Cassette feeder and recording device

Abstract

To provide a feeding cassette and a recording device that can suppress deflection of an extending portion that constitutes a hopper.SOLUTION: A feeding cassette 15 includes a hopper 61, a side guide, and a lift plate 71. The hopper 61 is configured to be swingable. The lift plate 71 rotates using one end as a rotation fulcrum, supports a back surface of the hopper 61 from below with its tip portion 71A, and moves it upward. The hopper 61 has at least an extending portion 64a for a reinforcing throttle portion 90 that protrudes to a back side. The reinforcing throttle portion 90 includes a supporting throttle portion 91 that comes into contact when the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 supports the back surface of the hopper 61 in a range in which the hopper 61 can swing. The supporting throttle portion 91 includes a first throttle portion 92 that is at least partially provided in the extending portion 64 in a path having a component in a feeding direction FD. The lift plate 71 supports the first throttle portion 92 in at least a part of the range in which the hopper 61 can swing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a feeding cassette that houses a fed medium in a stacked state and a recording apparatus including the feeding cassette.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a feeding cassette including a hopper that pushes up a stacked medium bundle upward toward a feed roller disposed in a printer main body. The feeding cassette includes side fences (side guides) for regulating the position of the medium in the width direction. The side fences are provided so as to be movable in the width direction of a medium such as a sheet with respect to a tray constituting the feeding cassette. By moving the side fences in the width direction according to the size of the medium, the medium bundle loaded in the feeding cassette is positioned in the width direction. At the bottom of the tray of the feeding cassette, a plate-shaped hopper is provided so as to be rotatable with one end as a rotation fulcrum. The tip of a rotatable lift member is engaged with the back surface of the hopper. When feeding the uppermost medium of the medium bundle, the hopper rotates with one end as a rotation fulcrum by the rotation of the lift member by the power of a drive source and is arranged from a retracted position to a feeding position. In a state where the hopper is arranged at the feeding position, the uppermost medium of the medium bundle is pressed against a feed roller (feeding roller). By rotating the feed roller in this state, the uppermost medium of the medium bundle in the feeding cassette is fed toward a recording unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the recording device described in Patent Document 1, if the range of movement of the side fence (side guide) is expanded inward in the width direction to accommodate media with a narrower media width, the width of the central part of the hopper becomes narrower, resulting in a decrease in the rigidity of the hopper compared to conventional designs. Alternatively, when the thickness of the hopper is made thinner to accommodate thinner feed cassettes, or when a less rigid material is used for cost reasons, there is a problem of reduced hopper rigidity. When the rigidity of the hopper decreases, when a hopper loaded with multiple sheets is moved upward, the extension portion that extends in the width direction downstream of the hopper in the feeding direction may bend downward, potentially causing the uppermost media to hit the wall of the feed cassette when being fed towards the recording unit, resulting in feeding failure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A feeding cassette that solves the above problems comprises: a cassette body configured to accommodate a medium in a loaded state; a hopper disposed within the cassette body for loading the medium and swinging relative to the cassette body; a side guide configured to restrict the position of the medium in the width direction and to be movable in the width direction; and a lift plate that rotates around a pivot axis parallel to the width direction with one end as a pivot point, and supports the back surface of the hopper from below with the tip, which is the end opposite the pivot point, for moving it upward, wherein the hopper comprises a central part located in the center of the width direction and a part through which the medium is fed. The hopper has an extension portion that extends from the downstream portion of the central portion in the feeding direction to both sides in the width direction, and the hopper has at least a reinforcing constriction portion that protrudes to the back side of the extension portion, the reinforcing constriction portion includes a supporting constriction portion that contacts the tip portion of the lift plate when it supports the back surface of the hopper within the swingable range of the hopper, the supporting constriction portion includes a first constriction portion that is provided in the extension portion in a path having a component in the feeding direction, and the lift plate supports the first constriction portion in at least a portion of the swingable range of the hopper.

[0006] A recording device that solves the above problems comprises a feeding cassette and a recording unit that records on a medium fed from the feeding cassette. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the recording device in the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the recording device. [Figure 3] This is a schematic plan view showing the feed cassette. [Figure 4] This is a partial plan view showing the feed cassette when the hopper is in the first feed position. [Figure 5] This is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the feed cassette when the hopper is in the first feed position. [Figure 6] This is a partial plan view showing the feed cassette when the hopper is in the second feed position. [Figure 7] This is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the feed cassette when the hopper is in the second feed position. [Figure 8] This is a partial plan view showing the feeding cassette when the hopper is in the first feeding position in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a partial plan view showing the feed cassette when the hopper is in the second feed position. [Figure 10] This is a partial plan view showing the feeding cassette when the hopper is in the first feeding position in the third embodiment. [Figure 11] This is a partial plan view showing the feed cassette when the hopper is in the second feed position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The recording device 11 is, for example, a multifunction device. In addition to a recording function, the recording device 11 also has, for example, a scanning function and a copying function. The recording device 11 includes a feed cassette 15 configured to accommodate a medium M (see Figure 2) to be recorded. The feed cassette 15 has the function of accommodating multiple mediums M (see Figure 2) used as recording targets when the recording device 11 records onto a medium in a stacked state. The recording device 11 has a feed function that feeds one by one the medium bundle MB, which consists of multiple mediums M accommodated in the feed cassette 15, starting from the top one.

[0009] In the drawing, the recording device 11 is assumed to be placed on a horizontal floor surface F (see Figure 2). The virtual axis perpendicular to the floor surface F of the recording device 11 is defined as the Z-axis, with the side of the Z-axis facing the recording device 11 being the +Z side and the opposite side being the -Z side. Two mutually orthogonal virtual axes parallel to the floor surface F are defined as the X-axis and Y-axis, respectively. The directions parallel to the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are called the X-direction, Y-direction, and Z-direction, respectively. The X-direction includes both the +X-direction and the -X-direction. The Y-direction includes both the +Y-direction and the -Y-direction. The Z-direction includes both the +Z-direction and the -Z-direction. The Z-direction, which is parallel to the Z-axis, is also called the vertical direction Z. The X-axis is parallel to the depth direction of the recording device 11. The X-direction is also parallel to the width direction of the media M that constitute the media bundle MB (see Figure 2) housed in the feed cassette 15. Therefore, the width direction of the media M is also called the width direction X.

[0010] Furthermore, the Y direction is the direction in which the media M contained in the feed cassette 15 is fed out, and is therefore also called the feed direction Y. Note that the feed direction FD, in which the media M is fed from the feed cassette 15, changes according to the amount of media loaded in the feed cassette 15, as the hopper 61, which will be described later, on which the media bundle MB is placed, tilts to an angle corresponding to the amount of media loaded in the feed cassette 15. For this reason, the feed direction of the media M that changes according to the amount of media loaded in the feed cassette 15 is called the feed direction FD. The feed direction Y corresponds to the direction obtained by projecting the feed direction FD onto a horizontal plane. Here, the front of the recording device 11 is the side on which the operating unit 14, which is operated by the user to give instructions to the recording device 11, is located.

[0011] <Configuration of recording device 11> The recording device 11 shown in Figure 1 has multiple functions, including an image reading function (scanning function) that reads the original document D and outputs image data, a copying function that records the image read from the original document D onto a medium M, and a recording function that records text and images onto the medium M. The recording device 11 may also have a facsimile function.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the recording device 11 comprises a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped device body 12 and a scanner unit 20 positioned on the upper part of the device body 12. The recording device 11 is equipped with a plurality of casters 12A on the bottom of the device body 12. In the recording device 11 shown in Figure 1, the device body 12 constitutes the printer unit 13. The recording device 11 comprises the printer unit 13 and the scanner unit 20, arranged in order from the bottom in the vertical direction Z.

[0013] The scanner unit 20 has the function of reading an image of the original document D. The scanner unit 20 includes a document tray 21 on which the original document D is placed, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 22 that automatically feeds the original document D. The automatic document feeder 22 is mounted on the top of a document tray cover 23 that opens and closes relative to the document tray 21.

[0014] The scanner unit 20 includes a feed method and a flatbed method as document reading methods. The automatic document feeder 22 includes a document tray 24, a feeding mechanism 25 that feeds the document D shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 placed on the document tray 24, and a discharge tray 26 where the document D read by the feed method is discharged. The feed method is a method of reading the document D fed by the automatic document feeder 22. On the other hand, the flatbed method is a method of reading the document D placed on the glass surface (not shown) forming the upper surface of the document table 21 that is exposed when the automatic document feeder 22 is opened with the document table cover 23 closed.

[0015] Also, an operation unit 14 that is operated when giving an instruction to the recording device 11 is provided at the upper part of the front of the apparatus main body 12. The operation unit 14 may be an operation panel having a display unit 14A. The display unit 14A may have a screen formed of, for example, a touch panel. The touch panel is a display panel that can give an instruction to the recording device 11 by touching the screen. Also, the operation unit 14 may have operation buttons or may be configured only of operation buttons.

