MEDIUM ACCOMMODATION CASSETTE AND RECORDING APPARATUS

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a medium accommodation cassette which includes a medium accommodation portion accommodating a recording target medium, and a first edge guide and a second edge guide of center positioning structures that are provided in the medium accommodation portion, and a recording apparatus of a structure on which the medium accommodation cassette is mounted.

2. Related Art

In a recording apparatus typified by a facsimile, a printer, a copier or the like, there is an apparatus of a structure in which a medium accommodation cassette including an edge guide device is mounted on a medium accommodation portion that accommodates a recording target medium such as a sheet of paper.

As related art of this type of medium accommodation cassette, there is one which is described in JP-A-2008-162762. In the medium accommodation cassette described therein, a first edge guide and a second edge guide forming a pair are interlocked with each other so as to be situated symmetrically around a center position based on a position becoming a center of both and are displaced by the same amount.

In the description of the invention, there is provided a structure in which the respective edge guide main bodies abutting the sides of the recording target medium of the first edge guide and the second edge guide forming a pair to guide the transportation of the recording target medium are interlocked with each other so as to be situated symmetrically around a center position based on a position becoming a center of both and are displaced in a direction of approaching each other and being separated from each other by the same amount. Thus, there is provided a structure which always performs the positioning of the paper that is always transported based on the center position regardless of the size of the recording target medium.

Specifically, a rack and pinion mechanism is adopted to form racks in both of the first edge guide and the second edge guide and dispose a pinion gear between both racks. As a result, when operating one edge guide, the other edge guide is moved in an opposite direction. Thus, a user can position the other edge guide in a suitable position in an interlocked manner by operating one edge guide.

However, in the medium accommodation cassette of the related art, both of the first edge guide and the second edge guide, and the side wall portion of the medium accommodation cassette are formed to have separate and independent structures. That is, the respective edge guide main bodies of the first edge guide and the second edge guide, which abut the side of the recording target medium and guide the transport of the recording target medium, have a structure that is situated near the inside of the side wall portion in a movement end in a separation direction.

In this structure, at both of the outsides of a width direction of a recording target medium of a maximum width which is assumed to be accommodated in the medium accommodation cassette, two structural members of the edge guide main body and the side wall portion are situated adjacently to each other. That is, two members are installed separately and independently in parallel. For that reason, there is a problem in that the medium accommodation cassette becomes large in the width direction due to the separate and independent installation of the two structural members.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to realize a reduction in size in a width direction in a medium accommodation cassette of a center positioning structure including an edge guide and to prevent an increase in size of a width direction in a recording apparatus having a structure in which a medium accommodation cassette is mounted on amounting target portion.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a medium accommodation cassette which includes a wall portion that is provided in an end portion of a medium accommodation portion accommodating a medium, an edge guide that is provided in the medium accommodation portion to restrict a position of an end portion of the medium, and an engagement portion that is provided in the wall portion and can be engaged with the edge guide.

According to the first aspect, when the edge guide main body is situated in a movement end, the edge guide main body becomes a part of the side wall portion and functions as the side wall portion, whereby it is possible to realize the same state in which the edge guide main body functioning as the edge guide does not exist.

Meanwhile, when the edge guide main body is moved to a position of coming into contact with the side of the recording target medium and is situated in that position, the edge guide main body exists separately from the side wall portion and functions as the edge guide.

Thus, it is possible to prevent an increase in size in the width direction and realize a reduction in size.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the medium accommodation cassette relating to the first aspect, the edge guide may have a first edge guide that restricts a position of a first end portion of the medium, and a second edge guide that restricts a position of a second end portion facing the first end portion, the thickness of the first edge guide being different from that of the second edge guide.

In a medium accommodation cassette of the related art, the edge guide main body of the first edge guide is formed to have the same thickness as that of the edge guide main body of the second edge guide. However, in some cases, compactness of the medium accommodation cassette is required in view of a relationship between the medium accommodation cassette and the surrounding structure, and the securement of rigidity as a whole of the edge guide from the viewpoint of the operability of maintenance is required.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the thickness of one edge guide main body is formed to be thicker or thinner than that of the other edge guide main body, so that neither are formed thickly or thinly. Thus, it is possible to realize the compactness of the medium accommodation cassette and the securement (rigidity maintenance) of the rigidity as a whole of the edge guide.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the medium accommodation cassette relating to the second aspect, the edge guide having a thinner thickness of the first edge guide and the second edge guide may include a slope deformation prevention portion.

The edge guide main body formed with a thin thickness due to the requirement for compactness declines in rigidity. For that reason, when a force for the slide movement operation is applied to the edge guide main body, the edge guide main body is subjected to the slope deformation, with the result that the operation resistance is increased and the operability declines.

