MEDIUM CASSETTE AND RECORDING APPARATUS

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a medium cassette including a medium accommodation tray for accommodating a medium and a medium support tray for supporting the medium to be discharged on which recording has been performed, and a recording apparatus including the medium cassette, which is represented by a facsimile, a printer, and the like.

2. Related Art

Existing paper cassettes which can be attached to an apparatus main body in a detachable manner have been used widely. Among them, as disclosed in JP-A-2012-76871, a paper cassette including two paper accommodation portions of a lower-stage tray (main tray) and an upper-stage tray (second tray) on one detachable tray has been known. In addition, the tray as described in JP-A-2012-76871 further includes a paper discharge tray. That is to say, the tray as described in JP-A-2012-76871 has a three-stage structure in which two paper accommodation trays and one paper discharge tray are superimposed in the height direction.

In the tray as described in JP-A-2012-76871, the paper discharge tray is supported by the main tray in a rotationally movable manner. The paper discharge tray is moved rotationally so as to open upper portions of the main tray and the second tray.

The paper discharge tray is supported axially on the main tray in the vicinity of substantially the center in the paper feed-out direction. Accordingly, there has been a disadvantage that even if the paper discharge tray is opened in order to set paper onto the main tray, a paper accommodation region of the main tray is not opened sufficiently and a paper setting operation is not performed easily.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to perform a paper setting operation more easily in a cassette including a paper discharge tray in a rotationally movable manner.

A paper accommodation portion for accommodating paper in a recording apparatus is variously referred to as a “cassette”, a “tray”, and the like. In the specification, one unit body overall that can be attached to an apparatus main body in a detachable manner is referred to as a “cassette” and a paper accommodation portion for accommodating paper and a discharged paper receiving portion for supporting discharged paper, which constitute the cassette, are referred to as “trays”.

A recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention includes a recording unit, a medium cassette that includes a first medium accommodation tray having a first medium accommodation portion for accommodating a medium to be transported to the recording unit, a paper discharge tray that is placed on the medium cassette and receives a medium on which recording has been performed on the recording unit. The paper discharge tray has a close state where the paper discharge tray is overlapped on at least a part of the first medium accommodation portion of the first medium accommodation tray and receives the medium on which recording has been performed on the recording unit and an open state where the paper discharge tray is moved rotationally with respect to an end portion of the medium cassette to open the first medium accommodation portion.

According to the aspect of the invention, the paper discharge tray is moved rotationally with respect to the end portion of the medium cassette. Therefore, when the paper discharge tray is located to be in the open state, an upper portion of the first medium accommodation portion is opened largely. This makes it possible to perform an operation of setting the medium onto the first medium accommodation portion easily.

In a recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the medium cassette include a second medium accommodation tray that is arranged on the first medium accommodation tray and has a second medium accommodation portion for accommodating a medium to be transported to the recording unit. The paper discharge tray is capable of being overlapped on at least a part of the second medium accommodation portion in the close state and is capable of opening the second medium accommodation portion in the open state.

According to the aspect of the invention, even if the medium cassette further includes the second medium accommodation tray, when the paper discharge tray is located to be in the open state, an upper portion of the second medium accommodation portion can be opened largely. This makes it possible to perform an operation of setting the medium onto the first medium accommodation portion and the second medium accommodation portion easily.

In a recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the paper discharge tray be moved rotationally with respect to an end portion of the first medium accommodation tray so as to be located to be in the close state and the open state.

According to the aspect of the invention, even if the medium cassette further includes the second medium accommodation tray, the paper discharge tray is located to be in the close state and the open state so as to perform an operation of setting the medium onto the first medium accommodation portion and the second medium accommodation tray easily.

In a recording apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the second medium accommodation tray be moved so as to advance or retreat with respect to the first medium accommodation tray and transportation of a medium in the first medium accommodation portion of the first medium accommodation tray and transportation of a medium in the second medium accommodation portion of the second medium accommodation tray be capable of being performed in accordance with a position of the second medium accommodation tray.

According to the aspect of the invention, if the second medium accommodation tray is moved so as to advance and retreat, transportation of the medium in the first medium accommodation portion and transportation of the medium in the second medium accommodation portion can be switched.

