CONVEYING DEVICE AND RECORDING APPARATUS

BACKGROUND
Field

The present disclosure relates to a conveying device that conveys a sheet as a recording medium and a recording apparatus that performs recording on the sheet.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a recording apparatus (printer) that accommodates a rolled sheet, in which an elongated sheet is wound in, for example, a roll shape, and performs the recording of images or the like on the sheet drawn out of the rolled portion of the rolled sheet is known. Such a recording apparatus performs recording by conveying the sheet drawn out of the roll-shaped portion to a recording portion and then ejecting a recording liquid such as ink onto the sheet from the recording portion. Depending on the type of ink, fixing processing to fix the ink ejected onto the sheet may be necessary. Some recording apparatuses include on the downstream side of the recording portion a fixing apparatus that dries the ink using wind or heat. Moreover, a recording apparatus including a cutting device that cuts a sheet after recording at a prescribed position is known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2019-162769).

Here, the recording apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2019-162769 is configured with a winding portion that winds a sheet after recording on the downstream side of a cutting portion. The sheet is conveyed with prescribed tension applied thereto. However, depending on the configuration of a conveying path, the conveying state of the sheet may vary as the winding amount of the sheet by the winding portion increases, raising concerns about the instability of sheet cutting.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure advantageously provides a technology that makes it possible to stabilize sheet conveyance.

According to some embodiments, a conveying device includes a holding portion configured to hold a rolled sheet; a conveying portion configured to convey a sheet drawn out of the rolled sheet held by the holding portion; a winding portion configured to wind the sheet on a downstream side of the conveying portion in a conveying path for the sheet; and a cutting portion configured to cut the sheet between the conveying portion and the winding portion in the conveying path, wherein the conveying device includes a contact portion that contacts the sheet between the cutting portion and the winding portion in the conveying path, and the contact portion and the cutting portion are configured integrally to be capable of moving to a first position approaching the rolled sheet held by the holding portion and a second position away from the rolled sheet held by the holding portion.

According to some embodiments, a recording apparatus includes the conveying device of the present disclosure; and a recording portion configured to perform recording on the sheet between the holding portion and the guide portion in the conveying path.

According to the present disclosure, the stabilization of sheet conveyance is allowed.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic cross-sectional views of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory views of a sheet conveying path in the recording apparatus in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a movement explanatory view of a sheet discharge portion in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control configuration in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the sheet discharge portion in the first embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views of the sheet discharge portion taken along the line P in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cutting device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the cutting device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a detailed explanatory view of the cutting device in the first embodiment.

FIGS. 10A to 10C are schematic cross-sectional views when viewed from the side of a body around a sheet discharge guiding downstream portion.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are explanatory views about the winding amount of a sheet by a winding portion.

FIG. 12 is a view for illustrating the winding state of the sheet when a winding direction is clockwise.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view around the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion in a second embodiment.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are explanatory views of a state where the leading edge of the sheet snags on the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion.

FIGS. 15A to 15C are explanatory views of a state where the leading edge of the sheet is guided in a third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a view for illustrating a modified example of the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view around the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion in a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view of a notched portion of a sheet guiding member in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view of a sheet discharge portion in a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of cutter replacement in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a schematic perspective view of a sheet discharge guiding downstream roller portion in a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view of the sheet discharge portion in the sixth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, various embodiments, features, and aspects for carrying out the disclosure will be described in detail by way of example. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in the embodiments may be appropriately modified according to the configurations or various conditions of the device to which the disclosure is applied. In other words, the scope of the disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments.

First Embodiment

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic perspective views of a recording apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of the recording apparatus 100, showing a state in which a sheet discharge portion 500 and a fixation heater 90 are closed. FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view of the recording apparatus 100, showing a state in which the sheet discharge portion 500 and the fixation heater 90 are open, and a rolled sheet R is being set.

The recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is a printer that draws a sheet wound in a roll shape as a recording medium (recording material) from a rolled portion and performs recording. Further, the recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is a recording apparatus (i.e., an inkjet printer) that, as an example of a recording system, forms (records) desired recording images (such as characters and pictures) on recording media through a liquid ejection system that ejects ink as a recording liquid onto the recording media.

Further, the recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is configured to allow full front operations. In other words, the recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment has an operation panel 28 on a specific side (front side) where a user faces, and is configured to allow various operations of the recording apparatus 100, as well as maintenance such as replenishing the rolled sheet R.

Here, the direction in which the rotational axis of a spool member 2 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B and the like) holding the rolled sheet R extends is defined as an X direction. The horizontal direction orthogonal to the X direction is defined as a Y direction. The vertical direction (gravitational direction) orthogonal to both the X direction and the Y direction is defined as a Z direction. One side in the Y direction corresponds to the front side of the recording apparatus 100, while the opposite side in the Y direction corresponds to the back side of the recording apparatus 100. Note that the definition of this coordinate system assumes that the recording apparatus 100 is installed on a horizontal plane, which is the typically assumed installation state.

It is possible to selectively set an outward rolled sheet R1 and an inward rolled sheet R2 as rolled sheets R into the supply device 200. The outward rolled sheet R1 is a rolled sheet R wound in such a manner that the surface on the outer peripheral side (outside) of the rolled portion serves as a print surface P (recording surface). The inward rolled sheet R2 is a rolled sheet R wound in such a manner that the surface on the inner peripheral side (inside) of the rolled portion serves as a print surface P. Images are printed on sheets 1, which are sheets selectively drawn out of the rolled portion in the rolled sheets R. The user is allowed to input various commands for the recording apparatus 100, such as specifying the sizes of the sheets 1 and switching between an online status and an offline status, using various switches or the like provided on the operation panel 28.

As will be described in detail later, the recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is configured such that the sheet discharge portion 500 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B and the like) is capable of moving between a shielding position (FIG. 1A) where the rolled sheets R are covered and a release position (FIG. 1B) where the rolled sheets R are exposed. The former shielding position is the position (first position) occupied by the sheet discharge portion 500 when the recording apparatus 100 performs a recording operation, where the sheet discharge portion 500 approaches the rolled sheets R. The latter release position is the position where the sheet discharge portion 500 is located away from the rolled sheets R. The release position is the position (second position) occupiable by the sheet discharge portion 500 during a non-recording operation where the recording apparatus 100 does not perform a recording operation, and maintenance such as replenishing the rolled sheets R and addressing sheet jams.

Similarly, as will be described in detail later, the recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is configured such that a fixation heater 90 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B and the like) is capable of moving between a fixing position (FIG. 1A) where the sheet discharge portion 500 is covered and a retracting position (FIG. 1B). The former fixing position is the position where the fixation heater 90 faces the sheet discharge portion 500. The fixing position is the position (third position) occupied by the fixation heater 90 serving as a fixing portion relative to the sheet discharge portion 500 when the recording apparatus 100 performs a recording operation, where fixing processing is applied to a portion of the sheet 1 that is conveyed through the sheet discharge portion 500. The latter retracting position is the position (fourth position) occupiable by the fixation heater 90 during the non-recording operation of the recording apparatus 100, where the fixation heater 90 is located away from the sheet discharge portion 500 to allow the sheet discharge portion 500 to occupy the above-described release position.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic cross-sectional views of the essential portions of the recording apparatus 100. FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state during sheet conveyance when the outward rolled sheet R1 is set. FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state during sheet conveyance when the inward rolled sheet R2 is set.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the recording apparatus 100 includes the supply device 200, a sheet conveying portion 300, a recording portion 400, the sheet discharge portion 500, and a winding portion 600. In the recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, the component primarily related to sheet conveyance corresponds to the conveying device of the present disclosure.