According to the third aspect, since the edge guide having the thinner thickness of the edge guide main body includes the slope deformation prevention portion, even when force for the slide movement is applied to the edge guide main body, there is little fear that the edge guide main body is subjected to the slope deformation. Thus, a satisfactory operability can be maintained.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the medium accommodation cassette relating to the second aspect, the edge guide having the thin thickness of the edge guides may be formed in the same color as that of the medium accommodation portion of the medium accommodation cassette, and the edge guide having the thick thickness of the edge guides may be formed in a color different from that of the medium accommodation portion of the medium accommodation cassette.

According to the fourth aspect, since the edge guide having the thick thickness of the edge guide main body is formed in a color different from that of the medium accommodation portion of the medium accommodation cassette, the existence state thereof stands out to a user compared to the edge guide having the thin thickness of the other edge guide main body. Thus, it is possible to increase the tendency for a user to directly operate the striking edge guide main body having the thick thickness. As a result, the edge guide can be slidably moved with satisfactory operability.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a recording apparatus which includes: a mounting target portion with a medium accommodation cassette mounted thereon including a wall portion which is provided in an end portion of a medium accommodation portion that accommodates a medium, an edge guide that is provided in the medium accommodation portion to restrict a position of an end portion of the medium, and an engagement portion that is provided in the wall portion and can be engaged with the edge guide; and another constituent member of the recording apparatus that is disposed on one outside side of the wall portion of the medium accommodation cassette on a movement line on which the edge guide is slidably moved.

According to the fifth aspect, it is possible to prevent an increase in size in the medium accommodation cassette in a width direction to realize a reduction in size. As a result, it is possible to prevent an increase in size of the width direction in a recording apparatus of a structure in which a medium accommodation cassette is mounted on a mounting target portion, and in which another constituent member of the recording apparatus such as an ink system is disposed in one outside side of the side wall portion of the medium accommodation cassette on a movement line on which the first edge guide and the second edge guide are slidably moved.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the recording apparatus relating to the fifth aspect, the edge guide may have a first edge guide that restricts a position of a first end portion of a side facing the other constituent member, and a second edge guide that restricts a position of a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, the thickness of the first edge guide being formed to be thinner than that of the second edge guide main body.

According to the sixth aspect, the thickness of the edge guide main body of the position facing the other constituent member is formed to be thinner than that of the other edge guide main body. That is, the thickness of the other edge guide main body is thickly formed, and thus neither are thickly or thinly formed. Thus, it is possible to effectively realize a reduction in size of a width direction in a recording apparatus while promoting the compactness of the medium accommodation cassette and the securement of the rigidity as a whole of the edge guide.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the recording apparatus relating to the fifth aspect, the respective regions of the mounting target portion and the other constituent members may be partitioned by a base frame that is a frame material of the recording apparatus, and a part of the base frame between the wall portion of the medium accommodation cassette and the other constituent member has a plate shape and is extended along the side wall portion.

Herein, the term “plate shape” is not limited to a literal plate form, but if the strength as the frame material of the base frame is secured, a through hole, a groove, a reinforcement rib, or the like may be provided on the basis of the plate shape.

According to the seventh aspect, since the base frame as the frame material of the recording apparatus has a structure (an extended structure) in which the part of the base frame between the side wall portion of the medium accommodation cassette and the other constituent member has a plate shape and is extended along the side wall portion, it is possible to secure the strength as a whole of the recording apparatus by the “combined structure” of the medium accommodation cassette and the “extended structure” of the base frame, and to effectively prevent an increase in size in the width direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view that shows a recording apparatus including an edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken from line II-II in FIG. 1 that shows a periphery of a first edge guide of the edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view that shows a medium accommodation cassette including the edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view in a maximum separation state that shows the edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view that shows the edge guide device according to an embodiment when a wide piece of paper is positioned.

FIG. 6 is a plan view that shows the edge guide device according to an embodiment when a narrow piece of paper is set.

FIG. 7 is a main part plan view that shows a medium accommodation portion becoming an attachment target of the edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a main part bottom view that shows a medium accommodation portion becoming an attachment target of the edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view that shows the edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the periphery of an edge guide device attachment portion that shows a medium accommodation cassette including the edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view from a slope lower portion that shows the periphery of a friction stopping mechanism of an edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken from line XII-XII in FIG. 4 that shows the periphery of a friction stopping mechanism of an edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken from line XIII-XIII in FIG. 4 that shows a power transmission mechanism and an attachment structure of an edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken from line XIV-XIV in FIG. 4 that shows a power transmission mechanism and an attachment structure of an edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view from a first edge guide rear surface side that shows an edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view from a second edge guide rear surface side that shows an edge guide device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a side cross-sectional view that shows an embodiment of a friction stopping mechanism of an edge guide device.

