US20140103597A1 - Recording apparatus - Google Patents
Recording apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140103597A1 US20140103597A1 US14/047,405 US201314047405A US2014103597A1 US 20140103597 A1 US20140103597 A1 US 20140103597A1 US 201314047405 A US201314047405 A US 201314047405A US 2014103597 A1 US2014103597 A1 US 2014103597A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tray
- sheet
- sheet placement
- recording
- recording medium
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
- B65H1/26—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with auxiliary supports to facilitate introduction or renewal of the pile
- B65H1/266—Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
- B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
- B65H3/0684—Rollers or like rotary separators on moving support, e.g. pivoting, for bringing the roller or like rotary separator into contact with the pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H31/00—Pile receivers
- B65H31/02—Pile receivers with stationary end support against which pile accumulates
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H31/00—Pile receivers
- B65H31/22—Pile receivers removable or interchangeable
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
- B65H2301/421—Forming a pile
- B65H2301/4212—Forming a pile of articles substantially horizontal
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
- B65H2402/40—Details of frames, housings or mountings of the whole handling apparatus
- B65H2402/46—Table apparatus
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
- B65H2402/50—Machine elements
- B65H2402/51—Joints, e.g. riveted or magnetic joints
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
- B65H2402/60—Coupling, adapter or locking means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
- B65H2405/10—Cassettes, holders, bins, decks, trays, supports or magazines for sheets stacked substantially horizontally
- B65H2405/11—Parts and details thereof
- B65H2405/111—Bottom
- B65H2405/1116—Bottom with means for changing geometry
- B65H2405/11164—Rear portion extensible in parallel to transport direction
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
- B65H2405/10—Cassettes, holders, bins, decks, trays, supports or magazines for sheets stacked substantially horizontally
- B65H2405/11—Parts and details thereof
- B65H2405/115—Cover
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
- B65H2405/10—Cassettes, holders, bins, decks, trays, supports or magazines for sheets stacked substantially horizontally
- B65H2405/12—Parts to be handled by user
- B65H2405/121—Locking means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
- B65H2405/30—Other features of supports for sheets
- B65H2405/33—Compartmented support
- B65H2405/332—Superposed compartments
- B65H2405/3322—Superposed compartments discharge tray superposed to feed tray
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a recording apparatus.
- Existing recording apparatuses such as printers and copiers, include those provided with a recording medium cassette that can be removably attached to the main body of the apparatus. Recording media such as paper sheets are stacked in the recording medium cassette, and a feed roller is brought into contact, while rotating, with the uppermost one of the paper sheets to thereby feed that paper sheet into inside of the main body.
- Some recording medium cassettes include an upper tray and a lower tray, the former being superposed on the latter, so that paper sheets of different sizes or types can be placed in the respective trays. Some recording medium cassettes further include an output tray located above the upper tray for receiving the paper sheet that has undergone a printing operation and been discharged.
- JP-A-2012-76871 discloses a sheet cassette that includes, as shown in FIG. 15A , a lower tray 81 and an upper tray 82 superposed thereon, and an output tray 83 located above the upper tray 82 for receiving the paper sheet that has undergone a recording operation and been discharged.
- FIG. 15A when the upper tray 82 is located on an upstream side in the direction in which the paper sheet is delivered (hereinafter, feed direction) X, i.e., on the left in FIG.
- the sheet cassette 80 includes a lock mechanism that restricts the upper tray 82 from moving in the feed direction X, and the upper tray 82 includes a finger support 824 and an unlock lever 825 for unlocking the lock mechanism.
- the user unlocks the lock mechanism by holding with his/her fingers the finger support 824 and the unlock lever 825 exposed through a slot 830 formed in the output tray 83 , and slides the upper tray 82 in the feed direction X with respect to the lower tray 81 to thereby displace the upper tray 82 to the downstream side in the feed direction X (on the right in FIGS. 15A and 15B ), as shown in FIG. 15B .
- the rotating feed roller is brought into contact with the paper sheet P 10 placed on the upper tray 82 , to deliver the paper sheet P 10 in the feed direction X.
- the output tray 83 includes a pivotal shaft S 10 rotatably disposed through a bearing hole 810 formed in a sidewall of the lower tray 81 .
- the upper tray 82 includes a slide portion 820 configured to slide in the feed direction X supported by a guide portion (not shown), and a sheet placement base 821 including a pivotal shaft S 11 and pivotably connected to the slide portion 820 .
- the pivotal shaft S 10 of the output tray 83 and the pivotal shaft S 11 of the sheet placement base 821 generally overlap each other.
- the user pivots the output tray 83 and the sheet placement base 821 together in a pivoting direction D 10 with the upper tray 82 set on the upstream side in the feed direction X as shown in FIG. 15A , so as to expose the sheet placement surface 813 of the lower tray 81 , as shown in FIG. 16A .
- the user inserts the paper sheet P 11 in the feed direction X along the sheet placement surface 813 , and sets the paper sheet P 11 in position on the sheet placement surface 813 as shown in FIG. 16B , utilizing a pair of edge guides 811 and an edge guide 812 as reference.
- the upper tray 82 is displaced to the downstream side in the feed direction X, as shown in FIG. 15B .
- the user slides the paper sheet P 10 in the direction opposite to the feed direction X along the sheet placement surface 821 a on the slide portion 820 , and sets the paper sheet P 10 in place on the sheet placement surface 821 a , utilizing as reference a pair of edge guides 822 and an edge guide 823 exposed through a slot 831 formed in the output tray 83 .
- the upper tray 82 and the output tray 83 are located above the sheet placement surface 813 of the lower tray 81 , at a generally central position in the feed direction X.
- the sheet placement surface 813 is split by the upper tray 82 and the output tray 83 into an upstream sheet placement surface 813 a and a downstream sheet placement surface 813 b in the feed direction X.
- the user has to insert the downstream edge of the paper sheet P 11 in the feed direction X through a gap A 1 between the slide portion 820 and the sheet placement surface 813 from the side of the upstream sheet placement surface 813 a toward the downstream sheet placement surface 813 b , so as to forward the paper sheet P 11 in the feed direction X along the sheet placement surface 813 .
- the output tray 83 overlaps the upstream portion of the sheet placement surface 821 a in the feed direction X.
- the user has to insert the upstream edge of the paper sheet P 10 in the feed direction X into a gap A 2 between the output tray 83 and the sheet placement surface 821 a , from the downstream side toward the upstream side in the feed direction X, to place the paper sheet P 10 in position on the sheet placement surface 821 a.
- the configuration according to JP-A-2012-76871 impedes the user from efficiently placing the paper sheet P 10 or P 11 on the upper tray 82 or lower tray 81 of the sheet cassette 80 .
- the user suffers difficulty in placing a sheet cassette having an output tray on top thereof.
- a recording apparatus may include a recording medium cassette removably attached to a casing and including a first sheet placement base on which a first recording medium is to be placed, a feed roller that delivers the first recording medium placed on the first sheet placement base in a feed direction, a recording unit that performs a recording operation on the first recording medium delivered by the feed roller, and a recorded medium receiver removably attached to the recording medium cassette at a position above the first sheet placement base in a vertical direction, and configured to receive the first recording medium discharged from the recording unit.
- the recorded medium receiver is removably attached to the position above the first sheet placement base in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the first sheet placement base is exposed upon removing the recorded medium receiver from the first sheet placement base, which facilitates a user to place the first recording medium on the first sheet placement base.
- the foregoing recording apparatus may further include a stopper that restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the recording medium cassette in at least one of the feed direction and a width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the recording medium cassette.
- the stopper restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the recording medium cassette in at least in one the feed direction and the width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the recording medium cassette. Therefore, the recorded medium receiver can be stably mounted.
- the recorded medium receiver may include a receiver-side wall erected along an outer periphery of the recorded medium receiver
- the stopper may include a base-side wall erected along an outer periphery of the first sheet placement base
- the receiver-side wall and the base-side wall may be opposed to each other in at least one of the feed direction and the width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the first sheet placement base.
- the receiver-side wall is restricted by the base-side wall from being displaced in at least one of the feed direction and the width direction. Therefore, the recorded medium receiver can be restricted from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base in at least one of the width direction and the feed direction.
- the recorded medium receiver may include one of a projection and a recess formed at an end portion
- the stopper may include the other of the projection and the recess formed at an end portion of the first sheet placement base
- the projection may be inserted in the recess when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the first sheet placement base.
- the mentioned configuration restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base in at least one of the width direction and the feed direction.
- the recorded medium receiver may include, at an end portion thereof, one of a magnet and an iron member that can be stuck to the magnet, and the stopper may include the other of the magnet and the iron member that can be stuck to the magnet located at an end portion of the first sheet placement base.
- the mentioned configuration restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base.
- the recorded medium receiver may include, at an end portion thereof, one of a pivotal shaft and a bearing
- the stopper may include the other of the pivotal shaft and the bearing provided at an end portion of the first sheet placement base
- the recorded medium receiver may be pivotable with respect to the first sheet placement base
- the mentioned configuration restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base.
- the foregoing recording apparatus may further include a second sheet placement base disposed in the recording medium cassette between the first sheet placement base and the recorded medium receiver, the second sheet placement base being shorter than the first sheet placement base in the feed direction and configured to receive a second recording medium, and the second sheet placement base may be enabled to pivot with respect to the recording medium cassette when the recorded medium receiver is removed from the recording medium cassette.
- the second sheet placement base is exposed when the recorded medium receiver is removed from the first sheet placement base. Accordingly, the user can easily place the second recording medium on the second sheet placement base.
- a larger region of the first sheet placement base can be exposed upon making the second sheet placement base pivot when the recorded medium receiver is removed. Such a configuration facilitates the user to place the first recording medium on the first sheet placement base.
- FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic side views showing a general configuration of a printer according to an embodiment 1 of the invention.
- FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing a sheet cassette according to the embodiment 1.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a mechanism including an unlock lover for causing a lock element to swing, thereby allowing a slider to move.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the sheet cassette without an output tray superposed thereon.
- FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing appearances of the sheet cassette without the output tray superposed thereon.
- FIGS. 6 a and 6 B are perspective views showing the output tray.
- FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views showing a lower tray, without and with the output tray attached thereto, respectively.
- FIG. 8A is a schematic front view of the lower tray with the output tray attached thereto
- FIG. 8B is a schematic fragmentary side view showing upstream end portions of the lower tray and the output tray in the feed direction.
- FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views showing a structure of a wall portion of the lower tray.
- FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing an output tray according to an embodiment 2 of the invention
- FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a feed tray
- FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing a sheet cassette in which the output tray is attached to the feed tray.
- FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective views respectively showing an output tray and a feed tray according to an embodiment 3 of the invention.
- FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective views respectively showing an output tray and a feed tray according to an embodiment 4 of the invention.
- FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views respectively showing an output tray and a feed tray according to an embodiment 5 of the invention.
- FIG. 14A is a perspective view showing an output tray
- FIGS. 14B and 14C are perspective views showing a sheet cassette according to an embodiment 6 of the invention.
- FIGS. 15A and 15B are perspective views showing appearances of a conventional sheet cassette.
- FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective views showing different appearances of the conventional sheet cassette.
- FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic side views showing a general configuration of a printer 1 , exemplifying the recording apparatus according to the invention.
- a sheet cassette 2 corresponding to the recording medium cassette is removably attached to the bottom portion of a casing 23 of the printer 1 .
- the sheet cassette 2 includes a lower tray 3 corresponding to the first sheet placement base and an upper tray 4 corresponding to the second sheet placement base.
- a paper sheet P 1 corresponding to the first recording medium is to be placed on the former, and a paper sheet P 2 corresponding to the second recording medium is to be placed on the latter.
- the paper sheet P 2 has a size corresponding to a postcard or the like, and the paper sheet P 1 has a size larger than the paper sheet P 2 , such as A4 or B5.
- the size of the paper sheet is not limited to the above, provided that the paper sheet placed on the upper tray 4 is smaller than the paper sheet placed on the lower tray 3 .
- FIG. 1A illustrates a state in which the upper tray 4 overlaps an upstream region of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X.
- FIG. 1B illustrates a state in which the upper tray 4 overlaps the downstream region of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X.
- a feed roller 22 is attached to an arm 21 that swings about a pivotal shaft 20 .
- the feed roller 22 contacts, while rotating, the uppermost one of the paper sheets P 1 stacked on the lower tray 3 , to deliver the paper sheet P 1 to a downstream side in the feed direction X.
- the feed roller 22 contacts, while rotating, the uppermost one of the paper sheets P 2 stacked on the upper tray 4 , to deliver the paper sheet P 2 to the downstream side in the feed direction X.
- either of the paper sheet P 1 or the paper sheet P 2 can be selectively delivered according to the position of the upper tray 4 in the feed direction X.
- a sloped surface 300 is provided in the lower tray 3 , to split a plurality of paper sheets P 1 or P 2 about to be duplicatedly delivered.
- the paper sheet P 1 or P 2 that has passed the sloped surface 300 is transported along a transport route 12 by a pair of rollers composed of a transport drive roller 10 and a transport slave roller 11 , and another pair of rollers composed of a transport drive roller 13 and a transport slave roller 14 , to a position between a recording head 16 that ejects ink, corresponding to the liquid in the invention, and a medium support member 17 .
- the mechanism that prevents duplicated delivery of the paper sheet may be provided in the main body of the printer 1 .
- a carriage 15 is set to reciprocate in a width direction Y (depth direction of FIGS. 1A and 1B ) by a moving mechanism (not shown) along a guide shaft (not shown) disposed to extend in the width direction Y of the paper sheet P 1 , P 2 .
- the recording head 16 is mounted on the carriage 15 and configured so as to eject the ink onto the paper sheet P 1 , P 2 .
- the medium support member 17 is disposed opposite the recording head 16 , to serve to support the paper sheet P 1 , P 2 with a predetermined clearance between the paper sheet P 1 , P 2 and the recording head 16 .
- a pair of rollers composed of a discharge drive roller 18 and a discharge slave roller 19 serve to discharge the paper sheet P 1 , P 2 that has undergone the recording operation of the recording head 16 , to an output tray 5 corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention.
- the output tray 5 includes a stacker 6 sticking out through an opening 24 formed in the casing 23 and configured to receive discharged paper sheets P 3 , P 4 , in collaboration with the output tray 5 .
- the output tray 5 may be configured to work alone without the stacker 6 .
- the pivotal shaft 20 , the arm 21 , and the feed roller 22 constitute a feeding unit 30 ;
- the carriage 15 , the recording head 16 , and the medium support member 17 constitute the recording unit 40 ;
- the pair of rollers composed of the discharge drive roller 18 and the discharge slave roller 19 constitute the discharging unit 50 .
- the recording unit 40 includes the ink jet recording head 16 that ejects ink, a different configuration may be employed.
- a laser printer that applies a toner to the paper sheet P 1 , P 2 and performs the recording by thermal pressing may be employed.
- FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the sheet cassette 2 .
- FIG. 2A illustrates the state in which the upper tray 4 overlaps the upstream region of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X (see FIG. 1A )
- FIG. 2B illustrates the state in which the upper tray 4 overlaps the downstream region of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X (see FIG. 1B ).
- the paper sheet P 1 is placed on a sheet placement surface 308 of the lower tray 3 as shown in FIG. 2A .
- the positions of the respective end portions of the paper sheet P 1 in the width direction Y are delimited by a pair of edge guides 305 , and the position of the upstream end portion of the paper sheet P 1 in the feed direction X is delimited by an edge guide 309 (see FIG. 5B ).
- the lower tray 3 A includes a pair of slits 304 , corresponding to the recess in the invention and formed in a downstream wall 307 in the feed direction X as shown in FIG. 2A , and a pair of projections 11 , provided on the downstream edge of the upper tray 4 in the feed direction X, are respectively inserted in the slits 304 when the upper tray 4 is on the on the downstream side in the feed direction X, as shown in FIG. 2B .
- the wall 307 on the downstream end portion of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X includes the sloped surface 300 , for splitting the paper sheets P 1 or P 2 about to be delivered in duplicate by the feed roller 22 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B .
- the upper tray 4 including a slide portion 400 and a sheet placement base 401 is located above the sheet placement surface 308 in a vertical direction Z (hereinafter, simply “above”).
- the upper tray 4 is located below a discharged sheet receiving surface 502 of the output tray 5 in the vertical direction Z (hereinafter, simply “below”).
- the upstream end portion 401 a of the sheet placement base 401 in the feed direction X, and the respective end portions 401 b , 401 c in the width direction Y are indicated by broken lines.
- the sheet placement base 401 includes a pivotal shaft S 1 , via which the sheet placement base 401 is pivotably connected to the slide portion 400 .
- Walls 306 on the respective sides of the lower tray 3 in the width direction Y each include a guide rail 301 extending in the feed direction X.
- the walls 306 each include a slot 310 extending in the feed direction X.
- the slide portion 400 includes projections 410 sticking out from the respective sides of the slide portion 400 in the width direction Y.
- the projections 410 are respectively disposed to penetrate through the slots 310 and to slide in the feed direction X along the guide rail 301 .
- the sheet placement base 401 can move in the feed direction X, with the paper sheet P 2 horizontally placed thereon.
- the paper sheet P 2 is placed on a sheet placement surface 409 of the upper tray 4 .
- the positions of the end portions of the paper sheet P 2 in the width direction Y are delimited by the pair of edge guides 402 , and the position of the upstream end portion of the paper sheet P 2 in the feed direction X is delimited by an edge guide 403 exposed in a slot 500 formed in the output tray 5 .
- a finger support 407 and an unlock lever 408 provided on the upper tray 4 are exposed in a slot 501 formed in the output tray 5 , as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B .
- the finger support 407 is fixed to the sheet placement base 401 .
- the unlock lever 408 is disposed so as to slide with respect to the sheet placement base 401 in the feed direction X.
- a lock element 406 is made to swing so as to allow the slider 404 to move in the width direction Y.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the mechanism that causes the lock element 406 to swing by manipulating the unlock lever 408 , to thereby allow the slider 404 to move.
- FIG. 3 illustrates the state in which the user is holding the finger support 407 and the unlock lever 408 with the fingers.
- the lock element 406 is disposed to pivot about a pivotal shaft S 2 , so that an end portion 406 b of the lock element 406 moves within a range delimited by projections 404 b , 404 c formed on the slider 404 .
- the other end portion 406 a of the lock element 406 is engaged with a slit 412 a of a joint bar 412 extending from the unlock lever 408 .
- the unlock lever 408 When the user holds the finger support 407 and the unlock lever 408 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B with the fingers, the unlock lever 408 is made to slide to the upstream side in the feed direction X. Then the lock element 406 shown in FIG. 3 is made to pivot counterclockwise D 1 about the pivotal shaft S 2 by means of the joint bar 412 , so that the end portion 406 b of the lock element 406 presses the projection 404 b of the slider 404 inwardly Y 1 in the width direction Y.
- the slider 404 is inwardly displaced (Y 1 ) and hence the end portion 404 a of the slider 404 is disengaged from an orifice 302 or 303 formed in the wall 306 of the lower tray 3 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B , and the upper tray 4 is enabled to move in the feed direction X.
- the slider 404 is outwardly biased in the width direction Y (Y 2 ) by a spring 405 . Therefore, when the finger support 407 and the unlock lever 408 are released by the user, the slider 404 is outwardly displaced (Y 2 ) so that the end portion 404 a of the slider 404 is inserted in the orifice 302 or 303 to restrict the upper tray 4 from moving in the feed direction X.