[0016] The recording device 11 includes a feed cassette 15 configured to be able to accommodate a plurality of media M. A plurality of media M (see FIG. 2) are accommodated in a stacked state in the feed cassette 15. The recording device 11 includes a plurality of stages (for example, two stages) of feed cassettes 15 at the lower part of the apparatus main body 12. The plurality of stages of feed cassettes 15 are arranged in a state of overlapping in the vertical direction Z. The plurality of feed cassettes 15 are inserted in a state of being detachable in the X direction with respect to the apparatus main body 12.

[0017] The supply cassette 15 has a handle 15A that is used when the user performs a pulling operation. The user can insert the supply cassette 15 into the apparatus main body 12 by moving the supply cassette 15 in the +X direction, and can pull out the supply cassette 15 from the apparatus main body 12 by moving the supply cassette 15 in the -X direction. When the user replenishes the medium M in the supply cassette 15 or changes the type of the medium M to be set in the supply cassette 15, the user pulls out the supply cassette 15 from the apparatus main body 12 to replenish or replace (change) the medium M. Note that the number of stages of the supply cassette 15 is not limited to two stages, and may be one stage, three stages, four stages, five stages, or the like. Also, a plurality of stages of the supply cassette 15 may be an additional unit in which a part or all of them are optionally added.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 11 includes a first cover 16 and a second cover 17 on a side surface 12S of the apparatus main body 12. Each of the covers 16 and 17 is used by being opened and closed to eliminate a jam when a jam occurs in the medium M conveyed from the supply cassette 15. The first cover 16 includes an openable and closable supply tray 18. The user can set the medium M on the supply tray 18 by opening the supply tray 18 using the handle 18A. That is, in addition to feeding the medium M from the supply cassette 15, the recording apparatus 能够将媒体M设置在供给托盘18上并将其作为记录对象。

[0019] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus 11 includes a recording unit 40 disposed in the apparatus main body 12. The recording unit 40 performs recording on a medium M (see FIG. 2) fed from the supply cassette 15. Also, the recording unit 40 performs recording on the medium M fed from the supply tray 18. The recording unit 40 has a recording head 41 that performs recording by ejecting ink onto the medium M. Ink is supplied to the recording head 41 from an ink supply source 19 disposed in the apparatus main body 12. A window portion 12W through which the user can visually recognize the remaining amount of the ink supply source 19 is provided on the front portion of the apparatus main body 12. Note that the ink supply source 19 is constituted by, for example, a plurality of ink tanks or a plurality of ink cartridges.

[0020] A concave space is formed between the main body 12 of the device and the scanner unit 20, and an output tray 45 is located at the bottom of the concave space. Recorded media M ejected from the printer unit 13 are loaded onto the output tray 45.

[0021] <Configuration of Printer Unit 13> Next, the configuration of the printer unit 13 will be described with reference to Figure 2. The recording device 11 includes a feed cassette 15 that is detachably attached to the main body 12 of the device. The feed cassette 15 contains multiple media M. The recording device 11 includes a transport mechanism 30 for transporting the media M contained in the feed cassette 15. The media M contained in the feed cassette 15 are fed one by one by a feed roller 31 to the transport path T shown by the dashed line in Figure 2. The media M fed from the feed cassette 15 by the feed roller 31 are transported along the transport path T by a pair of separation rollers 32 and a transport roller 33. The transport path T is a confluence of a transport path T1 into which media M are brought in from an external device (not shown), such as a large-capacity stacker device, and a transport path T2 into which media M are transported from a feed tray 18.

[0022] Furthermore, the transport path T includes a transport unit 34, a plurality of transport roller pairs 35 for transporting the medium M, a plurality of flaps 36 for switching the transport path, and a medium width sensor 47 for detecting the width of the medium M. The transport unit 34 is positioned opposite the recording head 41. The transport unit 34 comprises, for example, a pair of rollers 37 and a transport belt 34A wrapped around the outer circumference of the pair of rollers 37. The transport belt 34A supports the portion of the medium M to be recorded by the recording head 41. Alternatively, instead of the transport unit 34, the portion of the medium M to be recorded may be supported by a support stand such as a platen.

[0023] The transport path T is curved in the region facing the medium width sensor 47 and extends diagonally upward from the medium width sensor 47. Downstream of the transport unit 34 in the transport path T, there are transport paths T3 and T4 that lead towards the discharge tray 45, and a reversal path T5 that reverses the front and back sides of the medium M. The transport mechanism 30 includes a discharge roller pair 38 that discharges the medium M from the transport path T3 and a discharge roller pair 39 that discharges the medium M from the transport path T4. The recorded medium M discharged from the transport path T3 by the discharge roller pair 38 is stacked on the discharge tray 45. Thus, the transport mechanism 30 is composed of a supply roller 31, a separation roller pair 32, a transport roller 33, a transport unit 34, a transport roller pair 35, a flap 36, a discharge roller pair 38, and a discharge roller pair 39, etc.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the recording device 11 includes, within the main body 12, the aforementioned ink supply source 19 and recording unit 40, as well as a control unit 100 that controls the entire device. The control unit 100 controls the printer unit 13 and the scanner unit 20. The control unit 100 controls the transport mechanism 30, recording unit 40, ink supply system, and display system that make up the printer unit 13.

[0025] The recording unit 40 may be configured to move closer to and further away from the transport unit 34. When recording on the medium M, the recording unit 40 is positioned in the recording position shown in Figure 2. When the recording unit 40 is positioned in the recording position, the recording head 41 is located in the middle of the transport path T and faces the recording position, which is the position where data is recorded on the medium M.

[0026] The media width sensor 47 is located upstream of the recording position in the transport path T. The control unit 100 controls the recording range in the width direction X that the recording unit 40 records on the media M according to the width of the media M detected by the media width sensor 47. The recording head 41 in this example is an inkjet recording system. The recording head 41 has nozzles (not shown) capable of ejecting ink. The recording head 41 ejects ink supplied from the ink supply source 19 through a tube (not shown) from the nozzles toward the media M. Note that the recording head 41 is not limited to an inkjet recording system that ejects ink.

[0027] Furthermore, the recording unit 40 of this embodiment employs a line recording method. The recording head 41 is a line head capable of line recording. The recording head 41 is a long line head that is long in the width direction X of the medium M. Multiple nozzles (not shown) are arranged on the discharge surface of the recording head 41 at a predetermined nozzle pitch over a range wider than the maximum width of the medium M. The recording head 41 records characters or images on the medium M by ejecting ink from the nozzles onto the medium M which is transported at a constant speed by the transport belt 34A of the transport unit 34. The recording unit 40 may also employ a serial recording method. In this case, the recording unit 40 is equipped with a carriage (not shown) that is movable in the width direction X, and the recording head 41 records on the medium M by ejecting ink from the nozzles as it moves in the width direction X together with the carriage. In the case of the serial recording method, the medium M is transported intermittently, and characters or images are recorded on the medium M by alternating recording by the recording head 41 and transport of the medium M.

[0028] The control unit 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read-only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and storage, which are not shown in the diagram. The control unit 100 controls the transport of the medium M by the transport mechanism 30 in the recording device 11 and the recording operation on the medium M by the recording unit 40. The control unit 100 also controls the transport of the document D by the scanner unit 20 and the reading operation of the document D. The control unit 100 is not limited to performing software processing for all the processes it performs. For example, the control unit 100 may have a dedicated hardware circuit (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit: ASIC) that performs hardware processing for at least a part of the processes it performs. That is, the control unit 100 can be configured as a circuit including one or more processors that operate according to a computer program (software), one or more dedicated hardware circuits that perform at least a part of the various processes, or a combination thereof. The processor includes a CPU and memory such as RAM and ROM, and the memory stores program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute the processing. Memory, or computer-readable media, includes all available media that can be accessed by a general-purpose or dedicated computer.

[0029] <Configuration of the feeding cassette 15> Next, with reference to Figure 3, the detailed configuration of the feeding cassette 15 will be described. As shown in Figure 3, the feeding cassette 15 comprises a cassette body 50, a hopper mechanism 60, and a media positioning mechanism 80. The hopper mechanism 60 and the media positioning mechanism 80 are assembled inside the cassette body 50.

[0030] The cassette body 50 is configured to accommodate the medium M in a loaded state. The hopper mechanism 60 moves the medium bundle MB housed in the cassette body 50 to a feeding position where the uppermost medium M1 contacts the feeding roller 31 (see Figures 2 and 5). The hopper mechanism 60 includes a hopper 61 located inside the cassette body 50 for loading the medium M, and a lift plate 71 that supports the back surface of the hopper 61 from below and moves it upward. The hopper 61 is configured to swing relative to the cassette body 50. The lift plate 71 is supported so as to be rotatable around a pivot axis 72 parallel to the width direction X, with one end in its longitudinal direction (feeding direction FD) as the pivot point, and supports the hopper 61 with its tip 71A, which is the end opposite the pivot point.