FIG. 18 is a side cross-sectional view that shows another embodiment of a friction stopping mechanism of an edge guide device.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a medium accommodation cassette 2 according to an embodiment of the invention and an ink jet printer 1 as an example of a recording apparatus including the medium accommodation cassette 2 will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Firstly, a schematic configuration of the ink jet printer 1 will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet printer 1 includes a base frame 3 as a frame material of a printer main body. By means of the base frame 3, a mounting target portion 5 becoming a cassette accommodation space for mounting a medium accommodation cassette 2 described later in an attachable and detachable manner, and a right first region 9 and a left second region 13 of the mounting target portion 5 are partitioned. In the first region 9, a cap device 8 for the recording head or a known ink system 7 such as a suction pump is provided as an example. In the second region 13, a gear wheel row (not shown) and the like is provided as an example.

In the mounting target portion 5, a medium accommodation cassette 2 (FIG. 3) is mounted which includes a medium accommodation portion 17 accommodating a recording target medium (hereinafter, also referred to as “paper”) P, and a first edge guide 41 and a second edge guide 51 of a center positioning structure to be provided for the medium accommodation portion 17. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, near the outside of a right side wall portion 18R of the medium accommodation portion 17 on a movement line on which the first edge guide 41 and the second edge guide 51 are slidably moved, the ink system 7 forming another constituent member of the ink jet printer 1 is disposed as mentioned above.

The first edge guide 41 and the second edge guide 51 include an edge guide main body 42 and an edge guide main body 52 that abut left and right sides (edges) E of the paper P and substantially function as guides. The edge guide main body 42 and the edge guide main body 52 have combined structures 14 and 15 which also serve as apart of the respective side wall portions 18R and 18L of the medium accommodation portion 17 when being situated in a movement end in a separation direction L (FIG. 4). In the specification of the invention, the term “combined structure” means a structure in which the edge guide main body 52 does not exist and functions separately and independently from the side wall portion 18, but, when the edge guide main body 52 is moved to the movement end and is situated in that position, the edge guide main body 52 becomes an integral part with the side wall portion 18, becomes a part of the side wall portion 18, and functions as the side wall portion 18, and on the other hand, when the edge guide main body 52 is moved to a position coming into contact with the side of the recording target medium and is situated in that position, the edge guide main body 52 exists separately from the side wall portion 18 and functions as the edge guide.

Furthermore, the details of the combined structures 14 and 15 will be described later.

Furthermore, a thickness T1 of the edge guide main body 42 in the first edge guide 41, which exists in the position facing the ink system 7 forming the other constituent member, is formed to be thinner than a thickness T2 of the edge guide main body 52 in the second edge guide 51. Furthermore, this will be described in detail in the description of the medium accommodation cassette 2 described later.

Moreover, a partition portion 11 situated at the right side in the base frame 3 has a plate shape and is extended along a side wall portion 18R situated at the right side, and contributes to a preferable reduction in width size of the ink jet printer 1.

Embodiment

Next, the configuration of the medium accommodation cassette 2 according to an embodiment of the invention, which is attachably and detachably mounted on the mounting target portion 5 of the ink jet printer 1, will be specifically described in detail based on FIGS. 3 to 18.

The medium accommodation cassette 2 of the embodiment includes a medium accommodation portion 17 that accommodates a plurality of sheets of paper P in a stacked state, and an edge guide device 21 that comes into contact with left and right sides E of the paper P accommodated in the medium accommodation portion 17 and positions the paper P in the center of a width direction B.

The medium accommodation portion 17 has a structure of a tray shape having a shallow bottom in which a rectangular upper surface is opened when viewed from the plan. On the upper surface of the inside in the bottom plate 23 of the medium accommodation portion 17, there are provided a flat slide contact surface (a slide contact portion) 62 for causing the edge guide main body 42 of the first edge guide 41 of the edge guide device 21 described later and the edge guide main body 52 of the second edge guide 51 to approach each other or be separated from each other in the width direction B, and an attachment structure 22 for attaching the edge guide device 21.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7, 10, and 13, in the upper surface center portion of the inside in the bottom plate 23 of the medium accommodation portion 17, there is provided a circular concave receiving portion 25 when viewed from the plane having a bottom shallower than the thickness of the pinion gear 33 which receives the pinion gear 33 that is a constituent member of a power transmission mechanism 31 described later.

Furthermore, in the center of the concave receiving portion 25, a cylindrical bearing portion 26 is formed so as to be erected toward the upper part. The cylindrical bearing portion 26 is fitted outside a rotation shaft 35 protruded from the center portion of the lower surface of the pinion gear 33 described later toward the lower portion thereof, and is fitted inside a ring-shaped fitting rib 37 which is provided around the rotation shaft 35 and is similarly protruded toward the lower portion.

Furthermore, in the bottom plate 23 of the left medium accommodation portion 17 of the concave receiving portion 25, a guide hole 28A for centrally attaching a first edge guide 41 described later is formed along the width direction B therethrough, and in the inside and the front side thereof, two guide holes 27A and 27B for attaching a second edge guide 51 described later are formed along the width direction B in parallel with the guide hole 28A therethrough.