- the end portion 406 b of the lock element 406 is outwardly displaced (Y 2 ) by the projection 404 b , and therefore the lock element 406 is made to pivot clockwise (D 2 ) so that the unlock lever 408 is made to slide to the downstream side in the feed direction X by means of the joint bar 412 .
- the user manipulates the unlock lever 408 utilizing the finger support 407 as a fulcrum thereby displacing the upper tray 4 in the feed direction X, after which the user can select the position of the upper tray 4 with respect to the lower tray 3 , by inserting the end portion 404 a of the slider 404 either in the orifice 302 on the upstream side in the feed direction X or in the orifice 303 on the downstream side in the feed direction X.
- the paper sheet P 3 , P 4 discharged through the discharge drive roller 18 and the discharge slave roller 19 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is placed on a discharged sheet receiving surface 502 of the output tray 5 .
- the stacker 6 having a plate shape is slidably accommodated inside the upstream portion of the output tray 5 in the feed direction X, so that when the stacker 6 is drawn out from the output tray 5 the upstream portion of the discharged paper sheet P 3 , P 4 in the feed direction can be supported by the stacker 6 .
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the sheet cassette 2 corresponding to FIG. 2A , but without the output tray 5 .
- the user can place the paper sheet P 2 on the sheet placement surface 409 of the upper tray 4 as shown in FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the appearance of the sheet cassette 2 corresponding to FIG. 2B , but without the output tray 5 .
- FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing the appearance of the sheet cassette 2 , in which the sheet placement base 401 has been made to pivot about the pivotal shaft S 1 in a pivoting direction D 3 , from the state shown in FIG. 5A .
- the user can place the paper sheet P 1 on the sheet placement surface 308 of the lower tray 3 .
- FIG. 6A is a perspective view from above showing the output tray 5
- FIG. 6B is a perspective view from below showing the output tray 5
- the stacker 6 includes a sliding portion 6 b slidably disposed inside the output tray 5 , and a sliding portion 6 a slidably disposed inside the sliding portion 6 b.
- the output tray 5 includes walls 503 , 504 , 505 , 506 , corresponding to the receiver-side wall in the invention, erected downward from the outer periphery of the lower face of the output tray 5 .
- the walls 503 , 506 extend in the feed direction X along the outer periphery on the respective end portions of the output tray 5 in the width direction Y.
- the walls 504 , 505 extend in the width direction along the upstream outer periphery of the output tray 5 in the feed direction X.
- FIG. 7A is a perspective view from above showing the lower tray 3 .
- the walls 306 formed along the outer periphery on the respective end portions of the lower tray 3 in the width direction Y each include a wall portion 306 b , corresponding to the base-side wall in the invention and erected upward and extending in the feed direction X, and a stepped portion 306 a extending in the feed direction X.
- FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing the lower tray 3 with the output tray 5 attached thereto, in which the upper tray 4 is not illustrated.
- FIG. 8A is a schematic drawing of the lower tray 3 with the output tray 5 attached thereto, viewed from the downstream side in the feed direction X.
- the walls 503 , 506 of the output tray 5 shown in FIG. 7B are each located at an inner position in the width direction Y from the wall portion 306 b of the lower tray 3 .
- the wall 503 of the output tray 5 is located on the right in the width direction Y from the wall portion 306 b of the lower tray 3 on the left in FIG. 8A
- the wall 506 of the output tray 5 is located on the left in the width direction Y from the wall portion 306 b of the lower tray 3 on the right in FIG. 8A .
- the walls 503 , 506 of the output tray 5 are restricted by the wall portion 306 b of the lower tray 3 from being displaced in the width direction Y.
- the respective lower end portions of the walls 503 , 506 are made to abut the stepped portion 306 a , so that the position of the output tray 5 in the vertical direction Z is determined.
- FIG. 8B is a schematic drawing viewed in the width direction Y, showing the upstream end portion of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X, to which the output tray 5 is attached.
- the walls 504 , 505 of the output tray shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B are each located at an inner position in the feed direction X from the wall 312 of the lower tray 3 shown in FIG. 7A .
- the walls 504 , 505 of the output tray 5 shown in FIG. 8B are located downstream of the wall 312 of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X.
- Such a configuration restricts the walls 504 , 505 of the output tray 5 from moving to the upstream side in the feed direction X.
- FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing a part of the wall 306 of the lower tray 3 .
- FIG. 9B is a perspective view showing the same part of the wall 306 of the lower tray 3 with the output tray 5 attached thereto.
- FIG. 9B also includes an enlarged perspective view of a circled portion including a projection 311 inwardly protruding in the width direction Y from the wall 306 .
- the wall 506 is restricted by the projection 311 from moving to the downstream side in the feed direction X.
- the wall 503 shown in FIG. 7B is restricted by the projection 311 from moving to the downstream side in the feed direction X.
- the printer 1 includes the sheet cassette 2 removably attached to the casing 23 and including the lower tray 3 on which the paper sheet P 1 is to be placed, the feed roller 22 that delivers the paper sheet P 1 placed on the sheet cassette 2 in the feed direction, the recording unit 40 that performs a recording operation on the paper sheet P 1 delivered by the feed roller 22 .
- the sheet cassette 2 corresponds to the recording medium cassette in the invention
- the lower tray 3 corresponds to the first sheet placement base in the invention
- the paper sheet P 1 corresponds to the first recording medium in the invention.
- the sheet cassette 2 includes the output tray 5 , removably attached on top of the lower tray 3 in the vertical direction and configured to receive the paper sheet P 1 discharged from the recording unit 40 .
- the printer 1 further includes the upper tray 4 pivotably disposed in the sheet cassette 2 at the position above the lower tray 3 in the vertical direction Z and between the lower tray 3 and the output tray 5 , the upper tray 4 being shorter than the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X and configured to receive the paper sheet P 2 and to slide in the feed direction X with respect to the lower tray 3 .
- the upper tray 4 corresponds to the second sheet placement base in the invention
- the paper sheet P 2 corresponds to the second recording medium in the invention.
- the feed roller 22 When the upper tray 4 is on the upstream side in the feed direction X, the feed roller 22 is brought into contact with the paper sheet P 1 so as to deliver the paper sheet P 1 , and when the upper tray 4 is on the downstream side in the feed direction X the feed roller 22 is brought into contact with the paper sheet P 2 so as to deliver the paper sheet P 2 .
- the upper tray 4 is exposed upon removing the output tray 5 from the lower tray 3 , and therefore the user can easily place the paper sheet P 2 on the upper tray 4 .
- a larger region of the sheet placement surface 308 can be exposed by making the upper tray 4 pivot when the upper tray 4 is on the downstream side (see FIG. 5B ). Therefore, the user can easily place the paper sheet P 1 on the lower tray 3 .
- the upper tray 4 may be made to pivot at a position other than the downstream side, in which case the sheet placement surface 308 can be equally exposed compared with the case where the upper tray is not made to pivot.
- the output tray 5 includes the walls 503 , 506 corresponding to the receiver-side wall in the invention and erected along the outer periphery of the output tray 5 as shown in FIG. 6B
- the lower tray 3 includes the wall portion 306 b corresponding to the base-side wall in the invention and erected along the outer periphery of the lower tray 3 as shown in FIG. 7A , such that when the output tray 5 is attached to the lower tray 3 the walls 503 , 506 and the wall portion 306 a are opposed to each other in the width direction Y.
- the walls 503 , 506 are restricted by the wall portion 306 b , corresponding to the stopper in the invention, from moving in the width direction Y.
- Such a configuration restricts the output tray 5 from being displaced with respect to the lower tray 3 in the width direction Y.
- the output tray 5 includes the walls 504 , 505 corresponding to the receiver-side wall and erected along the outer periphery of the output tray 5 as shown in FIG. 6B
- the lower tray 3 includes the wall 312 corresponding to the base-side wall in the invention and erected along the outer periphery of the lower tray 3 as shown in FIG. 7A , such that when the output tray 5 is attached to the lower tray 3 the walls 504 , 505 are located downstream of the wall 312 in the feed direction X and the walls 504 , 505 and the wall 312 are opposed to each other in the feed direction X.
- the walls 503 , 506 of the output tray 5 are located on the inner side of the wall portion 306 b of the lower tray 3 when the output tray 5 is attached to the lower tray 3 .
- a wall of an output tray is located on the outer side of a wall of a lower tray.
- FIG. 10A is a perspective view from below showing the output tray 100 , corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, provided in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 2.
- the output tray 100 includes walls 102 , 103 erected downward and extending in the feed direction X along the outer periphery of the output tray 100 on the respective end portions in the width direction Y.
- FIG. 10B is a perspective view from above showing a feed tray 110 , corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, provided in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 2. While the sheet cassette 2 according to the embodiment 1 includes the upper tray 4 and the lower tray 3 , the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 2 only includes the feed tray 110 .
- a printer according to the embodiment 2 includes the feeding unit 30 , the recording unit 40 , and the discharging unit 50 described with reference to the embodiment 1.
- a paper sheet P 5 placed on a sheet placement surface 118 of the feed tray 110 is transported toward the recording unit 40 by the feeding unit 30 , and after undergoing the recording operation by the recording unit 40 the paper sheet P 5 is discharged to a discharged sheet receiving surface 101 of the output tray 100 by the discharging unit 50 .
- the position of the edge of the paper sheet P 5 in the width direction Y is delimited by an edge guide 116 shown in FIG. 10B .
- the position of the edge of the paper sheet P 5 in the feed direction X is delimited by an edge guide 117 .
- the feed tray 110 includes walls 111 , 112 extending in the feed direction X along the outer periphery of the feed tray 110 on the respective end portions in the width direction Y.
- the walls 111 , 112 each include a wall portion 111 a , 112 a and a stepped portion 111 b , 112 b , erected upward and extending in the feed direction X.
- the feed tray 110 includes projection 113 a , 113 b , 114 a , 114 b each protruding outward in the width direction Y.
- FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing a sheet cassette 119 , in which the output tray 100 is attached to the feed tray 110 .
- the walls 102 , 103 of the output tray 100 are respectively located on the outer side of the wall portions 111 a , 112 a of the feed tray 110 in the width direction Y.
- the wall 102 and the wall portion 111 a are opposed to each other in the width direction Y.
- the wall 103 and the wall portion 112 a are opposed to each other in the width direction Y. Accordingly, the walls 102 , 103 are restricted from moving in the width direction Y by the wall portions 111 a , 112 a , corresponding to the stopper in the invention.
- the walls 102 , 103 of the output tray 100 are respectively made to abut the stepped portions 111 b , 112 b of the feed tray 110 . Therefore, the position of the output tray 100 in the vertical direction Z is determined.
- the wall 102 has generally the same length (but not longer) as the distance between the projection 113 a and the projection 113 b in the feed direction X, so that the wall 102 is fitted between the projection 113 a and the projection 113 b .
- the wall 103 has generally the same length (but not longer) as the distance between the projection 114 a and the projection 114 b in the feed direction X, so that the wall 103 is fitted between the projection 114 a and the projection 114 b.
- the walls 102 , 103 of the output tray 100 are restricted from moving in the feed direction X, by the projections 113 a , 113 b , 114 a , 114 b corresponding to the stopper in the invention.
- the sheet cassette 119 includes the feed tray 110 including the sheet placement surface 118 on which the paper sheet P 5 is to be placed, and the output tray 100 disposed above the sheet placement surface 118 and including the discharged sheet receiving surface 101 on which the paper sheet P 5 discharged from the discharging unit 50 is to be placed, the output tray 100 being removably attached to the feed tray 110 .
- the feed tray 110 corresponds to the first sheet placement base in the invention
- the paper sheet P 5 corresponds to the first recording medium in the invention
- the output tray 100 corresponds to the recorded medium receiver in the invention.
- the sheet placement surface 118 is exposed upon removing the output tray 100 from the feed tray 110 , and therefore the user can easily place the paper sheet P 5 on the sheet placement surface 118 .
- FIG. 11A is a perspective view from below showing the output tray 120 of the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 3.
- FIG. 11B is perspective view from above showing a portion of the feed tray 123 where the bore 124 is formed, in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 3.
- a printer includes the feeding unit 30 , the recording unit 40 , and the discharging unit 50 described with reference to the embodiment 1.
- a paper sheet (not shown) placed on the feed tray 123 , corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, is transported toward the recording unit 40 by the feeding unit 30 , and after undergoing the recording operation by the recording unit 40 the paper sheet is discharged to a discharged sheet receiving surface 122 of the output tray 120 , corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, by the discharging unit 50 .
- the output tray 120 includes four projections 121 sticking out downward from outer peripheral positions on the lower face of the output tray 120 .
- the feed tray 123 includes a wall 125 formed along the outer periphery thereof, the wall 125 including the bores 124 , corresponding to the recess in the invention, in which the projections 121 can be respectively inserted when the output tray 120 is attached to the feed tray 123 .
- the output tray 120 is removably attached to the feed tray 123 by means of the bores 124 corresponding to the stopper in the invention, and restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X and the width direction Y.
- the positional relationship between the bores 124 and the projections 121 may be reversed.
- FIG. 12A is a perspective view from below showing the output tray 130 provided in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 4.
- FIG. 12B is a perspective view from above showing a portion of the feed tray 133 where the slot 134 is formed, in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 4.
- a printer includes the feeding unit 30 , the recording unit 40 , and the discharging unit 50 described with reference to the embodiment 1.
- a paper sheet (not shown) placed on the feed tray 133 , corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, is transported toward the recording unit 40 by the feeding unit 30 , and after undergoing the recording operation by the recording unit 40 the paper sheet is discharged to a discharged sheet receiving surface 132 of the output tray 130 , corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, by the discharging unit 50 .
- the output tray 130 includes a plurality of projections 131 sticking out downward from outer peripheral positions on the lower face of the output tray 130 .
- the feed tray 133 includes a wall 135 formed along the outer periphery thereof, the wall 135 including the slots 134 , corresponding to the recess in the invention, in which the projections 131 can be respectively inserted when the output tray 130 is attached to the feed tray 133 .
- the output tray 130 is removably attached to the feed tray 133 by means of the slots 134 corresponding to the stopper in the invention, and restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X and the width direction Y.
- the positional relationship between the slots 134 and the projections 131 may be reversed.
- FIG. 13A is a perspective view from below showing the output tray 140 provided in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 5.
- FIG. 13B is a perspective view from above showing a portion of the feed tray 143 where the iron member 144 is located, in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 5.
- a printer includes the feeding unit 30 , the recording unit 40 , and the discharging unit 50 described with reference to the embodiment 1.
- a paper sheet (not shown) placed on the feed tray 143 , corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, is transported toward the recording unit 40 by the feeding unit 30 , and after undergoing the recording operation by the recording unit 40 the paper sheet is discharged to a discharged sheet receiving surface 142 of the output tray 140 , corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, by the discharging unit 50 .
- the output tray 140 includes a plurality of magnets 141 located at outer peripheral positions of the output tray 140 .
- the feed tray 143 includes the iron members 144 that can be respectively coupled with the magnets 141 , located on a wall 145 formed along the outer periphery of the feed tray 143 .
- the output tray 140 is removably attached to the feed tray 143 by means of the iron members 144 corresponding to the stopper in the invention, and restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X and the width direction Y.
- the output tray may include the iron members 144 and the feed tray 143 may include the magnets 141 that can be coupled with the iron members 144 thus serving as the stopper in the invention.
- FIG. 14A is a perspective view showing the output tray 151 , corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention.
- the output tray 151 includes a pair of column-shaped projections 153 , corresponding to the pivotal shaft in the invention, located at the downstream end portion in the feed direction X and at the respective end portions in the width direction Y.
- FIGS. 14B and 14C are perspective views showing the sheet cassette 150 in which the output tray 151 is attached to the feed tray 158 corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention.
- a paper sheet P 6 corresponding to the first recording medium in the invention is placed on a sheet placement surface 159 of the feed tray 158 .
- the positions of the respective edges of the paper sheet P 6 in the width direction Y are delimited by pair of edge guides 156 .
- the position of the upstream edge of the paper sheet P 6 in the feed direction X is delimited by an edge guide 157 .
- a discharged sheet receiving surface 152 of the output tray 151 serves to receive the paper sheet that has undergone the recording operation and been discharged.
- the feed tray 158 includes walls 155 formed along the respective end portions in the width direction Y, the walls 155 each including a cutaway portion 154 , corresponding to the bearing in the invention and configured to rotatably support the projection 153 . Accordingly, the output tray 151 can be made to pivot about a pivotal shaft S 3 , as indicated by an arrow D 4 in FIG. 14C .
- the cutaway portion 154 also serves as the stopper that restricts the output tray 151 from being displaced in the feed direction X.
- the projection 153 can be easily engaged with or disengaged from the cutaway portion 154 .
- Such a configuration facilitates the output tray 151 to be attached to or removed from the feed tray 158 .
- the output tray 151 can be restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X when the output tray 151 is attached to the feed tray 158 .
- the entirety of the sheet placement surface 159 is exposed upon removing the output tray 151 from the feed tray 158 , and therefore the user can easily place the paper sheet P 6 on the sheet placement surface 159 .
- a printer according to the embodiment 6 includes the feeding unit 30 , the recording unit 40 , and the discharging unit 50 described with reference to the embodiment 1.
- the projection 153 is provided at the downstream end portion of the output tray 151 in the feed direction X in the embodiment 6, the cutaway portion 154 may be located at the upstream end portion of the wall 155 in the feed direction X, and the projection 153 may be located at the upstream end portion of the output tray 151 in the feed direction X.
Abstract
A recording apparatus includes a recording medium cassette removably attached to a casing and including a first sheet placement base on which a first recording medium is to be placed, a feed roller that delivers the first recording medium placed on the first sheet placement base in a feed direction, a recording unit that performs a recording operation on the first recording medium delivered by the feed roller, and a recorded medium receiver removably attached to the recording medium cassette at a position above the first sheet placement base in a vertical direction, and configured to receive the first recording medium discharged from the recording unit.
Description
- 1. Technical Field
- The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.
- 2. Related Art
- Existing recording apparatuses, such as printers and copiers, include those provided with a recording medium cassette that can be removably attached to the main body of the apparatus. Recording media such as paper sheets are stacked in the recording medium cassette, and a feed roller is brought into contact, while rotating, with the uppermost one of the paper sheets to thereby feed that paper sheet into inside of the main body.
- Some recording medium cassettes include an upper tray and a lower tray, the former being superposed on the latter, so that paper sheets of different sizes or types can be placed in the respective trays. Some recording medium cassettes further include an output tray located above the upper tray for receiving the paper sheet that has undergone a printing operation and been discharged.