[0031] The hopper 61 has a central portion 62 located in the center of the width direction X, and extension portions 64 extending from the downstream portion of the central portion 62 to both sides in the width direction X in the feeding direction FD through which the medium M is fed. The hopper 61 may also have a base portion 63 extending from the upstream portion of the central portion 62 to both sides in the width direction X in the feeding direction FD. The hopper 61 is rotatable around a pivot point on the base portion 63 side.

[0032] Furthermore, the media positioning mechanism 80 is operated by the user to position the media bundle MB housed within the cassette body 50. The media positioning mechanism 80 includes side guides 81 and 82 that restrict the position of the media M in the width direction X and are configured to be movable in the width direction X. The media positioning mechanism 80 may also include a rear guide 83 that restricts the position of the media M in the feeding direction FD and is configured to be movable in the feeding direction FD.

[0033] The following describes in detail the components of the cassette body 50, the hopper mechanism 60, and the media positioning mechanism 80. <Configuration of the 50-unit cassette unit> First, the configuration of the cassette body 50 will be described with reference to Figure 3. The cassette body 50 is a rectangular box-shaped housing case with an open top. The cassette body 50 has a housing recess 50A capable of housing the medium M. The cassette body 50 has a plate-shaped cover portion 51 that constitutes its front, a pair of left and right side wall portions 52, 53, a rear wall portion 54 that extends parallel to the cover portion 51, and a roughly rectangular plate-shaped bottom portion 55 that forms the bottom surface of the housing recess 50A. The cassette body 50 is equipped with a pair of extension portions 56 that extend further inward from the rear wall portion 54, and a pair of rollers 57 that are rotatably provided at the tips of the pair of extension portions 56. The feeding cassette 15 can be attached to and detached from the device body 12 with light operating force by the pair of rollers 57 rolling on rails (not shown) inside the device body 12.

[0034] <Configuration of the media positioning mechanism 80> Next, the configuration of the media positioning mechanism 80 will be described with reference to Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, a pair of side guides 81 and 82, which constitute the media positioning mechanism 80, are slidably provided in the width direction X in the housing recess 50A of the cassette body 50. The pair of side guides 81 and 82 are assembled to be movable in the width direction X along a guide portion 84 provided on the bottom 55 of the cassette body 50. The pair of side guides 81 and 82 can move closer to and further apart by the same amount in the width direction X. The pair of side guides 81 and 82 have a pair of guide surfaces 81A and 82A that guide the side edges on both sides in the width direction M. The side guide 81 has an operating part 81B that can be locked and unlocked by the user. By operating the operating part 81B to unlock and moving one of the side guides 81, the pair of side guides 81 and 82 move in conjunction to position the media bundle MB in the width direction X. Once the positioning is complete, if the user stops operating the control unit 83B, the pair of side guides 81 and 82 will lock into place.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, the media positioning mechanism 80 includes a rack and pinion mechanism 85 that slides a pair of side guides 81 and 82 in conjunction. The rack and pinion mechanism 85 has a first rack 85A, a second rack 85B, and a pinion (not shown).

[0036] The first rack 85A is fixed to the bottom of the first side guide 81 and extends in the width direction X toward the second side guide 82. The second rack 85B is fixed to the bottom of the second side guide 82 and extends in the width direction X toward the first side guide 81. The first rack 85A and the second rack 85B have rows of teeth on their opposing edges. The pinion is located at the width center between the first side guide 81 and the second side guide 82 in the width direction X and meshes with the teeth of the first rack 85A and the teeth of the second rack 85B.

[0037] In the recording device 11 of this embodiment, center feeding is performed so that the center of the width of the medium M passes through the center of the width of the feeding path, regardless of the size of the medium M. Therefore, if the first side guide 81 is moved in the +X direction, the second side guide 82 moves in the -X direction via the rack and pinion mechanism 85 in conjunction with it. Also, if the first side guide 81 is moved in the -X direction, the second side guide 82 moves in the +X direction via the rack and pinion mechanism 85 in conjunction with it. In other words, the pair of side guides 81 and 82 position any medium M of any width dimension at the center of the width X within the feeding cassette 15, enabling center feeding.

[0038] Furthermore, the rear guide 83 is assembled to be movable in the discharge direction Y along a guide portion 86 provided on the bottom 55 of the cassette body 50. The rear guide 83 has a guide surface 83A that guides the upstream end (rear end) of the media M in the discharge direction Y. The rear guide 83 has an operating portion 83B that can be locked and unlocked by the user. The user operates the operating portion 83B to unlock the rear guide 83 and then moves it to position the media M in the discharge direction Y. When the user stops operating the operating portion 83B, the rear guide 83 is locked in that position.

[0039] <Configuration of Hopper Mechanism 60> Next, the configuration of the hopper mechanism 60 will be described with reference to Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, the hopper mechanism 60 is assembled in the housing recess 50A of the cassette body 50. The hopper mechanism 60 includes a hopper 61 on which the medium M is placed in a loaded state, and a lift plate 71 that pushes the hopper 61 up to a predetermined angle corresponding to the amount of medium M loaded, rotating the hopper 61 to a feeding position where the uppermost medium M1 is pressed against the feeding roller 31.

[0040] The hopper 61 is positioned in the receiving recess 50A towards the downstream direction Y of the medium M loading area. The hopper 61 has recesses 61A and 61B that avoid the movement areas of a pair of side guides 81 and 82, and a recess 61C that avoids the movement area of ​​the rear guide 83. In other words, the hopper 61 has a first recess 61A that avoids the movement area of ​​the first side guide 81, a second recess 61B that avoids the movement area of ​​the second side guide 82, and a third recess 61C that avoids the movement area of ​​the rear guide 83.

[0041] The lift plate 71 has one end (base end) in its longitudinal direction fixed to the pivot shaft 72. By the rotation of the pivot shaft 72, the lift plate 71 is raised from a retracted position that is tilted to a nearly horizontal position to a feeding position in which the uppermost medium M1 of the medium bundle MB on the hopper 61 comes into contact with the feeding roller 31. For this reason, the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 opposite to the pivot shaft 72 is engaged with the back surface of the hopper 61 in a manner that allows it to move FD in the feeding direction.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3, the pivot shaft 72 extends in the width direction X within the cassette body 50, with one end protruding to the outside of the cassette body 50, and a gear 75 is fixed to this protruding end. This gear 75 can mesh with a gear (not shown) that constitutes a power transmission mechanism provided on the device body 12 side. That is, when the feeding cassette 15 is inserted into the device body 12, the gear 75 meshes with the gear on the device body 12 side, and when it is removed from the device body 12, the gear 75 disengages from the gear on the device body 12 side. The device body 12 is provided with a motor 101, which is the drive source for the hopper mechanism 60. The pivot shaft 72 rotates due to the power transmitted from the motor 101 via the power transmission mechanism and the gear 75. Note that the hopper mechanism 60 may have an elastic member (not shown) interposed between the lift plate 71 and the hopper 61. The elastic member may be, for example, a spring. The elastic member may be biased in a direction that returns the hopper 61, which is in the feeding position, to the retracted position.

[0043] As shown in Figure 3, when the feed cassette 15 is removed from the main body 12, the hopper 61 is positioned in a horizontal retracted position with the medium bundle MB (see Figure 2) on top of it horizontally stacked. When the feed cassette 15 is inserted into the main body 12, this insertion is detected by a sensor (not shown). When the control unit 100 detects the insertion of the feed cassette 15 based on the sensor's detection signal, it drives the motor 101 in the forward direction. This causes the lift plate 71 to rotate counterclockwise in Figure 5 due to the rotation of the pivot shaft 72. The hopper 61, supported from below by the tip 71A of the lift plate 71, rotates from the retracted position to the feed position P1 shown in Figure 5 due to the rotation of the lift plate 71. In this feed position P1, the uppermost medium M1 of the medium bundle MB on the hopper 61 comes into contact with the feed roller 31.

[0044] When the hopper 61 is loaded with the maximum capacity media bundle MB, the hopper 61 rotates to the lowest feeding position P1 shown in Figure 5. On the other hand, when only the minimum capacity media M, which is one sheet, is loaded on the hopper 61, the hopper 61 rotates to the highest feeding position P2 shown in Figure 7. In this way, the hopper 61 rotates within a predetermined angular range that includes the retracted position (Figure 3), the lowest feeding position P1 (Figure 5), and the highest feeding position P2 (Figure 7). When the hopper 61 rotates within the predetermined angular range, the engagement position where the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 engages with the back surface of the hopper 61 changes to the feeding direction FD.

[0045] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, a slanted separation plate 59 is attached to the upper end of the side wall portion 52 located downstream of the feeding direction FD in the cassette body 50, with the plate inclined to become higher towards the downstream side of the feeding direction FD. When the hopper 61 is in the feeding position, the feeding roller 31 rotates, sending the top medium M1 towards the feeding direction FD. The height positions of the feeding roller 31 and the separation plate 59 are set so that the leading edge of the feeding direction FD of the sent-out medium M1 hits the separation plate 59. For example, if multiple mediums M are fed by the feeding roller 31, the lower medium M that is fed multiple times will be separated from the top medium M1 by the large frictional force from the separation plate 59. In other words, even if multiple mediums M are fed multiple times, only the top single medium M1 will be separated and sent out.