Moreover, in the bottom plate 23 of the right medium accommodation portion 17 of the concave receiving portion 25, a guide hole 28B for centrally attaching a second edge guide 51 described later is formed along the width direction B therethrough, and in the inside and the front side thereof, two guide holes 27C and 27D for attaching the first edge guide 41 described later are formed along the width direction B in parallel with the guide hole 28B therethrough.

Furthermore, in the inside and the front side of the concave receiving portion 25, a restriction portion 29B, which restricts a guide arm 59 of the second edge guide 51 described later from above, and a restriction portion 29F, which restricts a guide arm 49 of the first edge guide 41 described later from above, are oppositely provided. Moreover, the attachment structure 22 for attaching the edge guide device 21 to the bottom plate 23 of the medium accommodation portion 17 is configured as follows.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the attachment structure 22 is constituted by the guide hole 28A, a hook portion 48 of the first edge guide 41 described later that is slidably fitted into the guide hole 28A, the guide hole 28B, a hook portion 58 of the second edge guide 51 described later that is slidably fitted into the guide hole 28B, the guide hole 27A, a grasping portion 57A of the second edge guide 51 described later that slidably grasps the edge of the guide hole 27A, the guide hole 27B, a grasping portion 57B of the second edge guide 51 described later that slidably grasps the edge of the guide hole 27B, the guide hole 27C, a grasping portion 47C of the first edge guide 41 described later that slidably grasps the edge of the guide hole 27C, the guide hole 27D, a grasping portion 47D of the first edge guide 41 described later that slidably grasps the edge of the guide hole 27D, the restriction portion 29B, a rear edge 59A in a guide arm 59 of the second edge guide 51 described later restricted by the restriction portion 29B, the restriction portion 29F, and a front edge 49A in a guide arm 49 of the first edge guide 41 described later restricted by the restriction portion 29F.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the left side wall portion 18L of the medium accommodation portion 17, a notch portion 19 is provided which receives the edge guide main body 52 of the second edge guide 51 when the second edge guide 51 described later approaches the movement end of the separation direction L, and receives the edge guide main body 52 so that the guide surface 53 of the inner surface side of the edge guide main body 52 becomes nearly the same surface as the inner wall surface 16L of the left side wall portion 18L.

Moreover, in this state, since the edge guide main body 52 of the second edge guide 51 entering the notch portion 19 constitutes a part of the left side wall portion 18L of the medium accommodation portion 17, such a structure of the edge guide main body 52 is defined as a combined structure 15 in the specification as described above.

Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the right side wall portion 18R of the medium accommodation portion 17, a concave portion 20 is provided which receives the edge guide main body 42 of the first edge guide 41 when the first edge guide 41 described later approaches the movement end of the separation direction L, and receives the first edge guide 41 so that the guide surface 43 of the inner surface side of the edge guide main body 42 becomes nearly the same surface as the inner wall surface 16R of the right side wall portion 18R.

Moreover, in this state, since the edge guide main body 42 of the first edge guide 41 entering the concave portion 20 and a thin portion 42A of a part formed with the concave portion 20 constitute a part of the right side wall portion 18R of the medium accommodation portion 17, such a structure of the edge guide main body 42 is defined as a combined structure 14 in the specification as described above.

Furthermore, the height of the right side wall portion 18R of the part formed with the concave portion 20 is formed so as to be slightly lower than that of the side wall portion 18R of another part. This is for the purpose of enabling the upper portion of the edge guide main body 42 standing in the upper part of the first edge guide 41 to be grasped and operated when the first edge guide 41 situated in the movement end of the separation direction L is moved to the inside.

The edge guide device 21 includes the first edge guide 41 that comes into contact with the right side E of the paper P to carry out the positioning of the paper P in the width direction B; the second edge guide 51 that comes into contact with the left side E of the paper P to carry out the positioning of the paper P in the width direction B, a power transition mechanism 31 that transmits the power so that the first edge guide 41 and the second edge guide 51 approach from the state of reaching the movement end of the separation direction L shown in FIG. 4 to the state of reaching the movement end of an approach direction S via the state of positioning the paper P of wide width shown in FIG. 5 and the state of positioning the paper P of narrow width shown in FIG. 6, or the first edge guide 41 and the second edge guide 51 are separated to the state shown in FIG. 4; and a friction stopping mechanism 61 that maintains the stopped state of the first edge guide 41 and the second edge guide 51.

The first edge guide 41 includes a guide base 45 which comes into sliding contact with the slide contact surface 62 formed in the bottom plate 23 of the medium accommodation portion 17 due to the edge guide disposed in the right side and is provided so as to be horizontally extended toward the inside (the left part in FIG. 4), and the edge guide main body 42 having a rectangular shape when viewed from the side thereof which vertically stands from the outer end of the guide base 45 toward the upside.

Additionally, in the inside of the lower surface 44 of the guide base 45, there is provided a grasping portion 47C of the first edge guide 41 which slidably grasps the edge of the aforementioned guide hole 27C, and in the front side of the lower surface 44 of the guide base 45, there is provided a restriction portion 47D of the first edge guide 41 which slidably grasps the edge of the aforementioned guide hole 27D.

