Recording device

Abstract

To indicate the status regarding discharging of a sheet with better visibility to improve usability.SOLUTION: A medium-discharging device includes: a medium-discharging section that discharges a medium; and a medium-receiving tray that receives the medium discharged by the medium-discharging section. The medium-receiving tray is switchable between a first state, in which the medium-receiving tray is stored in an apparatus main body that includes the medium-discharging section, and a second state, in which the medium-receiving tray protrudes most from the apparatus main body. A light-emitting section that emits light to the medium-receiving tray is positioned downstream of the medium-discharging section in a medium-discharging direction. A control section that controls the light-emitting section controls the light-emitting section in accordance with a state or operation of the medium-receiving tray.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a medium discharging apparatus for discharging a medium, and a recording apparatus including the same. [Background Art]

[0002] In a discharge mechanism that discharges a medium, there is known a configuration in which a discharge space for discharging the medium is provided in a housing of the apparatus, and in view of poor visibility because the interior of the discharge space is dark, a lamp for illuminating the inside of the discharge space is provided as disclosed in Patent Document 1. According to the configuration described in Patent Document 1, when a sheet, which is an example of a medium, is discharged onto a tray, a lamp provided on a ceiling of the paper discharge space is turned on. This makes it easy to check and take out the discharged paper, and also allows a user to easily notice that the paper has been discharged. Patent Document 2 also discloses a configuration in which a discharge tray that receives discharged sheets moves between an extended position and a storage position by power of a motor. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-339107 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-016480 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 2, when a recording command is issued in a state where the discharge tray is at the storage position, a discharge roller rotates, and the rotation of the discharge roller is transmitted to the discharge tray, so that the discharge tray moves from the storage position to the extended position. Therefore, the extending operation of the discharge tray can be recognized by a user as a sign that a sheet is to be discharged. Furthermore, it can be said that the operation of the discharge tray functions as a means for indicating a status related to sheet discharge. However, from the perspective of improving usability, it is preferable to display the status related to sheet ejection in a more visually appealing way. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve the above problems, the media discharge device of the present invention comprises a media discharge unit for discharging media and a media receiving tray for receiving media discharged by the media discharge unit, wherein the media receiving tray is switchable between a first state in which it is housed in the device body comprising the media discharge unit and a second state in which it protrudes the furthest from the device body, and a light-emitting unit is provided downstream of the media discharge unit in the media discharge direction for emitting light toward the media receiving tray, and a control unit that controls the light-emitting unit controls the light-emitting unit according to the state or operation of the media receiving tray.

[0006] Furthermore, the recording device of the present invention comprises a recording unit that records on a medium, a medium discharge unit that discharges the medium on which the recording unit has recorded, and a medium receiving tray that receives the medium discharged by the medium discharge unit, wherein the medium receiving tray is switchable between a first state in which it is housed in the device body equipped with the medium discharge unit and a second state in which it protrudes the furthest from the device body, a light-emitting unit that emits light toward the medium receiving tray is provided downstream of the medium discharge unit in the direction of medium discharge, the medium receiving tray is switchable between the first state and the second state by the power of a motor, and the control unit that controls the light-emitting unit, when it receives an instruction to start recording when the medium receiving tray is in the first state and the light-emitting unit is off, causes the light-emitting unit to emit light in response to the control of the motor for extending the medium receiving tray from the device body.

[0007] Furthermore, the recording device of the present invention comprises a recording unit that records on a medium, a medium discharge unit that discharges the medium on which recording has been made by the recording unit, and a medium receiving tray that receives the medium discharged by the medium discharge unit, wherein the medium receiving tray is switchable between a first state in which it is housed in the main body of the device equipped with the medium discharge unit and a second state in which it protrudes the furthest from the main body of the device, and a light-emitting unit that emits light toward the medium receiving tray is provided at a position downstream of the medium discharge unit in the direction of medium discharge, and a control unit that controls the light-emitting unit is capable of detecting whether the medium receiving tray is in at least the first state, and when an instruction to start recording is received while the medium receiving tray is in the first state and the light-emitting unit is off, the light-emitting unit does not emit light, and when an instruction to start recording is received while the medium receiving tray is in a state other than the first state and the light-emitting unit is off, the light-emitting unit emits light. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A perspective view of the printer with the paper tray in the first position. [Figure 2] A perspective view of a printer with the paper tray in the third position. [Figure 3] A perspective view of the printer with the paper tray in the second position. [Figure 4] A diagram showing the paper transport path of a printer. [Figure 5] A block diagram showing the printer's control system. [Figure 6] A magnified perspective view of the front of the printer with the front cover removed, exposing the circuit board. [Figure 7] A diagram showing the illumination range from the light-emitting unit as viewed from the paper ejection direction. [Figure 8] A diagram showing the illumination range from the light-emitting part, viewed from the paper width direction. [Figure 9] A flowchart showing the control of the light-emitting section. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The present invention will be described in general terms below. A media discharge device according to the first embodiment comprises a media discharge unit for discharging media and a media receiving tray for receiving media discharged by the media discharge unit, wherein the media receiving tray is switchable between a first state in which it is housed in the device body comprising the media discharge unit and a second state in which it protrudes the furthest from the device body, and a light-emitting unit is provided downstream of the media discharge unit in the media discharge direction for emitting light toward the media receiving tray, and a control unit that controls the light-emitting unit controls the light-emitting unit according to the state or operation of the media receiving tray.

[0010] According to this embodiment, the control unit that controls the light-emitting unit controls the light-emitting unit according to the state or operation of the media receiving tray, so that the status related to the discharge of the media can be displayed in a highly visible manner, thereby improving usability.