In a recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the second medium accommodation tray be capable of being overlapped on at least a part of the first medium accommodation portion of the first medium accommodation tray. Further, the second medium accommodation tray is moved rotationally with respect to the first medium accommodation tray and is capable of opening the first medium accommodation portion when the paper discharge tray is in the open state.

According to the aspect of the invention, the second medium accommodation tray is capable of being overlapped on at least a part of the first medium accommodation portion of the first medium accommodation tray. This makes it possible to prevent increase in the size of the medium cassette. Further, if the paper discharge tray is made into the open state, the first medium accommodation portion and the second medium accommodation portion are capable of being opened.

It is preferable that a recording apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the invention include a pickup roller that transports the medium in the first medium accommodation portion of the first medium accommodation tray and transports the medium in the second medium accommodation portion of the second medium accommodation tray. When the paper discharge tray is located to be in the close state, the paper discharge tray forms a space in which the medium in the first medium accommodation portion or the medium in the second medium accommodation portion is capable of being transported by the pickup roller.

According to the aspect of the invention, when the paper discharge tray is located to be in the close state, the pickup roller is capable of transporting the medium in the first medium accommodation portion or the medium in the second medium accommodation portion. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the medium cassette.

A medium cassette according to a seventh aspect of the invention is capable of being attached to a recording apparatus in a detachable manner. The medium cassette includes a first medium accommodation tray having a first medium accommodation portion for accommodating a medium to be transported to a recording unit of the recording apparatus, a second medium accommodation tray that is arranged on the first medium accommodation tray and has a second medium accommodation portion for accommodating a medium to be transported to the recording unit, and a paper discharge tray that is placed on the second medium accommodation tray and receives a medium on which recording has been performed on the recording unit. The paper discharge tray has a close state where the paper discharge tray is overlapped on at least a part of the first medium accommodation portion of the first medium accommodation tray and the second tray and receives the medium on which recording has been performed on the recording unit and an open state where the paper discharge tray is moved rotationally with respect to an end portion of the first medium accommodation tray to open the first medium accommodation portion and the second medium accommodation portion.

According to the aspect of the invention, when the paper discharge tray is located to be in the open state, an upper portion of the second medium accommodation portion can be opened largely. This makes it possible to perform an operation of setting the medium onto the first medium accommodation portion and the second medium accommodation portion easily.

A medium cassette according to an eighth aspect of the invention in order to solve the above-mentioned problem includes a medium accommodation tray for accommodating a medium, and a medium support tray for supporting the medium which is coupled to the medium accommodation tray through a rotational movement shaft provided in the vicinity of an end portion of the medium accommodation tray at the downstream side or the upstream side in the medium feed-out direction and is provided so as to be moved rotationally about a rotational movement axial line along the direction intersecting with the medium feed-out direction.

According to the aspect of the invention, in the medium cassette including the medium accommodation tray and the medium support tray, the medium support tray is coupled to the medium accommodation tray through the rotational movement shaft provided in the vicinity of the end portion of the medium accommodation tray at the downstream side or the upstream side in the medium feed-out direction. Therefore, when the medium support tray is opened, an upper portion of the medium accommodation tray is opened largely. This makes it possible to perform an operation of setting the medium onto the medium accommodation tray easily.

A medium cassette according to a ninth aspect of the invention includes a medium accommodation tray for accommodating a medium, and a medium support tray for supporting the medium which is coupled to the medium accommodation tray through a rotational movement shaft provided in the vicinity of an end portion of the medium accommodation tray in the direction intersecting with the medium feed-out direction and is provided so as to be moved rotationally about a rotational movement axial line along the medium feed-out direction.

According to the aspect of the invention, in the medium cassette including the medium accommodation tray and the medium support tray, the medium support tray is coupled to the medium accommodation tray through the rotational movement shaft provided in the vicinity of the end portion of the medium accommodation tray in the direction intersecting with the medium feed-out direction. Therefore, when the medium support tray is opened, an upper portion of the medium accommodation tray is opened largely. This makes it possible to perform an operation of setting the medium onto the medium accommodation tray easily.

A medium cassette according to a tenth aspect of the invention includes a medium accommodation tray for accommodating a medium, and a medium support tray for supporting the medium which is coupled to the medium accommodation tray through a rotational movement shaft provided in the vicinity of an end portion of a medium accommodation region of the medium accommodation tray at the downstream side or the upstream side in the medium feed-out direction and is provided so as to be moved rotationally about a rotational movement axial line along the direction intersecting with the medium feed-out direction.

