RECORDING APPARATUS

Abstract

A recording apparatus includes a recording medium cassette removably attached to a casing and including a first sheet placement base on which a first recording medium is to be placed, a feed roller that delivers the first recording medium placed on the first sheet placement base in a feed direction, a recording unit that performs a recording operation on the first recording medium delivered by the feed roller, and a recorded medium receiver removably attached to the recording medium cassette at a position above the first sheet placement base in a vertical direction, and configured to receive the first recording medium discharged from the recording unit.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

2. Related Art

Existing recording apparatuses, such as printers and copiers, include those provided with a recording medium cassette that can be removably attached to the main body of the apparatus. Recording media such as paper sheets are stacked in the recording medium cassette, and a feed roller is brought into contact, while rotating, with the uppermost one of the paper sheets to thereby feed that paper sheet into inside of the main body.

Some recording medium cassettes include an upper tray and a lower tray, the former being superposed on the latter, so that paper sheets of different sizes or types can be placed in the respective trays. Some recording medium cassettes further include an output tray located above the upper tray for receiving the paper sheet that has undergone a printing operation and been discharged.

For example, JP-A-2012-76871 discloses a sheet cassette that includes, as shown in FIG. 15A, a lower tray 81 and an upper tray 82 superposed thereon, and an output tray 83 located above the upper tray 82 for receiving the paper sheet that has undergone a recording operation and been discharged. As shown in FIG. 15A, when the upper tray 82 is located on an upstream side in the direction in which the paper sheet is delivered (hereinafter, feed direction) X, i.e., on the left in FIG. 15A, a portion of the lower tray 81 on a downstream side in the feed direction X is exposed, and a paper sheet P11 placed on the lower tray 81 is contacted by a rotating feed roller (not shown) so as to be delivered in the feed direction X.

The sheet cassette 80 includes a lock mechanism that restricts the upper tray 82 from moving in the feed direction X, and the upper tray 82 includes a finger support 824 and an unlock lever 825 for unlocking the lock mechanism. The user unlocks the lock mechanism by holding with his/her fingers the finger support 824 and the unlock lever 825 exposed through a slot 830 formed in the output tray 83, and slides the upper tray 82 in the feed direction X with respect to the lower tray 81 to thereby displace the upper tray 82 to the downstream side in the feed direction X (on the right in FIGS. 15A and 15B), as shown in FIG. 15B. Then the rotating feed roller is brought into contact with the paper sheet P10 placed on the upper tray 82, to deliver the paper sheet P10 in the feed direction X.

The output tray 83 includes a pivotal shaft S10 rotatably disposed through a bearing hole 810 formed in a sidewall of the lower tray 81. The upper tray 82 includes a slide portion 820 configured to slide in the feed direction X supported by a guide portion (not shown), and a sheet placement base 821 including a pivotal shaft S11 and pivotably connected to the slide portion 820. When the upper tray 82 is on the upstream side in the feed direction X as shown in FIG. 15A, the pivotal shaft S10 of the output tray 83 and the pivotal shaft S11 of the sheet placement base 821 generally overlap each other.

When the user intends to place the paper sheet P11 on the lower tray 81, the user pivots the output tray 83 and the sheet placement base 821 together in a pivoting direction D10 with the upper tray 82 set on the upstream side in the feed direction X as shown in FIG. 15A, so as to expose the sheet placement surface 813 of the lower tray 81, as shown in FIG. 16A. Then the user inserts the paper sheet P11 in the feed direction X along the sheet placement surface 813, and sets the paper sheet P11 in position on the sheet placement surface 813 as shown in FIG. 16B, utilizing a pair of edge guides 811 and an edge guide 812 as reference.

In contrast, when the user intends to place the paper sheet P10 on the upper tray 82, the upper tray 82 is displaced to the downstream side in the feed direction X, as shown in FIG. 15B. The user slides the paper sheet P10 in the direction opposite to the feed direction X along the sheet placement surface 821a on the slide portion 820, and sets the paper sheet P10 in place on the sheet placement surface 821a, utilizing as reference a pair of edge guides 822 and an edge guide 823 exposed through a slot 831 formed in the output tray 83.

However, when the paper sheet P11 is to be placed on the lower tray 81 in the state shown in FIG. 16A, the upper tray 82 and the output tray 83 are located above the sheet placement surface 813 of the lower tray 81, at a generally central position in the feed direction X. In other words, in a view from above the sheet placement surface 813, the sheet placement surface 813 is split by the upper tray 82 and the output tray 83 into an upstream sheet placement surface 813a and a downstream sheet placement surface 813b in the feed direction X. Accordingly, the user has to insert the downstream edge of the paper sheet P11 in the feed direction X through a gap A1 between the slide portion 820 and the sheet placement surface 813 from the side of the upstream sheet placement surface 813a toward the downstream sheet placement surface 813b, so as to forward the paper sheet P11 in the feed direction X along the sheet placement surface 813. In addition, when the paper sheet P10 is to be placed on the upper tray 82 in the state shown in FIG. 15B, the output tray 83 overlaps the upstream portion of the sheet placement surface 821a in the feed direction X. Accordingly, the user has to insert the upstream edge of the paper sheet P10 in the feed direction X into a gap A2 between the output tray 83 and the sheet placement surface 821a, from the downstream side toward the upstream side in the feed direction X, to place the paper sheet P10 in position on the sheet placement surface 821a.

