FEEDER AND PRINTER

Abstract

This invention is related to a feeder for transporting a print medium from a tray along a U-shaped transporting path. The feeder comprises a transporting guide. The transportation guide comprises an outer transporting guide and an inner transporting guide, the U-shaped transporting path is formed between the outer transporting guide and the inner transporting guide. The outer transporting guide extends from a position adjacent to one end of the first tray. The inner transporting guide extends from a position adjacent to one end of the second tray. The inner transporting guide comprises a concave portion facing the outer transporting guide. The concave portion has a length which extends from an upstream end to a predetermined position of the inner transporting guide along a transportation direction of the second print medium, and a width which is adjusted such that the second print medium is capable of passing within the concave portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a multi-function peripheral device in which a feeder of the present invention has been mounted.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the feeder.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the feeder along the line III-III shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a lower feeder tray.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a top feeder tray stacked on the lower feeder tray.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an inner transporting guide.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the feeder along the line VII-VII shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8A shows a state before a second print medium reaches a transporting roller.

FIG. 8B shows a state after the second print medium reaches the transporting roller.

Claims

1. A feeder for transporting a print medium from a tray along a U-shaped transporting path, comprising: a first tray capable of housing a first print medium;a second tray capable of housing a second print medium, the second tray being located between the first tray and a downstream end of the U-shaped transporting path;a transporting guide that guides the first print medium and the second print medium from each tray to the downstream end of the U-shaped transporting path;a first feeding device that feeds the first print medium toward the U-shaped transporting path; anda second feeding device that feeds the second print medium toward the U-shaped transporting path,wherein the transporting guide comprises an outer transporting guide and an inner transporting guide,the U-shaped transporting path is formed between the outer transporting guide and the inner transporting guide,the outer transporting guide extends from a position adjacent to one end of the first tray,the inner transporting guide extends from a position adjacent to one end of the second tray,the inner transporting guide comprises a concave portion facing the outer transporting guide, andthe concave portion has a length which extends from an upstream end to a predetermined position of the inner transporting guide along a transportation direction of the second print medium, and a width which is adjusted such that the second print medium is capable of passing within the concave portion.

2. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein the inner transporting guide comprises a first surface, a second surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface,the first surface faces the outer transporting guide,the second surface is located between the first side surface and the second side surface, the second surface faces the outer transporting guide,the first side surface and the second side surface face one another, andthe second surface, the first side surface and the second side surface form the concave portion.

3. The feeder according to claim 2, wherein a distance between the outer transporting guide and the first surface of the inner transporting guide is substantially constant along the transportation direction.

4. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein the first feeding device and the second feeding device are configured by one feeding roller, andthe feeding roller is capable of selectively making contact with the first print medium or the second print medium, and selectively feeding the first print medium or the second print medium toward the U-shaped transporting path.

5. The feeder according to claim 1, further comprising: a transporting roller located at a position adjacent to the downstream end of the U-shaped transporting path,wherein the transporting roller and the second feeding device have a positional relationship that allows the transporting roller and the second feeding device to simultaneously make contact with the second print medium.

6. The feeder according to claim 5, further comprising a controller that controls the transporting roller and the second feeding device such that a tension is generated in the second print medium when the transporting roller and the second feeding device simultaneously make contact with the second print medium.

7. The feeder according to claim 1, further comprising: a transporting roller located at a position adjacent to the downstream end of the U-shaped transporting path, anda controller,wherein the first feeding device and the second feeding device are configured by one feeding roller,the feeding roller is capable of selectively making contact with the first print medium or the second print medium, and selectively feeding the first print medium or the second print medium toward the U-shaped transporting path,a distance between the feeding roller and the transporting roller along the transportation direction is shorter than a length of the print medium,the controller controls the transporting roller and the feeding roller such that a tension is generated in the print medium when the transporting roller and the feeding roller simultaneously make contact with the print medium.

8. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein, in the width direction of the inner transporting guide, the center of the inner transporting guide is substantially identical to the center of the concave position.

9. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is located between the upstream end and a downstream end of the inner transporting guide.

10. The feeder according to claim 9, further comprising: a roller located at the predetermined position, the roller being capable of rotating.

11. The feeder according to claim 1, wherein a depth of the concave portion gradually decreases along the transportation direction.

12. The feeder according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of ribs disposed on a bottom surface of the concave portion, each rib extending along the transportation direction.

13. The feeder according to claim 12, wherein a height of each rib gradually increases along the transportation direction.

14. The feeder according to claim 13, wherein each rib does not extend beyond the concave portion.

15. A printer, comprising: the feeder according to claim 1; anda printing device that prints an image on the print medium transported by the feeder.