[0011] A second embodiment is characterized in that, in the first embodiment, the media receiving tray is capable of switching between a first state and a second state by power from a motor controlled by the control unit, and the control unit emits light when the media receiving tray in the first state is extended from the main body of the device.

[0012] According to this embodiment, when the control unit extends the media receiving tray, which is in the first state, from the main body of the device, the light-emitting unit is illuminated, so that the user can understand that the state of the media receiving tray has changed by the illumination of the light-emitting unit. In this specification, the term "light emission" of the light-emitting part includes both illumination and flashing, and when simply referred to as "light emission," it means either illumination or flashing.

[0013] In a third aspect, based on the first aspect, the medium receiving tray is switchable between the first state and the second state by power of a motor controlled by the control unit, and the control unit changes the light emitting state of the light emitting unit when the medium receiving tray does not switch to the target state even after the motor is driven by a predetermined amount.

[0014] According to this aspect, when the medium receiving tray does not switch to the target state even after the motor is driven by a predetermined amount, the control unit changes the light emitting state of the light emitting unit, so that a user can recognize that an abnormality has occurred in the operation of the medium receiving tray through the change in the light emitting state of the light emitting unit.

[0015] In a fourth aspect, based on the second or third aspect, the control unit is characterized in that, when transitioning to a power saving mode that suppresses power consumption in a state where the medium receiving tray has released the first state and protrudes from the device main body and the light emitting unit emits light, the control unit turns off the light emitting unit. According to this aspect, when transitioning to a power saving mode that suppresses power consumption in a state where the medium receiving tray has released the first state and protrudes from the device main body and the light emitting unit emits light, the control unit turns off the light emitting unit, thereby avoiding unnecessary power consumption.

[0016] In a fifth aspect, based on any one of the second to fourth aspects, the control unit is characterized in that, when a power button is pressed in a state where the medium receiving tray has released the first state and protrudes from the device main body and the light emitting unit emits light, the control unit turns off the light emitting unit. According to this aspect, when a power button is pressed in a state where the medium receiving tray has released the first state and protrudes from the device main body and the light emitting unit emits light, the control unit turns off the light emitting unit, so that a user can visually recognize that the device is transitioning to a power-off state.

[0017] The recording device according to the sixth embodiment is characterized by comprising a recording unit that records on a medium, and a medium discharge device according to any of the first to fifth embodiments that discharges the medium on which the recording unit has recorded. According to this embodiment, in a recording device that records on a medium, any of the effects of the first to fifth embodiments described above can be obtained.

[0018] A recording device according to the seventh embodiment comprises a recording unit for recording on a medium, a medium discharge unit for discharging the medium on which recording has been performed by the recording unit, and a medium receiving tray for receiving the medium discharged by the medium discharge unit, wherein the medium receiving tray is switchable between a first state in which it is housed in the device body equipped with the medium discharge unit and a second state in which it protrudes the furthest from the device body, a light-emitting unit is provided downstream of the medium discharge unit in the medium discharge direction that emits light toward the medium receiving tray, the medium receiving tray is switchable between the first state and the second state by the power of a motor, and a control unit that controls the light-emitting unit, when it receives an instruction to start recording while the medium receiving tray is in the first state and the light-emitting unit is off, causes the light-emitting unit to emit light in response to the control of the motor for protruding the medium receiving tray from the device body.

[0019] According to this embodiment, when the control unit that controls the light-emitting unit receives an instruction to start recording while the media tray is in the first state and the light-emitting unit is off, it illuminates the light-emitting unit in response to the control of the motor for extending the media tray from the main body of the device. As a result, the user can visually understand that the state of the media tray has changed by the illumination of the light-emitting unit, thereby improving usability.

[0020] The eighth aspect comprises a recording unit for recording on a medium, a medium discharge unit for discharging the medium on which recording has been made by the recording unit, and a medium receiving tray for receiving the medium discharged by the medium discharge unit, wherein the medium receiving tray is switchable between a first state in which it is housed in the main body of the device equipped with the medium discharge unit and a second state in which it protrudes the furthest from the main body of the device, and a light-emitting unit is provided downstream of the medium discharge unit in the medium discharge direction for emitting light toward the medium receiving tray, and a control unit that controls the light-emitting unit is capable of detecting whether the medium receiving tray is in at least the first state, and when an instruction to start recording is received while the medium receiving tray is in the first state and the light-emitting unit is off, the light-emitting unit is not made to emit light, and when an instruction to start recording is received while the medium receiving tray is in a state other than the first state and the light-emitting unit is off, the light-emitting unit is made to emit light.

[0021] According to this embodiment, the control unit that controls the light-emitting unit can detect whether the media tray is in at least the first state, and when it receives a recording start instruction while the media tray is in the first state and the light-emitting unit is off, it does not illuminate the light-emitting unit, and when it receives a recording start instruction while the media tray is in a state other than the first state and the light-emitting unit is off, it illuminates the light-emitting unit. As a result, the user can visually grasp the state of the media tray by the state of the light-emitting unit, improving usability.

[0022] The ninth aspect is characterized in that, in the eighth aspect, the control unit causes the light-emitting unit to emit light when the media receiving tray, which is in the first state, releases the first state. According to this embodiment, when the media receiving tray, which is in the first state, releases the first state, the control unit illuminates the light-emitting unit, so that the user can visually understand that the state of the media receiving tray has changed by the illumination of the light-emitting unit.

[0023] The present invention will be described in detail below. In each diagram, the direction along the X-axis is the width direction of the device, and it intersects with the paper transport direction used to transport paper, which is an example of a medium; that is, the paper width direction. The -X direction is to the right when the front of the device is facing the user, and the +X direction is to the left. Furthermore, the direction along the Y axis is the depth direction of the device, the +Y direction is the direction from the back to the front of the device, and the -Y direction is the direction from the front to the back of the device. The +Y direction is the direction in which the recorded paper is ejected from the ejection port 17. In this embodiment, the side of the device that is equipped with the front cover 4 is the front of the device. Furthermore, the direction along the Z axis is vertical, with the +Z direction being vertically upward and the -Z direction being vertically downward. In the following, the direction in which the paper is fed will be referred to as "downstream," and the opposite direction as "upstream."