Furthermore, in nearly a center portion of the guide base 45, a flat plate-shaped guide arm 49 is provided so as to be horizontally extended toward the inside. Moreover, a rack 50 is provided along the width direction B in the front side of the lower surface of the guide arm 49, and in a position of the inside of the lower surface near the front end of the guide arm 49, a hook portion 48 of the first edge guide 41 having a reverse T shape when viewed from the side, which is slidably fitted into the aforementioned guide hole 28A, is provided so as to be extended to the lower part.

The edge guide main body 42 is a member that directly acts in the right side E of the paper P to position the paper P in the width direction B, thereby guiding the transportation of the paper P in a feeding direction A.

Moreover, the inner surface of the edge guide main body 42 becomes a guide surface 43 that comes into contact with the right side E of the paper P.

Furthermore, the thickness T1 of the edge guide main body 42 is formed to be thinner than the thickness T2 of the edge guide main body 52 of the second edge guide 51 described later.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 15, in the front and the rear of the outer wall surface lower portion of the thinly formed edge guide main body 42, there are provided slope deformation prevention portions 46 and 46 that are constituted by ribs having triangular shapes when viewed from the front as an example which prevent the slope of the edge guide main body 42 to secure the mechanical strength required for the edge guide main body 42.

In the present embodiment, forming the thickness T1 of the edge guide main body 42 thinly is due to the following reason.

In the medium accommodation cassette of the center positioning structure of the related art, the edge guide main body 42 of the first edge guide 41 is formed to have the same thickness as that of the edge guide main body 52 of the second edge guide 51. However, upon realizing the “combined structure”, in some cases, the compactness of the medium accommodation cassette is required in view of the relationship between the medium accommodation cassette and the surrounding structure, and the securement of the rigidity as a whole of the edge guide is required from the viewpoint of the operability of maintenance. In the recording apparatus of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink system 7 as the “other constituent member” is disposed near the outside of the right side wall portion 18R of the medium accommodation portion 17 on the movement line on which the first edge guide 41 and the second edge guide 51 are slidably moved.

Thus, in the present embodiment, by forming the thickness T1 of the edge guide main body 42 to be thinner than the thickness T2 of the other edge guide main body 52, upon realizing the “combined structure”, the compactness of the medium accommodation cassette 2 and the securement (strength maintenance) of the rigidity as a whole of the edge guide are realized.

As a result, it is possible to secure the stroke, which is necessary for moving the edge guide main body 42 of the first edge guide 41 to the movement end of the separation direction L, in the partition portion 11 of the base frame 3 without interfering with the edge guide main body 42 and the right side wall portion 18L of the medium accommodation portion 17, and the necessary rigidity as a whole of the edge guide can be secured.

The second edge guide 51 is an edge guide disposed in the left side, includes a guide base 55 which comes into sliding contact with the slide contact surface 62 of the medium accommodation portion 17 and is provided so as to be horizontally extended toward the inside (the right side in FIG. 4), and an edge guide main body 52 having a rectangular shape when viewed from the side which stands vertically from the outer end of the guide base 55 toward the upper part.

Additionally, in the inside of the lower surface 54 of the guide base 55, there is provided a grasping portion 57A of the second edge guide 51 which slidably grasps the edge of the aforementioned guide hole 27A, and in the front side of the lower surface 54 of the guide base 55, there is provided a grasping portion 57B of the second edge guide 51 which slidably grasps the edge of the aforementioned guide hole 27B.

Furthermore, in a nearly center portion of the guide base 55, a flat plate-shaped guide arm 59 is provided so as to be horizontally extended toward the inside. Moreover, a rack 60 is provided along the width direction B in the inside of the lower surface of the guide arm 59, and in a position of the front side of the lower surface near the front end of the guide arm 59, a hook portion 58 of the second edge guide 51 having a reverse T shape when viewed from the side, which is slidably fitted into the aforementioned guide hole 28B, is provided so as to be extended to the lower part.

The edge guide main body 52 is a member that directly acts in the left side E of the paper P to position the paper P in the width direction B, thereby guiding the transportation of the paper P in a feeding direction A.

Moreover, the inner surface of the edge guide main body 52 becomes a guide surface 53 that comes into contact with the left side E of the paper P.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, the thickness T2 of the edge guide main body 52 is formed to be thicker than the thickness T1 of the edge guide main body 42 of the aforementioned first edge guide 41, so that the sufficient rigidity is secured by the edge guide main body 52 itself.

