TRANSPORT APPARATUS AND RECORDING APPARATUS

Abstract

A transport apparatus that transports a recording medium from an upstream side of a transport path to a downstream side thereof, including a transport roller pair which is disposed at a position more on a downstream side than a recording position where the recording medium is recorded in the transport path and transports the recording medium along the transport path, wherein, when the recording medium passes through between both rollers, in a case where a length dimension along the transport direction of the recording medium is longer than a distance dimension between a position where the transport roller pair is disposed and the recording position more on the upstream side than the position, both rollers do not pinch a long recording medium.

Description

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No: 2010-188278, filed Aug. 25, 2010 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a transport apparatus that transports a recording medium such as, for example, long paper or single sheet paper and a recording apparatus including the same.

2. Related Art

In the related art, among recording apparatuses that record a recording medium, there is an apparatus including a transport apparatus that transports the recorded recording medium toward an outlet (for example, JP-A-11-193158). That is, a transport apparatus described in JP-A-11-193158 is configured so as to transport the recording medium recorded by a recording unit at a recording position along a transport path by rotating both rollers constituting a transport roller pair in the state of being pinched therebetween by the transport roller pair that is disposed at a position more on a downstream side than the recording position in the transport path.

In the transport apparatus described in JP-A-11-193158, a plurality of kinds of recording medium having different length dimensions along the transport direction is transported toward the outlet. However, even when there is a difference in length dimensions along the transport direction of the recording medium, the transport roller pair similarly pinches the respective recording medium between the rollers which are situated at one surface side of the recording medium and the other surface side, respectively. That is, both rollers of the transport roller pair pinch the recording medium therebetween, whereby a transport load is applied to the respective recording medium passing between both rollers of the transport roller pair. For this reason, in a case where a downstream side part of the recording medium is in the state of being pinched by the transport roller pair therebetween, when the upstream side part of the recording medium is still recorded by the recording unit in the recording position, there is a concern that disturbance of the recording relative of the upstream side part of the recording medium or the like is generated due to the generation of the transport load in the downstream side part of the recording medium, and the recording quality declines.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a transport apparatus that can suppress the transport load relative to the recording medium passing through the transport path, and a recording apparatus that can suppress a decline in recording quality.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a transport apparatus that transports a recording medium from an upstream side of a transport path toward a downstream side thereof. The transport apparatus includes a transport roller pair which is disposed at a position more on a downstream side than a recording position where the recording medium is recorded in the transport path, at least one of a roller situated at one surface side of the recording medium and a roller situated at the other surface side thereof comes into contact with the recording medium passing through the position and is rotated, whereby the transport roller pair transports the recording medium along the transport path, wherein, when the recording medium passes through between both rollers, in a case where a length dimension along the transport direction of the recording medium is longer than a distance dimension between a position where the transport roller pair is disposed and the recording position more on the upstream side than the position, both rollers do not pinch a long recording medium therebetween.

According to the configuration, in a case where the recording medium passing through the position, where the transport roller pair is disposed in the middle of the transport path, is a long recording medium, the transport roller pair does not pinch the recording medium therebetween. That is, when the length dimension along the transport direction of the recording medium is longer than the distance dimension between the position where the transport roller pair is disposed and the recording position more on the upstream side than the position, the transport roller pair does not pinch the long recording medium, whereby the transport load added to the recording medium by the transport roller pair is smaller than the case of the pinched state. Thus, the transport load relative to the recording medium passing through the transport path is suppressed, with the result that, for example, when the long recording medium passes through between both rollers of the transport roller pair, even in a case where the recording is concurrently performed in the recording position of the upstream side part in the recording medium, it is possible to contribute to the suppression of degradation of recording quality.

In the transport apparatus of the invention, when both rollers enter the non-pinched state, the transport roller pair may be moved in a direction, in which at least one roller intersects an axial direction of the roller, and is separated from the transport path.

According to the configuration, when the transport roller pair does not pinch the long recording medium, at least one roller may be moved in a direction, in which at least one roller intersects the axial direction, and is separated from the transport path. Thus, it is possible to easily realize the configuration of the transport apparatus capable of suppressing the transport load.

In the transport apparatus of the invention, the transport roller pair may include a driving roller which comes into contact with one surface side in the recording medium and is subjected to a driving rotation, and a driven roller which comes into contact with the other surface side in the recording medium to be transported along with the driving rotation of the driving roller and is subjected to a driven rotation, and when the driven roller transports the long recording medium, the transport roller pair is moved in the direction separated from the driving roller.

