Patent Grant
7384038
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet transport device transporting a sheet via a predetermined transport path. This invention is applicable particularly to an image reading apparatus such as a facsimile and photocopier; however, its application is not limited to the above cases, and the invention is useful for other types of apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
The sheet transport device transports a sheet from a sheet tray to a discharge tray via a transport path. The discharge tray is attached to a main body of the sheet transport device with a hinge member for the purpose of downsizing the device. The discharge tray is bent toward the device main body when the sheet transport device is not in use and is so opened as to retain the sheet when using the sheet transport device.
A sheet tray wherein an auxiliary tray is coupled rotatably thereto with a hinge member which is formed of a projection member made from an elastic material and a bearing has been known. The auxiliary tray comes off the sheet tray because of elastic deformation of the projection member when an impact or a load larger than a bearable load is applied on the auxiliary tray. Therefore, the auxiliary tray is not damaged even when impact or load larger than the bearable load is applied on the auxiliary tray. Also, the projection member returns to its original shape without being damaged. The auxiliary tray is attached again to the sheet tray by the use of the projection member.
A sheet tray provided with an extension tray which is rotatable about a main tray has been known. When the extension tray is opened, it is possible to house a sheet having a size larger than the main tray. The sheet tray is compact in size when the extension tray is closed.
A sheet feeding device feeding a recording paper placed on a sheet tray to an image forming device through a sheet feed opening, which is provided with a cover member rotating in such a fashion as to open and close the sheet feed opening has been known. The cover member prevents entry of contaminants through the sheet feed opening.
The above technologies are disclosed in JP-A-10-167547 published on Jun. 23, 1998, JP-A-2003-201054 published on Jul. 15, 2003, and JP-A-2002-2975 published on Jan. 9, 2002.
A footprint of the sheet transport device is reduced when the discharge tray is capable of opening/closing and closed in such a fashion as not to project from the device when the device is not in use. The discharge tray is prevented from being damaged when the discharge tray is capable of coming off the device main body when an excessive force is applied on the discharge tray. The discharge tray may come off by an external force when the discharge tray is closed. However, when the discharge tray is closed, it is unlikely that the discharge tray will be damaged. It is undesirable that the discharge tray comes off when the discharge tray is closed.
An opening other than the sheet feed opening connecting to an internal portion of the device is formed on a housing of the sheet transport device for various purposes. Contaminants may enter the internal portion of the device through the opening. Particularly, if the contaminants are fallen on a control substrate, an electrical failure can be caused by the contaminants. Various electrical wirings are connected to the control substrate. In view of assembly of the wirings and the like, it is undesirable to cover the control substrate with a cover before finishing the wirings.
This invention has been accomplished in view of the above-described background. An object of this invention is to provide a sheet transport device wherein a discharge tray comes off when a load of sheets or a load by impact which is larger than a bearable load of the discharge tray is applied on the discharge tray in a retention posture, and the discharge tray never comes off when the discharge tray is in a bending posture.
Another object of this invention is to prevent contaminants entering an internal portion of the device through an opening formed on a housing of the device from falling on a control substrate.
These and other objects of this invention and an effect of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.
(1) A sheet transport device according to this invention comprises: a sheet tray on which a sheet to be transported is placed; a device main body provided with a transport path led from the sheet tray to a discharge outlet; a transport mechanism for transporting the sheet from the sheet tray to the discharge outlet via the transport path; shafts projecting from positions in the vicinity of opposite ends of the discharge outlet of the device main body to horizontal directions opposite to each other; a discharge tray having a main tray which retains the discharged sheet and is provided with bearings for the shafts; and locking members provided in the vicinity of the shafts of the device main body.
Each of the bearings of the discharge tray is fitted to the relevant one of the shafts of the device main body. Because of the fitting of the bearings to the shafts, the discharge tray changes its posture between a bending posture wherein a main tray is bent to the device main body and a retention posture wherein the main tray projects from the device main body to retain the sheet discharged from the discharge outlet.
The discharge tray is capable of elastic deformation in such a fashion that each of the bearings moves toward a front end of the relevant shaft. For instance, a load is applied on the main tray when plural sheets are retained in the main tray of the discharge tray in the retention posture. The load is transmitted to the shafts of the device main body via the bearings. The discharge tray is capable of elastic deformation in such a fashion that each of the bearings moves toward a front end of the relevant shaft. The discharge tray is deformed elastically when the load is applied on the main tray so that the bearings move toward the front ends of the shafts.
The locking members lock the bearings of the discharge tray in the bending posture. This locking restrains the bearings from moving toward the front ends of the shafts even when the discharge tray elastically deforms due to a certain external force applied on the discharge tray. Because the movements of the bearings are thus restrained, the discharge tray does not come off the device main body in the bending posture. The locking members allow the bearings of the discharge tray in the retention posture to move toward the front ends of the shafts. As described in the foregoing, the bearings move toward the front ends of the shafts when the load is applied on the main tray of the discharge tray in the retention posture because of the elastic deformation of the discharge tray. With an increase in load applied on the main tray, the movements of the bearings are increased. When a load larger than a predetermined one is applied on the main tray, the bearings come off the shafts, i.e. the discharge tray comes off the device main body.