Thus, the configuration according to JP-A-2012-76871 impedes the user from efficiently placing the paper sheet P10 or P11 on the upper tray 82 or lower tray 81 of the sheet cassette 80. In other words, the user suffers difficulty in placing a sheet cassette having an output tray on top thereof.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the invention may be advantageously realized as the following application examples and embodiments.

Application Example 1

A recording apparatus may include a recording medium cassette removably attached to a casing and including a first sheet placement base on which a first recording medium is to be placed, a feed roller that delivers the first recording medium placed on the first sheet placement base in a feed direction, a recording unit that performs a recording operation on the first recording medium delivered by the feed roller, and a recorded medium receiver removably attached to the recording medium cassette at a position above the first sheet placement base in a vertical direction, and configured to receive the first recording medium discharged from the recording unit.

In the recording apparatus thus configured, the recorded medium receiver is removably attached to the position above the first sheet placement base in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the first sheet placement base is exposed upon removing the recorded medium receiver from the first sheet placement base, which facilitates a user to place the first recording medium on the first sheet placement base.

Application Example 2

The foregoing recording apparatus may further include a stopper that restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the recording medium cassette in at least one of the feed direction and a width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the recording medium cassette.

With the mentioned configuration, the stopper restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the recording medium cassette in at least in one the feed direction and the width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the recording medium cassette. Therefore, the recorded medium receiver can be stably mounted.

Application Example 3

In the foregoing recording apparatus, the recorded medium receiver may include a receiver-side wall erected along an outer periphery of the recorded medium receiver, the stopper may include a base-side wall erected along an outer periphery of the first sheet placement base, and the receiver-side wall and the base-side wall may be opposed to each other in at least one of the feed direction and the width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the first sheet placement base.

With the mentioned configuration, the receiver-side wall is restricted by the base-side wall from being displaced in at least one of the feed direction and the width direction. Therefore, the recorded medium receiver can be restricted from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base in at least one of the width direction and the feed direction.

Application Example 4

In the foregoing recording apparatus, the recorded medium receiver may include one of a projection and a recess formed at an end portion, the stopper may include the other of the projection and the recess formed at an end portion of the first sheet placement base, and the projection may be inserted in the recess when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the first sheet placement base.

The mentioned configuration restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base in at least one of the width direction and the feed direction.

Application Example 5

In the foregoing recording apparatus, the recorded medium receiver may include, at an end portion thereof, one of a magnet and an iron member that can be stuck to the magnet, and the stopper may include the other of the magnet and the iron member that can be stuck to the magnet located at an end portion of the first sheet placement base.

The mentioned configuration restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base.

Application Example 6

In the foregoing recording apparatus, the recorded medium receiver may include, at an end portion thereof, one of a pivotal shaft and a bearing, the stopper may include the other of the pivotal shaft and the bearing provided at an end portion of the first sheet placement base, and the recorded medium receiver may be pivotable with respect to the first sheet placement base.

The mentioned configuration restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the first sheet placement base.

Application Example 7

The foregoing recording apparatus may further include a second sheet placement base disposed in the recording medium cassette between the first sheet placement base and the recorded medium receiver, the second sheet placement base being shorter than the first sheet placement base in the feed direction and configured to receive a second recording medium, and the second sheet placement base may be enabled to pivot with respect to the recording medium cassette when the recorded medium receiver is removed from the recording medium cassette.

With the mentioned configuration, the second sheet placement base is exposed when the recorded medium receiver is removed from the first sheet placement base. Accordingly, the user can easily place the second recording medium on the second sheet placement base. In addition, a larger region of the first sheet placement base can be exposed upon making the second sheet placement base pivot when the recorded medium receiver is removed. Such a configuration facilitates the user to place the first recording medium on the first sheet placement base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic side views showing a general configuration of a printer according to an embodiment 1 of the invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing a sheet cassette according to the embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a mechanism including an unlock lover for causing a lock element to swing, thereby allowing a slider to move.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the sheet cassette without an output tray superposed thereon.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing appearances of the sheet cassette without the output tray superposed thereon.

FIGS. 6 a and 6B are perspective views showing the output tray.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views showing a lower tray, without and with the output tray attached thereto, respectively.