The supply device 200 holds the rolled sheets R as a holding portion while supplying the sheet 1, which is a sheet drawn out of the rolled portion of the rolled sheets R, to a conveying path. The sheet conveying portion 300 forms the conveying path for the sheet 1 from the supply device 200 to the recording portion 400 and provides a conveyance force to move along the conveying path to the sheet 1 through a conveyance roller arranged on the conveying path. The recording portion 400 performs recording on the sheet 1 by ejecting ink onto the recording surface of the sheet 1 at a portion conveyed by the sheet conveying portion 300. The sheet discharge portion 500 is a guide portion that guides the portion (recorded portion) of the sheet 1, on which recording has been performed by the recording portion 400, along the conveying path. The winding portion 600 winds the portion of the sheet 1 that has been guided by the sheet discharge portion 500.

The sheet discharge portion 500 is equipped with the fixation heater 90. As a heating-type fixing portion, the fixation heater 90 is configured to perform fixing processing by heating a portion of the sheet 1 that passes through the sheet discharge portion 500 with hot air and drying ink. Note that the fixing portion may use ink with the property of curing when exposed to UV light (ultraviolet light) as a recording liquid and may be configured to perform fixation by curing the ink with the irradiation of UV light.

A cutting device 20 that serves as a cutting portion is arranged in the conveying path for the sheet 1 between the sheet discharge portion 500 and the winding portion 600. The cutting device 20 cuts a region with a prescribed length, which includes a portion (recorded portion) of the sheet 1 wound by the winding portion 600, from the remaining portion of the sheet 1 connected to the rolled portion and then allows the region to be collected as an output object from the recording apparatus 100.

The configuration for collecting the recorded sheet 1 is not limited to winding the sheet 1 as in this embodiment but may include, for example, receiving and holding the dropped sheet 1, which has been cut and dropped by the cutting device 20, using a basket or the like.

The sheet conveying portion 300, the recording portion 400, the sheet discharge portion 500, the winding portion 600, and the like are arranged to be around the supply device 200. In other words, the conveying path for the sheet 1, which is a sheet drawn out of the rolled portion of the rolled sheet R, is a path that sequentially passes through the sheet conveying portion 300, the recording portion 400, the sheet discharge portion 500, the winding portion 600, and the like to be around the supply device 200.

Hereinafter, the details of each unit of the recording apparatus 100 will be described.

FIG. 2A shows a state during sheet conveyance when the outward rolled sheet R1 is set. In the supply device 200 provided below the recording apparatus 100 in the vertical direction, two sheet supply portions 60a and 60b that correspond to each of the rolled sheets R1 and R2 are arranged. Below the outward rolled sheet R1 in the vertical direction, an oscillating member 7 including two rollers and an outer-winding arm member 4 are integrated and configured to be capable of rotating about an outer-winding arm rotational shaft 5. An outer-winding arm spring member 3 is arranged to press the outer-winding arm member 4 and the oscillating member 7 toward the center of the rolled sheet as an integrated configuration and is configured to bring the two rollers of the oscillating member 7 into press-contact with the rolled sheet R1 at all times. With the integrated configuration of the outer-winding arm member 4 and the oscillating member 7 pressed against the rolled sheet R1, the set rolled sheet R1 is rotated in the direction of arrow C1 by rolled sheet drive not illustrated in FIG. 2A. As a result, a frictional force is generated between the rollers of the oscillating member 7 and the rolled sheet R1, allowing the sheet 1 drawn out of the rolled sheet R1 to be conveyed to a conveyance roller 14 via the conveying path formed by an outer-winding conveyance guide 12 of the sheet conveying portion 300. The outer-winding conveyance guide 12 is equipped with an outer-winding sheet detection sensor 6.

An outer-winding separating flapper 10 is positioned between the rolled sheet R1 and the upper part of the sheet feeding port of an outer-winding sheet supply portion 60 and is configured to be in press-contact with the rolled sheet R1 at all times due to its own weight. Through the operation of the outer-winding separating flapper 10, the leading edge of the sheet 1 is separated from the rolled portion of the rolled sheet R1 as the rolled sheet R1 rotates, making it possible to easily feed the sheet to the sheet feeding port of the outer-winding sheet supply portion 60a.

FIG. 2B shows a state during sheet conveyance when the inward rolled sheet R2 is set.

Unlike the outward rolled sheet R1, the inward rolled sheet R2 is configured not to be capable of automatically conveying the leading edge of the sheet 1 to the conveyance roller 14 in the conveying path of the sheet conveying portion 300. Therefore, the user may manually convey the leading edge of the sheet 1.

The user separates the leading edge of the sheet 1 from the rolled portion of the rolled sheet R2 and places the separated leading edge on an inward manual supply guide 69. After that, when the user manually feeds the sheet 1 downstream in the conveying direction on the inward manual supply guide 69, the leading edge of the sheet 1 drawn out of the rolled sheet R2 reaches the conveyance roller 14 through the conveying path of the sheet conveying portion 300. The conveying path for the sheet 1 drawn out of the inward rolled sheet R2 is equipped with an inward sheet detection sensor 67.

When the second sheet sensor 16 detects the sheets, both the sheets 1 drawn out of the outward rolled sheet R1 and the inward rolled sheet R2 are allowed to be drawn into the downstream side of the sheet conveying portion 300 as the conveyance roller 14 starts rotating in the feeding direction. After that, the sheets 1 are conveyed to the recording portion 400.

The recording portion 400 includes an inkjet print head 18 (hereinafter referred to as the recording head 18) and is capable of printing (recording) images on the sheet 1 by ejecting ink as a recording liquid from the recording head 18. The recording head 18 includes an ejection energy generation element such as an electric heat conversion element (heater) or a piezoelectric element. The recording head 18 is configured to be capable of ejecting ink from an ejection port using energy generated by the ejection energy generation element. When using the electric heat conversion element, the recording head 18 is allowed to foam the ink through heat generation and eject the ink from the ejection port using the foaming energy.

The recording head 18 is not limited to an inkjet system. Also, the print system of the recording portion 400 is not limited. For example, the recording head 18 may utilize a serial scan system, a full line system, or the like. In the case of the serial scan system, the recording head 18 prints images as the sheet 1 is conveyed and the recording head 18 scans in the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the sheet 1. In the case of the full line system, the recording head 18 prints images while continuously conveying the sheet 1, using the recording head 18 that is elongated and extends in the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the sheet 1.