(2) Each of the shafts may preferably be reduced in diameter to its front end in a tapered fashion. When the load is applied on the main tray of the discharge tray in the retention posture, the load is transmitted to the shafts of the device main body via the bearings. Since each of the shafts is reduced in diameter to the front end in tapered fashion, the bearing moves toward the front end in such a manner as to slide down the shaft. Thus, the bearings move readily toward the front ends of the shafts in accordance with the load applied on the main tray.
(3) The discharge tray may preferably retain the sheet on a top face of the main tray when the discharge tray is in the retention posture. Each of the bearings may preferably be provided with a projection piece projecting in a direction upward from the top face of the main tray and having a shaft hole.
(4) Each of the locking members may preferably project in a direction approaching to the shaft at a position closer to the front end of the shaft than to the bearing fitted to the shaft. The projection piece of each of the bearings may be provided with a locking rib. The locking rib extends in such a fashion that an outer rim thereof is situated outside an edge of the locking member in a radial direction of the shaft when the discharge tray is in the bending posture and that the outer rim is situated inside the edge of the locking member in the radial direction of the shaft when the discharge tray is in the retention posture.
(5) The locking rib may be formed on one of the bearings of the discharge tray. With at least one of the bearings being provided with the locking rib, the bearing never comes off the shaft when the discharge tray is in the bending posture. That is, the discharge tray does not come off the device main body completely.
(6) The discharge tray may preferably project in a horizontal direction from a position in the vicinity of the discharge outlet of the device main body in the retention posture.
(7) The discharge tray may preferably cover an operation panel provided on the device main body in the bending posture. With the operation panel covered with the discharge tray, inadvertent input to the operation panel is prevented when the device is not used.
(8) The operation panel may be provided with a liquid crystal display unit. The discharge tray may be provided with a window for making the liquid crystal display unit visible when the discharge tray is in the bending posture. Contents displayed on the liquid crystal display unit are confirmed through the window when the discharge tray is in the bending posture.
(9) The window of the discharge tray may be provided with a transparent member. Due to the transparent member, contents displayed on the liquid crystal display unit are confirmed when the discharge tray is in the bending posture. Further, unwanted contact onto the liquid crystal display unit is prevented.
(10) The discharge tray may be provided with an extension tray capable of moving in and out of the main tray. The extension tray changes its posture between an extension posture for projecting from an end of the main tray and a housing posture for being housed in the main tray. When the extension tray is in the extension posture, an area for retaining the sheet on the extension tray is added to the area for retaining the sheet by a main tray. Due to the extension tray, the discharge tray retains a sheet having a larger size. When the extension tray is in the housing posture, a size of the discharge tray is reduced.
(11) As described in the foregoing, according to this invention, the bearings move a distance longer than a length of the shafts to cause the discharge tray to come off the device main body when the load of sheet, the load of impact, or the like larger than the predetermined degree is applied on the discharge tray in the retention posture. Because the discharge tray thus comes of f the device main body, the bearings and the shafts are prevented from being damaged when the load larger than a bearable load is applied on the discharge tray. In the bending posture, the locking members lock the bearings to restrain the bearings to move in the shaft direction. Because the bearings are thus restrained, the discharge tray is prevented from coming off the device main body.
Hereinafter, this invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings and based on preferred embodiments.
(Overall Structure)
The multifunction device 1 is connected principally to a computer (external information appliance) which is not shown. Image data of the document read by the scanner unit 2 are transmitted to the computer. In the case of using the multifunction device 1 as a facsimile, image data read by the scanner unit 2 are transmitted by telephotography to a telephone line via a facsimile modem. The printer unit 3 records an image and/or a text on a recording paper based on print data including the image data and/or the text data transmitted from the computer. It is possible to connect the multifunction device 1 to an external appliance such as a digital camera. When the multifunction device 1 is connected to a digital camera, the printer unit 3 records an image on a recording paper based on image data output from the digital camera. It is possible to insert various information storage mediums such as a memory card into the multifunction device 1. When a information storage medium is inserted into the multifunction device 1, the printer unit 3 records an image on a recording paper based on image data or the like recorded on the information storage medium. Also, facsimile data received by the multifunction device 1 via a telephone line are recorded on a recording paper by the printer unit 3.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
An operation panel 4 (input unit) is provided on the top face of the top cover 11. The operation panel 4 is exposed when the discharger tray 21 is opened as shown in
A card slot unit 6 is provided at a left hand side of a front face of the multifunction device 1. It is possible to insert a small size memory card which is a information storage medium in the card slot unit 6. Various slots are formed in accordance with various different standards in the card slot unit 6 so that various different small size memory cards can be inserted into the card slot unit 6. Image data recorded on the small size memory card inserted into the card slot unit 6 are read out by the controller of the multifunction device 1. Information relating to the read out image data is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5. Arbitrary image data among the image data recorded on the small size memory card are recorded on a recording paper by the printer unit 3 based on an input to the operation panel 4.