FIG. 8A is a schematic front view of the lower tray with the output tray attached thereto, and FIG. 8B is a schematic fragmentary side view showing upstream end portions of the lower tray and the output tray in the feed direction.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views showing a structure of a wall portion of the lower tray.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing an output tray according to an embodiment 2 of the invention, FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a feed tray, and FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing a sheet cassette in which the output tray is attached to the feed tray.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective views respectively showing an output tray and a feed tray according to an embodiment 3 of the invention.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are perspective views respectively showing an output tray and a feed tray according to an embodiment 4 of the invention.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views respectively showing an output tray and a feed tray according to an embodiment 5 of the invention.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view showing an output tray, and FIGS. 14B and 14C are perspective views showing a sheet cassette according to an embodiment 6 of the invention.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are perspective views showing appearances of a conventional sheet cassette.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective views showing different appearances of the conventional sheet cassette.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment 1

Hereafter, embodiments of the invention will be described referring to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic side views showing a general configuration of a printer 1, exemplifying the recording apparatus according to the invention. A sheet cassette 2 corresponding to the recording medium cassette is removably attached to the bottom portion of a casing 23 of the printer 1. The sheet cassette 2 includes a lower tray 3 corresponding to the first sheet placement base and an upper tray 4 corresponding to the second sheet placement base. A paper sheet P1 corresponding to the first recording medium is to be placed on the former, and a paper sheet P2 corresponding to the second recording medium is to be placed on the latter.

The paper sheet P2 has a size corresponding to a postcard or the like, and the paper sheet P1 has a size larger than the paper sheet P2, such as A4 or B5. Naturally, the size of the paper sheet is not limited to the above, provided that the paper sheet placed on the upper tray 4 is smaller than the paper sheet placed on the lower tray 3.

The upper tray 4 is configured to slide with respect to the lower tray 3 in a feed direction X. FIG. 1A illustrates a state in which the upper tray 4 overlaps an upstream region of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X. FIG. 1B illustrates a state in which the upper tray 4 overlaps the downstream region of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X.

A feed roller 22 is attached to an arm 21 that swings about a pivotal shaft 20. When the upper tray 4 is set to overlap the upstream region of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X as shown in FIG. 1A, the feed roller 22 contacts, while rotating, the uppermost one of the paper sheets P1 stacked on the lower tray 3, to deliver the paper sheet P1 to a downstream side in the feed direction X. When the upper tray 4 is set to overlap the downstream region of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X as shown in FIG. 1B, the feed roller 22 contacts, while rotating, the uppermost one of the paper sheets P2 stacked on the upper tray 4, to deliver the paper sheet P2 to the downstream side in the feed direction X. Thus, either of the paper sheet P1 or the paper sheet P2 can be selectively delivered according to the position of the upper tray 4 in the feed direction X.

A sloped surface 300 is provided in the lower tray 3, to split a plurality of paper sheets P1 or P2 about to be duplicatedly delivered. The paper sheet P1 or P2 that has passed the sloped surface 300 is transported along a transport route 12 by a pair of rollers composed of a transport drive roller 10 and a transport slave roller 11, and another pair of rollers composed of a transport drive roller 13 and a transport slave roller 14, to a position between a recording head 16 that ejects ink, corresponding to the liquid in the invention, and a medium support member 17. Here, the mechanism that prevents duplicated delivery of the paper sheet may be provided in the main body of the printer 1.

A carriage 15 is set to reciprocate in a width direction Y (depth direction of FIGS. 1A and 1B) by a moving mechanism (not shown) along a guide shaft (not shown) disposed to extend in the width direction Y of the paper sheet P1, P2. The recording head 16 is mounted on the carriage 15 and configured so as to eject the ink onto the paper sheet P1, P2.

The medium support member 17 is disposed opposite the recording head 16, to serve to support the paper sheet P1, P2 with a predetermined clearance between the paper sheet P1, P2 and the recording head 16.

A pair of rollers composed of a discharge drive roller 18 and a discharge slave roller 19 serve to discharge the paper sheet P1, P2 that has undergone the recording operation of the recording head 16, to an output tray 5 corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention. The output tray 5 includes a stacker 6 sticking out through an opening 24 formed in the casing 23 and configured to receive discharged paper sheets P3, P4, in collaboration with the output tray 5. Here, the output tray 5 may be configured to work alone without the stacker 6.

In this embodiment, the pivotal shaft 20, the arm 21, and the feed roller 22 constitute a feeding unit 30; the carriage 15, the recording head 16, and the medium support member 17 constitute the recording unit 40; and the pair of rollers composed of the discharge drive roller 18 and the discharge slave roller 19 constitute the discharging unit 50. Although the recording unit 40 according to this embodiment includes the ink jet recording head 16 that ejects ink, a different configuration may be employed. For example, a laser printer that applies a toner to the paper sheet P1, P2 and performs the recording by thermal pressing may be employed.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the sheet cassette 2. FIG. 2A illustrates the state in which the upper tray 4 overlaps the upstream region of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X (see FIG. 1A), and FIG. 2B illustrates the state in which the upper tray 4 overlaps the downstream region of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X (see FIG. 1B).

The paper sheet P1 is placed on a sheet placement surface 308 of the lower tray 3 as shown in FIG. 2A. The positions of the respective end portions of the paper sheet P1 in the width direction Y are delimited by a pair of edge guides 305, and the position of the upstream end portion of the paper sheet P1 in the feed direction X is delimited by an edge guide 309 (see FIG. 5B).