The fixation heater 90 provided above the sheet discharge portion 500 is capable of fixing ejected ink onto the sheet 1 serving as a recording medium by applying hot air to the sheet 1 drawn out of the recording portion 400 and supported by a sheet discharge guide 71. At four corners of the surface of the fixation heater 90 from which hot air blows out, fixation heater landing members 91 are attached and configured to land on the sheet feeding surface of the sheet discharge guide 71. In this manner, a gap is formed between the surface of the fixation heater 90 from which the hot air blows out and the sheet conveying surface of the sheet discharge guide 71. The fixation heater 90 is attached to the apparatus main body of the recording apparatus 100 via a link mechanism and is configured to be capable of retracting to the upper part of the apparatus main body of the recording apparatus 100.

Here, the fixation heater 90 is a component that functions to dry and fix the ink ejected onto the sheet 1 by heat or air. Accordingly, for example, in a recording apparatus that uses ink such as aqueous ink, which quickly fixes after ejection as a recording liquid, the fixation heater 90 may not be provided.

The sheet discharge guide 71 provided at the sheet discharge portion 500 is a guiding member that forms the conveying surface for the sheet 1 drawn out of the recording portion 400. The sheet discharge guide 71 supports the rear surface (non-recording surface) of the sheet 1 while guiding the discharge of the sheet 1 to the outside of the recording apparatus 100. The sheet discharge guide 71 is configured to integrally include the cutting device 20 and a sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 on the downstream side of the sheet conveying path and is capable of cutting the rolled sheet R after fixation is completed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the recording apparatus 100, showing a state where the sheet discharge portion 500 has moved to expose the rolled sheet R (supply device 200) to the outside of the recording apparatus 100. The sheet discharge portion 500 is configured to be capable of rotating about a sheet discharge guiding rotational shaft 72. The fixation heater 90 is configured to be capable of moving up and down via the link mechanism relative to the apparatus main body and is configured to be capable of retracting outside the movable regions of the sheet discharge portion 500 and the cutting device 20.

Here, when the sheet discharge portion 500 is configured to be secured to the apparatus main body, access to the rolled sheet R is assumed to involve measures such as providing space below the sheet discharge portion 500 or allowing for access from the rear side of the device opposite to the sheet discharge portion 500. In the former measure, it is preferable to arrange both the rolled sheet (sheet feeding roll) and the recorded sheet (winding roll) below the sheet discharge portion 500 so as to be individually accessible. This could potentially lead to an increase in the size of the device, particularly, the size in the direction. In the latter measure, the replenishment of the rolled sheet (sheet feeding roll) and the collection of the recorded sheet (winding roll) may be separately performed on different sides of the apparatus main body, raising concerns about a reduction in the operability of the device.

The recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is a printer (i.e., the printer that allows a front operation) where the supply device 200 and the winding portion 600 are accessible from the front side of the recording apparatus 100 through the retracting operations of the sheet discharge portion 500 and the cutting device 20 described above. In other words, by rotating and retracting the sheet discharge portion 500, it becomes possible to ensure space for setting the sheet feeding rolled sheet R below the retracted sheet discharge portion 500 (the position at which the sheet discharge portion 500 was originally set). As a result, it becomes possible to adopt a layout where the supply device 200 and the sheet discharge portion 500 are arranged at substantially the same height, allowing for a reduction in the size of the body of the recording apparatus 100. Moreover, it becomes possible to perform both the replenishment of the rolled sheet (sheet feeding roll) and the collection of the recorded sheet (winding roll) on the same side relative to the apparatus main body, allowing for the enhancement of the operability of the device.

Here, in this embodiment, the configuration that rotates about the sheet discharge guiding rotational shaft 72 is provided as the configuration of a drive mechanism that retracts the sheet discharge portion 500. However, it is also possible to use a configuration that moves up and down the sheet discharge portion 500 via a linear movement path such as a link mechanism rather than rotational movement.

With reference to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 6A and 6B, detailed configurations around the sheet discharge portion 500 and the cutting device 20 will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the sheet discharge portion 500. FIG. 6A is a schematic cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along the line P in FIG. 5) of the sheet discharge portion 500. FIG. 6B is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating the configurations of the sheet discharge guide 71 and the fixation portion of a fixation member 74.

The sheet discharge portion 500 plays a role in supporting the rear surface of the sheet 1 drawn out of the recording portion 400 and guiding the sheet 1 to be discharged to the outside of the recording apparatus 100. The outer shape of the sheet discharge portion 500 is composed of the sheet discharge guide 71 that supports the rear surface of the sheet 1 and a sheet discharge guiding base 75 connected to the sheet discharge guide 71. The sheet discharge guiding base 75 serving as a base member is arranged on the side opposite to the conveying path for the sheet 1 relative to the sheet discharge guide 71. The sheet discharge guide 71 and the sheet discharge guiding base 75 are connected to each other to integrally form a box shape, ensuring the overall rigidity of the sheet discharge portion 500.

The sheet discharge guide 71 is heated by hot air from the fixation heater 90 either directly or via the sheet 1 and is configured to have the function of warming the sheet 1 from the rear surface during fixation and drying, thereby accelerating the fixation and drying of the sheet 1. Therefore, the sheet discharge guide 71 may have high thermal conductivity to prevent heat resistance and temperature irregularities and uses materials such as steel plates, SUS material, and aluminum plates. In the following description, a case where plate-shaped metal is used will be assumed. However, when inks such as aqueous ink that fix and dry immediately after ejection are used, the fixation heater 90 is not necessary. Therefore, the sheet discharge guide 71 does not need to have increased thermal conductivity and may be made of resin or the like.

The sheet discharge guide 71 and the sheet discharge guiding base 75 are connected through the sheet discharge guiding fixation member 74 (hereinafter referred to as the fixation member 74). The fixation member 74 has a catching claw shape formed on one side in the vertical direction relative to the sheet support surface of the sheet discharge guide 71 and is caught and secured to the sheet discharge guiding base 75. The fixation member 74 has a screw hole formed on the other side in the above vertical direction and is secured to the sheet discharge guide 71 by means of screw fixation.

The sheet discharge guide 71 has a depressed shape that is designed to be lower than the support surface for the sheet 1. The depressed shape aligns with the position of the fixation member 74. When secured by screws, the screw heads fit within the depth of the depressed shape and does not protrude from the sheet support surface. As a result, the fixation member 74 does not influence the feeding of the sheet 1. Here, it is further preferable to arrange the depressed shape such that it does not align with the end of a standard sheet width because the likelihood of the leading edge or end of the sheet 1 getting caught is reduced.