(Structure of Scanner Unit 2)
Hereinafter, a structure of the scanner unit 2 will be described in detail. The scanner unit 2 is of a sheet-feed type which is capable of reading an image of a document(sheet) in the course of a transport of the document from a document chute 22 (sheet tray) to a discharge tray 21. Such document transport is realized by the sheet transport device according to this invention.
As shown in
The document chute 22 is provided with the document guide 20 which opens and closes by using the rear side as a supporting point. The document guide 20 is provided rotatably on the top cover 11 by way of the hinge structure. As shown in
As shown in
A discharge outlet 25 is formed on the front face of the top cover 11. The discharge outlet 25 has a width which is a little wider than the maximum document width readable by the scanner unit 2. The document is discharged from the discharge outlet 25 after being transferred on a transport path 38 (see
The discharge tray 21 has a flat main tray 28 and bearings 29. The main tray 28 is used for holding the document after being read. The main tray 28 has a width which is a little wider than the maximum document width readable by the scanner unit 2. The main tray width is wider than the width of the discharge outlet 25. A document stopper rib 30 is formed at each of side rims of the main tray 28 in such a fashion as to project upward. The document stopper ribs 30 prevent the document discharged on the main tray 28 from being falling down from the sides of the main tray 28.
The bearings 29 are provided at ends of a rear edge of the discharge tray 21. The bearings 29 are fitted to the shafts 27 of the top cover 11. Because of the fitting of the shafts 27 and the bearings 29, the discharge tray 21 is rotatable about the shafts 27. As shown in
A pair of guide ribs 31 is formed on the top face of the main tray 28 along a direction of document discharge. Guide grooves are formed on opposed faces of the guide ribs 31. An extension tray 32 is provided in such a fashion as to be held between the guide ribs 31. The extension tray 32 is capable of slidably moving with being guided by the guide ribs 31. The extension tray 32 slidably moves to appear from a front edge of the main tray 28. In other words, the extension tray 32 changes its posture between an extension posture wherein the extension tray 32 projects from the front edge of the main tray 28 in the document discharge direction and a housing posture wherein the extension tray 32 is housed in the main tray 28. Shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Hereinafter, the fitting structure of the top cover 11 and the discharge tray 21 will be described in detail. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In the axial direction of the shaft 27, the stopper 37 is disposed at a position closer to the front end of the shaft 27 than to a projection piece 34 of the bearing 29 fitted to the shaft 27. In other words, the stopper 37 is disposed outside of the main cover 11 on the recessed face 26a of the notch 26. Because of the location of the stopper 37, a space is defined between a side face 26b of the notch 26 which is in the interior portion of the main cover 11 and the stopper 37. This space is used for the rotation of the bearing 29 fitted to the shaft 27 near the rear end of the shaft 27.
In the radial direction of the shaft 27, the stopper 37 is projected in a direction approaching from the recessed face 26a of the notch 26 to the shaft 27 so as to form a predetermined gap. The gap in the radial direction between the shaft 27 and the stopper 37 is defined by a relationship between the projection piece 34 and the locking rib 36. The relationship will be described later in this specification.
As shown in
As shown in
As described in the foregoing, the gap is formed between the shaft 27 and the stopper 37 in the radial direction of the shaft 27. In the state where the bearing 29 is fitted to the shaft 27, the gap has the size larger than the projection of the projection piece 34 in the radial direction of the shaft 27. In other words, the stopper 37 dos not contact with the projection piece 34 when the projection piece 34 is fitted to the shaft 27. Or, as shown in
The gap between the shaft 27 and the stopper 37 has the size smaller than the projection of the locking rib 36 in the radial direction of the shaft 27. In other words, the stopper 37 locks the locking rib 36 when the discharge tray is in the bending posture as shown in
In the case where the discharge tray 21 is in the bending posture, the locking ribs 36 are locked by the stoppers 37 in the course of the movement from the rear ends to the front ends of the shafts 27. When the locking ribs 36 are locked by the stoppers 37, the bearings 29 of the discharge tray 21 in the bending posture are inhibited from moving further from the stoppers 37 toward the front ends of the shafts 27. When the stoppers 37 do not lock the locking ribs 36, the bearings 29 of the discharge tray 21 move toward the front ends of the shafts 27. As shown in
The discharge tray 21 is capable of elastic deformation so that the bearings 29 move toward the front ends of the shafts 27. The discharge tray 21 is a molded article made from a synthetic resin, for example. The discharge tray 21 is elastically deformed by an external force. The external force is a weight of documents retained by the discharge tray 21 or an impact applied on the discharge tray 21, for example. The elastic deformation of the discharge tray 21 occurs mainly in the main tray 28 without limitation thereto. For instance, the bearings 29 are moved toward the front ends of the shafts 27 when the document stopper ribs 30 of the main tray 28 are elastically deformed in such a fashion as to bend outward.