The lower tray 3A includes a pair of slits 304, corresponding to the recess in the invention and formed in a downstream wall 307 in the feed direction X as shown in FIG. 2A, and a pair of projections 11, provided on the downstream edge of the upper tray 4 in the feed direction X, are respectively inserted in the slits 304 when the upper tray 4 is on the on the downstream side in the feed direction X, as shown in FIG. 2B.

As described above, the wall 307 on the downstream end portion of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X includes the sloped surface 300, for splitting the paper sheets P1 or P2 about to be delivered in duplicate by the feed roller 22 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

The upper tray 4 including a slide portion 400 and a sheet placement base 401 is located above the sheet placement surface 308 in a vertical direction Z (hereinafter, simply “above”). The upper tray 4 is located below a discharged sheet receiving surface 502 of the output tray 5 in the vertical direction Z (hereinafter, simply “below”). The upstream end portion 401a of the sheet placement base 401 in the feed direction X, and the respective end portions 401b, 401c in the width direction Y are indicated by broken lines.

The sheet placement base 401 includes a pivotal shaft S1, via which the sheet placement base 401 is pivotably connected to the slide portion 400. Walls 306 on the respective sides of the lower tray 3 in the width direction Y each include a guide rail 301 extending in the feed direction X. In addition, the walls 306 each include a slot 310 extending in the feed direction X.

The slide portion 400 includes projections 410 sticking out from the respective sides of the slide portion 400 in the width direction Y. The projections 410 are respectively disposed to penetrate through the slots 310 and to slide in the feed direction X along the guide rail 301. With the mentioned configuration, the sheet placement base 401 can move in the feed direction X, with the paper sheet P2 horizontally placed thereon.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the paper sheet P2 is placed on a sheet placement surface 409 of the upper tray 4. The positions of the end portions of the paper sheet P2 in the width direction Y are delimited by the pair of edge guides 402, and the position of the upstream end portion of the paper sheet P2 in the feed direction X is delimited by an edge guide 403 exposed in a slot 500 formed in the output tray 5.

A finger support 407 and an unlock lever 408 provided on the upper tray 4 are exposed in a slot 501 formed in the output tray 5, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The finger support 407 is fixed to the sheet placement base 401. The unlock lever 408 is disposed so as to slide with respect to the sheet placement base 401 in the feed direction X. When the user holds the finger support 407 and the unlock lever 408 with his/her fingers, a lock element 406 is made to swing so as to allow the slider 404 to move in the width direction Y.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the mechanism that causes the lock element 406 to swing by manipulating the unlock lever 408, to thereby allow the slider 404 to move. FIG. 3 illustrates the state in which the user is holding the finger support 407 and the unlock lever 408 with the fingers.

The lock element 406 is disposed to pivot about a pivotal shaft S2, so that an end portion 406b of the lock element 406 moves within a range delimited by projections 404b, 404c formed on the slider 404. The other end portion 406a of the lock element 406 is engaged with a slit 412a of a joint bar 412 extending from the unlock lever 408.

When the user holds the finger support 407 and the unlock lever 408 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B with the fingers, the unlock lever 408 is made to slide to the upstream side in the feed direction X. Then the lock element 406 shown in FIG. 3 is made to pivot counterclockwise D1 about the pivotal shaft S2 by means of the joint bar 412, so that the end portion 406b of the lock element 406 presses the projection 404b of the slider 404 inwardly Y1 in the width direction Y.

Accordingly, the slider 404 is inwardly displaced (Y1) and hence the end portion 404a of the slider 404 is disengaged from an orifice 302 or 303 formed in the wall 306 of the lower tray 3 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and the upper tray 4 is enabled to move in the feed direction X.

The slider 404 is outwardly biased in the width direction Y (Y2) by a spring 405. Therefore, when the finger support 407 and the unlock lever 408 are released by the user, the slider 404 is outwardly displaced (Y2) so that the end portion 404a of the slider 404 is inserted in the orifice 302 or 303 to restrict the upper tray 4 from moving in the feed direction X.

In addition, the end portion 406b of the lock element 406 is outwardly displaced (Y2) by the projection 404b, and therefore the lock element 406 is made to pivot clockwise (D2) so that the unlock lever 408 is made to slide to the downstream side in the feed direction X by means of the joint bar 412.

The user manipulates the unlock lever 408 utilizing the finger support 407 as a fulcrum thereby displacing the upper tray 4 in the feed direction X, after which the user can select the position of the upper tray 4 with respect to the lower tray 3, by inserting the end portion 404a of the slider 404 either in the orifice 302 on the upstream side in the feed direction X or in the orifice 303 on the downstream side in the feed direction X.

The paper sheet P3, P4 discharged through the discharge drive roller 18 and the discharge slave roller 19 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is placed on a discharged sheet receiving surface 502 of the output tray 5.