Further, a heat insulating material 76 fills the space between the sheet discharge guide 71 and the sheet discharge guiding base 75. As a result, a configuration in which heat is hardly transferred from the sheet discharge guide 71 to the sheet discharge guiding base 75 is achieved.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the sheet discharge guide 71 and the fixation member 74 are secured by a shoulder screw 81. The shoulder screw 81 has a threaded portion 811, a shaft portion 812, and a head portion 813. The threaded portion 811 is configured to engage with a screw hole 741 of the fixation member 74. The shaft portion 812 has a larger diameter than the threaded portion 811, protrudes from the head portion 813, and has the threaded portion 811 coaxially provided at its leading end. The head portion 813 is a flange-shaped portion having a larger diameter than the shaft portion 812. In this embodiment, the head portion 813 is formed as a so-called truss head or round cap head. The shoulder screw 81 secures the sheet discharge guide 71 to the fixation member 74 when the threaded portion 811 and the shaft portion 812 are inserted into a fixation hole 711 of the sheet discharge guide 71 and the threaded portion 811 engages with a screw hole 741 of the fixation member 74 in the direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface of the sheet discharge guide 71.

The shaft portion 812 serves as a first restriction portion that restricts the range of the relative movement allowed between the sheet discharge guide 71 and the fixation member 74 in the direction parallel to the sheet support surface of the sheet discharge guide 71. The shaft portion 812 is configured to have a smaller diameter relative to the fixation hole 711 to create a gap G1 with a size that allows the slide (relative movement with respect to the fixation member 74) of the sheet discharge guide 71 by approximately 1 millimeter (mm) in the direction parallel to the sheet support surface of the sheet discharge guide 71.

The head portion 813 has a restriction surface 814 that faces the fixation member 74 and the sheet discharge guide 71 while sandwiching the sheet discharge guide 71 between the restriction surface 814 and the fixation member 74 in the direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface of the sheet discharge guide 71. The restriction surface 814 serves as a second restriction portion that restricts the range of the relative movement allowed between the sheet discharge guide 71 and the fixation member 74 in the direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface of the sheet discharge guide 71. The restriction surface 814 is configured to create a gap G2 with a size that allows (does not completely secure) the slide (relative movement with respect to the fixation member 74) of the sheet discharge guide 71 by approximately 0.1 mm in the direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface.

As a result of the securing with the shoulder screw 81 described above, the sheet discharge guide 71 and the fixation member 74 are not completely secured and are configured to create a slight gap in the direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface. Therefore, even if thermal expansion occurs in the sheet discharge guide 71 in the direction parallel to the sheet support surface when the sheet discharge guide 71 is heated by the fixation heater 90, the sheet discharge guide 71 slides relative to the fixation member 74, thereby absorbing the positional deviation of the fixation portion caused by the thermal expansion. The sliding movement of the sheet discharge guide 71 allows for a reduction in the deformation of the sheet discharge guide 71 in the direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface.

Note that in the securing configuration with the shoulder screw described above, the variation in the gap between the sheet discharge guide 71 and the sheet conveying surface of the fixation heater 90 from which hot air blows out may increase due to the influence of component tolerances. The gap significantly influences fixing performance. If the gap is too large, heat is not easily transferred, leading to insufficient fixation. On the other hand, if the gap is too small, uneven wind patterns or the like occur due to hot air. Accordingly, when high accuracy is desired for the gap dimension, the sheet discharge guide 71 and the sheet conveying surface of the fixation heater 90 may be assembled while making plane adjustments for each portion.

The heat of the sheet discharge guide 71 heated by fixing processing is prevented from being transferred to the sheet discharge guiding base 75 by the heat insulating material 76 sandwiched between the sheet discharge guide 71 and the sheet discharge guiding base 75. Further, the transfer of heat from the sheet discharge guide 71 to other areas is suppressed, making it difficult for the heat in the gap between the fixation heater 90 and the sheet discharge guide 71 to dissipate. Therefore, it becomes possible to maintain fixing performance while saving power.

The cutting device 20 is attached to the sheet discharge guiding base 75 by screws or the like on the downstream side of the sheet discharge guide 71 in the sheet conveying path. The detailed configurations of the cutting device 20 will be described later.

On the downstream side of the sheet discharge guide 71, a sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 serving as a downstream guide portion is provided. The sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 is a portion that actively contacts the sheet 1 when winding the sheet 1, which has completed fixation, onto the winding portion 600. The sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 has a contact portion that contacts the sheet 1 between the sheet discharge portion 500 (sheet discharge guide 71) and the winding portion 600 in the conveying path for the sheet 1, and guides the sheet 1 while applying tension to the sheet 1.

The sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 is configured such that the contact portion, which contacts the sheet 1, has a cross-sectional shape including an R shape (arc shape) in a cross section perpendicular to the width direction of the sheet 1 that intersects the conveying direction CD for the sheet 1. If this portion has, for example, a square cross-sectional shape, the fixed sheet 1 may form folds or wrinkles. By having an arc-shaped cross section as in this embodiment, the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 allows for a reduction in damage to the sheet 1.

Similarly, a sheet discharge guiding upstream body R portion 78a and a sheet discharge guiding upstream R portion 78b are positioned between a platen 17 and the sheet discharge guide 71, where the sheet 1 makes active contact, and therefore they preferably have an arc-shaped cross section rather than a square cross section. Further, the sheet discharge guiding upstream body R portion 78a and the sheet discharge guiding upstream R portion 78b are preferably coaxially arranged about the rotational axis of the sheet discharge guiding rotational shaft 72, with their R dimension (curvature radius of the arc-shaped portion) matched.

The sheet discharge guiding upstream body R portion 78a is attached to the apparatus main body of the recording apparatus 100 and is arranged to avoid interference during the rotation of the sheet discharge portion 500. On the other hand, the sheet discharge guiding upstream R portion 78b is configured to be integrated with the sheet discharge portion 500 and rotates together with the sheet discharge portion 500 during its rotation. With this configuration, when the sheet discharge portion 500 is opened to set the rolled sheet R into the body, a gap is created between the sheet discharge guide 71 and the sheet discharge guiding upstream body R portion 78a, allowing the platen 17 to be viewed from the front of the recording apparatus 100. As described above, the sheet 1 is manually fed when feeding the inward rolled sheet R2. Therefore, it is desirable to confirm whether the leading edge of the sheet 1 has reached the conveyance roller 14. For this purpose, this gap is provided to improve sheet feeding setup capability.

The sheet discharge portion 500 is capable of rotating about the sheet discharge guiding rotational shaft 72 and rotates when the rolled sheet R is set into the apparatus main body of the recording apparatus 100. The sheet discharge guiding rotational shaft 72 is attached to a body side plate 70 of the recording apparatus 100, and a low sliding resistance member such as a bearing is used for its rotational portion. Gas springs 77 are attached to the lower left and right sides of the sheet discharge portion 500. One end of the gas springs 77 is secured to the downstream rear side of the sheet discharge portion 500, while the other end thereof is secured to the body side plate 70. The gas springs 77 are capable of expanding and retracting and are designed to apply a force in the expanding direction at all times. Accordingly, by attaching the gas springs 77 as shown in FIG. 5 and FIGS. 6A and 6B, a component force in the expanding direction of the gas springs 77 acts in the opening direction of the sheet discharge portion 500, allowing the sheet discharge portion 500 to be opened with a light force.