[0046] <Hopper 61 Configuration> The hopper mechanism 60 shown in Figure 3 represents the state in which the hopper 61, which loads the medium M to its maximum capacity, is in the feeding position. The hopper 61 having the aforementioned recesses 61A and 61B, for example, exhibits a horizontal H-shape in a plan view in Figure 3.

[0047] The H-shaped hopper 61 has a central portion 62 extending along the discharge direction Y, a pair of base portions 63 extending from the upstream end of the central portion 62 in the feeding direction FD to both sides in the width direction X, and a pair of extension portions 64 extending from the downstream end of the central portion 62 in the feeding direction FD to both sides in the width direction X.

[0048] The central portion 62 is positioned so as to extend in the feeding direction FD along the width center between the pair of side guides 81, 82. A pair of pin portions 58, which protrude inward in the width direction X from a pair of inner wall surfaces of the cassette body 50 facing the width direction X, are inserted through holes (not shown) in a pair of plate portions extending from both ends of the pair of base portions 63 in the width direction X. The hopper 61 is supported relative to the cassette body 50 in such a state that it can rotate around a pivot axis parallel to the width direction X, with the pair of pin portions 58, to which its upstream end in the feeding direction FD is supported, acting as a pivot point.

[0049] Here, the pair of recesses 61A and 61B on both sides of the roughly H-shaped hopper 61 in the width direction X are provided to secure the movement area of ​​the pair of side guides 81 and 82. That is, the pair of recesses 61A and 61B are provided in a size that avoids interference between the hopper 61 and the pair of side guides 81 and 82, so that the pair of side guides 81 and 82 can position the medium M from the maximum width to the minimum width in the width direction X. If the minimum width dimension of the medium M that can be set in the feed cassette 15 is set to be short, and the system is configured to allow recording on medium M with a short width dimension, it is necessary to configure the pair of side guides 81 and 82 to be able to move closer together.

[0050] To achieve this, the depth dimension in the width direction X of the pair of recesses 61A and 61B, which are provided to avoid interference with the pair of side guides 81 and 82, needs to be made longer. In this embodiment, since the minimum width of the medium M that can be set in the feeding cassette 15 is set to be short, the depth dimension in the width direction X of the pair of recesses 61A and 61B is relatively long, and as a result the width dimension of the central part 62 is relatively short. In other words, the width of the central part 62 is relatively narrow. A narrower central part 62 leads to a decrease in the rigidity of the central part 62.

[0051] Furthermore, generally speaking, media M with a short minimum width also has a short dimension in the feeding direction FD. For this reason, the recess 61C provided in the central part 62 to avoid interference between the rear guide 83 and the hopper 61 also has a relatively long depth dimension in the feeding direction FD. The increased depth dimension of the recess 61C leads to a decrease in the rigidity of the central part 62.

[0052] The hopper 61 rotates so as to displace upward the T-shaped portion consisting of the central portion 62 and the pair of extension portions 64, using a pair of pin portions 58 as pivot points near the outer ends of the pair of base portions 63. In particular, when the hopper 61 is loaded with large-sized media M at or near its maximum load capacity, the downstream portion of the hopper 61 in the feeding direction FD may deform, such as bending downward in the vertical direction Z, due to the weight of the media bundle MB. The downstream end of the central portion 62 is supported from its back surface by the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71, so deformation such as bending is relatively unlikely to occur. However, the portion of the pair of extension portions 64 that is located outside the central portion 62 in the width direction X is not supported by the lift plate 71. For this reason, the portion of the pair of extension portions 64 located further out in the width direction X is more likely to deform downward in the vertical direction Z due to the weight of the loaded media bundle MB.

[0053] To suppress the deflection of the extension portion 64, one possible measure is to increase the overall width of the lift plate 71 to widen the area in the width direction X that supports the pair of extension portions 64 from the back surface. However, the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 moves in the feeding direction FD while engaged with the back surface of the hopper 61. If a part of the lift plate 71 protrudes outward from the central portion 62 in the width direction X, it may interfere with the pair of side guides 81, 82. Therefore, if the overall width of the lift plate 71 is increased to be wider than the width of the central portion 62, the range in which the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 can move in the feeding direction FD relative to the back surface of the hopper 61 must be limited to within the range of the extension portion 64. In this case, the rotatable range of the hopper 61 is narrowly restricted. On the other hand, if the range in which the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 can move in the feeding direction FD relative to the back surface of the hopper 61 is set to exceed the range of the extension portion 64 in the feeding direction FD, a wider range of rotation of the hopper 61 can be secured. In this case, in order to avoid interference between the lift plate 71 and the pair of side guides 81 and 82, the width dimension of the lift plate 71 must be kept less than or equal to the width dimension of the central portion 62. If the width dimension of the lift plate 71 is shortened, the range in the width direction X in which the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 can support the back surface of the hopper 61 becomes narrower, which leads to the pair of extension portions 64 becoming more prone to bending.

[0054] Furthermore, if the pair of side guides 81 and 82 can guide the media bundle MB as far downstream as possible in the feeding direction FD, then when the media M positioned by the pair of side guides 81 and 82 is fed, misalignment in the width direction X of the media M will be less likely to occur. In other words, if the pair of side guides 81 and 82 can guide the media bundle MB as far downstream as possible in the feeding direction, misalignment of the media M during transport will be suppressed, and high transport accuracy of the media M will be ensured. For the purpose of ensuring such transport accuracy, the downstream ends of the pair of side guides 81 and 82 may be positioned relatively downstream in the feeding direction FD relative to the hopper 61. In this case, the dimension of the pair of extensions 64 in the feeding direction FD will be relatively shorter. In other words, the extensions 64 will be relatively thinner, which will lead to a decrease in the rigidity of the extensions 64.

[0055] As shown in Figure 3, the roughly H-shaped hopper 61 has a reinforcing constricted section 90 formed therein. The hopper 61 has a linear constricted section 90 that extends along a predetermined path by drawing a roughly H-shaped metal plate. The constricted section 90 protrudes to the back side of the hopper 61. The hopper 61 is reinforced by the constricted section 90. The constricted section 90 is formed to draw a path that is symmetrical with respect to the width center line of the hopper 61. When viewed from the mounting surface side on which the medium M is placed (i.e., in the plan view in Figure 4), the constricted section 90 is groove-shaped, and when viewed from the back side, which is the opposite side, it is a portion that has been drawn into a convex ridge that protrudes to the back side. The reinforcing constricted section 90 is formed in the hopper 61 along a predetermined path that spans the central part 62, the base part 63, and the extended part 64.

[0056] As shown in Figure 4, a friction plate 65 is attached to the downstream end of the central portion 62 of the hopper 61 in the feeding direction FD. The friction plate 65 has the function of assisting the feeding roller 31 in feeding the medium M by providing a predetermined frictional resistance between the medium M and the loading surface of the hopper 61 when the last medium M loaded on the hopper 61 is fed out.

[0057] The lift plate 71 has an arm portion 73, which is a long, rectangular plate-shaped portion including its base end, and a wide portion 74 that is wider than the arm portion 73. The portion of the wide portion 74 that engages with the back surface of the hopper 61 is the tip portion 71A. The wide portion 74 has a width dimension in the width direction X that is longer than the width dimension of the central portion 62 of the hopper 61. Both ends of the wide portion 74 in the width direction X are located outside the central portion 62 of the hopper 61 in the width direction X, and are capable of engaging with the back surface of the pair of extension portions 64.

[0058] <Configuration of the aperture section 90> Next, the configuration of the aperture section 90 will be described with reference to Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, the hopper 61 has a reinforcing constricted portion 90 that protrudes from the back side. The reinforcing constricted portion 90 is provided at least on the extension portion 64. In the example shown in Figure 4, the reinforcing constricted portion 90 is provided in a predetermined path that extends across the central portion 62, the base portion 63, and the extension portion 64. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the hopper 61 includes a reinforcing constricted portion 90A that extends across the extension portion 64, the central portion 62, and the base portion 63, and a reinforcing constricted portion 90B provided on the extension portion 64.

[0059] The reinforcing constriction portion 90 includes a supporting constriction portion 91 that contacts the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 when it supports the back surface of the hopper 61 within the swingable range of the hopper 61. The tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 slides along the supporting constriction portion 91 against the back surface of the hopper 61, thereby minimizing the sliding resistance with the back surface of the hopper 61. This enables smooth rotation of the hopper 61 without any snagging between the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 and the back surface of the hopper 61.

[0060] When the hopper 61 rotates, the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 moves relative to the back surface of the hopper 61 in the feeding direction FD. For this reason, the support constriction portion 91 that slides with the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 is provided in a path having a component in the feeding direction FD. The support constriction portion 91 includes a first constriction portion 92 provided in a path having a component in the feeding direction FD. At least a part of the first constriction portion 92 is provided in the extension portion 64. In the example shown in Figure 4, a part of the first constriction portion 92 is formed in the extension portion 64, and the remaining part is formed in the central portion 62. In this example, the first constriction portion 92 extends linearly in an oblique direction that intersects the feeding direction FD at a predetermined acute angle. In other words, the first constriction portion 92 in this example is a constriction portion that extends in a path having components in both the width direction X and the feeding direction FD. Thus, the first constriction portion 92 is a constriction portion that extends linearly.