According to the aspect of the invention, in the medium cassette including the medium accommodation tray and the medium support tray, the medium support tray is coupled to the medium accommodation tray through a rotational movement shaft provided in the vicinity of the end portion of the medium accommodation region of the medium accommodation tray at the downstream side or the upstream side in the medium feed-out direction. Therefore, when the medium support tray is opened, an upper portion of the medium accommodation region of the medium accommodation tray is opened largely. This makes it possible to perform an operation of setting the medium onto the medium accommodation tray easily.

A medium cassette according to an eleventh aspect of the invention includes a medium accommodation tray for accommodating a medium, and a medium support tray for supporting the medium which is coupled to the medium accommodation tray through a rotational movement shaft provided in the vicinity of an end portion of a medium accommodation region of the medium accommodation tray in the direction intersecting with the medium feed-out direction and is provided so as to be moved rotationally about a rotational movement axial line along the medium feed-out direction.

According to the aspect of the invention, in the medium cassette including the medium accommodation tray and the medium support tray, the medium support tray is coupled to the medium accommodation tray through a rotational movement shaft provided in the vicinity of the end portion of the medium accommodation region of the medium accommodation tray in the direction intersecting with the medium feed-out direction. Therefore, when the medium support tray is opened, an upper portion of the medium accommodation region of the medium accommodation tray is opened largely. This makes it possible to perform an operation of setting the medium onto the medium accommodation tray easily.

A medium cassette according to a twelfth aspect of the invention includes a medium accommodation tray for accommodating a medium, and a medium support tray for supporting the medium that is coupled to the medium accommodation tray through a rotational movement shaft, in which an upper portion of a medium accommodation region of the medium accommodation tray is not partitioned by the medium support tray to form a single medium accommodation port when the medium support tray is in an open posture of opening the medium accommodation tray.

According to the aspect of the invention, in the medium cassette including the medium accommodation tray and the medium support tray, the upper portion of the medium accommodation region of the medium accommodation tray is not partitioned by the medium support tray to form the single medium accommodation port when the medium support tray is in the open posture of opening the medium accommodation tray. Therefore, when the medium support tray is opened, the upper portion of the medium accommodation region of the medium accommodation tray is opened largely. This makes it possible to perform an operation of setting the medium onto the medium accommodation tray easily.

In a medium cassette according to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, in the medium cassette according to any one of the eighth to twelfth aspects of the invention, the medium accommodation tray includes a first medium accommodation tray and a second medium accommodation tray provided at the upper side of the first medium accommodation tray, and the medium support tray is coupled to the first medium accommodation tray through the rotational movement shaft.

According to the aspect of the invention, with the configuration of the medium cassette including the first medium accommodation tray, the second medium accommodation tray, and the medium support tray, the same action effect as that obtained in any of the above-mentioned eighth to twelfth aspects of the invention can be obtained.

A recording apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect of the invention includes a recording unit that performs recording on a medium and the medium cassette according to any one of the eighth to thirteenth aspects of the invention.

According to the aspect of the invention, the same action effect as that obtained in any of the above-mentioned eighth to thirteenth aspects of the invention can be obtained in the recording apparatus.

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 side cross-sectional view illustrating a paper transportation path of a printer according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a paper cassette according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the paper cassette according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the paper cassette according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the paper cassette according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating the paper cassette according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the paper cassette according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating the paper cassette according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a lock mechanism.

FIGS. 10A to 10D are views illustrating an arrangement variation of a rotational movement shaft of a discharged paper receiving tray.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating an arrangement variation of the rotational movement shaft of the discharged paper receiving tray.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention is described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIGS. 11A and 11B. FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a paper transportation path of an ink jet printer (hereinafter, referred to as “printer”) 1 as an embodiment of a “recording apparatus” according to the invention. FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 are perspective views illustrating a paper cassette 2 as an embodiment of a “medium cassette” according to the invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a state where both of an upper-stage tray 40 and a discharged paper receiving tray 50 are closed, FIG. 3 illustrates a state where only the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is opened, and FIG. 4 illustrates a state where both of the upper-stage tray 40 and the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are opened.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the paper cassette 2, FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 are partial perspective views illustrating the paper cassette 2, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a lock mechanism 60. FIGS. 10A to 10D and FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating an arrangement variation of a rotational movement shaft 54 of the discharged paper receiving tray 50. It is to be noted that in FIG. 1, the leftward direction indicates the paper feed-out direction, and the front-rear direction of a paper plane indicates the paper width direction. Further, points indicated by reference numerals 54 and 46 in FIG. 1 indicate center positions of the rotational movement shaft 54 and a shaft 46 (which will be described later), respectively.