As shown in
When the discharge tray 21 is in the retention posture, the discharge tray 21 is supported by the shafts 27. The load of the documents G piled up on the main tray 28 is transmitted to the shafts 27 via the shaft holes 35 of the projection pieces 34 of the bearings 29. Each of the shafts 27 supports the relevant one of projection pieces 34 at an upper part of its periphery. The shaft 27 is reduced in diameter toward the front end in tapered fashion. The upper part of the periphery of the shaft 27 is so sloped as to descending toward the front end. The load of the documents G is exerted in a vertical direction with respect to the projection piece 34. In view of the slope on the upper part of the shaft 27, the load of the documents G is distributed in directions vertical and horizontal to the slope. The force in the direction horizontal to the slope is the force moving the projection piece 34 towards the front end of the shaft 27. In order to move the projection piece 34 toward the front end of the shaft 27, it is necessary that the discharge tray 21 should be elastically deformed. That is, the force in the direction horizontal to the slope is the force elastically deforming the discharge tray 21.
In the case where the load of the documents G is small, i.e. the number of the documents G is small, it is difficult to elastically deform the discharge tray 21 by a large scale. With the increase in the number of the documents G, the load of the documents G is increased. The force in the direction horizontal to the slope of the shaft 27 is enhanced in proportion to the load. That is, the force for moving the projection piece 34 toward the front end of the shaft 27 by the elastic deformation of the discharge tray 21 is increased in proportion to the load. When the load of the documents G is increased, the projection piece 34 moves by a large scale toward the front end of the shaft 27. When the discharge tray 21 is in the retention posture, each of the locking ribs 36 is not locked by the stopper 37. That is, the stopper 37 allows the movement of the projection piece 34 toward the front end of the shaft 27. When the load by the documents G reaches a predetermined degree, the projection pieces 34 come off the shafts 27. That is, the discharge tray 21 comes off the top cover 11. A degree of the load required for removing the discharge tray 21 from the top cover 11 is decided in view of strengths of the shafts 27 and the discharge tray 21. It is undesirable that the shafts 27 and the discharge tray 21 are damaged by the weight of the retained documents G or the external impact. It is preferable that the discharge tray 21 comes off the top cover 11 in the case where the load damaging the shafts 27 and/or the discharge tray 21 is applied thereto.
As shown in
When the main tray 28 of the discharge tray 21 in the bending posture is elastically deformed by the user to approach the top cover 11, the projection pieces 34 of the bearings 29 move toward the front ends of the shafts 27. When the projection pieces 34 move toward the front ends of the shafts 27, the locking ribs 36 are locked by the stoppers 37 as shown in
In addition, it is not always necessary to form the locking rib 36 on each of the projection pieces 34 of the bearings 29 formed at the ends the discharge tray. One locking lib 36 may be formed on one of the projection pieces 34 of the bearings 29. So far as the locking rib 36 is formed on one of the bearings 29, at least the bearing 29 on which the locking rib 36 is formed is not removed from the shaft 27 when the discharge tray 21 is in the bending posture. That is, the discharge tray 21 is not removed completely from the top cover 11.
As described in the foregoing, in the case where the load by documents G or the load by impact which is larger than a predetermined degree is applied on the discharge tray 21 in the retention posture, the bearings 29 travel the distance which is longer than a length of the shafts 27 so that the discharge tray 21 comes off the top cover 11. Since the discharge tray 21 can come off the top cover 11, damages of the bearings 29 and the shafts 27 are prevented when a load which is larger than a bearing force of the discharge tray 21 is applied on the discharge tray 21. It is possible to attach the discharge tray 21 to the top cover 11 after the discharge tray 21 has been removed from the top cover 11 without any damages on the shafts 27 and the bearings 29. In the case where the discharge tray 21 is in the bending posture, the stoppers 37 lock the locking ribs 36 to restrain the projection pieces 34 of the bearings 29 from reaching the front ends of the shafts 27. The discharge tray 21 is prevented from coming off the top cover 11 because of the restraint on movement of the bearings 29.
As shown in
As shown in
The suction roller 39 is positioned most upstream on the transport path 38. A part of a roller surface of the suction roller 39 is exposed from the lower guide face 38L forming the intermediate frame 12. The suction roller 39 rotates upon reception of a drive transmission. The suction roller 39 is provided with a one lap clutch in a drive transmission path. Because of the one lap clutch, the suction roller 39 is capable of idle running for one lap.
The separation roller 40 is disposed at a position adjacent to the suction roller 39 in a direction of the discharge outlet 25 of the transport path 38. A part of a roller surface of the separation roller 40 is exposed from the lower guide face 38L forming the intermediate frame 12. The separation roller 40 rotates upon reception of the drive transmission.