[0024] In Figures 1 to 3, the inkjet printer 1, which is an example of a recording device, is a so-called multifunction device consisting of a scanner unit 3 mounted on top of the main unit 2. Hereafter, the inkjet printer 1 will be abbreviated as printer 1. The scanner unit 3 is rotatably mounted relative to the main body 2, and by rotating it, it can assume a closed state as shown in Figure 1 and an open state not shown. The scanner unit 3 is equipped with a document cover 3a that opens and closes the document tray 3b (see Figure 4).

[0025] An upper cover 9 is provided on the rear side of the main body 2 of the device, relative to the document cover 3a. Opening the upper cover 9 allows paper to be loaded into the hopper 12 (see Figure 4). The main unit 2 of the device is equipped with an operation panel 6 on its front for performing various operation settings. In this embodiment, the operation panel 6 is a touch panel. The operation panel 6 is also tiltable around a rotation axis (not shown).

[0026] A front cover 4 is provided at the lower front of the main body 2 of the device. The front cover 4 is rotatably mounted on the paper feed tray 5 located at the bottom of the main body 2, and by rotating, it can be in a closed state as shown in Figure 1 and an open state as shown in Figures 2 and 3. When the front cover 4 is opened, the output port 17 for ejecting recorded paper is exposed, as is the paper receiving tray 18, which serves as a media receiving tray for receiving the paper ejected from the output port 17.

[0027] The paper receiving tray 18 can be switched between a first state in which it is housed inside the main body 2 of the device, and a second state in which it protrudes most in the +Y direction, as shown in Figure 3. Note that the state of the paper receiving tray 18 shown in Figure 2 represents a third state between the first and second states. The state of the paper receiving tray 18 is switched by power being transmitted from the tray drive motor 60 (see Figure 5) to the paper receiving tray 18 via a rack and pinion mechanism (not shown). The control unit 50 (see Figure 5) determines whether to switch the paper receiving tray 18 from the first state to the second state or the third state based on the paper size information included in the print information.

[0028] Furthermore, the paper receiving tray 18 can switch not only from the first state to the second state, but also from the second state to the first state, using the power of the tray drive motor 60 (see Figure 5). However, the switching of the paper receiving tray 18 from the second state to the third state may be left to user operation, while the switching from the third state to the first state may be performed by the power of the tray drive motor 60. Alternatively, the entire switching of the paper receiving tray 18 from the second state to the first state may be left to user operation.

[0029] In this embodiment, the paper receiving tray 18 can take on a third state in addition to the second state, and can receive paper in both the second and third states. However, the third state can be omitted, meaning that it may only receive paper in the second state. Conversely, the paper receiving tray 18 may also be able to receive paper in other states in addition to the second and third states.

[0030] In this embodiment, in the third state shown in Figure 2, for example, if an A4-sized sheet of paper is ejected with its long side along the Y-axis direction, the sheet can be received. Also, in the second state shown in Figure 3, for example, if an A3-sized sheet of paper is ejected with its long side along the Y-axis direction, the sheet can be received.

[0031] In this embodiment, the paper receiving tray 18 is configured to include a first tray 18c, a second tray 18b, and a third tray 18a, as shown in Figure 3. When the paper receiving tray 18 switches from the stored state shown in Figure 1, i.e., the first state, to the third state shown in Figure 2, the first tray 18c, the second tray 18b, and the third tray 18a are displaced together in the +Y direction. When switching from the third state in Figure 2 to the second state in Figure 3, the second tray 18b and the third tray 18a are displaced in the +Y direction relative to the first tray 18c. When the paper receiving tray 18 is switched to the second state, as shown in Figure 3, the second tray 18b is located in the +Y direction relative to the first tray 18c, and the third tray 18a is located in the +Y direction relative to the second tray 18b.

[0032] As described above, the paper receiving tray 18 is configured in a multi-stage manner in this embodiment, but the paper receiving tray 18 can also be configured as a single tray. In this case as well, a rack can be formed on the tray along the Y-axis direction, and a pinion gear that meshes with this rack can be provided to form a rack and pinion mechanism, making it possible to displace it in the Y-axis direction using the power of a motor. Even in such a configuration, it is possible to switch between a first state in which the tray is housed inside the main body 2 and a second state in which the tray protrudes the most from the main body 2 in the +Y direction compared to the first state.

[0033] Next, the paper transport path of printer 1 will be further explained with reference to Figure 4. Paper placed in the paper tray 5 located at the bottom of the main body 2 is fed out in the -Y direction by the feed roller 10 driven by the feed motor 52 (see Figure 5). The symbol T1 indicates the paper transport path of the paper being fed out from the paper tray 5. Furthermore, the paper set in the hopper 12 comes into contact with the feed roller 11 as the hopper 12 rises, and is fed downstream by the rotation of the feed roller 11, which is driven by the feed motor 52 (see Figure 5). The symbol T2 indicates the feed path of the paper being sent out from the hopper 12.

[0034] Above the feed roller 10, there is a reversing roller 8 driven by a feed motor 52 (see Figure 5). Paper fed from the paper tray 5 or hopper 12 receives a feeding force from the reversing roller 8 and is fed towards the transport roller pair 13 located in the +Y direction relative to the reversing roller 8. The paper is then transported to the area facing the recording head 15, i.e., the recording area, by a pair of transport rollers 13 driven by a transport motor 53 (see Figure 5).