Hereinafter, an overall main configuration of the printer 1 is outlined with reference to FIG. 1. The printer 1 includes the paper cassette 2 on a bottom portion of the apparatus. The printer 1 has a configuration of feeding out paper (mainly, cut paper) as an example of a medium one by one from the paper cassette 2, performing recording by a recording head 24 as a recording unit, and discharging the paper to the discharged paper receiving tray 50 provided at the front side of the apparatus (right side in FIG. 1).

To be more specific, the paper cassette 2 on which a plurality of pieces of paper can be set in the stacked state can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body of the printer 1 from the front side of the apparatus. The paper cassette 2 includes two medium accommodation trays of a lower-stage tray 30 as a “first medium accommodation tray” and an upper-stage tray 40 as a “second medium accommodation tray”. The lower-stage tray 30 is located on a lower portion and constitutes a base body of the paper cassette 2. The upper-stage tray 40 is located at the upper side of the lower-stage tray 30 and can slide between a feedable position and a retreat region.

Meanwhile, the paper cassette 2 further includes the discharged paper receiving tray 50 as a “medium support tray” at the upper side of the upper-stage tray 40. That is to say, the paper cassette 2 according to the embodiment is a unit body in which the lower-stage tray 30, the upper-stage tray 40, and the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are formed integrally.

In FIG. 1, paper accommodated in the lower-stage tray 30 is indicated by a reference numeral P1 and paper accommodated in the upper-stage tray 40 is indicated by a reference numeral P2 (hereinafter, paper is referred to as “paper P” unless they are required to be distinguished particularly).

A pickup roller 6 that is driven rotationally by a motor (not illustrated) is provided at the upper side of the paper cassette 2. The pickup roller 6 is provided on a swing member 7 that swings about a swing shaft 8. In a state where the upper-stage tray 40 slides to the front-most side of the apparatus (right side in FIG. 1: the drawing direction side of the paper cassette 2), that is, when the upper-stage tray 40 is on the retreated region, the pickup roller 6 rotates while making contact with uppermost paper P1 accommodated in the lower-stage tray 30 so as to feed out the uppermost paper P1 from the lower-stage tray 30.

Further, when the upper-stage tray 40 slides to the rear-most side of the apparatus (left side in FIG. 1: attachment direction side of the paper cassette 2) to be located at an abutment position (state in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), that is, when the upper-stage tray 40 is located at the feedable position, the pickup roller 6 rotates while making contact with uppermost paper P2 accommodated in the upper-stage tray 40 so as to feed out the uppermost paper P2 from the upper-stage tray 40.

A separation inclined surface 33 is provided on the lower-stage tray 30 at the downstream side in the paper feed-out direction. If the paper to be fed out from the lower-stage tray 30 advances while the front end of the paper makes slide contact with the separation inclined surface 33, the paper is separated (duplicate paper feeding is prevented).

Further, the separation inclined surface 33 of the lower-stage tray 30 is configured to project to the front end side of the paper P2 relative to a stopper 43 at the front side of the upper-stage tray 40 in the state (state in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) where the upper-stage tray 40 is positioned at the feedable position. With this configuration, the separation inclined surface 33 is also used as a separation unit when the paper is fed out from the upper-stage tray 40.

The paper P fed out from the lower-stage tray 30 or the upper-stage tray 40 is fed to the recording unit while being bent and inversed by a driving roller 10 that is driven rotationally by a motor (not illustrated). It is to be noted that reference numerals 12, 13 and 14 indicate driven rollers that nip the paper P with the driving roller 10. Normally, the paper P to be fed out from the paper cassette 2 advances to the recording unit through the driven rollers 13 and 14. The driven roller 12 functions when the paper P on which front surface recording has been performed is back-fed and is inversed in order to perform recording on the rear surface.