As shown in
A separation nip piece 45 is provided at a position opposed to the separation roller 40. The separation nip piece 45 is provided on the top cover 11 in such a fashion as to project from the undersurface of the top cover 11 and slides in directions departing from and approaching to the separation roller 40. The separation nip piece 45 is elastically biased downward by a spring member. In a state where the document is not nipped, the suction nip piece 45 is in pressure contact with the roller surface of the separation roller 40. The document inserted into the document chute 22 is in pressure contact with the separation roller 40. The separation roller 40 does not run idle. A document insertion limit of the document chute 22 is detected by this contact. The document transferred by the suction roller 39 is then nipped between the separation roller 40 and the separation nip piece 45. The thus-nipped document is in pressure contact with the roller surface of the separation roller 40. When the separation roller 40 is rotated with the document being in the pressure contact therewith, a rotational force of the separation roller 40 is transmitted to the document. The document receives the rotational force of the separation roller 40 to be transferred to the transport path 38.
The feed roller 41 is disposed at a position adjacent to the separation roller 40 in a direction of the discharge outlet 25 of the transport path 38. The feed roller 41 is disposed on the top cover 11 in such a fashion as to expose its roller surface from the undersurface of the top cover 11. The feed roller 41 rotates upon reception of the drive transmission.
The pinch roller 43 is provided at a position opposed to the feed roller 41. A part of the roller surface of the pinch roller 43 is exposed from the top face of the intermediate frame 12. The pinch roller 43 has its shaft elastically biased by a spring piece. Due to the elastic biasing, the pinch roller 43 is in pressure contact with the roller surface of the feed roller 41. When the feed roller 41 is rotated, the pinch roller 43 is driven. The document transferred to the transport path 38 by the suction roller 39 and the separation roller 40 is then nipped between the feed roller 41 and the pinch roller 43. The thus-nipped document is in pressure contact with the roller surface of the feed roller 41. When the feed roller 41 is rotated with the document being in pressure contact therewith, a rotational force of the feed roller 41 is transmitted to the document. The document receives the rotational force to be transferred further downstream on the transport path 38.
The discharge roller 42 is disposed in the vicinity of the discharge outlet 25 of the transport path 38. The discharge roller 42 is disposed on the top cover 11 in such a fashion as to expose its roller surface from the undersurface of the top cover 11. The discharge roller 42 is rotated upon reception of the drive transmission.
The pinch roller 46 is provided at a position opposed to the discharge roller 42. A part of a roller surface of the pinch roller 46 is exposed from the top face of the intermediate frame 12. The pinch roller has its shaft elastically biased by a spring piece. Because of the elastic biasing, the pinch roller 46 is in pressure contact with the roller surface of the discharge roller 42. When the discharge roller 42 is rotated, the pinch roller 46 is driven. The document transferred by the feed roller 41 is then nipped between the discharge roller 42 and the pinch roller 46. The thus-nipped document is in pressure contact with the roller surface of the discharge roller 42. When the discharge roller 42 is rotated with the document being in pressure contact therewith, a rotational force of the discharge roller 42 is transmitted to the document. The document receives the rotational force to be discharged from the discharge outlet 25.
A platen glass 47 is disposed on the top face of the intermediate frame 12 at a position between the feed roller 41 and the discharge roller 42. The platen glass 47 forms a part of the lower guide face 38L of the transport path 38. The platen glass 47 is a transparent glass plate. A top face of the platen glass 47 is a document reading position.
An image sensor 48 is disposed under the platen glass 47. The intermediate frame 12 has a sensor holder unit 49 which is used for placing the image sensor 48 thereon and recessed under the platen glass 47. The holder unit 49 is provided with a support unit for supporting the platen glass 47, a boss unit for threadably mounting the components, a through-hole for electrical wiring, and the like; however, detailed description for them are omitted since they are designed depending on the embodiment of the intermediate frame 12.
The image sensors 48 are contact image sensor (CIS). The image sensor 48 emits light using a light source such as an LED on the document through the platen glass 47. Light reflected from the document is converged on light receiving elements by a lens of the image sensor 48. The light receiving elements convert intensity of the reflected light into electric signals. The light receiving elements of the image sensor 48 are arranged in a line in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport path 38. The direction orthogonal to the transport direction is the width direction of the multifunction device 1. The light source and the lens of the image sensor 48 are also arranged in a line in the same direction of the alignment of the light receiving elements. The image sensor 48 may be selected arbitrarily from one that reads monochrome images and one that reads color images.
The document transferred on the transport path 38 by the feed roller 41 passes on the platen glass 47. When the document passes on the platen glass 47, the image sensor 48 reads an image of the document. The document image reading by the image sensor 48 is performed in a width direction of the document, i.e., the reading line (main scanning) is in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction. The document is transferred for a predetermined distance by the feed roller 41 so that the image sensor performs next document image reading. Document image reading of the overall document is performed by repeating this operation from a leading edge to a rear edge of the document.