The stacker 6 having a plate shape is slidably accommodated inside the upstream portion of the output tray 5 in the feed direction X, so that when the stacker 6 is drawn out from the output tray 5 the upstream portion of the discharged paper sheet P3, P4 in the feed direction can be supported by the stacker 6.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the sheet cassette 2 corresponding to FIG. 2A, but without the output tray 5. When the upper tray 4 is on the upstream side in the feed direction X, the user can place the paper sheet P2 on the sheet placement surface 409 of the upper tray 4 as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the appearance of the sheet cassette 2 corresponding to FIG. 2B, but without the output tray 5. FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing the appearance of the sheet cassette 2, in which the sheet placement base 401 has been made to pivot about the pivotal shaft S1 in a pivoting direction D3, from the state shown in FIG. 5A. In the state shown in FIG. 5B, the user can place the paper sheet P1 on the sheet placement surface 308 of the lower tray 3.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view from above showing the output tray 5, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view from below showing the output tray 5. The stacker 6 includes a sliding portion 6b slidably disposed inside the output tray 5, and a sliding portion 6a slidably disposed inside the sliding portion 6b.

The output tray 5 includes walls 503, 504, 505, 506, corresponding to the receiver-side wall in the invention, erected downward from the outer periphery of the lower face of the output tray 5. The walls 503, 506 extend in the feed direction X along the outer periphery on the respective end portions of the output tray 5 in the width direction Y. The walls 504, 505 extend in the width direction along the upstream outer periphery of the output tray 5 in the feed direction X.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view from above showing the lower tray 3. The walls 306 formed along the outer periphery on the respective end portions of the lower tray 3 in the width direction Y each include a wall portion 306b, corresponding to the base-side wall in the invention and erected upward and extending in the feed direction X, and a stepped portion 306a extending in the feed direction X.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing the lower tray 3 with the output tray 5 attached thereto, in which the upper tray 4 is not illustrated. FIG. 8A is a schematic drawing of the lower tray 3 with the output tray 5 attached thereto, viewed from the downstream side in the feed direction X.

The walls 503, 506 of the output tray 5 shown in FIG. 7B are each located at an inner position in the width direction Y from the wall portion 306b of the lower tray 3. To be more detailed referring to FIG. 8A, the wall 503 of the output tray 5 is located on the right in the width direction Y from the wall portion 306b of the lower tray 3 on the left in FIG. 8A, and the wall 506 of the output tray 5 is located on the left in the width direction Y from the wall portion 306b of the lower tray 3 on the right in FIG. 8A.

With the foregoing configuration, the walls 503, 506 of the output tray 5 are restricted by the wall portion 306b of the lower tray 3 from being displaced in the width direction Y. In addition, the respective lower end portions of the walls 503, 506 are made to abut the stepped portion 306a, so that the position of the output tray 5 in the vertical direction Z is determined.

FIG. 8B is a schematic drawing viewed in the width direction Y, showing the upstream end portion of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X, to which the output tray 5 is attached. The walls 504, 505 of the output tray shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B are each located at an inner position in the feed direction X from the wall 312 of the lower tray 3 shown in FIG. 7A. In other words, the walls 504, 505 of the output tray 5 shown in FIG. 8B are located downstream of the wall 312 of the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X. Such a configuration restricts the walls 504, 505 of the output tray 5 from moving to the upstream side in the feed direction X.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing a part of the wall 306 of the lower tray 3. FIG. 9B is a perspective view showing the same part of the wall 306 of the lower tray 3 with the output tray 5 attached thereto. FIG. 9B also includes an enlarged perspective view of a circled portion including a projection 311 inwardly protruding in the width direction Y from the wall 306. The wall 506 is restricted by the projection 311 from moving to the downstream side in the feed direction X. Likewise, the wall 503 shown in FIG. 7B is restricted by the projection 311 from moving to the downstream side in the feed direction X.

As described thus far, the printer 1 according to this embodiment includes the sheet cassette 2 removably attached to the casing 23 and including the lower tray 3 on which the paper sheet P1 is to be placed, the feed roller 22 that delivers the paper sheet P1 placed on the sheet cassette 2 in the feed direction, the recording unit 40 that performs a recording operation on the paper sheet P1 delivered by the feed roller 22. Here, the sheet cassette 2 corresponds to the recording medium cassette in the invention; the lower tray 3 corresponds to the first sheet placement base in the invention; and the paper sheet P1 corresponds to the first recording medium in the invention. The sheet cassette 2 includes the output tray 5, removably attached on top of the lower tray 3 in the vertical direction and configured to receive the paper sheet P1 discharged from the recording unit 40.

The printer 1 further includes the upper tray 4 pivotably disposed in the sheet cassette 2 at the position above the lower tray 3 in the vertical direction Z and between the lower tray 3 and the output tray 5, the upper tray 4 being shorter than the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X and configured to receive the paper sheet P2 and to slide in the feed direction X with respect to the lower tray 3. Here, the upper tray 4 corresponds to the second sheet placement base in the invention, and the paper sheet P2 corresponds to the second recording medium in the invention. When the upper tray 4 is on the upstream side in the feed direction X, the feed roller 22 is brought into contact with the paper sheet P1 so as to deliver the paper sheet P1, and when the upper tray 4 is on the downstream side in the feed direction X the feed roller 22 is brought into contact with the paper sheet P2 so as to deliver the paper sheet P2.