[0035] A recording head 15, which is an example of a recording unit, is mounted on a carriage 14, and the carriage 14 reciprocates in the X-axis direction by power from a carriage motor 51 (see Figure 5). The recording head 15 ejects ink onto the paper as the carriage 14 moves. The recorded paper is then discharged toward the paper receiving tray 18 by a pair of discharge rollers 16 driven by a transport motor 53 (see Figure 5). The pair of discharge rollers 16 is an example of a paper discharge unit that discharges the recorded paper. The pair of discharge rollers 16, the paper receiving tray 18, and the light-emitting unit 23 (see Figure 5), which will be described later, constitute a paper discharge device 34, which is an example of a media discharge device.

[0036] Next, we will explain the control system in printer 1, referring to Figure 5. The control unit 50 performs various controls on the printer 1, including paper feeding, transport, ejection, and recording. The control unit 50 receives signals from the operation panel 6, and also sends signals from the control unit 50 to the operation panel 6 to display the operation panel 6, particularly the user interface (hereinafter referred to as "UI").

[0037] The control unit 50 controls the carriage motor 51, the feeding motor 52, the transport motor 53, and the tray drive motor 60. In this embodiment, each of these motors is a DC motor. The control unit 50 also receives detection signals from the position detection unit 57, the rotation detection unit 58, the media detection unit 59, and the tray detection unit 61. The position detection unit 57 is a linear encoder and is a detection unit for detecting the position of the carriage 14 in the X-axis direction. The rotation detection unit 58 is a rotary encoder and is a detection unit for detecting the amount of rotation and rotational speed of the roller driven by the transport motor 53.

[0038] The media detection unit 59 is located near the upstream side of the transport roller pair 13 and detects the passage of the leading and trailing edges of the paper. The media detection unit 59 can be configured with a contact-type or non-contact-type sensor. Based on the detection information from the media detection unit 59, the control unit 50 can determine whether the paper was fed correctly, specifically whether a non-feed occurred.

[0039] In this embodiment, the tray detection unit 61 is a detection means for detecting when the paper receiving tray 18 has switched to the third state shown in Figure 2, and can be configured as, for example, a contact-type sensor. The control unit 50 can detect when the paper receiving tray 18 has switched to the first state, and also when it has switched to the second state, by detecting the driving direction of the tray drive motor 60 and the increase in the driving current value. However, it is certainly possible to provide separate sensors for detecting the first state and sensors for detecting the second state. Furthermore, a rotary encoder (not shown) is attached to the tray drive motor 60, and the control unit 50 can determine the rotation direction and amount of rotation of the tray drive motor 60 based on the signal output from this rotary encoder.

[0040] The control unit 50 includes a CPU 54, a flash ROM 55, and a RAM 56. The CPU 54 performs various calculations according to the program stored in the flash ROM 55 and controls the operation of the entire printer 1. The program for controlling the light-emitting unit 23, which will be described later, is also stored in the flash ROM 55. The flash ROM 55 is a non-volatile memory that can be read and written to. Various setting information entered by the user via the operation panel 6 is also stored in the flash ROM 55. Various information is temporarily stored in the RAM 56, which is an example of a storage means. The control unit 50 is also equipped with an interface 62, which enables communication with an external computer 90.

[0041] Next, let's explain the output port 17 further. The output port 17 is the output position in the Y-axis direction from which the paper recorded by the recording head 15 is ejected. The upper edge of this discharge port 17 is formed by a facing portion 20 that faces the paper receiving tray 18 and the recording surface of the recorded paper, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0042] The opposing section 20 is configured to include an optical member 21, as shown in Figures 6 to 8. The optical member 21 is mounted on the frame 30 so as to be located in the center of the area through which the paper passes in the X-axis direction, that is, in the paper width direction. In other words, the center position of the ejected paper in the paper width direction and the center position of the optical member 21 in the X-axis direction roughly coincide.

[0043] The optical element 21 is made of a light-transmitting material and functions as a lens. In this embodiment, the optical element 21 is made of a colorless, transparent resin material, and the opposing surface 21a that faces the recording surface of the paper is formed in a frosted glass-like manner.

[0044] A light-emitting section 23 is provided in the +Z direction relative to the optical element 21. In this embodiment, the light-emitting section 23 is composed of a white LED. In this embodiment, two light-emitting sections 23 are provided on the substrate 24, spaced apart in the X-axis direction, i.e., in the paper width direction. The two light-emitting sections 23 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center position of the optical element 21 in the X-axis direction, i.e., in the paper width direction.

[0045] The light-emitting unit 23 emits light relative to the optical member 21 in the direction indicated by arrow Q in Figures 7 and 8. In other words, the optical member 21 is located where the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 23 is incident. In Figures 7 and 8, the symbol P indicates the paper being ejected. The optical member 21 radiates the incident light toward the recording surface of the paper P. The visible light radiated from the optical member 21 toward the recording surface of the paper P spreads in the paper width direction as shown in Figure 7, and also spreads in the paper transport direction as shown in Figure 8.

[0046] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, reflective sheets 27 are provided upstream and downstream in the paper transport direction of the optical path of the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 23. In other words, a pair of reflective sheets 27 are provided so as to sandwich the optical path of the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 23. The reflective sheets 27 extend from the position of the light-emitting unit 23 to the upper surface of the optical member 21 in the Z-axis direction. The reflective sheets 27 also cover almost the entire area of ​​the optical member 21 in the X-axis direction. The reflective sheets 27 can be made of, for example, a white sheet material.

[0047] Furthermore, a light-shielding sheet 28 is provided between the reflective sheet 27 on the side closer to the front panel 19 and the front panel 19. In this embodiment, the dimensions of the light-shielding sheet 28 in the X-axis and Z-axis directions are the same as those of the reflective sheet 27. The light-shielding sheet 28 can be made of, for example, a black sheet material.