The image sensor 48 is mounted on the sensor holder unit 49 of the intermediate frame 12. An electric cable 50 is connected to the image sensor 48 for the purposes of power supply for lighting the light source and receiving electric signals output from the light receiving elements and the like. The electric cable 50 is used for electrically connecting the image sensor 48 to a control substrate 51. The electric cable 50 is formed of a plurality of conductors which are arranged in a line, and the conductors are coated with an insulating material for insulating coating. An overall shape of the electric cable 50 is a flat film-like. The electric cable 50 has a flexibility. Such electric cable 50 is generally referred to as a flat cable. The control substrate 51 is disposed below the image sensor 48. The control substrate 51 forms the controller for controlling the operation of the scanner unit 2. The electric cable 50 is connected to a connector 51a of the control substrate 51.
As shown in
An opening 53 is formed on the wall 52. The opening 53 is formed for the purpose of assembling the multifunction device 1. The assembly is principally the connection of the electric cable 50 connected to the image sensor 48 to the control substrate 51. As described in the foregoing, the image sensor 48 is mounted on the sensor holder unit 49 of the intermediate frame 12. The mounting of the image sensor 48 on the intermediate frame 12 is performed before mounting the intermediate frame 12 on the main frame 10. One end of the electric cable 50 is connected to the image sensor 48 when the image sensor 48 is mounted on the intermediate frame 12. The intermediate frame 12 on which the image sensor 48 and other components have been mounted is mounted on the main frame 10.
The control substrate 51 is provided near the main frame 10. In other words, the control substrate 51 is not mounted on the intermediate frame 12. The electric cable 50 electrically connecting the image sensor 48 to the control substrate 51 is connected to the connector 51a of the control substrate 51 after the intermediate frame 12 has been mounted on the main frame 10.
The electric cable 50 connected to the image sensor 48 is at a position inside the intermediate frame 12. The intermediate frame 12 covers the control substrate 51 above the control substrate 51. In order to connect the electric cable 50 to the connector 51a of the control substrate 51 after mounting the intermediate frame 12 on the main frame 10, it is necessary to form an opening on the intermediate frame 12. The opening 53 is equivalent to such opening. The opening 53 has such size that a hand of a worker can pass therethrough to reach the control substrate 51.
The opening 53 is sealed with a cover 54 after being used for the connection of the electric cable 50. As shown in
The tray 56 is formed in such a fashion as to project from the lid member 53 toward the inside of the intermediate frame 12. The tray 56 is in the shape of a tray, and a periphery of the tray 56 projects upward. A top face of the tray 56 is capable of retaining contaminants such as paper dust, eraser grits, and small objects. As shown in
The tray 56 is not necessarily cover the control substrate 51 thoroughly. The control substrate 51 may be covered with another member. However, as described in the foregoing, a region in the vicinity of the connector 51a of the control substrate 51 is exposed through the opening 53 in order to connect the electric cable 50 to the connector 51a. The exposed region of the connector 51a is covered with the tray 56.
The lower guide face 38L of the intermediate frame 12 exists above the tray 56. The lower guide face 38L is provided with the suction roller 39 and the separation roller 40. The roller surfaces of the suction roller 39 and the separation roller 40 are exposed in a direction of the control substrate 51. In order to expose a part of each of the roller surfaces of the suction roller 39 and the separation roller 40 from the lower guide face 38L of the intermediate frame 12, through-holes are formed on the lower guide face 38L. Through-holes may be formed in order to fix bearings of the suction roller 39 and the separation roller 40 in some cases. Through-holes may be formed due to the molding of the intermediate frame 12 in other cases. That is, the through-holes are formed on the lower guide face 38L of the intermediate frame 12 not only for the suction roller 39 and the separation roller 40 but also for various other purposes.
Contaminants can enter the intermediate frame 12 through the through-holes formed on the lower guide face 38L. Representative examples of the contaminants include paper dust of document, eraser grits adhered to document, small object such as a paperclip, and the like. The contaminants are undesirable. There is concern that electrical failure can be caused by the contaminants fallen on the control substrate 51. The contaminants entered the intermediate frame 12 from the lower guide face 38L fall onto the tray 56. The contaminants are prevented from falling onto the control substrate 51 since the tray 56 receives the contaminants.
As shown in
The electric cable 50 has a length which is sufficient for being connected to the connector 51a of the control substrate 51 through the opening 53. That is, the electric cable 50 is long enough to vault when connected to the connector 51a. As described in the foregoing, the roller surfaces of the suction roller 39 and the separation roller 40 are exposed toward the direction of the control substrate 51. When the electric cable 50 contacts the suction roller 39 or the separation roller 40, the electric cable 50 can be damaged or entangled in the suction roller 39 or the separation roller 40 by the friction. In order to prevent the above troubles, the guide member 57 locates the electric cable beneath itself.
The guide member 57 is inserted into the opening 53 together with the tray 56 when fixing the cover 54 to the opening 53. The guide member 57 inserted into the opening places the electric cable 50 inside a space of the notch 62. When the guide member 57 is inserted into the opening 53 to such a degree that the lid member 55 of the cover 54 seals the opening 53, the electric cable 50 placed at the notch 62 contacts the slope 63. The slope of an undersurface of the slope 63 enables the slope 63 to guide the electric cable 50 in such a manner as to slide the electric cable 50 into a space under the slope 63. Since the electric cable 50 is thus guided to be pressed by the guide member 57 from above, the electric cable 50 does not vault. That is, the electric cable 50 is placed below the guide member 57 without fail. Since the electric cable 50 is pressed by the guide member 57 from above, the electric cable 50 is prevented from contacting the suction roller 39 or the separation roller 40.