A reaction force setting for the gas springs 77 will be described. When the rolled sheet R is set into the apparatus main body of the recording apparatus 100, the sheet discharge portion 500 may be maintained in its open state. Therefore, the reaction force of the gas springs 77 is set to be greater than the force at which the sheet discharge portion 500 is closed due to its own weight. However, if the reaction force that maintains the sheet discharge portion 500 in the open state is prioritized, it becomes difficult to maintain the closed state of the sheet discharge portion 500, which may lead to the automatic opening of the sheet discharge portion 500. In view of this, a holding member 79 is attached to the sheet discharge guiding base 75, and a landing portion 80 for bending is formed on the body side plate 70, which is positioned on the opposite side when the sheet discharge portion 500 is closed. Here, the holding member 79 is made of a magnet and is attracted to the body side plate 70 by magnetic force. The magnetic force of the holding member 79 is set to be a holding force that is greater than the force of the gas springs 77 that attempts to open the sheet discharge portion 500. As a result, it becomes possible to maintain the closed state of the sheet discharge portion 500.

Here, depending on the configuration of the sheet discharge portion 500 or the recording apparatus 100, the concerns described above about the difficulty of maintaining the sheet discharge portion 500 in the closed state and the automatic opening of the sheet discharge portion 500 may not arise. In other words, depending on the weight and the center of gravity of the sheet discharge portion 500, as well as the arrangement of the gas springs 77, it is possible to maintain the open state using the gas springs 77 and the closed state using the own weight of the sheet discharge portion 500. Further, the gas springs 77 are described as being attached to large printer apparatuses. However, in the case of recording apparatuses that support only small sheet widths, the weight of the sheet discharge portion 500 is lighter, and therefore the gas springs 77 may not be provided if they are not necessary.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, the details of the cutting device 20 according to this embodiment will be described.

The cutting device 20 has a cutter rail 40, a cutter belt 41, a cutter carriage 42, and a cutter unit 43. The cutter rail 40 is configured to guide the cutter carriage 42 in the width direction of the sheet 1 that is orthogonal to the conveying direction CD for the sheet 1. Each of the cutter unit 43 and the cutter belt 41 is integrally coupled to the cutter carriage 42. In the sheet width direction, a cutter motor 44 and a motor pulley 45 are provided near one end of the cutter rail 40, while a tensioner pulley 46 and a tensioner spring 47 are provided at the other end. The cutter belt 41 is stretched over the motor pulley 45 and the tensioner pulley 46, and the tooth skipping of the cutter belt 41 is prevented by the tension obtained when the tensioner pulley 46 is urged in a direction X2 by the tensioner spring 47. The cutting device 20 secures the cutter rail 40 to the sheet discharge guiding base 75. By removing the screws, it is possible to detach the cutting device 20 from the sheet discharge guiding base 75 for replacement.

The cutter unit 43 has, as cutting members, an upper movable blade 48 serving as an upper blade and a lower movable blade 49 serving as a lower blade, which are arranged side by side in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the sheet 1. The upper movable blade 48 and the lower movable blade 49 have a contact portion. By moving substantially along the width direction of the sheet on a guiding rail while sandwiching the sheet 1 at the contact portion, the upper movable blade 48 and the lower movable blade 49 are configured to cut the sheet 1 at the contact portion. Specifically, the upper movable blade 48 and the lower movable blade 49 are arranged to form a prescribed angle θ (crossing angle) relative to a direction X1, which represents the cutting direction, to make contact, and cut the sheet at their contact portion.

The cutter carriage 42 receives a driving force from the cutter motor 44 via the cutter belt 41 and is capable of reciprocating in the directions X1 and X2 along the cutter rail 40. The cutter unit 43 is coupled to the cutter carriage 42 and is therefore capable of reciprocating in the directions X1 and X2 like the cutter carriage 42.

The cutter unit 43 is secured to the cutter carriage 42 by a cutter securing screw 313. The cutter unit 43 is easily detachable from the recording apparatus 100 by removing the cutter securing screw 313. In replacing the cutter unit 43, it is preferable to secure a new cutter unit 43 using the cutter securing screw 313 after positioning the same on the cutter carriage 42.

Further, the lower movable blade 49 is configured to be capable of rotating and driving via the cutter motor 44, the cutter belt 41, and the cutter carriage 42. As a result, during the cutting of the sheet 1, the lower movable blade 49 and the upper movable blade 48 that contacts the lower movable blade 49 cut the sheet 1 while rotating together.

During image recording on the sheet 1, the cutter unit 43 is on standby at a standby position P1, which is retracted from a sheet end 1d of the sheet 1 on the home position side. During the cutting of the sheet 1, the cutter unit 43 cuts the sheet 1 in a way that the contact portions of the upper movable blade 48 and the lower movable blade 49 move from the standby position P1 to a position beyond a sheet end le on the side opposite to the home position in the direction X1, which represents the cutting direction. After the cutting of the sheet 1, the cutter unit 43 inverts at an inversion position P2 corresponding to the width of the sheet 1 and then moves in the direction X2, which represents a return direction that does not contribute to a cutting operation. Thus, the cutter unit 43 moves to the standby position P1 and is on standby for the next cutting operation.

The cutter motor 44 has an encoder and is capable of controlling the movement positions of the cutter unit 43 in the directions X1 and X2. The relationship between the number of pulses of the encoder and the movement amounts of the cutter unit 43 is known in advance. Therefore, by counting the number of pulses of the encoder, the cutter motor 44 is allowed to determine the movement amounts of the cutter unit 43. Near the standby position P1, a standby position sensor 51 is installed at part of a fixed sensor holder 50. The standby position sensor 51 detects a sensor flag portion 20a arranged in the cutter unit 43 to accurately stop the cutter unit 43 at the standby position P1. Further, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of the cutter unit 43 at the standby position P1.

With reference to FIG. 4, the control configuration of the recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram for illustrating the control configuration according to this embodiment.

A control portion 700 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a motor driver, and the like, which are not shown, and is composed of a main control portion 710, a conveying control portion 720, a recording control portion 730, and a fixing control portion 740. The main control portion 710 provides instructions to the conveying control portion 720, the recording control portion 730, and the fixing control portion 740. On the basis of a determination by the main control portion 710, the conveying control portion 720 drives a conveying motor to convey the sheet 1 to any position and drives the cutter motor 44 to cut the sheet 1, while confirming the position of the sheet 1 with a paper end sensor that is not shown. The recording control portion 730 forms recording images at the intended position by using the cooperation of a carriage motor, which is not shown, and the recording head 18. The fixing control portion 740 fixes the ink by adjusting the wind volume of a fan, which is not shown and is incorporated in the fixation heater 90, and the temperature of the heater according to a control program stored in the ROM.

With reference to FIGS. 10A to 10C, the details of the contact portion that contacts the sheet 1 at the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73, which serves as a downstream guide portion arranged between the cutting device 20 and the winding portion 600, will be described. FIG. 10A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the peripheral configuration of the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73, which is provided on the downstream side of the cutting device 20 in this embodiment. FIG. 10B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the peripheral configuration on the downstream side of the cutting device 20 in Comparative Example 1. FIG. 10C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the peripheral configuration on the downstream side of the cutting device 20 in Comparative Example 2.