The paper P fed to the recording unit is fed to the lower side of the recording head 24 by a transportation driving roller 17 and a transportation driven roller 18 precisely. The transportation driving roller 17 is driven rotationally by a motor (not illustrated). The transportation driven roller 18 is driven rotationally while making press-contact with the transportation driving roller 17. It is to be noted that a reference numeral 19 indicates an upper paper guide supporting the transportation driven roller 18.

The recording head 24 is provided on a bottom portion of a carriage 22 and the carriage 22 is driven so as to reciprocate in the main-scanning direction (front-rear direction of the paper plane of FIG. 1) by a driving motor (not illustrated). A lower paper guide 21 is provided at a position opposed to the recording head 24 and the lower paper guide 21 defines a distance between the paper P and the recording head 24.

Further, a discharge driving roller 25 and a discharge driven roller 26 are provided at the downstream side of the recording head 24. The discharge driving roller 25 discharges the paper P on which recording has been performed and is driven rotationally by a motor (not illustrated). The discharge driven roller 26 is driven rotationally while making press-contact with the discharge driving roller 25. The paper P on which recording has been performed by the recording head 24 is discharged to the discharged paper receiving tray 50 with the rotation of the discharge driving roller 25.

The outline of the printer 1 has been described above. Hereinafter, the paper cassette 2 is further described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 and subsequent drawings.

The lower-stage tray 30 includes an edge guide 34 that can slide in the paper feeding direction (that is, paper length direction) on a bottom surface 30a thereof (FIG. 1 and FIG. 4). A position of a rear end edge of the paper is restricted by the edge guide 34.

Further, edge guides 35a and 35b that can slide in the direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction (that is, paper width direction) are also provided on the lower-stage tray 30 (FIG. 4). Positions of side edges of the paper are restricted by the edge guides 35a and 35b.

On the other hand, the upper-stage tray 40 also includes an edge guide 44 that can slide in the paper length direction and edge guides 45a and 45b that can slide in the paper width direction on a bottom surface 40a thereof as in the lower-stage tray 30 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). It is to be noted that in the embodiment, a paper accommodation region of the upper-stage tray 40 is set to have such size that the upper-stage tray 40 accommodates paper having a size smaller than paper to be accommodated in the lower-stage tray 30.

Subsequently, a movable structure of the upper-stage tray 40 is described. Step portions 30b are formed on side walls 31a and 31b of the lower-stage tray 30 (in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, step portion formed at the side of the side wall 31b is indicated by the reference numeral 30b). The upper-stage tray 40 and a slider 42 are provided along the step portions 30b and 30b at both sides so as to be displaced in the paper feeding direction and the opposite direction thereto in a sliding manner.

The two shafts 46 (FIG. 8) are provided on the slider 42 and bearing portions 40b formed on the upper-stage tray 40 are fitted onto the shafts 46 of the slider 42. With this, the upper-stage tray 40 is attached to the slider 42 in a rotationally movable manner. In the embodiment, the shafts 46 have axial lines in the direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction. Accordingly, the upper-stage tray 40 has a rotational movement axial line in the direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction. In the embodiment, a rotational movement limit of the upper-stage tray 40 is the state as illustrated in FIG. 4, that is, larger than 90 degrees and smaller than 180 degrees.

Supporting target portions 40c and 40c are formed on both ends of the upper-stage tray 40. The supporting target portions 40c and 40c are supported on the step portions 30b and 30b formed on the lower-stage tray 30 so that a closed posture of the upper-stage tray 40 is defined. Further, if the slider 42 and the supporting target portions 40c and 40c slide on the step portions 30b and 30b, the upper-stage tray 40 is displaced with respect to the lower-stage tray 30 in the sliding manner.

It is to be noted that the upper-stage tray 40 can be held at a predetermined slide position by the lock mechanism 60. A reference numeral 61a indicates a knob portion. In a state where the knob portion 61a is not operated, the lock mechanism 60 holds the upper-stage tray 40 at the predetermined slide position. If a user holds the knob portion 61a, the holding state is cancelled and the upper-stage tray 40 and the slider 42 are made into the slidable states.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the lock mechanism 60. The lock mechanism 60 includes an operation arm 61, a lever 62, a slider 63, and a spring 64. The operation arm 61 is provided on the upper-stage tray 40 so as to slide along the paper feed-out direction. The lever 62 is provided so as to swing in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction when the upper-stage tray 40 is seen from the above if a bearing portion 62a is fitted onto a shaft (not illustrated) provided on the upper-stage tray 40.