(Structure of Printer Unit 3)
As shown in
As shown in
A feed path 74 of the printer unit 3 curves in such a fashion as to vault upwards from the separation slope 73 and extends in a direction from the rear face to the front face of the multifunction device 1. Further, the feed path 74 passes below an image recording unit 75 to reach the paper discharge unit 72. The recording paper housed in the paper feed unit 71 is transferred on the feed path 74. That is, the recording paper turns upwards in such a manner as to make a U-turn to reach the position below the image recording unit 75. The image recording unit 75 performs the image recording. After that, the recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge unit 72.
As shown in
The paper feed arm 77 is disposed in such a fashion as to swing vertically about its rear end. The paper feed arm 77 is declined toward the paper feed unit 71 in a standby state. The paper feed arm 77 is swung upward interlockingly with the withdrawal of the paper feed unit 71. In the state where the paper feed arm 77 is declined, the paper feed roller 76 is brought into a pressure contact with a surface of the recording paper on the paper feed unit 71. The uppermost recording paper is fed to the separation slope 73 when the paper feed roller 76 rotates. The recording paper is guided as its leading edge contacts the separation slope 73 to be fed to the feed path 74. The subsequent recording paper (recording paper directly beneath the uppermost recording paper) may be fed together with the uppermost recording paper due to friction or static electricity in some cases. The subsequent recording paper is stopped when it contacts the separation slope 73.
The feed path 74 has an outer guide face and an inner guide face which are opposed to each other with a predetermined distance provided therebetween and disposed avoiding the image recording unit 75 and other components. For instance, the outer guide face is formed integrally with the main frame 10 on the feed path 74 which is at the rear of the main frame 10. The inner guide face is formed of a guide member 79. The guide member 79 is fixed to the main frame 10.
Feed rollers 80 are provided on the feed path 74, particularly at the curvature of the feed path 74. Each of the feed rollers 80 is disposed in such a fashion that a part thereof is exposed from the outer guide face or the inner guide face. The feed rollers 80 are capable of rotating in an axial direction which is a direction of a width of the feed path 74. Because of the feed rollers 80, the feeding of the recording papers which contact the guide faces at the curvature on the feed path 74 is performed smoothly.
The image recording unit 75 has a carriage 82 on which an ink jet recording head 81 is mounted, the carriage reciprocating in the main scanning direction. Inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) are supplied to the inkjet recording head 81 from ink cartridges 92 disposed independently from the inkjet recording head 81 through ink tubes 94. The inkjet recording head 81 ejects each of the supplied inks as fine ink droplets. The carriage 82 on which the inkjet recording head 81 is mounted is reciprocated in a direction orthogonal to the feed direction. During the reciprocation, the inks are ejected from the inkjet recording head 81 to perform image recording on the recording paper fed on a platen 83.
As shown in
The guide rail 85 disposed downstream in the paper feed direction has a length in the feed path width direction, which is identical to the length of the guide rail 84, and is in the shape of a flat plate. A rim 85a of the guide rail 85 for supporting the carriage 82 is bent upwards at a substantially right angle. The carriage 82 is slidably supported by the guide rail 85. The rim 85a of the guide rail 85 is pinched by rollers of the carriage 82 and the like. That is, the carriage 82 is slidably supported on the guide rails 84 and 85 and reciprocates in the feed path width direction using the rim 85a of the guide rail 85 as a guide. A sliding member for reducing friction is provided at regions of the carriage contacting top faces of the guide rails 84 and 85 as required.
A belt driving mechanism 86 is provided on the top face of the guide rail 85. The belt driving mechanism 86 has a driving pulley 87, a driven pulley 88, and an close-ended circular timing belt 89 having blades on its inner side and hung over the driving pulley 87 and the driven pulley 88, one of the driving pulley 87 and the driven pulley 88 being disposed in the vicinity of one end of the width of the feed path 74 and the other one of the pulleys 87 and 88 being disposed in the vicinity of the other end of the width of the feed path 74. A driving force is input from the motor to a shaft of the driving pulley 87. The timing belt 89 revolves in accordance with the rotation of the driving pulley 87. The timing belt 89 may be an open-ended belt of which both ends are fixed to the carriage 82.
The carriage 82 is fixed to the timing belt 89. In accordance with the revolution of the timing belt 89, the carriage 82 reciprocates on the guide rails 84 and 85 with respect to the rim 85a of the guide rail 85. The inkjet recording head 81 is mounted on the carriage 82, so that the inkjet recording head 81 is capable of reciprocation in the feed path width direction which is a main scanning direction of the inkjet recording head 81. An encoder strip 89 of a linear encoder is provided along the rim 85a of the guide rail 85. The linear encoder detects the encoder strip 89 by photointerrupter. The reciprocation of the carriage 82 is controlled by detection signals of the linear encoder.