With the mentioned configuration, the upper tray 4 is exposed upon removing the output tray 5 from the lower tray 3, and therefore the user can easily place the paper sheet P2 on the upper tray 4. In addition, a larger region of the sheet placement surface 308 can be exposed by making the upper tray 4 pivot when the upper tray 4 is on the downstream side (see FIG. 5B). Therefore, the user can easily place the paper sheet P1 on the lower tray 3. Here, the upper tray 4 may be made to pivot at a position other than the downstream side, in which case the sheet placement surface 308 can be equally exposed compared with the case where the upper tray is not made to pivot.

The output tray 5 includes the walls 503, 506 corresponding to the receiver-side wall in the invention and erected along the outer periphery of the output tray 5 as shown in FIG. 6B, and the lower tray 3 includes the wall portion 306b corresponding to the base-side wall in the invention and erected along the outer periphery of the lower tray 3 as shown in FIG. 7A, such that when the output tray 5 is attached to the lower tray 3 the walls 503, 506 and the wall portion 306a are opposed to each other in the width direction Y.

Therefore, the walls 503, 506 are restricted by the wall portion 306b, corresponding to the stopper in the invention, from moving in the width direction Y. Such a configuration restricts the output tray 5 from being displaced with respect to the lower tray 3 in the width direction Y.

Further, the output tray 5 includes the walls 504, 505 corresponding to the receiver-side wall and erected along the outer periphery of the output tray 5 as shown in FIG. 6B, and the lower tray 3 includes the wall 312 corresponding to the base-side wall in the invention and erected along the outer periphery of the lower tray 3 as shown in FIG. 7A, such that when the output tray 5 is attached to the lower tray 3 the walls 504, 505 are located downstream of the wall 312 in the feed direction X and the walls 504, 505 and the wall 312 are opposed to each other in the feed direction X.

Therefore, when the output tray 5 is attached to the lower tray 3 the walls 504, 505 are restricted by the wall 312, corresponding to the stopper in the invention, from moving to the upstream side in the feed direction X. Such a configuration restricts the output tray 5 from being displaced with respect to the lower tray 3 in the feed direction X.

Embodiment 2

In the embodiment 1, the walls 503, 506 of the output tray 5 are located on the inner side of the wall portion 306b of the lower tray 3 when the output tray 5 is attached to the lower tray 3. In a sheet cassette (recording medium cassette) according to an embodiment 2, in contrast, a wall of an output tray is located on the outer side of a wall of a lower tray.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view from below showing the output tray 100, corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, provided in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 2. The output tray 100 includes walls 102, 103 erected downward and extending in the feed direction X along the outer periphery of the output tray 100 on the respective end portions in the width direction Y.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view from above showing a feed tray 110, corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, provided in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 2. While the sheet cassette 2 according to the embodiment 1 includes the upper tray 4 and the lower tray 3, the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 2 only includes the feed tray 110.

A printer according to the embodiment 2 includes the feeding unit 30, the recording unit 40, and the discharging unit 50 described with reference to the embodiment 1. A paper sheet P5 placed on a sheet placement surface 118 of the feed tray 110 is transported toward the recording unit 40 by the feeding unit 30, and after undergoing the recording operation by the recording unit 40 the paper sheet P5 is discharged to a discharged sheet receiving surface 101 of the output tray 100 by the discharging unit 50.

The position of the edge of the paper sheet P5 in the width direction Y is delimited by an edge guide 116 shown in FIG. 10B. In addition, the position of the edge of the paper sheet P5 in the feed direction X is delimited by an edge guide 117.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the feed tray 110 includes walls 111, 112 extending in the feed direction X along the outer periphery of the feed tray 110 on the respective end portions in the width direction Y. The walls 111, 112 each include a wall portion 111a, 112a and a stepped portion 111b, 112b, erected upward and extending in the feed direction X. In addition, the feed tray 110 includes projection 113a, 113b, 114a, 114b each protruding outward in the width direction Y.

FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing a sheet cassette 119, in which the output tray 100 is attached to the feed tray 110. When the output tray 100 is attached to the feed tray 110, the walls 102, 103 of the output tray 100 are respectively located on the outer side of the wall portions 111a, 112a of the feed tray 110 in the width direction Y. Here, the wall 102 and the wall portion 111a are opposed to each other in the width direction Y. Likewise, the wall 103 and the wall portion 112a are opposed to each other in the width direction Y. Accordingly, the walls 102, 103 are restricted from moving in the width direction Y by the wall portions 111a, 112a, corresponding to the stopper in the invention.

Further, the walls 102, 103 of the output tray 100 are respectively made to abut the stepped portions 111b, 112b of the feed tray 110. Therefore, the position of the output tray 100 in the vertical direction Z is determined.