The slider 63 is provided on the slider 42 so as to slide in the direction orthogonal to the paper feed-out direction, that is, in the paper width direction. The lever 62 is engaged with the operation arm 61 and swings with the slide of the operation arm 61. In addition, an arm 62b included by the lever 62 makes the slider 63 slide with the swing.

A protrusion 63a is formed on the slider 63. The protrusion 63a can be fitted into slots 37a, 37b and 37c (illustrated in FIG. 2) formed on the side wall 31a of the lower-stage tray 30. With this, the lock mechanism 60 holds the upper-stage tray 40 on a predetermined region. The spring 64 biases the slider 63. This keeps the slider 63 to be in a state where the protrusion 63a is fitted into any of the slots 37a, 37b and 37c unless the operation arm 61 is operated.

Subsequently, the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is described in detail. The discharged paper receiving tray 50 according to the embodiment includes a first sub tray 58 and a second sub tray 59 on a front end portion in the paper discharge direction (FIG. 5). The first sub tray 58 is provided on the main body of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 so as to slide along the paper discharge direction. The first sub tray 58 is drawn as illustrated in FIG. 5 when it is used and is pressed so as to be accommodated in the main body of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 when it is not used. The second sub tray 59 is provided on the first sub tray 58 in a rotationally movable manner. The second sub tray 59 is made into an upward inclined posture when it is used as illustrated in FIG. 5 to hold the paper P to be discharged such that the paper P does not slide and drop in the discharge direction.

A reference numeral 50a indicates a supporting surface for receiving the paper. A reference numeral 52 indicates a window hole from which the edge guide 44 provided on the upper-stage tray 40 is exposed. A reference numeral 51 indicates a window hole from which the knob portion 61a is exposed.

The discharged paper receiving tray 50 configured in the above-mentioned manner is coupled to the lower-stage tray 30 in a rotationally movable manner. To be more specific, the discharged paper receiving tray 50 has arms 53 on both side portions and the rotational movement shafts 54 projecting laterally are formed on front end portions 53a of the arms 53 (FIG. 7). On the other hand, bearing holes 32 are formed on the side wall 31a and 31b of the lower-stage tray 30. The rotational movement shafts 54 are fitted into the bearing holes 32 so that the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is supported on the lower-stage tray 30 in a rotationally movable manner. Further, the pair of arms 53 forms a space in which paper can be fed out from the lower-stage tray 30 and the upper-stage tray 40 by the pickup roller 6.

It is to be noted that the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is supported by the side walls 31a and 31b of the lower-stage tray 30 in the close state. With this, the close posture of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 in the close state is defined. Further, the discharged paper receiving tray 50 takes an aperture angle of approximately 180 degrees in the open state (FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). When the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is in the close posture, at least a part of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is overlapped on the medium accommodation portion of the lower-stage tray 30 and the medium accommodation portion of the upper-stage tray.

Slits 39 are formed on the front end portions of the lower-stage tray 30 at both sides in the paper feed-out direction as illustrated in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8. The arm front end portions 53a of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are made into a state of being fitted into the slits 39. This makes it possible to prevent the rotational movement shafts 54 from being detached from the bearing holes 32 easily.

In the paper cassette 2 according to the embodiment, the rotational movement shafts 54 of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are supported axially (coupled to the lower-stage tray 30) on the end portion of the lower-stage tray 30 at the downstream side in the paper feed-out direction. The rotational movement shafts 54 of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are provided so as to be moved rotationally about the rotational movement axial line (line A in FIG. 2) along the direction orthogonal to the paper feed-out direction. Therefore, the upper portion of the lower-stage tray 30 is opened largely when the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is opened as illustrated in FIG. 4. This makes it possible to perform an operation of setting paper onto the lower-stage tray 30 easily. It is to be noted that also when paper is set onto the upper-stage tray 40, the upper portion of the upper-stage tray 40 is opened largely as illustrated in FIG. 3. Therefore, easiness of the operation of setting the paper onto the upper-stage tray 40 is also ensured.