- For example, JP-A-2012-76871 discloses a sheet cassette that includes, as shown in
FIG. 15A , alower tray 81 and anupper tray 82 superposed thereon, and anoutput tray 83 located above theupper tray 82 for receiving the paper sheet that has undergone a recording operation and been discharged. As shown inFIG. 15A , when theupper tray 82 is located on an upstream side in the direction in which the paper sheet is delivered (hereinafter, feed direction) X, i.e., on the left inFIG. 15A , a portion of thelower tray 81 on a downstream side in the feed direction X is exposed, and a paper sheet P11 placed on thelower tray 81 is contacted by a rotating feed roller (not shown) so as to be delivered in the feed direction X. - The
sheet cassette 80 includes a lock mechanism that restricts theupper tray 82 from moving in the feed direction X, and theupper tray 82 includes afinger support 824 and anunlock lever 825 for unlocking the lock mechanism. The user unlocks the lock mechanism by holding with his/her fingers thefinger support 824 and theunlock lever 825 exposed through aslot 830 formed in theoutput tray 83, and slides theupper tray 82 in the feed direction X with respect to thelower tray 81 to thereby displace theupper tray 82 to the downstream side in the feed direction X (on the right inFIGS. 15A and 15B ), as shown inFIG. 15B . Then the rotating feed roller is brought into contact with the paper sheet P10 placed on theupper tray 82, to deliver the paper sheet P10 in the feed direction X. - The
output tray 83 includes a pivotal shaft S10 rotatably disposed through abearing hole 810 formed in a sidewall of thelower tray 81. Theupper tray 82 includes aslide portion 820 configured to slide in the feed direction X supported by a guide portion (not shown), and asheet placement base 821 including a pivotal shaft S11 and pivotably connected to theslide portion 820. When theupper tray 82 is on the upstream side in the feed direction X as shown inFIG. 15A , the pivotal shaft S10 of the output tray 83 and the pivotal shaft S11 of thesheet placement base 821 generally overlap each other. - When the user intends to place the paper sheet P11 on the
lower tray 81, the user pivots the output tray 83 and thesheet placement base 821 together in a pivoting direction D10 with theupper tray 82 set on the upstream side in the feed direction X as shown inFIG. 15A , so as to expose thesheet placement surface 813 of thelower tray 81, as shown inFIG. 16A . Then the user inserts the paper sheet P11 in the feed direction X along thesheet placement surface 813, and sets the paper sheet P11 in position on thesheet placement surface 813 as shown inFIG. 16B , utilizing a pair ofedge guides 811 and anedge guide 812 as reference. - In contrast, when the user intends to place the paper sheet P10 on the
upper tray 82, theupper tray 82 is displaced to the downstream side in the feed direction X, as shown inFIG. 15B . The user slides the paper sheet P10 in the direction opposite to the feed direction X along thesheet placement surface 821 a on theslide portion 820, and sets the paper sheet P10 in place on thesheet placement surface 821 a, utilizing as reference a pair ofedge guides 822 and anedge guide 823 exposed through aslot 831 formed in theoutput tray 83. - However, when the paper sheet P11 is to be placed on the
lower tray 81 in the state shown inFIG. 16A , theupper tray 82 and theoutput tray 83 are located above thesheet placement surface 813 of thelower tray 81, at a generally central position in the feed direction X. In other words, in a view from above thesheet placement surface 813, thesheet placement surface 813 is split by theupper tray 82 and the output tray 83 into an upstreamsheet placement surface 813 a and a downstreamsheet placement surface 813 b in the feed direction X. Accordingly, the user has to insert the downstream edge of the paper sheet P11 in the feed direction X through a gap A1 between theslide portion 820 and thesheet placement surface 813 from the side of the upstreamsheet placement surface 813 a toward the downstreamsheet placement surface 813 b, so as to forward the paper sheet P11 in the feed direction X along thesheet placement surface 813. In addition, when the paper sheet P10 is to be placed on theupper tray 82 in the state shown inFIG. 15B , the output tray 83 overlaps the upstream portion of thesheet placement surface 821 a in the feed direction X. Accordingly, the user has to insert the upstream edge of the paper sheet P10 in the feed direction X into a gap A2 between theoutput tray 83 and thesheet placement surface 821 a, from the downstream side toward the upstream side in the feed direction X, to place the paper sheet P10 in position on thesheet placement surface 821 a. - Thus, the configuration according to JP-A-2012-76871 impedes the user from efficiently placing the paper sheet P10 or P11 on the
upper tray 82 orlower tray 81 of thesheet cassette 80. In other words, the user suffers difficulty in placing a sheet cassette having an output tray on top thereof. - Accordingly, the invention may be advantageously realized as the following application examples and embodiments.
- A recording apparatus may include a recording medium cassette removably attached to a casing and including a first sheet placement base on which a first recording medium is to be placed, a feed roller that delivers the first recording medium placed on the first sheet placement base in a feed direction, a recording unit that performs a recording operation on the first recording medium delivered by the feed roller, and a recorded medium receiver removably attached to the recording medium cassette at a position above the first sheet placement base in a vertical direction, and configured to receive the first recording medium discharged from the recording unit.
- In the recording apparatus thus configured, the recorded medium receiver is removably attached to the position above the first sheet placement base in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the first sheet placement base is exposed upon removing the recorded medium receiver from the first sheet placement base, which facilitates a user to place the first recording medium on the first sheet placement base.
- The foregoing recording apparatus may further include a stopper that restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the recording medium cassette in at least one of the feed direction and a width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the recording medium cassette.
- With the mentioned configuration, the stopper restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the recording medium cassette in at least in one the feed direction and the width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the recording medium cassette. Therefore, the recorded medium receiver can be stably mounted.
- In the foregoing recording apparatus, the recorded medium receiver may include a receiver-side wall erected along an outer periphery of the recorded medium receiver, the stopper may include a base-side wall erected along an outer periphery of the first sheet placement base, and the receiver-side wall and the base-side wall may be opposed to each other in at least one of the feed direction and the width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the first sheet placement base.
- With the mentioned configuration, the receiver-side wall is restricted by the base-side wall from being displaced in at least one of the feed direction and the width direction. Therefore, the recorded medium receiver can be restricted from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base in at least one of the width direction and the feed direction.
- In the foregoing recording apparatus, the recorded medium receiver may include one of a projection and a recess formed at an end portion, the stopper may include the other of the projection and the recess formed at an end portion of the first sheet placement base, and the projection may be inserted in the recess when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the first sheet placement base.
- The mentioned configuration restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base in at least one of the width direction and the feed direction.
- In the foregoing recording apparatus, the recorded medium receiver may include, at an end portion thereof, one of a magnet and an iron member that can be stuck to the magnet, and the stopper may include the other of the magnet and the iron member that can be stuck to the magnet located at an end portion of the first sheet placement base.
- The mentioned configuration restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base.
- In the foregoing recording apparatus, the recorded medium receiver may include, at an end portion thereof, one of a pivotal shaft and a bearing, the stopper may include the other of the pivotal shaft and the bearing provided at an end portion of the first sheet placement base, and the recorded medium receiver may be pivotable with respect to the first sheet placement base.
- The mentioned configuration restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base.
- The foregoing recording apparatus may further include a second sheet placement base disposed in the recording medium cassette between the first sheet placement base and the recorded medium receiver, the second sheet placement base being shorter than the first sheet placement base in the feed direction and configured to receive a second recording medium, and the second sheet placement base may be enabled to pivot with respect to the recording medium cassette when the recorded medium receiver is removed from the recording medium cassette.
- With the mentioned configuration, the second sheet placement base is exposed when the recorded medium receiver is removed from the first sheet placement base. Accordingly, the user can easily place the second recording medium on the second sheet placement base. In addition, a larger region of the first sheet placement base can be exposed upon making the second sheet placement base pivot when the recorded medium receiver is removed. Such a configuration facilitates the user to place the first recording medium on the first sheet placement base.
- The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.