The wall 102 has generally the same length (but not longer) as the distance between the projection 113a and the projection 113b in the feed direction X, so that the wall 102 is fitted between the projection 113a and the projection 113b. Likewise, the wall 103 has generally the same length (but not longer) as the distance between the projection 114a and the projection 114b in the feed direction X, so that the wall 103 is fitted between the projection 114a and the projection 114b.

Therefore, when the output tray 100 is attached to the feed tray 110, the walls 102, 103 of the output tray 100 are restricted from moving in the feed direction X, by the projections 113a, 113b, 114a, 114b corresponding to the stopper in the invention.

Thus, the sheet cassette 119 according to this embodiment includes the feed tray 110 including the sheet placement surface 118 on which the paper sheet P5 is to be placed, and the output tray 100 disposed above the sheet placement surface 118 and including the discharged sheet receiving surface 101 on which the paper sheet P5 discharged from the discharging unit 50 is to be placed, the output tray 100 being removably attached to the feed tray 110. Here, the feed tray 110 corresponds to the first sheet placement base in the invention; the paper sheet P5 corresponds to the first recording medium in the invention; and the output tray 100 corresponds to the recorded medium receiver in the invention.

With the mentioned configuration, the sheet placement surface 118 is exposed upon removing the output tray 100 from the feed tray 110, and therefore the user can easily place the paper sheet P5 on the sheet placement surface 118.

Embodiment 3

In a sheet cassette (recording medium cassette) according to an embodiment 3, an output tray is removably attached to a feed tray by means of projections formed on the output tray and bores formed in the feed tray. FIG. 11A is a perspective view from below showing the output tray 120 of the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 3. FIG. 11B is perspective view from above showing a portion of the feed tray 123 where the bore 124 is formed, in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 3.

A printer according to the embodiment 3 includes the feeding unit 30, the recording unit 40, and the discharging unit 50 described with reference to the embodiment 1. A paper sheet (not shown) placed on the feed tray 123, corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, is transported toward the recording unit 40 by the feeding unit 30, and after undergoing the recording operation by the recording unit 40 the paper sheet is discharged to a discharged sheet receiving surface 122 of the output tray 120, corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, by the discharging unit 50.

The output tray 120 includes four projections 121 sticking out downward from outer peripheral positions on the lower face of the output tray 120. The feed tray 123 includes a wall 125 formed along the outer periphery thereof, the wall 125 including the bores 124, corresponding to the recess in the invention, in which the projections 121 can be respectively inserted when the output tray 120 is attached to the feed tray 123. Thus, the output tray 120 is removably attached to the feed tray 123 by means of the bores 124 corresponding to the stopper in the invention, and restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X and the width direction Y. Here, the positional relationship between the bores 124 and the projections 121 may be reversed.

Embodiment 4

In a sheet cassette (recording medium cassette) according to an embodiment 4, an output tray is removably attached to a feed tray by means of projections formed on the output tray and slots formed in the feed tray. FIG. 12A is a perspective view from below showing the output tray 130 provided in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 4. FIG. 12B is a perspective view from above showing a portion of the feed tray 133 where the slot 134 is formed, in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 4.

A printer according to the embodiment 4 includes the feeding unit 30, the recording unit 40, and the discharging unit 50 described with reference to the embodiment 1. A paper sheet (not shown) placed on the feed tray 133, corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, is transported toward the recording unit 40 by the feeding unit 30, and after undergoing the recording operation by the recording unit 40 the paper sheet is discharged to a discharged sheet receiving surface 132 of the output tray 130, corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, by the discharging unit 50.

The output tray 130 includes a plurality of projections 131 sticking out downward from outer peripheral positions on the lower face of the output tray 130. The feed tray 133 includes a wall 135 formed along the outer periphery thereof, the wall 135 including the slots 134, corresponding to the recess in the invention, in which the projections 131 can be respectively inserted when the output tray 130 is attached to the feed tray 133. Thus, the output tray 130 is removably attached to the feed tray 133 by means of the slots 134 corresponding to the stopper in the invention, and restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X and the width direction Y. Here, the positional relationship between the slots 134 and the projections 131 may be reversed.

Embodiment 5

In a sheet cassette (recording medium cassette) according to an embodiment 5, an output tray is removably attached to a feed tray by means of magnets provided on the output tray and iron members provided on the feed tray. FIG. 13A is a perspective view from below showing the output tray 140 provided in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 5. FIG. 13B is a perspective view from above showing a portion of the feed tray 143 where the iron member 144 is located, in the sheet cassette according to the embodiment 5.

A printer according to the embodiment 5 includes the feeding unit 30, the recording unit 40, and the discharging unit 50 described with reference to the embodiment 1. A paper sheet (not shown) placed on the feed tray 143, corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention, is transported toward the recording unit 40 by the feeding unit 30, and after undergoing the recording operation by the recording unit 40 the paper sheet is discharged to a discharged sheet receiving surface 142 of the output tray 140, corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention, by the discharging unit 50.