Particularly, similarly to the present embodiment, when the thickness T1 of the edge guide main body 42 is different from the thickness T2 of the edge guide main body 52 so that the shapes of the first edge guide 41 and the second edge guide 51 are asymmetric to each other, one of the two can be formed thinner while securing the rigidity of the other, as compared to a case where the shapes of the first edge guide and the second edge guide are symmetric to each other. Thus, in regard to at least one edge guide, the necessary minimum strength can be secured. Meanwhile, if the shapes of the first edge guide and the second edge guide are symmetric to each other, the necessary minimum strength is required for both of the edge guides. Thus, when the thickness of the edge guide main body 42 is different from that of the edge guide main body 52, the total thickness of a pair of edge guide main bodies can be thinned.

Furthermore, in the inside of the edge guide main body 52, a thin portion 52A having the thickness thinner than the thickness T2 of the other part is formed. Since another constituent member (not shown) is provided in the inside of the edge guide main body 52, the thin portion 52A is formed for the purpose of preventing the interference with another constituent member.

As a result, it is feared that, in the formation part of the thin portion 52A of the edge guide main body 52, the rigidity declines.

However, as shown in FIG. 16, in the present embodiment, since slope deformation prevention portions 56 and 56 constituted by ribs having triangular shapes when viewed from the front are provided as an example in the front and the rear of the outer wall surface lower portion of the thin portion 52A, the necessary mechanical strength obtained from the edge guide main body 52 is maintained.

Furthermore, the first edge guide 41 having the thin thickness T1 of the edge guide main body 42 is formed in a dark color-based color as an example of the same color as that of the medium accommodation portion 17. Meanwhile, the second edge guide 51 having the thick thickness T2 of the edge guide main body 52 is formed in a striking bright color-based color as an example of a color different from the medium accommodation portion 17.

By arranging the colors in this manner, a user unconsciously selects the second edge guide 51 having high rigidity, grasps and operates the edge guide main body 52 of the second edge guide 51, thereby obtaining an action of promoting the selection of a user.

Furthermore, although a case is of course considered where a user selects and operates the first edge guide 41, as mentioned above, since the edge guide main body 42 of the first edge guide 41 is reinforced by the slope deformation prevention portions 46 and 46, it is of course possible to grasp and operate the edge guide main body 42.

Next, the structure and the operation aspect of the power transmission mechanism 31 and the assembly structure thereof, and the attachment structure 22 of the first edge guide 41 and the second edge guide 51 to the medium accommodation portion 17 will be described.

The power transmission mechanism 31 includes a pinion gear 33 that is provided in the center portion of the width direction B in the slide contact surface 62 of the medium accommodation portion 17 in a rotatable state, a rack 50 integrally formed with the guide arm 49 of the first edge guide 41 and a rack 60 integrally formed with the guide arm 59 of the second edge guide 51, and the racks 50 and 60 are oppositely disposed in the front side and the inside with the pinion gear 33 interposed therebetween.

Moreover, if a force of moving to the inner part or the outer part is acted on either one of the edge guide main bodies 52 and 42, the edge guide main bodies 42 and 52 are slidably moved in the approach direction S or in the separation direction L by the power transmission mechanism 31 so as to be interlocked with the movement. As a result, the paper P is positioned in the center position defined by the guide surfaces 43 and 53 of both edge guide main bodies 42 and 52 regardless of the size of the paper.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13, in the present embodiment, the pinion gear 33 is not assembled to the medium accommodation portion 17 by a fastening unit such as a screw or an engagement unit such as a snap fit, but an assembly structure is adopted in which the pinion gear 33 is accommodated in the concave receiving portion 25 formed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 23 of the medium accommodation portion 17, the rotation shaft 35 of the pinion gear 33 is supported by the bearing portion 26 in a rotatable state, and the pinion gear 33 is pressed from the upper part by both or one of the guide arm 49 of the first edge guide 41 and the guide arm 59 of the second edge guide 51, thereby preventing the pinion gear 33 from being dropped out of the concave receiving portion 25.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, 13 and 14, although it is repeated, the attachment structure 22 of the first edge guide 41 and the second edge guide 51 relative to the medium accommodation portion 17 is constituted by the six guide holes 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D, 28A and 28B formed in the medium accommodation portion 17, the two restriction portions 29B and 29F, the two grasping portions 47C and 47D provided in the guide base 45 of the first edge guide 41, the hook portion 48 provided in the guide arm 49, two grasping portions 57A and 57B provided in the guide base 55 of the second edge guide 51, the hook portion 58 provided in the guide arm 59, the rear edge 59A in the guide arm 59 of the second edge guide 51, and the front edge 49A in the guide arm 49 of the first edge guide 41.

Moreover, since a fastening unit such as a screw or an engagement unit such as a snap fit, which rotatably maintains the pinion gear 33 is omitted by means of the assembly structure of the power transmission mechanism 31, it is possible to realize a reduction in thickness of the power transmission mechanism 31 and a reduction in numbers of components. Furthermore, since there is no need for a fixing structure for providing the screw or the like on the rear surface of the medium accommodation cassette, there is no need for the machining for the fixing structure on the rear surface. Thus, the rear surface can be formed flat, whereby the operability of the attachment and the detachment of the recording apparatus can be improved.