-
FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic side views showing a general configuration of a printer according to anembodiment 1 of the invention. -
FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing a sheet cassette according to theembodiment 1. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a mechanism including an unlock lover for causing a lock element to swing, thereby allowing a slider to move. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the sheet cassette without an output tray superposed thereon. -
FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing appearances of the sheet cassette without the output tray superposed thereon. -
FIGS. 6 a and 6B are perspective views showing the output tray. -
FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views showing a lower tray, without and with the output tray attached thereto, respectively. -
FIG. 8A is a schematic front view of the lower tray with the output tray attached thereto, andFIG. 8B is a schematic fragmentary side view showing upstream end portions of the lower tray and the output tray in the feed direction. -
FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views showing a structure of a wall portion of the lower tray. -
FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing an output tray according to anembodiment 2 of the invention,FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a feed tray, andFIG. 10C is a perspective view showing a sheet cassette in which the output tray is attached to the feed tray. -
FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective views respectively showing an output tray and a feed tray according to anembodiment 3 of the invention. -
FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective views respectively showing an output tray and a feed tray according to anembodiment 4 of the invention. -
FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views respectively showing an output tray and a feed tray according to anembodiment 5 of the invention. -
FIG. 14A is a perspective view showing an output tray, andFIGS. 14B and 14C are perspective views showing a sheet cassette according to anembodiment 6 of the invention. -
FIGS. 15A and 15B are perspective views showing appearances of a conventional sheet cassette. -
FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective views showing different appearances of the conventional sheet cassette. - Hereafter, embodiments of the invention will be described referring to the drawings.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic side views showing a general configuration of aprinter 1, exemplifying the recording apparatus according to the invention. Asheet cassette 2 corresponding to the recording medium cassette is removably attached to the bottom portion of acasing 23 of theprinter 1. Thesheet cassette 2 includes alower tray 3 corresponding to the first sheet placement base and anupper tray 4 corresponding to the second sheet placement base. A paper sheet P1 corresponding to the first recording medium is to be placed on the former, and a paper sheet P2 corresponding to the second recording medium is to be placed on the latter. - The paper sheet P2 has a size corresponding to a postcard or the like, and the paper sheet P1 has a size larger than the paper sheet P2, such as A4 or B5. Naturally, the size of the paper sheet is not limited to the above, provided that the paper sheet placed on the
upper tray 4 is smaller than the paper sheet placed on thelower tray 3. - The
upper tray 4 is configured to slide with respect to thelower tray 3 in a feed direction X.FIG. 1A illustrates a state in which theupper tray 4 overlaps an upstream region of thelower tray 3 in the feed direction X.FIG. 1B illustrates a state in which theupper tray 4 overlaps the downstream region of thelower tray 3 in the feed direction X. - A
feed roller 22 is attached to anarm 21 that swings about apivotal shaft 20. When theupper tray 4 is set to overlap the upstream region of thelower tray 3 in the feed direction X as shown inFIG. 1A , thefeed roller 22 contacts, while rotating, the uppermost one of the paper sheets P1 stacked on thelower tray 3, to deliver the paper sheet P1 to a downstream side in the feed direction X. When theupper tray 4 is set to overlap the downstream region of thelower tray 3 in the feed direction X as shown inFIG. 1B , thefeed roller 22 contacts, while rotating, the uppermost one of the paper sheets P2 stacked on theupper tray 4, to deliver the paper sheet P2 to the downstream side in the feed direction X. Thus, either of the paper sheet P1 or the paper sheet P2 can be selectively delivered according to the position of theupper tray 4 in the feed direction X. - A
sloped surface 300 is provided in thelower tray 3, to split a plurality of paper sheets P1 or P2 about to be duplicatedly delivered. The paper sheet P1 or P2 that has passed the slopedsurface 300 is transported along atransport route 12 by a pair of rollers composed of atransport drive roller 10 and atransport slave roller 11, and another pair of rollers composed of atransport drive roller 13 and atransport slave roller 14, to a position between arecording head 16 that ejects ink, corresponding to the liquid in the invention, and amedium support member 17. Here, the mechanism that prevents duplicated delivery of the paper sheet may be provided in the main body of theprinter 1. - A
carriage 15 is set to reciprocate in a width direction Y (depth direction ofFIGS. 1A and 1B ) by a moving mechanism (not shown) along a guide shaft (not shown) disposed to extend in the width direction Y of the paper sheet P1, P2. Therecording head 16 is mounted on thecarriage 15 and configured so as to eject the ink onto the paper sheet P1, P2. - The
medium support member 17 is disposed opposite therecording head 16, to serve to support the paper sheet P1, P2 with a predetermined clearance between the paper sheet P1, P2 and therecording head 16. - A pair of rollers composed of a
discharge drive roller 18 and adischarge slave roller 19 serve to discharge the paper sheet P1, P2 that has undergone the recording operation of therecording head 16, to anoutput tray 5 corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention. Theoutput tray 5 includes astacker 6 sticking out through anopening 24 formed in thecasing 23 and configured to receive discharged paper sheets P3, P4, in collaboration with theoutput tray 5. Here, theoutput tray 5 may be configured to work alone without thestacker 6. - In this embodiment, the
pivotal shaft 20, thearm 21, and thefeed roller 22 constitute afeeding unit 30; thecarriage 15, therecording head 16, and themedium support member 17 constitute therecording unit 40; and the pair of rollers composed of thedischarge drive roller 18 and thedischarge slave roller 19 constitute the dischargingunit 50. Although therecording unit 40 according to this embodiment includes the inkjet recording head 16 that ejects ink, a different configuration may be employed. For example, a laser printer that applies a toner to the paper sheet P1, P2 and performs the recording by thermal pressing may be employed. -
FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing thesheet cassette 2.FIG. 2A illustrates the state in which theupper tray 4 overlaps the upstream region of thelower tray 3 in the feed direction X (seeFIG. 1A ), andFIG. 2B illustrates the state in which theupper tray 4 overlaps the downstream region of thelower tray 3 in the feed direction X (seeFIG. 1B ). - The paper sheet P1 is placed on a
sheet placement surface 308 of thelower tray 3 as shown inFIG. 2A . The positions of the respective end portions of the paper sheet P1 in the width direction Y are delimited by a pair of edge guides 305, and the position of the upstream end portion of the paper sheet P1 in the feed direction X is delimited by an edge guide 309 (seeFIG. 5B ). - The lower tray 3A includes a pair of
slits 304, corresponding to the recess in the invention and formed in adownstream wall 307 in the feed direction X as shown inFIG. 2A , and a pair ofprojections 11, provided on the downstream edge of theupper tray 4 in the feed direction X, are respectively inserted in theslits 304 when theupper tray 4 is on the on the downstream side in the feed direction X, as shown inFIG. 2B . - As described above, the
wall 307 on the downstream end portion of thelower tray 3 in the feed direction X includes the slopedsurface 300, for splitting the paper sheets P1 or P2 about to be delivered in duplicate by thefeed roller 22 shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B . - The
upper tray 4 including aslide portion 400 and asheet placement base 401 is located above thesheet placement surface 308 in a vertical direction Z (hereinafter, simply “above”). Theupper tray 4 is located below a dischargedsheet receiving surface 502 of theoutput tray 5 in the vertical direction Z (hereinafter, simply “below”). Theupstream end portion 401 a of thesheet placement base 401 in the feed direction X, and therespective end portions - The
sheet placement base 401 includes a pivotal shaft S1, via which thesheet placement base 401 is pivotably connected to theslide portion 400.Walls 306 on the respective sides of thelower tray 3 in the width direction Y each include aguide rail 301 extending in the feed direction X. In addition, thewalls 306 each include aslot 310 extending in the feed direction X. - The
slide portion 400 includesprojections 410 sticking out from the respective sides of theslide portion 400 in the width direction Y. Theprojections 410 are respectively disposed to penetrate through theslots 310 and to slide in the feed direction X along theguide rail 301. With the mentioned configuration, thesheet placement base 401 can move in the feed direction X, with the paper sheet P2 horizontally placed thereon. - As shown in
FIG. 2B , the paper sheet P2 is placed on asheet placement surface 409 of theupper tray 4. The positions of the end portions of the paper sheet P2 in the width direction Y are delimited by the pair of edge guides 402, and the position of the upstream end portion of the paper sheet P2 in the feed direction X is delimited by anedge guide 403 exposed in aslot 500 formed in theoutput tray 5. - A
finger support 407 and anunlock lever 408 provided on theupper tray 4 are exposed in aslot 501 formed in theoutput tray 5, as shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B . Thefinger support 407 is fixed to thesheet placement base 401. Theunlock lever 408 is disposed so as to slide with respect to thesheet placement base 401 in the feed direction X. When the user holds thefinger support 407 and theunlock lever 408 with his/her fingers, alock element 406 is made to swing so as to allow theslider 404 to move in the width direction Y. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the mechanism that causes thelock element 406 to swing by manipulating theunlock lever 408, to thereby allow theslider 404 to move.FIG. 3 illustrates the state in which the user is holding thefinger support 407 and theunlock lever 408 with the fingers. - The
lock element 406 is disposed to pivot about a pivotal shaft S2, so that anend portion 406 b of thelock element 406 moves within a range delimited byprojections slider 404. Theother end portion 406 a of thelock element 406 is engaged with aslit 412 a of ajoint bar 412 extending from theunlock lever 408. - When the user holds the
finger support 407 and theunlock lever 408 shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B with the fingers, theunlock lever 408 is made to slide to the upstream side in the feed direction X. Then thelock element 406 shown inFIG. 3 is made to pivot counterclockwise D1 about the pivotal shaft S2 by means of thejoint bar 412, so that theend portion 406 b of thelock element 406 presses theprojection 404 b of theslider 404 inwardly Y1 in the width direction Y. - Accordingly, the
slider 404 is inwardly displaced (Y1) and hence theend portion 404 a of theslider 404 is disengaged from anorifice wall 306 of thelower tray 3 as shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B , and theupper tray 4 is enabled to move in the feed direction X. - The
slider 404 is outwardly biased in the width direction Y (Y2) by aspring 405. Therefore, when thefinger support 407 and theunlock lever 408 are released by the user, theslider 404 is outwardly displaced (Y2) so that theend portion 404 a of theslider 404 is inserted in theorifice upper tray 4 from moving in the feed direction X. - In addition, the
end portion 406 b of thelock element 406 is outwardly displaced (Y2) by theprojection 404 b, and therefore thelock element 406 is made to pivot clockwise (D2) so that theunlock lever 408 is made to slide to the downstream side in the feed direction X by means of thejoint bar 412. - The user manipulates the
unlock lever 408 utilizing thefinger support 407 as a fulcrum thereby displacing theupper tray 4 in the feed direction X, after which the user can select the position of theupper tray 4 with respect to thelower tray 3, by inserting theend portion 404 a of theslider 404 either in theorifice 302 on the upstream side in the feed direction X or in theorifice 303 on the downstream side in the feed direction X. - The paper sheet P3, P4 discharged through the