[0048] Figures 7 and 8 show the paper receiving tray 18 in the third state shown in Figure 2, and an example of A4 size paper being ejected from the paper receiving tray 18 along the paper transport direction with the longer side facing outwards. In Figures 7 and 8, the symbol S indicates the illumination range due to the light emitted from the optical member 21 toward the recording surface of the paper P.

[0049] Light emitted from the light-emitting unit 23 and incident on the optical member 21 is diffused in the paper width direction inside the optical member 21 because the opposing surface 21a is formed in a frosted glass-like shape, and then radiated toward the recording surface of the paper. In this embodiment, the radiation range has a width that covers the entire short side of an A4 size sheet of paper.

[0050] In Figures 7 and 8, the reference numeral H1 indicates the distance between the paper receiving tray 18 and the optical element 21 in the Z-axis direction, that is, the direction perpendicular to the recording surface of the paper. The distance H1 can be, for example, 30 mm or less. This ensures that the distance between the recording surface of the paper P and the optical element 21 is 30 mm or less.

[0051] As described above, the opposing part 20, which faces the recording surface of the paper at the ejection position where the paper recorded by the recording head 15 is ejected, is located where light emitted from the light-emitting part 23 enters and is positioned opposite the recording surface of the paper. It is equipped with an optical member 21 that radiates the incident light in a direction at least toward the recording surface of the paper. Therefore, the recording result can be seen quickly, that is, before recording is completed, and clearly, and user needs can be appropriately met.

[0052] Furthermore, since the illumination range of the recording surface of the paper by the optical element 21 has a width that covers the entire recording surface of the first size paper in the paper width direction, the recording results can be viewed more appropriately. It should be noted that, although the first size paper in this embodiment is A4 size paper, it is not limited to this. Furthermore, if the first size of paper is the largest size that can be transported, the entire width of all paper sizes can be illuminated.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the optical member 21 is a light-transmitting member whose opposing surface 21a facing the recording surface of the paper is formed in a frosted glass-like manner, so that the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 23 can be diffused over a wider area.

[0054] Furthermore, as a means of diffusing the light emitted from the light-emitting part 23 over a wider area, instead of making the opposing surface 21a frosted glass-like, or in addition to making it frosted glass-like, the optical member 21 may be formed from a light-transmitting material containing a light-diffusing agent. As light diffusing agents, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, silicon oxide, magnesium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, synthetic silica, glass beads, etc., can be used. Furthermore, it goes without saying that means for diffusing the light emitted from the light-emitting section 23 over a wider area are not limited to making the opposing surface 21a frosted glass or using a diffusing agent.

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the distance between the recording surface and the optical element 21 in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface of the paper is set to 30 mm or less, so that the recording result can be clearly seen at the paper ejection position. Furthermore, if the amount of light reaching the recording surface is sufficient, the distance between the recording surface and the optical element 21 may be greater than 30 mm.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a pair of reflective sheets 27 are provided that sandwich the optical path of the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 23 to the optical member 21, thereby ensuring that the amount of light irradiated from the optical member 21 to the recording surface of the paper is sufficient. However, if sufficient light can be ensured without using the reflective sheets 27, the reflective sheets 27 may be omitted.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a light-shielding sheet 28 is provided between the reflective sheet 27, which is close to the front panel 19, which is the wall portion forming the front of the device, and the front panel 19, thereby suppressing light leakage from the front panel 19 to the front of the device. However, if the light-shielding rate of the front panel 19 is high and light leakage to the outside of the device through the front panel 19 is difficult to see, the light-shielding sheet 28 may be omitted.

[0058] Next, we will explain the control of the light-emitting unit 23 by the control unit 50 (Figure 5). When recording on paper and when ejecting the recorded paper, the control unit 50 illuminates the light-emitting unit 23 at least from the time the leading edge of the paper reaches the position facing the opposing unit 20 until the trailing edge of the paper passes the position facing the opposing unit 20. In other words, it illuminates the recording surface of the paper from the leading edge to the trailing edge. This is the most basic form of illumination by the light-emitting unit 23. The light-emitting unit 23 can be either steady on or blinking. In this embodiment, the illumination from the point where the leading edge of the paper faces the opposing unit 20 until the trailing edge of the paper passes the point where it faces the opposing unit 20 is described as steady on.

[0059] Based on the illumination of the light-emitting unit 23 described above, the control unit 50 controls the illumination and extinguishing of the light-emitting unit 23 as described below. Figure 10 shows the control flow of the light-emitting unit 23 by the control unit 50. When the control unit 50 receives a recording start instruction (Yes in step S101), it determines whether or not it is time to switch the illumination state of the light-emitting unit 23 (step S102).

[0060] When the control unit 50 determines that it is time to switch the illumination state of the light-emitting unit 23 (Yes in step S102), it switches the illumination state of the light-emitting unit 23 (step S103). Note that switching the illumination state of the light-emitting unit 23 includes switching between the off state, the on state, and the blinking state of the light-emitting unit 23, as well as maintaining each state. Then, it is determined whether the trailing edge of the paper has passed the position of the light-emitting unit 23 (step S104). More specifically, the affirmative condition in step S104 is satisfied if the trailing edge of the paper has passed the position opposite the opposing unit 20, or if a predetermined time has elapsed since the trailing edge of the paper has passed the position opposite the opposing unit 20, or if a predetermined time has elapsed since the recording operation on the paper was completed, or if a predetermined time has elapsed since the paper ejection operation was completed. If the trailing edge of the paper has passed the position of the light-emitting unit 23 (Yes in step S104), it is then determined whether or not it is time for the lights to turn off (step S105). Steps S102 to S104 are repeated until the trailing edge of the paper has passed the position of the light-emitting unit 23 (No in step S104). Subsequently, when the control unit 50 determines that it is time to turn off the light (Yes in step S105), it turns off the light-emitting unit 23 (step S106).