[0061] The lift plate 71 supports the first constriction portion 92 in at least a portion of the swingable range of the hopper 61. Since a portion of the first constriction portion 92 is formed as an extension portion 64, the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 can also support the back surface of the hopper 61 with the portion of the extension portion 64.

[0062] As shown in Figure 4, when the hopper 61 is in the first feeding position P1, which is tilted at the smallest angle within its swingable range, the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 contacts the first constriction portion 92 at a position outside the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X. In other words, the supporting constriction portion 91 contacts the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 at a position outside the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X when the hopper 61 is in the first feeding position P1.

[0063] Furthermore, the support aperture section 91 includes a vertical aperture section 93 provided in the central section 62 in a path having a component in the feeding direction FD. That is, the support aperture section 91 includes a first aperture section 92 extending linearly in an oblique direction, and a vertical aperture section 93 which is part of a third aperture section 95 that is connected to the upstream end of the first aperture section 92 in the feeding direction FD and extends the central section 62 in the feeding direction FD. Here, in a plan view of the feeding cassette 15 with the feeding direction FD in the vertical direction, the vertical aperture section 93 extends straight in the feeding direction FD (vertical direction).

[0064] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, when the hopper 61 is in the second feeding position P2 where it is tilted at the maximum angle, the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 contacts the vertical constriction portion 93 within the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X. In other words, the supporting constriction portion 91 contacts the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 within the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X when the hopper 61 is in the second feeding position P2.

[0065] Thus, the support constriction portion 91 is formed in a predetermined path that contacts the lift plate 71 at a position outside the range of the central portion 62 when the hopper 61 is in the first feeding position P1, and that contacts the lift plate 71 at a position within the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X when the hopper 61 is in the second feeding position P2.

[0066] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the reinforcing constriction section 90 has a second constriction section 94 in the extension section 64 that is connected to the first constriction section 92 and extends in a path that includes a component in the width direction X. The hopper 61 has a third constriction section 95 in the central section 62 that extends in the feeding direction FD as a reinforcing constriction section 90. The first constriction section 92 is connected to the third constriction section 95 that extends in the central section 62 of the hopper 61.

[0067] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, in the feeding direction FD, the position of the inner end 94A of the second throttling section 94 is downstream of the position of the downstream end 95A of the third throttling section 95. The first throttling section 92 is a throttling section that connects the inner end 94A of the second throttling section 94 and the downstream end 95A of the third throttling section 95.

[0068] As shown in Figure 4, a pair of support constriction sections 91 are provided on both sides of the center of the width of the hopper 61, and each section includes a portion of the first constriction section 92 and the third constriction section 95. When the hopper 61 is in the first feeding position P1 with its maximum load, the distance between the pair of constriction sections 91 supported by the lift plate 71 in the width direction X is at its widest.

[0069] As shown in Figure 4, the pivot axis 72 of the lift plate 71 is located upstream of the extension portion 64 in the feeding direction FD. The lift plate 71 is covered by the hopper 61 at its maximum raised position and maximum lowered position. In this embodiment, the wide portion 74, which is the tip portion of the lift plate 71, is formed to be wider than the central portion 62. However, when the lift plate 71 rotates within the range between the maximum lowered position when the hopper 61 is in the retracted position and the maximum raised position when the hopper 61 is in the second feeding position P2, its tip portion 71A moves within the range of the extension portion 64 in the feeding direction FD in the plan view shown in Figure 4. That is, the rotatable range between the retracted position of the hopper 61 and the second feeding position P2 is set so that the lift plate 71 is covered by the hopper 61 at its maximum raised position and maximum lowered position.

[0070] As shown in Figure 4, the first throttling section 92 is formed in a path where, within the swingable range of the hopper 61, the second interval (the distance between the second positions when the hopper 61 is supported at a second position upstream of the first position in the feeding direction FD) is narrower than the first interval (the distance between the first positions when the hopper 61 is supported at a first position on the first throttling section 92). Therefore, in the section supported by the first throttling section 92, as the hopper 61 approaches the first feeding position P1, the lift plate 71 can support the back surface of the hopper 61 at two locations with a wider gap in the width direction X.

[0071] <Operation of the Embodiment> Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the user places the media M into the feeding cassette 15, they move the side guides 81 and 82 in the width direction X, thereby sandwiching the media bundle MB in the width direction X and positioning the media bundle MB in the storage recess 50A in the width direction X. When the feeding cassette 15 is removed from the main body 12, the hopper 61 is in the retracted position. When the hopper 61 is in the retracted position, both the hopper 61 and the lift plate 71 are in a nearly horizontal position, with the hopper 61 overlapping the upper side of the lift plate 71. The user then inserts the feeding cassette 15 containing the media bundle MB into the main body 12.

[0072] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, when the user inserts the feed cassette 15 into the device body 12, the control unit 100 drives the motor 101 based on a detection signal from a sensor (not shown) that detects the insertion of the feed cassette 15. As a result, with the feed cassette 15 inserted into the device body 12, the lift plate 71 rotates counterclockwise in Figure 5 from a retracted position where the hopper 61 is in a nearly horizontal position, thereby pushing up the hopper 61. The hopper 61 is positioned in the feeding position shown in Figure 5 or 7, with an inclined position where the downstream side in the feeding direction FD is raised. In other words, the hopper 61 is pushed up to the feeding position where the uppermost medium M1 of the medium bundle MB loaded in the hopper 61 contacts the feed roller 31.

[0073] As shown in Figure 5, when the media bundle MB loaded in the hopper 61 is at its maximum load, the lift plate 71 rotates counterclockwise from its maximum lowered position to the angle shown in Figure 5, thereby positioning the hopper 61 at the first feeding position P1 shown in Figure 5. In this way, when the hopper 61 is at or near its maximum load, as shown in Figure 4, the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 supports the back surface of the hopper 61 with the first constricting portion 92. In other words, the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 supports the back surface of the hopper 61 with the extended portion 64 located outside the width direction X compared to the central portion 62. Therefore, for example, even when the hopper 61 is loaded with media M of a large width X at or near its maximum load, and the load weight is relatively large, the amount of downward deflection of the extended portion 64 of the hopper 61 can be relatively suppressed to be small. Therefore, feeding errors that may occur when the media M fed by the feeding roller 31 hits the inner wall surface of the cassette body 50 due to the bending of the extended portion 64 are effectively reduced.

[0074] As shown in Figure 5, the feed roller 31 rotates, feeding the media bundle MB in the feed cassette 15 one by one, starting from the top media M1. The fed media M are transported along the transport path T, and characters or images are recorded by the recording head 41 at recording positions along the transport path T. After recording, the media M are discharged onto the discharge tray 45.

[0075] As recording progresses in the recording device 11, the amount of media M in the feed cassette 15 decreases by one sheet each time it is fed. As the amount of media bundle MB decreases, the hopper 61 and lift plate 71 rotate counterclockwise in Figure 5 to maintain the state in which the topmost media M1 is in contact with the feed roller 31. That is, the hopper 61 and lift plate 71 rotate from the first feeding position P1 shown in Figure 5 to the second feeding position shown in Figure 7. During this rotation process, the position in which the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 engages with the back surface of the hopper 61 moves upstream in the feeding direction FD along the back surface of the hopper 61.

[0076] In other words, as shown in Figure 4, the point where the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 supports the first constriction section 92 moves upstream in the feeding direction FD and inward in the width direction X along the linear path of the first constriction section 92. As a result, in the section where the lift plate 71 supports the first constriction section 92, as the amount of media bundle MB loaded on the hopper 61 decreases, the point where the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 supports the back surface of the hopper 61 moves inward in the width direction X.

[0077] Then, when the lift plate 71 moves to the section that supports the vertical constriction portion 93 of the support constriction portion 91, the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 supports the hopper 61 in the width direction X within the range of the central portion 62. In this section, the amount of media M loaded on the hopper 61 is less than a predetermined threshold, so the media load weight of the hopper 61 is relatively small. For this reason, even when the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 supports the central portion 62 via the pair of vertical constriction portions 93, the amount of deflection of the pair of extension portions 64 is kept small.

[0078] Therefore, regardless of the amount of media loaded on the hopper 61, the pair of extensions 64 that make up the hopper 61 are less likely to bend. As a result, feeding errors that could occur due to the pair of extensions 64 bending downward under the weight of the media bundle MB loaded on the hopper 61 are suppressed.

[0079] Furthermore, the support constriction section 91 is connected to the second constriction section 94 and the third constriction section 95, forming a single constriction section 90B. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the reinforcing constriction section 90 is divided into multiple sections, for example, the hopper 61 can be reinforced more strongly.