FIG. 10A shows a state where the sheet 1 is supplied along the sheet discharge guide 71 and the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 while being wound by the winding portion 600. The winding portion 600 has a winding shaft 600a that rotates about a rotational axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet 1 and is configured to wind the sheet 1 by winding the sheet 1 onto the outer periphery of the winding shaft 600a. The sheet 1 rotates in the direction of arrow Ry1 with the rotation of the winding shaft 600a, while tension is applied to the sheet 1 in the direction of arrow T1. As a result, it becomes possible to reliably wind the sheet 1 without causing folds, winkles, or the like. During the cutting of the sheet 1, it is preferable to convey the sheet 1 in the direction perpendicular to the arrangement of the upper movable blade 48 and the lower movable blade 49 to reliably cut the sheet 1. Therefore, the sheet 1 is cut while tension T1 is applied similar to when the sheet 1 is supplied (the value of the tension T1 may differ from that during the supply of the sheet 1). In this manner, it is possible to cut the sheet 1 such that the end surface of the sheet 1 after cutting is substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction. During both the sheet supply and the cutting described above, the position of the sheet 1 in the cutting device 20 is stabilized by the provision of the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73, and the posture of the tensioned sheet 1 is further stabilized by being formed into an R shape.

The sheet 1 includes a first part 1a, which extends in a first direction CD1 between the cutting device 20 and the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 in the conveying path, and a second part 1b, which extends in a second direction CD2 intersecting the first direction CD1 between the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 and the winding portion 600. The sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 has, as a contact portion that contacts the sheet 1, a surface formed by a protruding curved surface 73a, which guides a third part 1c located between the first part 1a and the second part 1b in the sheet 1. The protruding curved surface 73a that serves as a contact portion is configured to have the R-shaped (arc-shaped) cross section as described above, as a cross section perpendicular to the width direction (X direction) of the sheet 1. As a result, the third part 1c of the sheet 1 is guided to the protruding curved surface 73a to gradually change the direction to a curved direction. In other words, the sheet 1 is guided from the cutting device 20 to the winding portion 600 by the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73, while gradually changing the conveying direction from the first direction CD1 in which the first part 1a extends to the second direction CD2 in which the second part 1b extends.

In the configuration of Comparative Example 1 shown in FIG. 10B, the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 is not provided on the downstream side of the cutting device 20. In this case, the sheet 1 is conveyed while being pressed against the lower movable blade 49. As a result, the sheet 1 is likely to snag during supply and becomes unstable. In addition, the posture of the sheet 1 also becomes unstable during cutting.

In the configuration of Comparative Example 2 shown in FIG. 10C, the cross section of the contact portion of a sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73c provided on the downstream side of the cutting device 20 has an angular shape. In this configuration, the sheet 1 may be conveyed in a floated state by an angular portion 73d of the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73c. As a result, the sheet 1 is conveyed without following the sheet discharge guide 71 and the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73. Thus, similar to when the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 is not provided, the sheet supply and cutting become unstable.

With reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the states of the sheet when the amount of the sheet wound by the winding portion 600 varies (i.e., when the winding outer diameter varies) will be described.

FIG. 11A shows the position of the sheet 1 relative to the cutting device 20 when the winding amount is large, that is, when the winding outer diameter is large. As shown in FIG. 11A, the cutting device 20 is allowed to convey and cut the sheet 1 at a stable position with the tension T1 applied because the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 has the above R shape.

FIG. 11B shows a state where the winding outer diameter is small. In this case, the arrangement angle of the sheet 1 between the winding portion 600 and the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 differs from that when the winding outer diameter is large. However, in this case, similar to when the winding outer diameter is large, the state of the sheet 1 between the sheet discharge guide 71 and the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 remains unchanged. Thus, stable sheet supply and cutting become possible.

When viewed from the width direction of the sheet 1, the winding shaft 600a of the winding portion 600 is positioned on the side opposite to that of the sheet discharge guide 71, where the sheet discharge guide 71 faces the sheet 1, that is, on the side of the sheet discharge guide 71 where a conveying surface 71a is provided along the conveying path for the sheet 1 relative to the sheet discharge guide 71. Further, the conveying surface 71a of the sheet discharge guide 71 is a surface that has the upstream end positioned higher than the downstream end in the conveying path and extends in a downwardly inclined direction relative to the horizontal direction (Y direction). When viewed from the width direction of the sheet 1, the winding shaft 600a is arranged at a position closer to the upstream end than the downstream end of the conveying surface 71a of the sheet discharge guide 71 in the horizontal direction (Y direction). Further, the winding shaft 600a is positioned lower than the sheet discharge guide 71 in the gravity direction (Z direction).

With the above arrangement of the winding shaft 600a relative to the sheet discharge guide 71, the direction of the second direction CD2 changes to approach the first direction CD1 as the winding amount of the sheet 1 wound by the winding shaft 600a increases when viewed from the width direction of the sheet 1. In other words, the angle formed by the first direction CD1 and the second direction CD2 decreases as the winding amount of the sheet 1 increases (α2<α1). Accordingly, the degree of the curvature of the third part 1c between the first part 1a and the second part 1b of the sheet 1 decreases as the winding amount of the sheet 1 increases.

FIG. 12 is a view for illustrating the state of the sheet when the winding direction of the winding portion 600 is clockwise opposite to the direction shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C and FIGS. 11A and 11B.

As shown in FIG. 12, the sheet 1 may be wound clockwise by a rotating drive unit for the winding portion 600, which is not shown, in the opposite direction. In this winding process, the printed surface is positioned on the inside of the wound diameter, providing advantages such as being less prone to damage. In this case, with the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 formed into the R shape, the posture of the sheet becomes stable during conveyance and cutting when the tension T1 is applied to the sheet 1.

Second Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 13, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the contact portion of the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 is configured as a roller.

In other words, the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 in the second embodiment includes a sheet discharge guiding downstream roller portion (hereinafter referred to as a downstream roller) 73-2, which is a roller that rotates about a rotational axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet 1, as the contact portion (contact member). The outer peripheral surface of the downstream roller 73-2 forms a protruding curved surface that guides the above third part 1c of the sheet 1.

Note that in the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted. Matters not particularly described in the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 13, the second embodiment provides a configuration in which the contact portion of the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C to FIG. 12 is replaced by the downstream roller 73-2, which is a rotating member (contact member) with a shaft parallel to the axial direction of the winding portion 600. Accordingly, the downstream roller 73-2 is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the cutting device 20 and is supported to be capable of rotating about a rotational axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet 1 by a downstream roller bearing portion 73-3, which serves as a support portion. The downstream roller 73-2, which serves as a rotating member, is configured to be capable of freely rotating about the downstream roller bearing portion 73-3 when the sheet 1 is conveyed along the sheet discharge guide 71 and the downstream roller 73-2.