According to the configuration, since the driven roller is easily moved in the direction intersecting the axial direction further than the driving roller, it is possible to easily configure the transport roller pair which does not pinch the long recording medium. Thus, it is possible to easily realize the transport apparatus capable of suppressing the transport load which is added to the long recording medium to be transported in this manner.

In the transport apparatus of the invention, a roller surface of the driven roller may be formed by a member that has a frictional coefficient higher than that of a roller surface in the driving roller.

According to the configuration, in the pinched state in which the driven roller pinches the recording medium with the driving roller, it is possible to give the sufficient transport force to the recording medium to be transported. Thus, the transport apparatus can be compatible with the function of suppressing the transport load to be added to the long recording medium upon transporting the long recording medium and the function of giving another recording medium the necessary transport force upon transporting another recording medium other than the long recording medium.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a recording apparatus which includes a recording unit that records a recording medium to be transported from an upstream side of a transport path to a downstream side thereof, and the transport apparatus having the above configuration that transports the recording medium recorded by the recording unit.

According to the configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the case of the transport apparatus in the recording apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a printer in the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of a transport apparatus included in a printer.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken from lines III-III in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4A is a schematic front view of a first movement mechanism that shows a case where a first transport roller pair is in a pinched state.

FIG. 4B is a schematic front view of a first movement mechanism that shows a case where a first transport roller pair is in a non-pinched state.

FIG. 5A is a schematic side view of a second movement mechanism that shows a case where a second transport roller pair is in a pinched state.

FIG. 5B is a schematic side view of a second movement mechanism that shows a case where a second transport roller pair is in a non-pinched state.

FIG. 6A is a schematic side view of a third movement mechanism that shows a case where a third transport roller pair is in a pinched state.

FIG. 6B is a schematic side view of a third movement mechanism that shows a case where a third transport roller pair is in a non-pinched state.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram taken from lines VII-VII in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken from lines VIIIA-VIIIA in FIG. 7 that shows the state in which a flapper is in a long position.

FIG. 8B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken from lines VIIIB-VIIIB in FIG. 7 that shows the state in which a flapper is in a short position.

FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram taken from lines VIIIA-VIIIA in FIG. 7 that shows the state in which a flapper is in a long position.

FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram taken from lines VIIIB-VIIIB in FIG. 7 that shows the state in which a flapper is in a short position.

FIG. 10 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of a transport apparatus in a case of transporting cut paper.

FIG. 11 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of a transport apparatus in a case of transporting continuous paper.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in which the invention is embodiment to an ink jet type printer (herein, also referred to as a “printer”), which is a sort of a recording apparatus, and a transport apparatus included in the printer, based on FIGS. 1 to 11. In addition, in the description below, a “front and rear direction”, an “up and down direction”, and a “left and right direction” refer to the “front and rear direction”, the “up and down direction”, and the “left and right direction” shown by arrows in each drawing, unless otherwise mentioned. Furthermore, the “front and rear direction” in this case corresponds to a width direction intersecting a transport direction of a recording medium, the “up and down direction” corresponds to a vertical direction, and in the “left and right direction”, a direction facing from the right side to the left side corresponds to the transport direction of the recording medium.

As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 11 includes a main body case 12 forming an approximately rectangular shape. In a position that is a right lower portion in the main body case 12, an unwinding portion 13 is provided which unwinds the long continuous paper S. In the unwinding portion 13, a winding shaft 14 extended in a width direction (the front and rear direction) perpendicular to the transport direction of the continuous paper S is rotatably provided. In the winding shaft 14, the continuous paper S, which is an example of the long recording medium, is supported so as to be rotatable integrally with the winding shaft 14 in the state of being wound in a roll shape in advance. That is, the continuous paper S is unwound from the winding shaft 14 by the rotation of the winding shaft 14 and is transported toward the downstream side (the left side) of the transport direction.

In a position of the upper part of the vertical direction of the winding shaft 14, a relay roller 15 extending in the width direction (the front and rear direction) of the continuous paper S in a manner parallel to the winding shaft 14 is rotatably disposed. Moreover, by winding the continuous paper S, which is unwound from the winding shaft 14, around the relay roller 15 from the right lower portion, the continuous paper S is horizontally transported toward the downstream side (the left side) of the transport direction.