In other words, in the state where the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is in the open posture of opening the lower-stage tray 30 or the upper-stage tray 40, the upper portion of the paper accommodation region of the lower-stage tray 30 or the upper-stage tray 40 is not partitioned by the discharged paper receiving tray 50 and a single paper accommodation port is formed. Therefore, the upper portion of the lower-stage tray 30 or the upper-stage tray 40 is opened largely when the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is opened. With this, easiness of the operation of setting the paper onto the lower-stage tray 30 or the upper-stage tray 40 is improved.

In the embodiment, the rotational movement shafts 54 of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are arranged on the end portion of the lower-stage tray 30 at the downstream side in the paper feed-out direction. However, positions of the rotational movement shafts 54 of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are not limited thereto and the rotational movement shafts 54 may be provided on the end portion of the lower-stage tray 30 at the upstream side in the paper feed-out direction. Alternatively, in the embodiment, the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is provided so as to be moved rotationally along the paper feed-out direction. However, the rotational movement direction of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is not limited thereto and the discharged paper receiving tray 50 may be provided so as to be moved laterally in a rotational manner. That is to say, if the rotational movement axial line of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is set along the paper feed-out direction, and in this case, the rotational movement shaft of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is provided in the vicinity of the end portion of the lower-stage tray 30 in the direction intersecting with the paper feed-out direction, the upper portion of the lower-stage tray 30 or the upper-stage tray 40 is opened largely when the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is opened.

Further, the rotational movement shafts 54 may be arranged on the main body of the lower-stage tray 30 at any of the upstream side, the downstream side, and the lateral side in the paper feed-out direction. Alternatively, the rotational movement shafts 54 may be arranged on the paper accommodation region of the lower-stage tray 30 at any one of the upstream side, the downstream side, and the lateral side in the paper feed-out direction.

To be more specific, in FIGS. 10A to 10D and FIGS. 11A and 11B, a reference numeral 2c indicates the main body of the lower-stage tray 30, a reference numeral 2b indicates the paper accommodation region, a reference symbol Y indicates the paper feed-out direction (downstream direction), and a reference symbol X indicates the paper width direction. Further, reference symbols Ya and Yb indicate ranges of the main body 2c and the paper accommodation region 2b in the Y direction, respectively. Reference symbols Xa and Xb indicate ranges of the main body 2c and the paper accommodation region 2b in the X direction, respectively.

In FIG. 10A, the rotational movement shafts 54 of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are arranged on the end portion of the main body 2c at the downstream side in the paper feed-out direction. Further, in FIG. 10B, the rotational movement shafts 54 of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are arranged on the end portion of the main body 2c at the upstream side in the paper feed-out direction.

In FIG. 10C, the rotational movement shafts 54 of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are arranged on the end portion of the paper accommodation region 2b at the downstream side in the paper feed-out direction. Further, in FIG. 10D, the rotational movement shafts 54 of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are arranged on the end portion of the paper accommodation region 2b at the upstream side in the paper feed-out direction.

In FIG. 11A, the rotational movement shafts 54 of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are arranged on the end portion of the main body 2c in the direction (paper width direction) orthogonal to the paper feed-out direction. Further, in FIG. 11B, the rotational movement shafts 54 of the discharged paper receiving tray 50 are arranged on the end portion of the paper accommodation region 2b in the direction (paper width direction) orthogonal to the paper feed-out direction.

In any examples of FIG. 10A to FIG. 10D and FIGS. 11A and FIG. 11B, the upper portion of the lower-stage tray 30 is opened largely when the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is opened. This improves the easiness of the operation of setting paper onto the lower-stage tray 30 more further. It is to be noted that in any of the above-mentioned variations, even when the positions of the rotational movement shafts 54 are shifted slightly, the upper portion of the lower-stage tray 30 is opened largely when the discharged paper receiving tray 50 is opened. This makes it possible to make the paper setting operation easy. Accordingly, such range of the rotational movement shafts 54 is encompassed in the scope of the invention. That is to say, it is sufficient that the rotational movement shafts 54 are arranged in the vicinity of the end portion at the upstream or downstream side in the paper feed-out direction or are arranged in the vicinity of the end portion in the direction intersecting with the paper feed-out direction.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-150350, filed Jul. 4, 2012 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

MEDIUM CASSETTE AND RECORDING APPARATUS

Information

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Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

CPC

US Classifications

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)