In the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C to FIG. 12, frictional resistance occurs due to the sliding of the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 that the sheet 1 contacts when the tension T1 is applied to the sheet 1. If a sheet 1 of a type with large rigidity is used, it is preferable to further increase the tension T1 to reduce the looseness of the sheet 1. However, as the tension T1 increases, the frictional resistance in the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 also increases, so a greater driving force may be desirable. If the frictional resistance increases, folds, wrinkles, or the like are likely to occur in the sheet even with small variations. Also, the sheet may tear in some cases. By guiding the sheet 1 with the downstream roller 73-2 that rotates in response to the movement of the sheet 1, it is possible to reduce the frictional resistance between the sheet 1 and the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 (downstream roller 73-2).

In this configuration, the downstream roller 73-2 is configured to be capable of freely rotating. However, drive means that is capable of rotating the rotational shaft may be provided and driven in accordance with the conveyance amount of the sheet 1.

Third Embodiment

With reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B, FIGS. 15A to 15C, and FIG. 16, a third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment provides a configuration in which a sheet guiding member 73-4 is provided on the upstream side of the sheet discharge guiding downstream roller portion 73-2.

The cutting device 20 is configured to cut the sheet 1 by moving the cutter unit 43 in the sheet width direction (X direction) orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction CD. Therefore, the sheet conveying path is configured to have a groove depressed from the conveying surface 71a in a height direction VD perpendicular to the conveying surface 71a (conveying direction CD) of the sheet discharge guide 71 in the passage region of the cutter unit 43, raising concerns about affecting the conveyance of the sheet 1. In view of this, the third embodiment adopts a configuration in which the sheet guiding member 73-4 is added on the downstream side of the cutting device 20 at the downstream end of the sheet discharge guiding base 75. The sheet discharge guiding base 75 has a depressed portion 75a at the downstream end in the conveying path, where the cutting device 20 is attached. The depressed portion 75a is shaped to be depressed from the conveying surface 71a formed on the sheet discharge guide 71. The sheet guiding member 73-4 is provided at the downstream end of the depressed portion 75a in the conveying path and has an inclined surface 73-4a that obliquely extends to gradually increase in height from the bottom surface of the depressed portion 75a to the conveying surface 71a in the above height direction from the upstream to the downstream of the conveying path. With the inclined surface 73-4a (sheet guiding surface), the leading edge of the sheet 1 is prevented from snagging, allowing the sheet 1 to be conveyed further downstream, even if the leading edge of the sheet 1 drops into the above groove-shaped portion during its conveyance.

Note that in the third embodiment, the same components as those of the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted. Matters not particularly described in the third embodiment are the same as those of the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 14A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the depressed portion 75a in the first embodiment. FIG. 14B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the depressed portion 75a in the second embodiment. FIG. 15A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the depressed portion 75a in the third embodiment, depicting the state where the leading edge of the sheet 1 conveyed after cutting is lifted by the inclined surface 73-4a of the sheet guiding member 73-4. FIG. 15B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the depressed portion 75a in the third embodiment, depicting the state where the sheet 1 lifted by the inclined surface 73-4a of the sheet guiding member 73-4 has reached the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73. FIG. 15C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the depressed portion 75a in the third embodiment, depicting the state where the leading edge of the sheet 1 has been conveyed to the position where the user is allowed to reset the sheet 1 to the winding state by the winding portion 600.

In the configurations shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the leading edge of the sheet 1 conveyed after cutting may drop into the depressed portion 75a or become entangled in the sheet discharge guiding downstream roller portion 73-2.

As shown in FIG. 15A, in the third embodiment, the sheet guiding member 73-4 is arranged along the width direction of the sheet 1 within a range corresponding to the width of the sheet 1, between the cutting device 20 and the downstream roller 73-2 in the sheet conveying path. As a result, it becomes possible to lift the leading edge of the sheet 1, which is conveyed after cutting, with the inclined surface 73-4a and then guide and convey the sheet 1 to the guiding surface for the sheet 1 in the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73, that is, to the downstream roller 73-2 as shown in FIG. 15B. After that, as shown in FIG. 15C, it is possible to convey the sheet 1 to the position where the user is allowed to reset the sheet 1 to the winding state by the winding portion 600 without snagging and arrange the same.

FIG. 16 is a view for illustrating a modified example of the third embodiment and is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the depressed portion 75a in the modified example. In the modified example, the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 is configured with an inclined surface 73-5a as a sheet guiding form on the upstream side. In other words, the inclined surface 73-5a that guides the leading edge of the sheet 1 conveyed after cutting is formed as part of the guiding surface for the sheet 1 in the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73. Similar to the configuration shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C, it is also possible to convey the leading edge of the sheet 1, which is conveyed as after cutting, without snagging on the depressed portion 75a using the configuration shown in FIG. 16.

Fourth Embodiment

With reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the detachability of the downstream roller 73-2 is enhanced in a configuration that allows the downstream roller 73-2 to be detachable.

In other words, in the fourth embodiment, the inclined surface 73-4a of the sheet guiding member 73-4 has a notched portion 73-5 provided at part of its downstream end in the conveying path. The notched portion 73-5 is a depressed portion such that part of the downstream end of the inclined surface 73-4a in the conveying path is positioned lower than the conveying surface 71a in the height direction VD, which is perpendicular to the conveying surface 71a. The sheet guiding member 73-4 is arranged to cover part of the outer peripheral surface of the downstream roller 73-2. The formation of the notched portion 73-5 results in a partial expansion of a range where the outer peripheral surface of the downstream roller 73-2 is exposed.

Note that in the fourth embodiment, the same components as those of the first to third embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted. Matters not particularly described in the fourth embodiment are the same as those of the first to third embodiments.

The downstream roller 73-2 is configured to be detachable in the direction of arrow C relative to the downstream roller bearing portion 73-3. At this time, part of the downstream roller 73-2 is covered by the sheet guiding member 73-4. Therefore, if the user attempts to access the downstream roller 73-2 from the upper surface of the body, it is difficult to directly extract the downstream roller 73-2. In view of this, as shown in FIG. 18, the notched portion 73-5 is formed in part of the sheet guiding member 73-4, allowing the user to place the hand at the spot and extract the downstream roller 73-2.

The length of the notched portion 73-5 in the sheet width direction is set to be as short as possible relative to the length of the downstream roller 73-2 in the width direction, in order to prevent any influence on the sheet guiding effect of the sheet guiding member 73-4, while ensuring a width that allows for the insertion of the user's hand.

Note that instead of forming the notched portion 73-5, it may also be possible to divide and arrange the sheet guiding member 73-4 in the sheet width direction, with the lengths of the divided intervals corresponding to that of the notched portion 73-5. In other words, a plurality of sheet guiding members is arranged in the sheet width direction at intervals at which the width that allows for the insertion of the user's hand is ensured. In this configuration, it is also possible to obtain the same effect as that of this embodiment.

Fifth Embodiment

With reference to FIGS. 17 and 19, a fifth embodiment will be described. In the fifth embodiment, the sheet discharge portion 500 is configured to be effective in improving the replaceability of the cutter unit 43.

Note that in the fifth embodiment, the same components as those of the first to fourth embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted. Matters not particularly described in the fifth embodiment are the same as those of the first to fourth embodiments.