[0080] When the feed cassette 15 is pulled out from the device body 12, the gear 75 and the gear on the device body 12 are disengaged, causing the hopper 61 and lift plate 71 to fall almost freely. In other words, the hopper 61 and lift plate 71 return to the retracted position from the feed position by their own weight. In the case of a configuration that includes an elastic member, the biasing force of the elastic member acts as part of the force that causes the hopper 61 and lift plate 71 to fall to the retracted position.

[0081] <Effects of the Embodiment> The effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) The feeding cassette 15 comprises a cassette body 50, a hopper 61, side guides 81, 82, and a lift plate 71. The cassette body 50 is configured to accommodate the medium M in a loaded state. The hopper 61 is positioned inside the cassette body 50 to load the medium M and is configured to swing relative to the cassette body 50. The side guides 81, 82 restrict the position of the medium M in the width direction X and are configured to be movable in the width direction X. The lift plate 71 rotates with one end as a pivot point around a pivot axis parallel to the width direction X, and the tip portion 71A, which is the end opposite the pivot point, supports the back surface of the hopper 61 from below and moves it upward. The hopper 61 has a central portion 62 located in the center of the width direction X, and extension portions 64 that extend from the downstream portion of the central portion 62 to both sides in the width direction X in the feeding direction FD in which the medium M is fed. The hopper 61 has a reinforcing constriction portion 90 projecting to the back side of at least the extension portion 64. The reinforcing constriction portion 90 includes a supporting constriction portion 91 that contacts the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 when it supports the back surface of the hopper 61 within the swingable range of the hopper 61. The supporting constriction portion 91 includes a first constriction portion 92 provided on the extension portion 64, at least in part, in a path having a component in the feeding direction FD. The lift plate 71 supports the first constriction portion 92 within at least part of the swingable range of the hopper 61.

[0082] With this configuration, firstly, the extended portion 64 of the hopper 61 has a reinforcing constricted portion 90, which increases the rigidity of the extended portion 64. Secondly, since the first constricted portion 92 is a path having a component in the feeding direction FD, the lift plate 71 can support the extended portion 64 via at least a part of the first constricted portion 92 provided on the extended portion 64, within the range in which the support position of the hopper 61 changes in the feeding direction FD between the raised and lowered positions of the lift plate 71. As a result, compared to the case where the lift plate 71 supports only the central portion 62 of the hopper 61, downward bending of the extended portion 64 of the hopper 61 can be suppressed. Therefore, poor feeding of the medium M can be suppressed.

[0083] (2) The reinforcing constriction portion 90 has a second constriction portion 94 in the extension portion 64 that is connected to the first constriction portion 92 and extends in a path that includes a component in the width direction X. With this configuration, the rigidity of the extension portion 64 of the hopper 61 can be further increased by having the second constriction portion 94 as the reinforcing constriction portion 90.

[0084] (3) The hopper 61 has a third constricted portion 95 in the central portion 62 that extends in the feeding direction FD as a reinforcing constricted portion 90. With this configuration, the rigidity of the central portion 62 of the hopper 61 can be increased by the presence of the third constricted portion 95. This can suppress deformation of the hopper 61 in the feeding direction FD.

[0085] (4) The first constricted section 92 is connected to a third constricted section 95 which extends to the central section 62 of the hopper 61. With this configuration, since it is composed of a single constricted section formed by the connection of two or more constricted sections, the rigidity of the area around where the constricted section is formed in the hopper 61 can be increased.

[0086] (5) In the feeding direction FD, the position of the inner end 94A of the second throttling section 94 is downstream of the position of the downstream end 95A of the third throttling section 95. The first throttling section 92 is a throttling section that connects the inner end 94A of the second throttling section 94 and the downstream end 95A of the third throttling section 95. With this configuration, the three throttling sections 92, 94, and 95 (93) are connected to form a single unit, which allows it to be placed in a small space. For example, since the throttling process is easy, the processing cost can be reduced, which can lower the product cost.

[0087] (6) The first constriction section 92 is a constriction section that extends in a straight line. With this configuration, the larger the amount of media loaded in the hopper 61, the more the lift plate 71 can support the extended section 64 at two points with a wide gap between them. Therefore, deflection of the extended section 64 caused by the weight of the media can be effectively suppressed.

[0088] (7) A pair of supporting constricted sections 91 are provided on both sides of the center of the width of the hopper 61, and each section includes a portion of the first constricted section 92 and the third constricted section 95. When the hopper 61 is at the first feeding position P1, which is the maximum load capacity, the distance between the pair of constricted sections supported by the lift plate 71 in the width direction X is at its widest. With this configuration, when the hopper 61 is at its maximum load capacity, the lift plate 71 can support the pair of first constricted sections 92 with the widest distance between them in the width direction X. Therefore, even if the total weight of the media M loaded in the hopper 61 is large when it is at or near its maximum load capacity, the deflection of the extended section 64 can be effectively suppressed. On the other hand, as the lift plate 71 moves to the highest position thereafter, the number of media M stacked in the hopper 61 decreases. Therefore, even if the support position of the lift plate 71 is switched to the third constriction section 95 located in the central section 62, the total weight of the loaded medium M is small, so deformation such as bending of the extended section 64 of the hopper 61 can be suppressed.

[0089] (8) The pivot axis of the lift plate 71 is positioned upstream of the extension portion 64 in the feeding direction FD. In a plan view taken from a direction perpendicular to the loading surface when the hopper 61 is in its lowest retracted position, the lift plate 71 is covered by the hopper 61 at both its maximum upward position and maximum downward position. With this configuration, the side guides 81 and 82 can be positioned close to the extension portion 64 and central portion 62 of the hopper 61. That is, the side guides 81 and 82 can be positioned downstream of the feeding direction FD, so that the medium M is not fed at an angle.

[0090] (9) The recording device 11 comprises a feed cassette 15 and a recording unit 40 that records on a medium M fed from the feed cassette 15. With this configuration, the same effects and advantages as the feed cassette 15 can be obtained in the recording device 11.

[0091] (Second Embodiment) Next, the feed cassette 15 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. In the first embodiment, the first aperture portion 92 was an oblique aperture portion extending linearly in an oblique direction that intersects the feed direction FD at an acute angle, but it is not limited to this. As in this second embodiment, the first aperture portion 96 may be an aperture portion that extends in a curved shape. Note that the configurations other than the configuration of the aperture portion 90, i.e., the configurations of the recording device 11 and the feed cassette 15, are the same as in the first embodiment. In the following, only the configurations of the aperture portion 90 that differ from those of the first embodiment will be described.

[0092] (Configuration of the aperture section 90) For example, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the supporting throttling section 91 includes a first throttling section 96 provided on the extension section 64 in a path having a component in the feeding direction FD, and a vertical throttling section 93 which is part of the third throttling section 95. In this example, the first throttling section 96 is composed of a curved throttling section. That is, as shown in Figure 8, the first throttling section 96 may be a throttling section that curves and extends. When the hopper 61 is in the first feeding position P1, where it is tilted at the smallest angle within its swingable range, it contacts the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 at a position outside the range of the central section 62 in the width direction X. In other words, the lift plate 71 supports the first throttling section 96 on the back surface of the extension section 64, which is at a position outside the range of the width direction X of the central section 62. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, the first diaphragm 96 contacts the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 at a position within the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X when the hopper 61 is in the second feeding position P2 where it is tilted at the maximum angle. In other words, the lift plate 71 supports the vertical diaphragm 93, which is part of the third diaphragm 95, on the back surface of the central portion 62.

[0093] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, in the feeding direction FD, the position of the inner end 94A of the second throttling section 94 is downstream of the position of the downstream end 95A of the third throttling section 95. The first throttling section 96 is a throttling section that connects the inner end 94A of the second throttling section 94 and the downstream end 95A of the third throttling section 95.

[0094] (Operation of the second embodiment) As shown in Figure 8, when the hopper 61 is in the first feeding position P1 with maximum load capacity, the tip of the lift plate 71 can support the back surface of the extension portion 64 of the hopper 61 by the first constriction portion 96 at a position outside the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X. Compared to the case where the lift plate 71 supports the hopper 61 in the first feeding position P1 within the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X, downward bending of the extension portion 64 of the hopper 61 can be suppressed. Therefore, feeding failures can be suppressed. Also, as shown in Figure 9, when the hopper 61 is in the second feeding position P2 with minimum load capacity, the tip of the lift plate 71A can support the back surface of the extension portion 64 of the hopper 61 by the vertical constriction portion 93, which is part of the third constriction portion 95, at a position within the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction. Compared to the case where the lift plate 71 supports the hopper 61 at the second feeding position P2 at a position outside the range of the central part 62 in the width direction X, the swingable range of the hopper 61, that is, the maximum tilt angle of the hopper 61, can be made larger. Therefore, the maximum number of media M that can be stored in the feeding cassette 15 can be made larger.