The output tray 140 includes a plurality of magnets 141 located at outer peripheral positions of the output tray 140. The feed tray 143 includes the iron members 144 that can be respectively coupled with the magnets 141, located on a wall 145 formed along the outer periphery of the feed tray 143. Thus, the output tray 140 is removably attached to the feed tray 143 by means of the iron members 144 corresponding to the stopper in the invention, and restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X and the width direction Y. Here, the output tray may include the iron members 144 and the feed tray 143 may include the magnets 141 that can be coupled with the iron members 144 thus serving as the stopper in the invention.

Embodiment 6

In a sheet cassette (recording medium cassette) according to an embodiment 6, an output tray is pivotably attached to a feed tray. FIG. 14A is a perspective view showing the output tray 151, corresponding to the recorded medium receiver in the invention. The output tray 151 includes a pair of column-shaped projections 153, corresponding to the pivotal shaft in the invention, located at the downstream end portion in the feed direction X and at the respective end portions in the width direction Y.

FIGS. 14B and 14C are perspective views showing the sheet cassette 150 in which the output tray 151 is attached to the feed tray 158 corresponding to the first sheet placement base in the invention. A paper sheet P6 corresponding to the first recording medium in the invention is placed on a sheet placement surface 159 of the feed tray 158. The positions of the respective edges of the paper sheet P6 in the width direction Y are delimited by pair of edge guides 156. The position of the upstream edge of the paper sheet P6 in the feed direction X is delimited by an edge guide 157. A discharged sheet receiving surface 152 of the output tray 151 serves to receive the paper sheet that has undergone the recording operation and been discharged.

The feed tray 158 includes walls 155 formed along the respective end portions in the width direction Y, the walls 155 each including a cutaway portion 154, corresponding to the bearing in the invention and configured to rotatably support the projection 153. Accordingly, the output tray 151 can be made to pivot about a pivotal shaft S3, as indicated by an arrow D4 in FIG. 14C. Here, the cutaway portion 154 also serves as the stopper that restricts the output tray 151 from being displaced in the feed direction X.

Since the cutaway portion 154 is open upward, the projection 153 can be easily engaged with or disengaged from the cutaway portion 154. Such a configuration facilitates the output tray 151 to be attached to or removed from the feed tray 158.

Thus, the output tray 151 can be restricted from being displaced in the feed direction X when the output tray 151 is attached to the feed tray 158. In addition, the entirety of the sheet placement surface 159 is exposed upon removing the output tray 151 from the feed tray 158, and therefore the user can easily place the paper sheet P6 on the sheet placement surface 159.

A printer according to the embodiment 6 includes the feeding unit 30, the recording unit 40, and the discharging unit 50 described with reference to the embodiment 1. Although the projection 153 is provided at the downstream end portion of the output tray 151 in the feed direction X in the embodiment 6, the cutaway portion 154 may be located at the upstream end portion of the wall 155 in the feed direction X, and the projection 153 may be located at the upstream end portion of the output tray 151 in the feed direction X.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-225746, filed Oct. 11, 2012 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Claims

1. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording medium cassette removably attached to a casing and including a first sheet placement base on which a first recording medium is to be placed;a feed roller that delivers the first recording medium placed on the first sheet placement base in a feed direction;a recording unit that performs a recording operation on the first recording medium delivered by the feed roller; anda recorded medium receiver removably attached to the recording medium cassette at a position above the first sheet placement base in a vertical direction, and configured to receive the first recording medium discharged from the recording unit.

2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper that restricts the recorded medium receiver from being displaced with respect to the recording medium cassette in at least one of the feed direction and a width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the recording medium cassette.

3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recorded medium receiver includes a receiver-side wall erected along an outer periphery of the recorded medium receiver,the stopper includes a base-side wall erected along an outer periphery of the first sheet placement base, andthe receiver-side wall and the base-side wall are opposed to each other in at least one of the feed direction and the width direction of the first recording medium, when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the first sheet placement base.

4. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recorded medium receiver includes one of a projection and a recess formed at an end portion,the stopper includes the other of the projection and the recess formed at an end portion of the first sheet placement base, andthe projection is inserted in the recess when the recorded medium receiver is attached to the first sheet placement base.

5. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recorded medium receiver includes, at an end portion thereof, one of a magnet and an iron member that can be stuck to the magnet, andthe stopper includes the other of the magnet and the iron member that can be stuck to the magnet located at an end portion of the first sheet placement base.

6. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recorded medium receiver includes, at an end portion thereof, one of a pivotal shaft and a bearing,the stopper includes the other of the pivotal shaft and the bearing provided at an end portion of the first sheet placement base, andthe recorded medium receiver is pivotable with respect to the first sheet placement base.

7. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second sheet placement base disposed in the recording medium cassette between the first sheet placement base and the recorded medium receiver, the second sheet placement base being shorter than the first sheet placement base in the feed direction and configured to receive a second recording medium, wherein the second sheet placement base is enabled to pivot with respect to the recording medium cassette when the recorded medium receiver is removed from the recording medium cassette.