discharge drive roller 18 and thedischarge slave roller 19 shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B is placed on a dischargedsheet receiving surface 502 of theoutput tray 5. - The
stacker 6 having a plate shape is slidably accommodated inside the upstream portion of theoutput tray 5 in the feed direction X, so that when thestacker 6 is drawn out from theoutput tray 5 the upstream portion of the discharged paper sheet P3, P4 in the feed direction can be supported by thestacker 6. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of thesheet cassette 2 corresponding toFIG. 2A , but without theoutput tray 5. When theupper tray 4 is on the upstream side in the feed direction X, the user can place the paper sheet P2 on thesheet placement surface 409 of theupper tray 4 as shown inFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the appearance of thesheet cassette 2 corresponding toFIG. 2B , but without theoutput tray 5.FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing the appearance of thesheet cassette 2, in which thesheet placement base 401 has been made to pivot about the pivotal shaft S1 in a pivoting direction D3, from the state shown inFIG. 5A . In the state shown inFIG. 5B , the user can place the paper sheet P1 on thesheet placement surface 308 of thelower tray 3. -
FIG. 6A is a perspective view from above showing theoutput tray 5, andFIG. 6B is a perspective view from below showing theoutput tray 5. Thestacker 6 includes a slidingportion 6 b slidably disposed inside theoutput tray 5, and a slidingportion 6 a slidably disposed inside the slidingportion 6 b. - The
output tray 5 includeswalls output tray 5. Thewalls output tray 5 in the width direction Y. Thewalls output tray 5 in the feed direction X. -
FIG. 7A is a perspective view from above showing thelower tray 3. Thewalls 306 formed along the outer periphery on the respective end portions of thelower tray 3 in the width direction Y each include awall portion 306 b, corresponding to the base-side wall in the invention and erected upward and extending in the feed direction X, and a steppedportion 306 a extending in the feed direction X. -
FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing thelower tray 3 with theoutput tray 5 attached thereto, in which theupper tray 4 is not illustrated.FIG. 8A is a schematic drawing of thelower tray 3 with theoutput tray 5 attached thereto, viewed from the downstream side in the feed direction X. - The
walls output tray 5 shown inFIG. 7B are each located at an inner position in the width direction Y from thewall portion 306 b of thelower tray 3. To be more detailed referring toFIG. 8A , thewall 503 of theoutput tray 5 is located on the right in the width direction Y from thewall portion 306 b of thelower tray 3 on the left inFIG. 8A , and thewall 506 of theoutput tray 5 is located on the left in the width direction Y from thewall portion 306 b of thelower tray 3 on the right inFIG. 8A . - With the foregoing configuration, the
walls output tray 5 are restricted by thewall portion 306 b of thelower tray 3 from being displaced in the width direction Y. In addition, the respective lower end portions of thewalls portion 306 a, so that the position of theoutput tray 5 in the vertical direction Z is determined. -
FIG. 8B is a schematic drawing viewed in the width direction Y, showing the upstream end portion of thelower tray 3 in the feed direction X, to which theoutput tray 5 is attached. Thewalls FIGS. 6A and 6B are each located at an inner position in the feed direction X from thewall 312 of thelower tray 3 shown inFIG. 7A . In other words, thewalls output tray 5 shown inFIG. 8B are located downstream of thewall 312 of thelower tray 3 in the feed direction X. Such a configuration restricts thewalls output tray 5 from moving to the upstream side in the feed direction X. -
FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing a part of thewall 306 of thelower tray 3.FIG. 9B is a perspective view showing the same part of thewall 306 of thelower tray 3 with theoutput tray 5 attached thereto.FIG. 9B also includes an enlarged perspective view of a circled portion including aprojection 311 inwardly protruding in the width direction Y from thewall 306. Thewall 506 is restricted by theprojection 311 from moving to the downstream side in the feed direction X. Likewise, thewall 503 shown inFIG. 7B is restricted by theprojection 311 from moving to the downstream side in the feed direction X. - As described thus far, the
printer 1 according to this embodiment includes thesheet cassette 2 removably attached to thecasing 23 and including thelower tray 3 on which the paper sheet P1 is to be placed, thefeed roller 22 that delivers the paper sheet P1 placed on thesheet cassette 2 in the feed direction, therecording unit 40 that performs a recording operation on the paper sheet P1 delivered by thefeed roller 22. Here, thesheet cassette 2 corresponds to the recording medium cassette in the invention; thelower tray 3 corresponds to the first sheet placement base in the invention; and the paper sheet P1 corresponds to the first recording medium in the invention. Thesheet cassette 2 includes theoutput tray 5, removably attached on top of thelower tray 3 in the vertical direction and configured to receive the paper sheet P1 discharged from therecording unit 40. - The
printer 1 further includes theupper tray 4 pivotably disposed in thesheet cassette 2 at the position above thelower tray 3 in the vertical direction Z and between thelower tray 3 and theoutput tray 5, theupper tray 4 being shorter than thelower tray 3 in the feed direction X and configured to receive the paper sheet P2 and to slide in the feed direction X with respect to thelower tray 3. Here, theupper tray 4 corresponds to the second sheet placement base in the invention, and the paper sheet P2 corresponds to the second recording medium in the invention. When theupper tray 4 is on the upstream side in the feed direction X, thefeed roller 22 is brought into contact with the paper sheet P1 so as to deliver the paper sheet P1, and when theupper tray 4 is on the downstream side in the feed direction X thefeed roller 22 is brought into contact with the paper sheet P2 so as to deliver the paper sheet P2. - With the mentioned configuration, the
upper tray 4 is exposed upon removing theoutput tray 5 from thelower tray 3, and therefore the user can easily place the paper sheet P2 on theupper tray 4. In addition, a larger region of thesheet placement surface 308 can be exposed by making theupper tray 4 pivot when theupper tray 4 is on the downstream side (seeFIG. 5B ). Therefore, the user can easily place the paper sheet P1 on thelower tray 3. Here, theupper tray 4 may be made to pivot at a position other than the downstream side, in which case thesheet placement surface 308 can be equally exposed compared with the case where the upper tray is not made to pivot. - The
output tray 5 includes thewalls output tray 5 as shown inFIG. 6B , and thelower tray 3 includes thewall portion 306 b corresponding to the base-side wall in the invention and erected along the outer periphery of thelower tray 3 as shown inFIG. 7A , such that when theoutput tray 5 is attached to thelower tray 3 thewalls wall portion 306 a are opposed to each other in the width direction Y. - Therefore, the
walls wall portion 306 b, corresponding to the stopper in the invention, from moving in the width direction Y. Such a configuration restricts theoutput tray 5 from being displaced with respect to thelower tray 3 in the width direction Y. - Further, the
output tray 5 includes thewalls output tray 5 as shown inFIG. 6B , and thelower tray 3 includes thewall 312 corresponding to the base-side wall in the invention and erected along the outer periphery of thelower tray 3 as shown inFIG. 7A , such that when theoutput tray 5 is attached to thelower tray 3 thewalls wall 312 in the feed direction X and thewalls wall 312 are opposed to each other in the feed direction X. - Therefore, when the
output tray 5 is attached to thelower tray 3 thewalls wall 312, corresponding to the stopper in the invention, from moving to the upstream side in the feed direction X. Such a configuration restricts theoutput tray 5 from being displaced with respect to thelower tray 3 in the feed direction X. - In the
embodiment 1, thewalls output tray 5 are located on the inner side of thewall portion 306 b of thelower tray 3 when theoutput tray 5 is attached to thelower tray 3. In a sheet cassette (recording medium cassette) according to anembodiment 2, in contrast, a wall of an output tray is located on the outer side of a wall of a lower tray. -
FIG. 10A is a perspective view from below showing theoutput tray 100, corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, provided in the sheet cassette according to theembodiment 2. Theoutput tray 100 includeswalls output tray 100 on the respective end portions in the width direction Y. -
FIG. 10B is a perspective view from above showing afeed tray 110, corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, provided in the sheet cassette according to theembodiment 2. While thesheet cassette 2 according to theembodiment 1 includes theupper tray 4 and thelower tray 3, the sheet cassette according to theembodiment 2 only includes thefeed tray 110. - A printer according to the
embodiment 2 includes thefeeding unit 30, therecording unit 40, and the dischargingunit 50 described with reference to theembodiment 1. A paper sheet P5 placed on asheet placement surface 118 of thefeed tray 110 is transported toward therecording unit 40 by thefeeding unit 30, and after undergoing the recording operation by therecording unit 40 the paper sheet P5 is discharged to a dischargedsheet receiving surface 101 of theoutput tray 100 by the dischargingunit 50. - The position of the edge of the paper sheet P5 in the width direction Y is delimited by an
edge guide 116 shown inFIG. 10B . In addition, the position of the edge of the paper sheet P5 in the feed direction X is delimited by anedge guide 117. - Referring to
FIG. 10B , thefeed tray 110 includeswalls feed tray 110 on the respective end portions in the width direction Y. Thewalls wall portion portion feed tray 110 includesprojection -
FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing asheet cassette 119, in which theoutput tray 100 is attached to thefeed tray 110. When theoutput tray 100 is attached to thefeed tray 110, thewalls output tray 100 are respectively located on the outer side of thewall portions feed tray 110 in the width direction Y. Here, thewall 102 and thewall portion 111 a are opposed to each other in the width direction Y. Likewise, thewall 103 and thewall portion 112 a are opposed to each other in the width direction Y. Accordingly, thewalls wall portions - Further, the
walls output tray 100 are respectively made to abut the steppedportions feed tray 110. Therefore, the position of theoutput tray 100 in the vertical direction Z is determined. - The
wall 102 has generally the same length (but not longer) as the distance between theprojection 113 a and theprojection 113 b in the feed direction X, so that thewall 102 is fitted between theprojection 113 a and theprojection 113 b. Likewise, thewall 103 has generally the same length (but not longer) as the distance between theprojection 114 a and theprojection 114 b in the feed direction X, so that thewall 103 is fitted between theprojection 114 a and theprojection 114 b. - Therefore, when the
output tray 100 is attached to thefeed tray 110, thewalls output tray 100 are restricted from moving in the feed direction X, by theprojections - Thus, the
sheet cassette 119 according to this embodiment includes thefeed tray 110 including thesheet placement surface 118 on which the paper sheet P5 is to be placed, and theoutput tray 100 disposed above thesheet placement surface 118 and including the dischargedsheet receiving surface 101 on which the paper sheet P5 discharged from the dischargingunit 50 is to be placed, theoutput tray 100 being removably attached to thefeed tray 110. Here, thefeed tray 110 corresponds to the first sheet placement base in the invention; the paper sheet P5 corresponds to the first recording medium in the invention; and theoutput tray 100 corresponds to the recorded medium receiver in the invention. - With the mentioned configuration, the
sheet placement surface 118 is exposed upon removing theoutput tray 100 from thefeed tray 110, and therefore the user can easily place the paper sheet P5 on thesheet placement surface 118. - In a sheet cassette (recording medium cassette) according to an
embodiment 3, an output tray is removably attached to a feed tray by means of projections formed on the output tray and bores formed in the feed tray.FIG. 11A is a perspective view from below showing theoutput tray 120 of the sheet cassette according to theembodiment 3.FIG. 11B is perspective view from above showing a portion of thefeed tray 123 where thebore 124 is formed, in the sheet cassette according to theembodiment 3. - A printer according to the