[0095] (Third embodiment) Next, the feed cassette 15 of the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. In the first and second embodiments, the first diaphragm extending in a path having a component in the feed direction FD was either a slanted first diaphragm 92 or a curved first diaphragm 96 extending linearly in a diagonal direction intersecting the feed direction FD at an acute angle, but is not limited to this. It may also be a vertical diaphragm extending linearly in a path having a component only in the feed direction FD, as shown in the third embodiment. That is, the first diaphragm 97 may be a vertical diaphragm provided on the extension 64. The configuration other than the configuration of the diaphragm 90 is the same as in the first embodiment. In the following, only the configuration of the diaphragm 90 that differs from that of the first and second embodiments will be described.

[0096] (Configuration of the aperture portion 90 in the third embodiment) For example, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the hopper 61 includes a reinforcing constriction section 90, which is provided in the extension section 64 and a reinforcing constriction section 90D provided in the central section 62.

[0097] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the support diaphragm 91 may include a first diaphragm 97 provided on the extension 64 and a vertical diaphragm 98 provided on the central 62. The first diaphragm 97 is provided on the extension 64 and extends in the feeding direction FD. The vertical diaphragm 98 is provided on the central 62 and extends in the feeding direction FD. The support diaphragm 91 comprises two diaphragm sections 97 and 98, each extending in the feeding direction FD at different positions in the width direction X. Thus, the support diaphragm 91 may be composed of multiple diaphragm sections 97 and 98. The support diaphragm 91 may be configured as a predetermined path including multiple separated paths.

[0098] As shown in Figure 10, the support throttling section 91 includes a first throttling section 97 that contacts the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 at a position outside the range of the central section 62 in the width direction X when the hopper 61 is in the first feeding position P1 where it is tilted at the minimum angle within its swingable range. Also, as shown in Figure 11, the support throttling section 91 includes a vertical throttling section 98 that contacts the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 at a position within the range of the central section 62 in the width direction X when the hopper 61 is in the second feeding position P2 where it is tilted at the maximum angle. Both of the two throttling sections 97 and 98 are formed by paths extending along the feeding direction FD. In other words, the two throttling sections 97 and 98 are vertical throttling sections whose path direction component is only in the feeding direction FD.

[0099] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the upstream end of the first diaphragm 97 is connected to the inner end of the second diaphragm 99. In the example shown in Figure 10, the connection between the first diaphragm 97 and the second diaphragm 99 is at a right angle, but they may also be connected via a diagonal diaphragm that intersects the feeding direction FD at an acute angle. Alternatively, the connection between the first diaphragm 97 and the second diaphragm 99 may also be connected via a diaphragm that forms an arc-shaped (R-shaped) path.

[0100] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the vertical aperture section 98 is connected to the third aperture section 95 in a single unit. The vertical aperture section 98 may extend in the feeding direction FD at a different position from the third aperture section 95 in the width direction X. In this case, the vertical aperture section 98 may be connected to the third aperture section 95 via an aperture section in an oblique path that intersects the feeding direction FD at an acute angle. Alternatively, the vertical aperture section 98 and the third aperture section 95 may be connected via an aperture section in an arc-shaped (R-shaped) path.

[0101] (Operation of the third embodiment) When the hopper 61 is in the first feeding position P1 with its maximum load, the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 can support the back surface of the extension 64 of the hopper 61 by the first constriction portion 97 at a position outside the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X. Also, as shown in Figure 10, when the hopper 61 is in the first feeding position P1, the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 can support the back surface of the extension 64 by the vertical constriction portion 98 even at a position within the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X. Compared to the case where the lift plate 71 supports the hopper 61 in the first feeding position P1 only at a position within the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X, downward bending of the extension 64 of the hopper 61 can be suppressed. Therefore, feeding failures can be suppressed. Furthermore, when the hopper 61 is in the second feeding position P2 with the minimum load capacity, as shown in Figure 11, the tip portion 71A of the lift plate 71 can support the back surface of the extended portion 64 of the hopper 61 by the second vertical constriction portion 98 within the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X. Compared to the case where the lift plate 71 supports the hopper 61 in the second feeding position P2 at a position outside the range of the central portion 62 in the width direction X, a larger range of swingability of the hopper 61, i.e., the maximum tilt angle of the hopper 61, can be secured. Therefore, a larger maximum number of feeding cassettes 15 can be accommodated (maximum load capacity).

[0102] The two diaphragm sections 97 and 98 may be provided in a path where the tip 71A of the lift plate 71 supports one of them. In this case, if there is a step between the two diaphragm sections 97 and 98 due to machining errors or the like, vibration or shock may occur in the hopper 61 due to snagging caused by the step during the switching process between the state supported by the first diaphragm section 97 and the state supported by the second vertical diaphragm section 98. For this reason, snagging that may occur during the switching process of the diaphragm section supported by the lift plate 71 may be suppressed by forming a slope in the switching process portion of at least one of the two diaphragm sections 97 and 98. When a slope is provided at the upstream end of the first diaphragm section 97, the slope should be such that the downward projection height decreases towards the upstream side of the feeding direction FD. Similarly, when a slope is provided at the downstream end of the vertical diaphragm section 98, the slope should be such that the downward projection height decreases towards the downstream side of the feeding direction FD.

[0103] (Example of change) This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0104] The supporting constriction portion 91 may be formed only on the extended portion 64 of the hopper 61. In the first and second embodiments, the first constriction portions 92 and 96 may be formed by paths that include a straight path portion and a curved path portion.

[0105] In the first and second embodiments described above, the inner end of the second diaphragm 94 is located downstream of the downstream end of the third diaphragm 95, and the first diaphragm 92 and 96 are configured such that the inner end of the second diaphragm 94 connects to the downstream end of the third diaphragm 95. However, they may be connected by other paths different from those in these embodiments. For example, the first diaphragm, to which the inner end of the second diaphragm 94 connects to the downstream end of the third diaphragm 95, may be formed in a crank-shaped path. That is, the first diaphragm is connected to the downstream end of the third diaphragm 95 by first forming a vertical diaphragm that bends at a right angle from the inner end of the second diaphragm 94 and extends in the feeding direction FD, then forming a horizontal diaphragm that bends at a right angle again and extends inward in the width direction X, and then forming a vertical diaphragm that bends at a right angle again and extends in the feeding direction FD. Note that the number of vertical diaphragm sections constituting the first diaphragm is not limited to two, but may be three or more.

[0106] In the first embodiment described above, the first throttling section 92 was a single linear throttling section, but it may be formed as a bent linear path in which two or more linear throttling sections are connected. In this case, the path may be such that the distance between the two outermost points where the lift plate 71 supports the hopper 61 becomes narrower towards the upstream side in the feeding direction FD.

[0107] In the first embodiment described above, the support diaphragm 91 may consist only of a linear first diaphragm 92 and not include the vertical diaphragm 93 which is part of the third diaphragm 95. In this case, the lift plate 71 may be configured as a plate with the same width from the base end on the pivot point side to the tip 71A.

[0108] In the second embodiment described above, the support diaphragm 91 may consist only of the curved first diaphragm 96 and not include the vertical diaphragm 93 which is part of the third diaphragm 95. In this case, the lift plate 71 may be configured as a plate with the same width from the base end on the pivot point side to the tip 71A.

[0109] In the third embodiment described above, the lift plate 71 may be configured to support only the first constricted portion 97 of the two vertical constricted portions 98. With this configuration, the angle of the hopper's swingable range becomes narrower, and the number of media M that can be accommodated at the maximum load capacity becomes relatively smaller, but the deflection of the extended portion 64 can be suppressed.

[0110] In the third embodiment, the number of vertical constrictions is not limited to two, but may be three or more. For example, two or more vertical constrictions may be arranged outside the third constriction 95 for reinforcement in the width direction X.

[0111] The recording device 11 is not limited to an inkjet printer, but may also be an electrophotographic printer such as a laser printer. Furthermore, the recording device 11 may also be a dot impact printer or a thermal transfer printer. In other words, the recording method of the recording unit 40 is not limited to an inkjet recording method; it may also be configured to record using other recording methods, such as an electrophotographic method including a laser recording method that uses toner, a dot impact recording method, or a thermal recording method.

[0112] The recording device 11 is not limited to a line printer or serial printer, but may also be a page printer. The recording device 11 may be a printer that does not have a scanner unit 20 (image reading unit) and only has a recording function.

[0113] <Definition> The support constriction in this specification includes configurations in which the constriction is formed only on the extended portion of the hopper, and configurations in which it is formed on both the extended portion and the central portion of the hopper.

[0114] The technical concepts and their effects derived from the above embodiments and modifications are described below. (A) The feeding cassette comprises a cassette body configured to accommodate a medium in a loaded state, a hopper disposed within the cassette body for loading the medium and pivotable relative to the cassette body, a side guide configured to restrict the position of the medium in the width direction and to be movable in the width direction, and a lift plate that rotates around a pivot axis parallel to the width direction with one end as a pivot point, and supports the back surface of the hopper from below with the tip, which is the end opposite the pivot point, for upward movement, and the hopper comprises a central part located in the center in the width direction and a feeding method through which the medium is fed. The hopper has an extension portion extending from the downstream portion of the central portion to both sides in the width direction, and the hopper has a reinforcing constriction portion projecting to the back side of at least the extension portion, the reinforcing constriction portion includes a supporting constriction portion that contacts the tip portion of the lift plate when it supports the back surface of the hopper within the swingable range of the hopper, the supporting constriction portion includes a first constriction portion that is provided in the extension portion in a path having a component in the feeding direction, and the lift plate supports the first constriction portion in at least a portion of the swingable range of the hopper.