As shown in
As shown in
The ink discharge tray 91 is used for receiving inks ejected from the inkjet recording head 81 for cleaning the nozzles. Such ink ejection is referred to as flashing. The ink discharge tray 91 is provided in the region of the reciprocation of the carriage 82 and avoiding the image recording region. The inkjet recording head 81 is moved to be located above the ink discharge tray 91 so that the inks are ejected toward the ink discharge tray 91 for the ink flashing. The bubbles in the nozzles and the like are removed by the ink flashing.
The ink cartridges 92 are mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 93 provided at the right hand side of the printer unit 3 as viewed from the front of the printer unit 3. The cartridge mounting unit 93 is disposed separately from the carriage 82 on which the inkjet recording head 81 is mounted. Ink tubes 94 are provided to connect the cartridge mounting unit 93 to the carriage 82. The inks are supplied from the ink cartridges 92 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 93 to the carriage 82 via the ink tubes 94.
The ink cartridges 92 include an ink cartridge 92C storing the ink of cyan (C), an ink cartridge 92M storing the ink of magenta (M), an ink cartridge 92Y storing the ink of yellow (Y), and an ink cartridge 92K storing the ink of black (Bk). The ink cartridges 92C, 92M, 92Y, and 92K are mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 93 at predetermined positions. When the ink cartridges 92 are mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 93, ink needles prick the sealing members of the ink cartridges 92. Each of the ink needles is provided in the cartridge mounting unit 93 for the relevant one of the ink cartridges 92. The ink needles are hollow needles. Each of the inks flows out of the ink cartridge 92 from the ink needle. The flown inks pass through flow paths in the cartridge mounting unit 93 to be lead to the ink tubes 94.
Each of the inks of the ink cartridges 92C, 92M, 92Y, and 92K mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 93 is supplied to the inkjet recording head 81 via the relevant one of the ink tubes 94. Each of the ink tubes 94 is made from a synthetic resin and has flexibility for flexure in accordance with the scanning by the carriage 82.
The flow path of each of the ink cartridges 92 of the cartridge mounting unit 93 is connected to relevant one of the ink tubes 94C, 94M, 94Y, and 94K. The ink tube 94C is used for the ink cartridge 92C and supplies the ink of cyan (C). The ink tubes 94M, 94Y, and 94K are used for ink cartridges 92M, 92Y, and 92K and supply inks of magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk).
The ink tubes 94C, 94M, 94Y, and 94K led out from the cartridge mounting unit 93 are drawn to near the center along a direction of a width of the device to be fixed by an appropriate member of the main frame 10. A part of each of the ink tubes 94C, 94M, 94Y, and 94K extending from the fixture position to the carriage 82 is not fixed to the main frame 10. The non-fixed part changes in posture in accordance with the reciprocation of the carriage 82. That is, when the carriage 82 moves to one end (left hand side in
Inkjet recording head 81 is used for ejecting inks of C, M, Y, and Bk from the nozzles. The nozzles for the plural colors are aligned at a predetermined pitch. The number of the nozzles and the pitch are set in view of resolution of an image to be recorded and the like. Each of the inks is ejected in a predetermined amount from the relevant nozzles as ink droplets by deformation of a piezoelectric element.
As shown in
A paper discharge roller 97 and a spur roller 98 are disposed downstream of the image recording unit 75. The paper discharge roller 97 receives the drive transmission from the motor to be rotated. A shaft of the spur roller 98 is biased by a spring to bring the spur roller 98 in pressure contact with the paper discharge roller 97. A roller surface of the spur roller 98 has a tread like that of an ordinary spur. The recording paper after recording is pinched between the paper discharge roller 97 and the spur roller 98. The recording paper after recording is brought into pressure contact with the paper discharge roller 97 to be discharged by the rotation of the paper discharge roller 97. The tread of the spur roller 98 is formed for the purpose of preventing deterioration of images recorded on the recording paper.
As shown in
The control substrate 51 is provided on the main frame 10. The intermediate frame 12 is mounted in such a fashion as to cover the main frame 10 above the main frame 10. The image sensor 48 is mounted on the intermediate frame 12. The electric cable 50 electrically connecting the image sensor 48 to the control substrate 51 is connected to the connector 51a of the control substrate 51 after the intermediate frame 12 has been mounted on the main frame 10.
This invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of this invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5241353 | Maeshima et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
| 6409166 | Kashimura | Jun 2002 | B1 |
| 6428000 | Hara et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6714326 | Yamada | Mar 2004 | B1 |
| 7073787 | Kinsley et al. | Jul 2006 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 10-167547 | Jun 1998 | JP |
| 2002-002975 | Jan 2002 | JP |
| 2003-201054 | Jul 2003 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20070013125 A1 | Jan 2007 | US |