Furthermore, pressing actions of the guide arms 49 and 59 due to the restriction portions 29B and 29F provided near the engagement position between the pinion gear 33 and two racks 50 and 60 is provided by means of the attachment structure 22 of the first edge guide 41 and the second edge guide 51 to the medium accommodation portion 17, whereby it is possible to effectively prevent the tooth jumping between the pinion gears 33 and the racks 50 and 60 upon the slide movement of the first edge guide 41 and the second edge guide 51 by the small number of components.

Next, a structure of the friction stopping mechanism 61 will be described based on FIGS. 10 to 12, 17 and 18. In the present embodiment, the friction stopping mechanism 61 is provided in the edge guide main body 52 of the second edge guide 51. In the edge guide main body 52, an angular hole-shaped attachment target portion 65 is provided from the lower surface 54 of the front side of the outer end of the guide base 55 to the edge guide main body 52, and the friction stopping mechanism 61 is attached to the attachment target portion 65.

As shown in FIG. 12, specifically, the friction stopping mechanism 61 includes a frictional member 63 that comes into contact with the slide contact surface 62 of the medium accommodation portion 17, a frictional member holder 67 that maintains the frictional member 63 and is attached to the attachment target portion 65 so as to be slidable in the direction C of approaching the slide contact surface 62 and in the direction D of retreating therefrom, and a biasing member 69 that biases the frictional member holder 67 toward the slide contact surface 62, thereby pressing the contact surface 64 of the frictional member 63 to the slide contact surface 62.

Moreover, as the frictional member 63, a soft plastic material which is elastically soft, flexibly deformed, and can stably a desired frictional force, for example, soft polyurethane foam and the like, is used. Rubber and cork can also be used as the frictional member 63.

Furthermore, as the frictional member holder 67, a known hard plastic material can be used which is elastically hard and has rigidity, and a compression coil spring is used as the biasing member 69, as an example.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, in the present embodiment, as the frictional member 63, a rectangular block shape and a plate shape when viewed from the plan are used. Of course, other shapes such as a disc shape may be used.

Moreover, the frictional member holder 67 includes a block-shaped base portion 75 in which a concave portion (a maintenance space) 71 for maintaining four surfaces 81, 83, 85, and 87 around the frictional member 63 is formed in the end portion 73 facing the slide contact surface 62; two flat plate-shaped guide pieces 77 and 77 that is raised from the upper surface of the base portion 75 toward the upper part; and a round rod-shaped spring support shaft portion 79 which is raised from the center portion of the upper surface of the base portion 75 toward the upper part as an example.

As shown in FIG. 10, the maintenance structure of the frictional member 63 by the frictional member holder 67 has a structure in which all sides (surrounding surfaces 81, 83, 85, and 87) of the frictional member 63 are covered in the state of causing the contact surface 64 of the frictional member 63 to protrude from the end portion 73 of the frictional member holder 67 to the slide contact surface 62 side. That is, there is provided a structure in which the frictional member 63 is inserted into the concave portion 71 having the shape corresponding to the frictional member 63 to fix and maintain all sides (surrounding surfaces 81, 83, 85, and 87).

According to the present embodiment, the friction stopping mechanism 61A includes a frictional member holder 67 which maintains the frictional member 63 and is attached to the attachment target portion 65 of the edge guide main body 52 so as to be slidable in the direction of approaching the slide contact surface 62 and retreating therefrom.

Thus, as the frictional member 63, an elastically soft material (soft polyurethane foam and the like) is used, and even when the frictional member 63 is elastically deformed due to the biasing force of the biasing member 69 and a bulged portion 63A is generated, since the frictional member holder 67 is interposed, it is possible to configure such that the bulging occurs in the part of the frictional member holder 67, and the effect of the bulging is not generated between the frictional member 63 and the edge guide main body 52. That is, it is possible to configure so that the bulged portion 63A is not caught by the lower surface 54 (an inlet portion) of the attachment target portion 65 of the edge guide main body 52. As a result, even if an elastically soft frictional member 63 is used, the edge guide device having satisfactory operability can be realized.

Moreover, since the maintenance structure of the frictional member 63 by the frictional member holder 67 is a structure that covers all sides (the surrounding surfaces 81, 83, 85, and 87) of the frictional member 63, the bulging amount due to the elastic deformation can be reduced, which can further reduce the fear of the catching. Furthermore, the elastically further flexible material can be used as the frictional member 63, and a degree of freedom of the material selection of the frictional member 63 increases, whereby an improvement in operability can be further promoted by selecting a suitable material.

Incidentally, when the edge guide main body 52 is slidably moved, the frictional member 63 is deformed to the rear side of the movement direction by the frictional resistance and tries to bulge. Thus, even when all sides are not fixed and maintained as shown in FIG. 10, the maintenance structure of the frictional member 63 by the frictional member holder 67 can suppress the bulging to the rear side, if the structure is a structure in which at least the side facing the sliding direction of the edge guide main body 52 is covered. It is possible to realize an improvement in operability by the use of the elastically flexible frictional member 63 by means of the maintenance structure.

As shown in FIG. 17, the frictional member holder 67 may be configured so that the end portion 73 facing the slide contact surface 62 of the frictional member holder 67 is situated in the slide contact surface 62 side further than the lower surface 54 of the edge guide main body 53 in the entire range where the frictional member holder 67 is capable of sliding on the attachment target portion 65 of the edge guide main body 52.

As a result, since the bulged portion 63A due to the elastic deformation of the frictional member 63 does not interfere with the portion between the bulged portion 63A and the edge guide main body 53 at all, the frictional member 63 of an elastically flexible material can be used, and a desired frictional force can be stably maintained, whereby the operability of the edge guide main body 53 can be improved.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 18, the thickness t of the part 89, which maintains the surrounding surfaces 81, 83, 85, and 87 of the frictional member 63 of the frictional member holder 67, may be set to be greater than a bulged amount S of the portion 63A bulged in the thickness direction t by the elastic deformation in the state in which the frictional member 63 is pressed to the slide contact surface 62.

As a result, even under the condition that the lower surface 54 of the edge guide main body 53 is situated in the slide contact surface 62 side further than the end portion 73 of the frictional member holder 67 as shown, the non-contact state between the frictional member 63 and the edge guide main body 53 is maintained. Thus, similarly to the example shown in FIG. 17, since the bulged portion 63A due to the elastic deformation of the frictional member 63 does not interfere with the portion between the bulged portion 63A and the edge guide main body 53 at all, a degree of freedom of the material selection of the frictional member 63 is increased, and a desired frictional force can be obtained by selecting a suitable material, whereby it is possible to further promote an improvement in operability of the edge guide main body 53.

Moreover, according to the medium accommodation cassette 2 having the above configuration and the recording apparatus on which the medium accommodation cassette 2 can be mounted, the main bodies 42 and 52 of the respective edge guides have the “combined structures 14 and 15” which also serve as a part of the respective side wall portions 18L and 18R of the medium accommodation cassette 2 in the movement end to the separation direction. Thus, when the edge guide main bodies 42 and 52 are positioned in the movement end, the edge guide main bodies 42 and 52 become a part of the side wall portions 18L and 18R and serve as the side wall portions 18L and 18R, whereby it is possible to realize the same state in which the edge guide main bodies 42 and 52 functioning as the edge guides do not exist.

Meanwhile, when the edge guide main bodies 42 and 52 are moved to the position contacting the side E of the paper P and are positioned in that position, the edge guide main bodies 42 and 52 exist separately from the side wall portions 18L and 18R, and function as the edge guides. It is possible to prevent an increase in size in the width direction in the medium accommodation cassette 2 of the center positioning structure including the edge guide and in the recording apparatus on which the medium accommodation cassette 2 can be mounted by the combined structures 14 and 15, whereby a reduction in size can be realized.

Furthermore, in regard to the edge guide main body 42 of the first edge guide 41 having thin thickness, since the rigidity thereof is reinforced by the slope deformation prevention portion 46, the mechanical strength required for the first edge guide 41 is secured.

Another Embodiment

The medium accommodation cassette 2 according to the invention, and the recording apparatus 1 including the medium accommodation cassette 2 are based on the configuration as mentioned above, but of course are not limited to the above configuration.

For example, as the slope deformation prevention portion 46 applied to the edge guide main body 42 of the first edge guide 41, a rib of another shape such as a square shape may be used without being limited to the rib having the triangular shape when viewed from the front as shown. Furthermore, the number of the slope deformation prevention portions 46 is not limited to two but may be equal to or greater than three, and in the case of using the slope deformation prevention portion 46 having a wider width, a single slope deformation prevention portion 46 may be used.

Furthermore, as a unit that promotes to a user that the second edge guide 51 is an edge guide of an operation side, in addition to the unit of the color classification similar to the above embodiment, it is possible to adopt or jointly use a unit in which a concave portion able to be caught by a finger is provided in a part of the edge guide main body 52 in the second edge guide 51 and is noticed by a shape or drawn reference numerals or directions showing the operation side being displayed on the edge guide main body 52.

In addition, the medium accommodation cassette 2 of the invention can be used as a medium accommodation cassette of another recording apparatus such as a laser printer or may be used as a medium accommodation cassette for a feeding target medium of another device that does not accompany the recording without being limited to the ink jet printer 1.

Furthermore, the recording target medium may be a synthetic resin film or the like such as a polyester film without being limited to the paper P. Another constituent member of the recording apparatus having a problem of interference with the first edge guide 41 or the like includes various components, which can be accommodated in the first region 9, such as a gear wheel row, an electronic substrate, a motor, a switch, a sensor and an ink withdrawal tank, without being limited to the ink system 7.

MEDIUM ACCOMMODATION CASSETTE AND RECORDING APPARATUS

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Priority Claims (1)