[0061] The details of steps S102 and S103 will be described below. In this embodiment, the switching of the illumination state of the light-emitting unit 23 in steps S102 and S103 corresponds to the operation of the paper receiving tray 18. In this embodiment, the switching of the light emission state of the light emission unit 23 in steps S102 and S103 employs the following (1) and (2), and the light emission state of the light emission unit 23 is switched if either (1) or (2) is met. Of course, it is also possible to employ only either (1) or (2) below.

[0062] (1) When the paper receiving tray 18, which is in the first state, is extended from the main body 2 of the device, the affirmative condition of step S102 is met, and the process proceeds to step S103. That is, the light-emitting unit 23 is controlled according to the operation of the paper receiving tray 18. When the paper receiving tray 18 is in the first state, the light-emitting unit 23 is normally turned off. More specifically, the positive condition of step S102 is met at the same time as the start of operation of the tray drive motor 60 (see Figure 5), or around the same time, and the process proceeds to step S103. In other words, the light-emitting unit 23 is illuminated in response to the control of the tray drive motor 60 for extending the paper receiving tray 18 from the main body 2 of the device. In this case, the illumination of the light-emitting unit 23 in step S103 can be either constant illumination or blinking. In this manner, when the control unit 50 receives an instruction to start recording while the paper tray 18 is in the first state and the light-emitting unit 23 is off, it illuminates the light-emitting unit 23 in response to the control of the tray drive motor 60 for extending the paper tray 18 from the main body 2 of the device. The light emitted from the light-emitting unit 23 allows the user to visually understand that the state of the paper tray 18 has changed.

[0063] (2) If the paper receiving tray 18 does not switch to the target state even after the tray drive motor 60 (see Figure 5) is driven by a predetermined amount, the affirmative condition of step S102 is met, and the process proceeds to step S103. That is, the light-emitting unit 23 is controlled according to the operation of the paper receiving tray 18. In step S103, the illumination state of the light-emitting unit 23 is switched. As an example, the light-emitting unit 23 is made to blink. An example of a target state for the paper receiving tray 18 is the third state shown in Figure 2. More specifically, if the control unit 50 drives the tray drive motor 60 by a first drive amount and no change occurs in the detection signal of the tray detection unit 61 (see Figure 5), the control unit 50 considers that the affirmative condition of step S102 has been met and proceeds to step S103 to blink the light-emitting unit 23. The first drive amount is the theoretical drive amount of the tray drive motor 60 for switching the paper receiving tray 18 from the first state to the third state, with a certain margin added. This allows the user to visually understand that there is an abnormality in the operation of the paper tray 18 through the flashing of the light-emitting unit 23. Furthermore, if, for example, there is an obstruction in the operating area of ​​the paper receiving tray 18 and the paper receiving tray 18 comes into contact with the obstruction, causing an abnormality, the user will remove the obstruction and then perform an error clearing operation via the control panel 6. Once such an error clearing operation is performed, the control unit 50 can resume control of the tray drive motor 60. Furthermore, it is preferable that the control unit 50 changes the illumination state of the light-emitting unit 23 from blinking to off when an error clearing operation is performed, and then changes it back to on when control of the tray drive motor 60 is resumed. This allows the user to visually understand that the abnormal condition has been resolved.

[0064] In this embodiment, as described above, when the paper tray 18, which is in the first state, is extended from the main body 2 after receiving a recording execution instruction, the light-emitting unit 23 is illuminated. However, if, for example, the UI of the operation panel 6 is provided with an operation button for switching the state of the paper tray 18, and the user switches the paper tray 18 from the first state to the second or third state, the control from step S102 onwards may be performed regardless of whether or not a recording execution instruction has been given.

[0065] Next, we will describe the details of step S105. In this embodiment, the turning off of the light-emitting unit 23 in steps S105 and S106 is not basically dependent on the state or operation of the paper tray 18, but of course it may be dependent on the state or operation of the paper tray 18. In this embodiment, the turning off of the light-emitting unit 23 in steps S105 and S106 can be done using any of the following (3) to (7). Of course, multiple of the following (3) to (7) may be used, or all of them may be used.

[0066] (3) When the trailing edge of the paper has passed the position facing the opposing part 20, or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the trailing edge of the paper has passed the position facing the opposing part 20, or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the recording operation on the paper is completed, or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the paper ejection operation is completed, the affirmative condition of step S105 is met, and the light-emitting unit 23 is turned off in step S106. By turning off the light-emitting unit 23 in this manner, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed. When the light-emitting unit 23 is turned off based on the recording operation on the paper or the ejection operation, it is preferable that the light is controlled so that it is irradiated at least from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the ejected paper, as described above.

[0067] (4) If the UI of the control panel 6 is provided with an operation button for switching the state of the paper tray 18, and the user instructs the user to retract the paper tray 18 via the control panel 6, the affirmative condition of step S105 is met, and the light-emitting unit 23 is turned off in step S106.