It is possible to remove the cutter unit 43 from the cutter carriage 42 by unscrewing the cutter securing screw 313 (FIG. 9) for the cutter carriage 42 and then extracting the cutter unit 43 in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 17. However, the sheet guiding member 73-4 and the downstream roller 73-2 are positioned in the direction of arrow C relative to the cutter unit 43, obstructing the removal direction of the cutter unit 43. Therefore, the removal operation of the cutter unit 43 becomes difficult.

In view of this, in this embodiment, the length of the notched portion 73-5 in the sheet width direction is set to be longer than the length of the cutter unit 43 in the sheet width direction, in order to ensure sufficient space for the user to perform the removal operation of the cutter unit 43. In this configuration, the removal operation of the cutter unit 43 is performed at the position corresponding to the notched portion 73-5, preventing the sheet guiding member 73-4 from hindering the removal of the cutter unit 43.

Further, as shown in FIG. 19, the downstream roller 73-2 is configured to be divided such that a plurality of rollers are arranged side by side in the width direction, and at least one of the divided downstream rollers 73-2 is arranged to substantially align with the notched portion 73-5 in the width direction. In other words, a part of the downstream roller 73-2 in the longitudinal direction (sheet width direction) is configured to be attachable and detachable to/from the sheet discharge guide 71. By removing this attachable and detachable portion, it becomes possible to ensure space for the removal operation of the cutter unit 43. In other words, the downstream roller 73-2 is configured so that fixation rollers 73-2a serving as first contact members fixed to the sheet discharge guide 71 and attachable/detachable rollers 73-2b serving as second contact members attachable and detachable to/from the sheet discharge guide 71 are arranged side by side in the width direction of the sheet 1. The fixation rollers 73-2a and the attachable/detachable rollers 73-2b are configured to be arranged alternately side by side. The notched portion 73-5 is arranged at positions corresponding to the attachable/detachable rollers 73-2b. Each of the lengths of the attachable/detachable rollers 73-2b and the notched portion 73-5 in the sheet width direction is configured to be longer than that of the cutter unit 43 in the sheet width direction, ensuring sufficient space for the user to perform the removal operation of the cutter unit 43.

In the above configuration, by removing the attachable/detachable roller 73-2b positioned corresponding to the notched portion 73-5 during the replacement of the cutter unit 43, the removal of the cutter unit 43 is prevented from being hindered by the sheet guiding member 73-4 and the downstream roller 73-2. Accordingly, the replacement operation of the cutter unit 43 is facilitated.

Note that instead of forming the notched portion 73-5, it may also be possible to divide and arrange the sheet guiding member 73-4 in the sheet width direction, with the lengths of the divided intervals corresponding to that of the notched portion 73-5. In other words, a plurality of sheet guiding members are arranged in the sheet width direction at intervals at which the width that allows for the insertion of the user's hand is ensured. In this configuration, it is also possible to obtain the same effect as that of this embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 20, a specific movement sequence during the replacement of the cutter unit 43 will be described. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a sequence when the cutter unit 43 is replaced. When the user selects a replacement mode for the cutter unit 43 on the operation panel 28 of the image recording apparatus (S101), the cutter unit 43 moves to a replacement position along with the cutter carriage 42 (S102). This replacement position is set to the position of the notched portion 73-5 described above. When the movement of the cutter carriage 42 and the cutter unit 43 is complete, illustrations and text indicating the replacement operation are displayed on the operation panel 28, prompting the user to perform the replacement operation accordingly. Specifically, after lifting the fixation heater 90, the user removes the attachable/detachable roller 73-2b located at the same position as the notched portion 73-5 and then replaces the cutter unit 43 (S103). In other words, by unscrewing the cutter securing screw 313 that secures the cutter carriage 42 and the cutter unit 43, the user performs the operation of replacing the old cutter unit 43 with a new cutter unit 43. After the replacement of the cutter unit 43 is complete, the attachable/detachable roller 73-2b is attached again.

Next, the user selects replacement complete on the operation panel 28 (S104) and moves the cutter carriage 42 to an abutment member (not shown) near the cutter motor 44 (S105). Then, the user identifies the abutment position on the basis of the detection of load variations in the cutter motor 44 during abutment (S106). Next, the user moves the cutter carriage 42 to the standby position in the direction X2 using position control by the encoder with the identified abutment position as a reference (S107), and then performs detection using the standby position sensor 51 at the prescribed standby position (S108). When the standby position sensor 51 detects the cutter unit 43, the user determines that the cutter unit 43 has been properly replaced and ends the replacement sequence (S109). On the other hand, when the standby position sensor 51 does not detect the cutter unit 43, the user determines that the cutter unit 43 has not been properly attached or the movement operation is irregular and issues an error announcement to the user (S110).

By implementing the configuration of the sheet discharge portion 500 and the cutter replacement sequence described above, the replacement operation of the cutter unit 43 is facilitated.

Sixth Embodiment

With reference to FIGS. 3, 21, and 22, a sixth embodiment will be described. The sixth embodiment is characterized by the configuration of the downstream roller 73-2.

Note that in the sixth embodiment, the same components as those of the first to fifth embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted. Matters not particularly described in the sixth embodiment are the same as those of the first to fifth embodiments.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the user operates the sheet discharge portion 500 to perform opening and closing movements to set the sheet feeding rolled sheet R into the device. At this time, the user stands at the front side, which is one side in the Y direction relative to the recording apparatus. Therefore, when operating the sheet discharge portion 500, the user grasps the leading end of the sheet discharge portion 500, that is, the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73. However, if the sheet discharge guiding downstream portion 73 is configured with the downstream roller 73-2 that is a rotating member, the downstream roller 73-2 rotates when grasped by the user's hand. Therefore, the user may have difficulty applying force in the opening and closing direction of the sheet discharge portion 500.

In view of this, in this embodiment, a part of the downstream roller 73-2 in the longitudinal direction (sheet width direction) is fixed to the sheet discharge portion 500 (sheet discharge guide 71) and configured not to rotate. In other words, the downstream roller 73-2 is configured so that the fixation rollers 73-2a serving as first contact members fixed to the sheet discharge guide 71 and attachable/detachable rollers 73-7 serving as second contact members attachable and detachable to/from the sheet discharge guide 71 are arranged sided by side in the width direction of the sheet 1. The fixation rollers 73-2a and the attachable/detachable rollers 73-7 are configured to be arranged alternately side by side. The attachable/detachable rollers 73-7 are attached not to rotate relative to the sheet discharge guide 71.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, the attachable/detachable rollers 73-7 are preferably equipped with a grip-shaped portion 73-7a to facilitate the application of force for opening and closing the sheet discharge portion 500. With this configuration, it becomes easier to open and close the sheet discharge portion 500. Further, the notched portions 73-5 are formed at positions corresponding to the attachable/detachable rollers 73-7, allowing the user to easily visually identify the grip-shaped portions 73-7a and recognize that operation portions for opening and closing the sheet discharge portion 500 are provided.

In the above embodiments, the respective configurations may be combined with each other.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-210488, filed on Dec. 13, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

CONVEYING DEVICE AND RECORDING APPARATUS

Information

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CPC

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Abstract

Description

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Priority Claims (1)