embodiment 3 includes thefeeding unit 30, therecording unit 40, and the dischargingunit 50 described with reference to theembodiment 1. A paper sheet (not shown) placed on thefeed tray 123, corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, is transported toward therecording unit 40 by thefeeding unit 30, and after undergoing the recording operation by therecording unit 40 the paper sheet is discharged to a dischargedsheet receiving surface 122 of theoutput tray 120, corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, by the dischargingunit 50. - The
output tray 120 includes fourprojections 121 sticking out downward from outer peripheral positions on the lower face of theoutput tray 120. Thefeed tray 123 includes a wall 125 formed along the outer periphery thereof, the wall 125 including thebores 124, corresponding to the recess in the invention, in which theprojections 121 can be respectively inserted when theoutput tray 120 is attached to thefeed tray 123. Thus, theoutput tray 120 is removably attached to thefeed tray 123 by means of thebores 124 corresponding to the stopper in the invention, and restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X and the width direction Y. Here, the positional relationship between thebores 124 and theprojections 121 may be reversed. - In a sheet cassette (recording medium cassette) according to an
embodiment 4, an output tray is removably attached to a feed tray by means of projections formed on the output tray and slots formed in the feed tray.FIG. 12A is a perspective view from below showing theoutput tray 130 provided in the sheet cassette according to theembodiment 4.FIG. 12B is a perspective view from above showing a portion of thefeed tray 133 where theslot 134 is formed, in the sheet cassette according to theembodiment 4. - A printer according to the
embodiment 4 includes thefeeding unit 30, therecording unit 40, and the dischargingunit 50 described with reference to theembodiment 1. A paper sheet (not shown) placed on thefeed tray 133, corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, is transported toward therecording unit 40 by thefeeding unit 30, and after undergoing the recording operation by therecording unit 40 the paper sheet is discharged to a dischargedsheet receiving surface 132 of theoutput tray 130, corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, by the dischargingunit 50. - The
output tray 130 includes a plurality ofprojections 131 sticking out downward from outer peripheral positions on the lower face of theoutput tray 130. Thefeed tray 133 includes awall 135 formed along the outer periphery thereof, thewall 135 including theslots 134, corresponding to the recess in the invention, in which theprojections 131 can be respectively inserted when theoutput tray 130 is attached to thefeed tray 133. Thus, theoutput tray 130 is removably attached to thefeed tray 133 by means of theslots 134 corresponding to the stopper in the invention, and restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X and the width direction Y. Here, the positional relationship between theslots 134 and theprojections 131 may be reversed. - In a sheet cassette (recording medium cassette) according to an
embodiment 5, an output tray is removably attached to a feed tray by means of magnets provided on the output tray and iron members provided on the feed tray.FIG. 13A is a perspective view from below showing theoutput tray 140 provided in the sheet cassette according to theembodiment 5.FIG. 13B is a perspective view from above showing a portion of thefeed tray 143 where theiron member 144 is located, in the sheet cassette according to theembodiment 5. - A printer according to the
embodiment 5 includes thefeeding unit 30, therecording unit 40, and the dischargingunit 50 described with reference to theembodiment 1. A paper sheet (not shown) placed on thefeed tray 143, corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, is transported toward therecording unit 40 by thefeeding unit 30, and after undergoing the recording operation by therecording unit 40 the paper sheet is discharged to a dischargedsheet receiving surface 142 of theoutput tray 140, corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, by the dischargingunit 50. - The
output tray 140 includes a plurality ofmagnets 141 located at outer peripheral positions of theoutput tray 140. Thefeed tray 143 includes theiron members 144 that can be respectively coupled with themagnets 141, located on awall 145 formed along the outer periphery of thefeed tray 143. Thus, theoutput tray 140 is removably attached to thefeed tray 143 by means of theiron members 144 corresponding to the stopper in the invention, and restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X and the width direction Y. Here, the output tray may include theiron members 144 and thefeed tray 143 may include themagnets 141 that can be coupled with theiron members 144 thus serving as the stopper in the invention. - In a sheet cassette (recording medium cassette) according to an
embodiment 6, an output tray is pivotably attached to a feed tray.FIG. 14A is a perspective view showing theoutput tray 151, corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention. Theoutput tray 151 includes a pair of column-shapedprojections 153, corresponding to the pivotal shaft in the invention, located at the downstream end portion in the feed direction X and at the respective end portions in the width direction Y. -
FIGS. 14B and 14C are perspective views showing thesheet cassette 150 in which theoutput tray 151 is attached to thefeed tray 158 corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention. A paper sheet P6 corresponding to the first recording medium in the invention is placed on asheet placement surface 159 of thefeed tray 158. The positions of the respective edges of the paper sheet P6 in the width direction Y are delimited by pair of edge guides 156. The position of the upstream edge of the paper sheet P6 in the feed direction X is delimited by anedge guide 157. A dischargedsheet receiving surface 152 of theoutput tray 151 serves to receive the paper sheet that has undergone the recording operation and been discharged. - The
feed tray 158 includeswalls 155 formed along the respective end portions in the width direction Y, thewalls 155 each including acutaway portion 154, corresponding to the bearing in the invention and configured to rotatably support theprojection 153. Accordingly, theoutput tray 151 can be made to pivot about a pivotal shaft S3, as indicated by an arrow D4 inFIG. 14C . Here, thecutaway portion 154 also serves as the stopper that restricts theoutput tray 151 from being displaced in the feed direction X. - Since the
cutaway portion 154 is open upward, theprojection 153 can be easily engaged with or disengaged from thecutaway portion 154. Such a configuration facilitates theoutput tray 151 to be attached to or removed from thefeed tray 158. - Thus, the
output tray 151 can be restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X when theoutput tray 151 is attached to thefeed tray 158. In addition, the entirety of thesheet placement surface 159 is exposed upon removing theoutput tray 151 from thefeed tray 158, and therefore the user can easily place the paper sheet P6 on thesheet placement surface 159. - A printer according to the
embodiment 6 includes thefeeding unit 30, therecording unit 40, and the dischargingunit 50 described with reference to theembodiment 1. Although theprojection 153 is provided at the downstream end portion of theoutput tray 151 in the feed direction X in theembodiment 6, thecutaway portion 154 may be located at the upstream end portion of thewall 155 in the feed direction X, and theprojection 153 may be located at the upstream end portion of theoutput tray 151 in the feed direction X. - The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-225746, filed Oct. 11, 2012 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Claims (7)
1. A recording apparatus comprising:
a recording medium cassette removably attached to a casing and including a first sheet placement base on which a first recording medium is to be placed;
a feed roller that delivers the first recording medium placed on the first sheet placement base in a feed direction;
a recording unit that performs a recording operation on the first recording medium delivered by the feed roller; and
a recorded medium receiver removably attached to the recording medium cassette at a position above the first sheet placement base in a vertical direction, and configured to receive the first recording medium discharged from the recording unit.
2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a stopper that restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the recording medium cassette in at least one of the feed direction and a width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the recording medium cassette.
3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the recorded medium receiver includes a receiver-side wall erected along an outer periphery of the recorded medium receiver,
the stopper includes a base-side wall erected along an outer periphery of the first sheet placement base, and
the receiver-side wall and the base-side wall are opposed to each other in at least one of the feed direction and the width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the first sheet placement base.
4. The recording apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the recorded medium receiver includes one of a projection and a recess formed at an end portion,
the stopper includes the other of the projection and the recess formed at an end portion of the first sheet placement base, and
the projection is inserted in the recess when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the first sheet placement base.
5. The recording apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the recorded medium receiver includes, at an end portion thereof, one of a magnet and an iron member that can be stuck to the magnet, and
the stopper includes the other of the magnet and the iron member that can be stuck to the magnet located at an end portion of the first sheet placement base.
6. The recording apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the recorded medium receiver includes, at an end portion thereof, one of a pivotal shaft and a bearing,
the stopper includes the other of the pivotal shaft and the bearing provided at an end portion of the first sheet placement base, and
the recorded medium receiver is pivotable with respect to the first sheet placement base.
7. The recording apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a second sheet placement base disposed in the recording medium cassette between the first sheet placement base and the recorded medium receiver, the second sheet placement base being shorter than the first sheet placement base in the feed direction and configured to receive a second recording medium,
wherein the second sheet placement base is enabled to pivot with respect to the recording medium cassette when the recorded medium receiver is removed from the recording medium cassette.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2012225746A JP2014076883A (en) | 2012-10-11 | 2012-10-11 | Recording apparatus |
JP2012-225746 | 2012-10-11 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20140103597A1 true US20140103597A1 (en) | 2014-04-17 |
Family
ID=50447303
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/047,405 Abandoned US20140103597A1 (en) | 2012-10-11 | 2013-10-07 | Recording apparatus |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20140103597A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2014076883A (en) |
CN (1) | CN103722900A (en) |
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US20180305147A1 (en) * | 2017-04-25 | 2018-10-25 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Card transport device |
US20220299910A1 (en) * | 2021-03-17 | 2022-09-22 | Lexmark International, Inc. | Reusable media packaging for imaging device |
Families Citing this family (1)
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CN112497934A (en) * | 2020-11-20 | 2021-03-16 | 衡阳和乐办公设备有限公司 | Automatic paper feeding device of printer |
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JPS6232288Y2 (en) * | 1980-10-16 | 1987-08-18 | ||
JP2954292B2 (en) * | 1990-07-26 | 1999-09-27 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Facsimile machine |
JP5581949B2 (en) * | 2010-09-30 | 2014-09-03 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | Image recording device |
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2012
- 2012-10-11 JP JP2012225746A patent/JP2014076883A/en not_active Withdrawn
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2013
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- 2013-10-11 CN CN201310473150.XA patent/CN103722900A/en active Pending
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US7694950B2 (en) * | 2005-03-30 | 2010-04-13 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Sheet feed device and image recording apparatus having such sheet feed device |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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CN103722900A (en) | 2014-04-16 |
JP2014076883A (en) | 2014-05-01 |
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Owner name: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KOTAKA, TOSHIKAZU;REEL/FRAME:031356/0376 Effective date: 20130905 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |