installation member that, when the feeding tray is in the first position, is located below the bottom of the feeding tray and closer to the opening than a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray. The guide is configured to guide the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray so that it is in the first direction when moving between the first position and an intermediate position between the first position and the second position, where a part of the bottom of the feeding tray is located further from the opening than the installation member, and to guide the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray so that it is in the second direction when moving between the intermediate position and the second position. With the feeding tray guided by the guide such that the insertion / removal direction is the first direction, when viewed from the first direction, a part of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member overlap. With the feeding tray guided by the guide such that the insertion / removal direction is the second direction, when viewed from the second direction, a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member do not overlap. When the feeding tray is guided by the guide such that the insertion / removal direction is the second direction, the feeding tray is inclined such that the downstream end of the feeding tray in the withdrawal direction is positioned above the upstream end in the withdrawal direction. The guide is provided on the housing and has a guide surface that faces the bottom of the feeding tray and extends along the second direction when the feeding tray is in the first position. The feeding tray has a first contact surface that contacts the guide surface when it is located between the intermediate position and the second position. The image recording device is characterized in that the guide guides the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray to the second direction by having the first contact surface of the feeding tray come into contact with the guide surface.

2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the feeding tray is capable of contacting the guide surface and is connected to the downstream end in the withdrawal direction of the first contact surface, and further has a second contact surface extending along the second direction when the feeding tray is in the first position.

3. The guide is provided on the housing and further has an upper member located above the feeding tray when the feeding tray is in the first position, The image recording device according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper member contacts a portion of the feeding tray upstream in the withdrawal direction from the contact position with the guide surface when the feeding tray is positioned at a position where the guide surface and the second contact surface are in contact.

4. The guide is provided near the opening in the housing, is located above the feeding tray when the feeding tray is in the first position, and further has an inclined surface that is inclined and facing downward such that the front end of the housing is located above the rear end of the housing. The image recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inclined surface is in contact with the upstream end in the withdrawal direction of the feeding tray.

5. A housing having an opening formed therein, Guide and, A feeding tray for accommodating a recording medium, the feeding tray being insertable into and removable from the housing through the opening, and movable along the guide between a first position mounted on the housing and a second position located outside the housing relative to the first position, A recording unit that records an image onto a recording medium fed from the aforementioned feeding tray, The housing includes an installation member that, when the feeding tray is in the first position, is located below the bottom of the feeding tray and closer to the opening than a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray. The guide is configured to guide the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray so that it is in the first direction when moving between the first position and an intermediate position between the first position and the second position, where a part of the bottom of the feeding tray is located further from the opening than the installation member, and to guide the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray so that it is in the second direction when moving between the intermediate position and the second position. With the feeding tray guided by the guide such that the insertion / removal direction is the first direction, when viewed from the first direction, a part of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member overlap. With the feeding tray guided by the guide such that the insertion / removal direction is the second direction, when viewed from the second direction, a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member do not overlap. The guide further has a side surface of the housing facing the rear of the housing, The aforementioned feeding tray further has a tray side facing the downstream side in the withdrawal direction, When the guide guides the feeding tray from the intermediate position to the second position, the side of the housing comes into contact with the side of the feeding tray, thereby stopping the movement of the feeding tray. The aforementioned feeding tray has a gripping portion, When the feeding tray is in a position where the side surface of the housing of the guide and the side surface of the tray are in contact, the gripping portion is located outside the housing. A feeding roller capable of feeding the recording medium contained in the feeding tray, The arm is rotatably supported on a pivot axis that extends in a horizontal axial direction perpendicular to the inward-outward direction from the inside to the outside of the housing, and which rotatably supports the feed roller. The system further comprises a roller attached to the aforementioned arm, The feeding tray has a side wall that extends along the insertion / removal direction, and has a notch formed at the top of the side wall. When the feed tray is located inside the housing, the roller contacts the upper surface of the side wall; when the roller is located inside the notch, the arm is in a lowered position where the feed roller can contact the recording medium; when the roller is located outside the notch, the arm is in an elevated position above the lowered position. An image recording device characterized in that the portion of the side wall in which the notch is formed is the gripping portion.

6. The image recording device according to claim 5, characterized in that the gripping portion is provided with a plurality of ribs.

7. A housing having an opening formed therein, Guide and, A feeding tray for accommodating a recording medium, the feeding tray being insertable into and removable from the housing through the opening, and movable along the guide between a first position mounted on the housing and a second position located outside the housing relative to the first position, A recording unit that records an image onto a recording medium fed from the aforementioned feeding tray, The housing includes an installation member that, when the feeding tray is in the first position, is located below the bottom of the feeding tray and closer to the opening than a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray. The guide is configured to guide the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray so that it is in the first direction when moving between the first position and an intermediate position between the first position and the second position, where a part of the bottom of the feeding tray is located further from the opening than the installation member, and to guide the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray so that it is in the second direction when moving between the intermediate position and the second position. With the feeding tray guided by the guide such that the insertion / removal direction is the first direction, when viewed from the first direction, a part of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member overlap. With the feeding tray guided by the guide such that the insertion / removal direction is the second direction, when viewed from the second direction, a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member do not overlap. The aforementioned feeding tray has a roll body storage section capable of accommodating a roll body in which a sheet-like recording medium is wound into a roll shape, The housing is further provided with a media detection unit capable of detecting a recording medium that is unwound from the roll body housed in the roll body housing section and transported within the feeding tray, The image recording device is characterized in that the installation member is a member that constitutes the media detection unit, and a part of it is movable between an advance position located in the transport path of the recording medium transported in the feed tray and a retracted position that is moved away from the transport path.

8. A housing having an opening formed therein, Guide and, A feeding tray for accommodating a recording medium, the feeding tray being insertable into and removable from the housing through the opening, and movable along the guide between a first position mounted on the housing and a second position located outside the housing relative to the first position, A recording unit that records an image onto a recording medium fed from the aforementioned feeding tray, The housing includes an installation member that, when the feeding tray is in the first position, is located below the bottom of the feeding tray and closer to the opening than a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray. The guide is configured to guide the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray so that it is in the first direction when moving between the first position and an intermediate position between the first position and the second position, where a part of the bottom of the feeding tray is located further from the opening than the installation member, and to guide the insertion and removal direction of the feeding tray so that it is in the second direction when moving between the intermediate position and the second position. With the feeding tray guided by the guide such that the insertion / removal direction is the first direction, when viewed from the first direction, a part of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member overlap. With the feeding tray guided by the guide such that the insertion / removal direction is the second direction, when viewed from the second direction, a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray and the installation member do not overlap. The aforementioned feeding tray is A pair of side guides that contact both end faces of the recording medium housed in the feeding tray in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording medium from the feeding tray, It has a moving mechanism that moves at least one of the pair of side guides in a direction toward and toward the other, An image recording device characterized in that a portion of the bottom of the feeding tray includes the moving mechanism.

Images