[0115] With this configuration, firstly, the extension of the hopper has a reinforcing constriction, which increases the rigidity of the extension. Secondly, since the first constriction is a path with a component in the feeding direction, the lift plate can support the extension via at least a portion of the first constriction provided in the extension, within the range where the support position of the hopper changes in the feeding direction between the raised and lowered positions of the lift plate. As a result, compared to the case where the lift plate supports only the central part of the hopper, downward bending of the extension of the hopper can be suppressed. Therefore, poor feeding of the medium can be suppressed.

[0116] (B) In the above feeding cassette, the reinforcing constriction portion may have a second constriction portion in the extension portion that is connected to the first constriction portion and extends in a path that includes the widthwise component. With this configuration, the presence of a second constricted section as a reinforcing constricted section further increases the rigidity of the hopper's extended section.

[0117] (C) In the above feeding cassette, the hopper may have a third constricting portion in the central part that extends in the feeding direction as the reinforcing constricting portion. This configuration allows for increased rigidity in the central part of the hopper due to the presence of the third constriction section. This suppresses deformation of the hopper in the feeding direction.

[0118] (D) In ​​the above feeding cassette, in the feeding cassette according to claim 3, the first throttling portion may be connected to the third throttling portion which extends to the central portion of the hopper. This configuration, which consists of a single constricted section formed by the connection of two or more constricted sections, can increase the rigidity of the area around where the constricted section is formed in the hopper.

[0119] (E) In the above feeding cassette, the position of the inner end of the second throttling portion is located downstream of the position of the downstream end of the third throttling portion in the feeding direction, and the first throttling portion may be a throttling portion that connects the inner end of the second throttling portion and the downstream end of the third throttling portion.

[0120] This configuration, consisting of three interconnected constricted sections, allows for placement in a small space. For example, the ease of the constricted section process can reduce processing costs, thereby lowering product costs.

[0121] (F) In the above feeding cassette, the first aperture portion may be an aperture portion that extends in a straight line or an aperture portion that extends in a curve. With this configuration, the larger the media load in the hopper, the more the lift plate can support the extended section at two points with a wide gap between them. Therefore, deflection caused by the weight of the media in the extended section can be effectively suppressed.

[0122] (G) In the above feeding cassette, the supporting constriction portion is provided in a pair on both sides of the center of the width of the hopper, and the range includes a portion of the first constriction portion and the third constriction portion, and when the hopper is in the first feeding position when it is at its maximum load, the distance in the width direction between the pair of constriction portions supported by the lift plate may be the widest.

[0123] With this configuration, when the hopper is at its maximum load capacity, the lift plate can support the pair of first constricted sections with the widest possible spacing in the width direction. Therefore, even if the total weight of the media loaded is large when the hopper is at or near its maximum load capacity, the deflection of the extended section can be effectively suppressed. On the other hand, as the lift plate moves to its highest position, the number of media stacked in the hopper decreases. As a result, even when the support position of the lift plate switches to the third constricted section in the center, the total weight of the loaded media is small, so deformation such as deflection of the extended section of the hopper is suppressed.

[0124] (H) In the above feeding cassette, the pivot axis of the lift plate is positioned upstream of the extension in the feeding direction, and in a plan view taken from a direction perpendicular to the loading surface when the hopper is in its lowest retracted position, the lift plate may be covered by the hopper at its maximum raised position and maximum lowered position.

[0125] This configuration allows the side guides to be positioned close to the extended and central sections of the hopper. In other words, the side guides can be positioned closer to the downstream side in the feeding direction, which helps to prevent the medium from being fed at an angle.

[0126] (I) The recording device comprises the above-mentioned feeding cassette and a recording unit that records on a medium fed from the feeding cassette. With this configuration, the same effects and advantages as those of the above-mentioned feed cassette can be obtained in the recording device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 11...Recording device, 12...Device body, 12A...Caster, 12S...Side, 12W...Window, 13...Printer unit, 14...Operation unit, 14A...Display unit, 15...Feed cassette, 15A...Handle, 16...First cover, 17...Second cover, 18...Feed tray, 18A...Handle, 19...Ink supply source, 20...Scanner unit, 21...Platen glass, 22...Automatic document feeder, 23...Platen glass cover, 24...Document tray, 25...Feeding mechanism, 26...Output tray, 30...Transport mechanism, 31...Feed roller, 32...Separation roller pair, 33 ...conveyor roller, 34...conveyor unit, 34A...conveyor belt, 35...conveyor roller pair, 36...flap, 37...roller, 38...discharge roller pair, 38A...drive roller, 38B...driven roller, 39...discharge roller pair, 40...recording section, 41...recording head, 45...discharge tray, 50...cassette body, 50A...storage recess, 51...cover section, 52, 53...side wall section, 54...rear wall section, 55...bottom section, 56...extension section, 57...roller, 58...pin section, 59...separation plate, 60...hopper mechanism, 61...hopper, 6 1A...First recess, 61B...Second recess, 61C...Third recess, 62...Central part, 63...Base end, 64...Extended part, 65...Friction member, 71...Lift plate, 71A...Tip part, 72...Rotating shaft, 73...Arm part, 74...Wide part, 75...Gear, 80...Media positioning mechanism, 81...First side guide, 81A...Guide surface, 81B...Operating part, 82...Second side guide, 82A...Guide surface, 82B...Operating part, 83...Rear guide, 83A...Guide surface, 83B...Operating part, 84...Guide part, 85...Rack and pinion mechanism, 85A...Rack part ,85B...Rack section,86...Guide section,90...Reinforcement constriction section,91...Support constriction section,92...First constriction section,93...Vertical constriction section,94...Second constriction section,94A...Inner end,95...Third constriction section,95A...Downstream end,96...First constriction section,97...First constriction section,98...Vertical constriction section,99...Second constriction section,100...Control unit,101...Motor,X...Width direction,Y...Feeding direction,Z...Vertical direction,FD...Feeding direction,F...Floor surface,D...Original document,M...Media,M1...Topmost media,MB...Media bundle,P1...First feeding position,P2...Second feeding position.

Claims

1. A cassette body configured to accommodate media in a loaded state, A hopper is provided inside the cassette body for loading the media and is swingable relative to the cassette body, A side guide is configured to restrict the position of the medium in the width direction and to be movable in the width direction, The device includes a lift plate that rotates around a pivot axis parallel to the width direction, with one end acting as a pivot point, and supports the back surface of the hopper from below at the tip, which is the end opposite the pivot point, for moving it upward, The hopper has a central portion located in the center in the width direction, and extensions that extend from the downstream portion of the central portion to both sides in the width direction in the feeding direction in which the medium is fed. The hopper has a reinforcing constricted portion that protrudes from the back side at least on the extended portion, The reinforcing constriction portion includes a supporting constriction portion that contacts the tip of the lift plate when it supports the back surface of the hopper within the swingable range of the hopper. The aforementioned support constriction portion includes a first constriction portion provided in the extension portion, at least a portion of which is located in the path having a component in the feeding direction. The lift plate supports the first throttling portion in at least a portion of the swingable range of the hopper. The reinforcing constricted portion has, in the extended portion, a second constricted portion connected to the first constricted portion and extending in a path that includes the widthwise component, The hopper has a third constricting portion in its central part that extends in the feeding direction as a reinforcing constricting portion, The first throttling section is connected to the third throttling section which extends to the central part of the hopper, In the feeding direction, the position of the inner end of the second throttling portion is downstream of the position of the downstream end of the third throttling portion. A feeding cassette characterized in that the first throttling portion is a throttling portion that connects the inner end of the second throttling portion and the downstream end of the third throttling portion.

2. In the feeding cassette according to claim 1, The feeding cassette is characterized in that the first aperture portion is an aperture portion that extends in a straight line or an aperture portion that extends in a curve.

3. In the feeding cassette according to claim 1, The aforementioned support constriction sections are provided in pairs on both sides of the center of the width of the hopper, and each of them includes a portion of the first constriction section and the third constriction section. A feeding cassette characterized in that when the hopper is in the first feeding position at its maximum load capacity, the distance in the width direction between the pair of constricted portions supported by the lift plate is at its widest.

4. In the feeding cassette according to claim 1, The pivot axis of the lift plate is positioned upstream of the extension in the feeding direction, A feeding cassette characterized in that, in a plan view taken from a direction perpendicular to the loading surface when the hopper is in its lowest retracted position, the lift plate is covered by the hopper at both its maximum raised position and its maximum lowered position.

5. A feeding cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A recording device characterized by comprising a recording unit that records on a medium fed from the aforementioned feeding cassette.

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