[0068] (5) When the light-emitting unit 23 is emitting light and the system is to switch to a power-saving mode to suppress power consumption, the affirmative condition of step S105 is met, and the light-emitting unit 23 is turned off in step S106. Furthermore, when switching to power-saving mode, if the paper tray 18 is in a state other than the first state, it may be switched to the first state. In this case, the timing of the light-emitting unit 23 turning off can be, for example, at the same time as the start of operation of the tray drive motor 60 (see Figure 5), or around that time, or at the stop of operation of the tray drive motor 60, or around that time. In this case, the light-emitting unit 23 will be controlled according to the operation of the paper tray 18. As a result, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

[0069] (6) When the light-emitting unit 23 is illuminated and the power button 49 (see Figures 1 to 3) is pressed, the affirmative condition of step S105 is met, and in step S106, the light-emitting unit 23 is turned off. Furthermore, when transitioning to the power-off state, if the paper tray 18 is in a state other than the first state, it may be switched to the first state. In this case, the timing of the light-emitting unit 23 turning off can be, for example, simultaneously with the start of operation of the tray drive motor 60 (see Figure 5), or around that time, or at the stop of operation of the tray drive motor 60, or around that time. In this case, the light-emitting unit 23 will be controlled according to the operation of the paper tray 18. As a result, the user can visually understand that the device has correctly transitioned to the power-off state.

[0070] (7) If an error occurs after the recording operation has started, the positive condition in step S105 is met, and the light-emitting unit 23 is turned off in step S106. Errors include paper jams and running out of ink. By turning off the light-emitting unit 23 in this way, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed. When the error is resolved, it is preferable to turn the light-emitting unit 23 back on.

[0071] Furthermore, in a configuration where the paper receiving tray 18 is not motor-driven but can only be switched by user operation, and the system includes means for detecting whether or not the paper receiving tray 18 is in at least a first state, the light-emitting unit 23 may be controlled as follows. In other words, when the control unit 50 receives a recording command while the paper tray 18 is in the first state and the light-emitting unit 23 is off, it does not illuminate the light-emitting unit 23 and maintains the off state. That is, the timing of receiving the recording command is used as the timing to control the illumination state of the light-emitting unit 23, and the light-emitting unit 23 is controlled according to the state of the paper tray 18. Through this control of the light-emitting unit 23, the user can determine that it is time to switch the state of the paper tray 18. In this case, it is preferable for the control unit 50 to postpone the start of the recording operation until the paper receiving tray 18 has resolved the first state. Furthermore, when the control unit 50 receives a recording command while the paper tray 18 is in a state other than the first state and the light-emitting unit 23 is off, it illuminates the light-emitting unit 23. In this case as well, the timing of receiving the recording command is used as the timing for controlling the illumination state of the light-emitting unit 23, and the light-emitting unit 23 is controlled according to the state of the paper tray 18. In this case, the light-emitting unit 23 is set to "on". By controlling the light-emitting unit 23 in this way, the user can understand that recording is possible.

[0072] Furthermore, if the control unit 50 is equipped with means for detecting whether the paper tray 18 is in the first state or not, and the paper tray 18 can only be switched by user operation and not by motor drive, the control unit 50 may illuminate the light-emitting unit 23 when the paper tray 18, which is in the first state, releases the first state. In other words, the light-emitting unit 23 is controlled according to the operation of the paper tray 18. In this case, the light-emitting unit 23 is illuminated. Through this control of the light-emitting unit 23, the user can understand that the state of the paper tray 18 has been switched and that it is now ready for recording.

[0073] Furthermore, if the control unit 50 is equipped with means for detecting whether the paper tray 18 is in the first state or not, and the paper tray 18 can only be switched by user operation and not by motor drive as described above, the control unit 50 may turn off the light-emitting unit 23 when the paper tray 18 is switched to the first state by user operation from a state other than the first state and the light-emitting unit 23 is emitting light. In other words, the light-emitting unit 23 is controlled according to the operation of the paper tray 18. By controlling the light-emitting unit 23 in this way, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

[0074] As described above, the control unit 50 that controls the light-emitting unit 23 controls the light-emitting unit 23 based on the state or operation of the paper receiving tray 18, so that the status related to paper ejection can be displayed in a highly visible manner, thereby improving usability. For example, when the paper tray 18 switches from the first state to the second or third state, that is, when it protrudes from the main body 2 of the device, the user can be notified of this operation. In particular, the protruding operation of the paper tray 18 is difficult to see in dark environments, but the illumination of the light-emitting unit 23 allows the user to understand the operation of the paper tray 18 even in dark environments. As a result, for example, if there is an obstacle in the operating area of ​​the paper tray 18, collision of the paper tray 18 with the obstacle can be suppressed. Furthermore, the control of the light-emitting unit 23 according to the state of the paper tray 18 means that the state of the paper tray 18 is referenced when controlling the light-emitting unit 23. Also, the control of the light-emitting unit 23 according to the operation of the paper tray 18 means that the control of the light-emitting unit 23 is associated with the operation of the paper tray 18. The operation of the paper tray 18 includes operation powered by the tray drive motor 60 and operation when moved by the user. Furthermore, the control of the light-emitting unit 23 includes switching between the off state, the on state, and the blinking state of the light-emitting unit 23, as well as maintaining each state, as described above.

[0075] Furthermore, the switching of the light-emitting state of the light-emitting unit 23 can be done using any, any, or all of the following (8) to (10). (8) A means is provided to detect the opening and closing of the front cover 4, and when it is detected that the front cover 4 is open, the light-emitting unit 23 is made to light up. This is because when the front cover 4 is opened, the paper receiving tray 18 may be switched from the first state to the third state or the second state, and paper may be ejected. This control can be replaced by, for example, the control described in (1) above. (9) Means for detecting the orientation of the control panel 6 are provided, and when it is detected that the control panel 6 has been tilted upward from the fully closed state shown in Figures 1 to 3, the light-emitting unit 23 is illuminated. This is because when the control panel 6 is tilted upward, the paper receiving tray 18 may switch from the first state to the third or second state, and paper may be ejected. This control can be replaced by, for example, the control described in (1) above. (10) When the control unit 50 can execute a silent mode that suppresses noise by performing paper feeding and recording operations at a low speed, the light-emitting unit 23 is illuminated when this silent mode is selected. In silent mode, the paper transport speed is set to a low speed, but by illuminating the light-emitting unit 23 in such cases, the recording results can be checked more reliably over time. This control can be replaced by, for example, the control in (1) described above.

[0076] The timing for the step S105 to turn off can also be set to any of the following (11) to (14). Of course, you can use more than one of the following (11) to (14), or use all of them. (11) Means are provided to detect whether there is paper on the paper tray 18, and when the paper is removed from the paper tray 18, the light-emitting unit 23 is turned off. This suppresses unnecessary power consumption. This control can be replaced by, for example, the control described in (3) above. (12) A means is provided to detect the opening and closing of the front cover 4, and when it is detected that the front cover 4 is closed, the light-emitting unit 23 is turned off. This is because when the front cover 4 is closed, no paper is ejected into the paper tray 18. This control can be replaced by, for example, the control described in (3) above.

[0077] (13) Means for detecting the orientation of the control panel 6 are provided, and when it is detected that the control panel 6 has been moved from an upward tilt position (not shown) to a fully closed position as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the light-emitting unit 23 is turned off. This is because when the control panel 6 is in a fully closed position, it may be because the user has finished using the device. This control can be replaced by, for example, the control described in (3) above. (14) A means is provided to detect the mounting status of the paper feed tray 5, and when the paper feed tray 5 is removed from the main unit 2, the light-emitting unit 23 is turned off. When the paper feed tray 5 is removed from the main unit 2, no recording operation is performed on the paper, so by turning off the light-emitting unit 23 in such a state, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed. However, once the paper feed tray 5 is mounted again, the light-emitting unit 23 may be returned to its original illuminated state.

[0078] Furthermore, the light-emitting unit 23 may be controlled as follows. For example, when an A4 size paper is ejected with its long side along the Y-axis, the light-emitting unit 23 is set to light up, and when an A3 size paper is ejected with its long side along the Y-axis, the light-emitting unit 23 is set to blink. This allows the user to visually determine whether the ejected paper is A4 or A3 size.

[0079] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as described in the claims, and these modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, a paper ejection device 34, which is an example of a media ejection device, was applied to a printer 1, which is an example of a recording device. However, the invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to an image reading device equipped with a reading unit that reads an image of a document. An example of an image reading device is a document scanner that reads an image of a document while transporting the document. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1...Inkjet printer, 2...Main unit, 3...Scanner unit, 4...Front cover, 5...Paper tray, 6...Control panel, 7...Paper support, 8...Reversing roller, 9...Top cover, 10...Feeding roller, 11...Feeding roller, 12...Hopper, 13...Pair of transport rollers, 14...Carriage, 15...Recording head, 16...Pair of output rollers, 17...Output port, 18...Paper receiving tray, 19...Front panel, 20...Opposite part, 21...Optical component, 21a...Opposite 23...Light-emitting part, 24...Substrate, 27...Reflective sheet, 28...Light-shielding sheet, 30...Frame, 34...Paper ejection device, 49...Power button, 50...Control unit, 51...Carriage motor, 52...Feeding motor, 53...Transport motor, 54...CPU, 55...Flash ROM, 56...RAM, 57...Position detection unit, 58...Rotation detection unit, 59...Media detection unit, 60...Tray drive motor, 61...Tray detection unit, 62...Interface, P...Paper, R...Optical disc

Claims

1. A recording unit that records onto a medium, A media discharge unit for discharging the medium on which recording has been performed by the recording unit, The device body housing the recording unit and the media discharge unit, A medium receiving tray for receiving the medium discharged from the discharge port formed in the main body of the device, A light-emitting unit is provided at a position downstream from the media discharge unit in the media discharge direction and above the media receiving tray, The optical member comprises an optical member that emits light incident from the light-emitting part, The media receiving tray is switchable between a first state in which it is housed in the main body of the device and a state in which it protrudes from the discharge port of the main body of the device, and in the state in which it protrudes from the main body of the device, it can receive the media discharged by the media discharge section. The optical member is located at the upper edge of the outlet, A recording device characterized by the following features.

2. In the recording device according to claim 1, The irradiation range of the light emitted through the optical element covers the entire area of ​​the medium in the width direction of the medium. A recording device characterized by the following features.

3. In the recording device according to claim 1 or claim 2, The control unit that controls the light-emitting unit, when it receives a recording start instruction while the media receiving tray is protruding from the main body of the device and the light-emitting unit is off, will cause the light-emitting unit to emit light. A recording device characterized by the following features.

4. A recording unit that records onto a medium, A media discharge unit for discharging the medium on which recording has been performed by the recording unit, The device body housing the recording unit and the media discharge unit, A media receiving tray for receiving the media discharged by the media discharge unit, It includes an operation panel that accepts operation settings, The media receiving tray is switchable between a first state in which it is housed in the device body equipped with the media discharge unit and a state in which it protrudes from the device body, and in the state in which it protrudes from the device body, it can receive the media discharged by the media discharge unit. A light-emitting unit is provided at a position downstream from the media discharge unit in the media discharge direction and above the media receiving tray. The control panel is configured to be tiltable relative to the main body of the device, The control unit that controls the light-emitting unit changes the light-emitting state of the light-emitting unit based on a change in the tilt position of the operation panel relative to the main body of the device. A recording device characterized by the following features.

5. In the recording device according to claim 4, The control unit causes the light-emitting unit to emit light based on the fact that the operation panel is tilted from a closed position relative to the main body of the device. A recording device characterized by the following features.

6. In the recording device according to claim 4, The control unit turns off the light-emitting unit based on the change in the operation panel from a tilted state relative to the main body of the device to a closed state. A recording device characterized by the following features.

Images