Furthermore, in a position of the downstream side (the left side) further than the relay roller 15, a rectangular support member 16 capable of supporting the continuous paper S to be transported is disposed. A support surface 16a, which is an upper surface of the support member 16, is disposed so as to have the same height as a top of an outer peripheral surface in the relay roller 15. For this reason, the continuous paper S, in which the transport direction is converted into the horizontal left direction by the relay roller 15, is transported to the left side, which is the downstream side of the transport direction, while coming into sliding-contact with the support surface 16a of the support member 16.

In a position which is the upper part of the support member 16 and faces the support surface 16a of the support member 16, a recording portion 17 is provided which records the continuous paper S so as to be transported. The recording portion 17 includes a carriage 18 which can reciprocate in a main scanning direction intersecting the transport direction of the continuous paper S by a driving unit (not shown), and a recording head 19 as an example of a recording unit supported on the lower surface of the carriage 18. The lower surface of the recording head 19 is a horizontal nozzle forming surface through which a plurality of nozzles (not shown) ejecting ink is opened. Moreover, the recording head 19 performs the recording by ejecting ink to the continuous paper S to be transported to the downstream side (the left side) of the transport direction while sliding on the support surface 16a of the support member 16. In addition, on the transport path through which the continuous paper S is transported, the position, where the recording head 19 is disposed, is a recording position where the continuous paper (the recording medium) S is recorded.

Furthermore, in the position of the downstream side (the left side) of the transport direction further than the recording position where the recording head 19 is disposed, a roller pair 20 including a driving roller and a driven roller is disposed. In the state in which the continuous paper S is pinched by the driving roller and the driven roller, the driven roller is subjected to the driven rotation along with the movement of the continuous paper S to the downstream side (the left side) of the transport direction based on the driving rotation of the driving roller, whereby the roller pair 20 transports the continuous paper S to the downstream side (the left side) of the transport direction while pinching the continuous paper S between both rollers.

Furthermore, in the position of the downstream side (the left side) of the transport direction further than the roller pair 20, a cutter 21 is disposed which is capable of cutting the continuous paper S over the width direction (the front and rear direction) intersecting the transport direction. The cutter 21 cuts the long continuous paper S into a cut paper CS in which the length side along the transport direction is a predetermined length. Moreover, when the continuous paper S is cut into the cut paper CS of a predetermined length by the cutter 21, the continuous paper S is transported to the downstream side (the left side) of the transport direction one by one whenever the continuous paper S is cut.

In a position of the downstream side (the left side) of the transport direction further than the cutter 21, a curl correction portion 22 is provided which corrects (decurls) the curl (winding) of the cut paper CS formed by the cutting of the continuous paper S by the cutter 21. The curl correction portion 22 includes an upstream side roller 23 which comes into contact with one surface side (the lower surface side in FIG. 1) of the cut paper CS, a downstream side roller 24 which comes into contact with one surface side of the cut paper CS in the downstream side of the transport direction further than the upstream side roller 23, and a decurl roller 25 which comes into contact with the other surface side (the upper surface side in FIG. 1) of the cut paper CS in the position between the upstream side roller 23 and the downstream side roller 24. Moreover, the decurl roller 25 corrects the curl of the cut paper CS by pinching the cut paper CS between the decurl roller 25 and the downstream side roller 24. In addition, in the present embodiment, for example, when the relatively short cut paper CS shown in FIG. 10 is transported, the curl correction portion 22 performs the correction of the curl. However, when the long cut paper CS (see FIG. 2) longer than the short cut paper CS or the continuous paper S (see FIG. 11) is transported, the curl correction portion 22 does not perform the correction of the curl.

Furthermore, in the side wall of the main body case 12 in the position which is more on the downstream side (the left side) of the transport direction than the curl correction portion 22, a transport port (not shown) for transporting the continuous paper S (specifically, the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction) and the cut paper CS from the inner portion of the main body case 12 to the outer portion of the main body case 12 is opened and formed. Moreover, on an upper outer surface of the left side wall 12a in the main body case 12 formed with the transport port, a transport apparatus 27 is provided which transports so as to discharge the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS, which is transported from the inner portion of the main body case 12 through the transport port, to the outer portion of the main body case 12. The transport apparatus 27 is configured so that the entire apparatus of the unit configuration can be attached to and detached from the main body case 12. The transport apparatus 27 is configured so that the whole apparatuses of the unit configuration can be attached to or detached from the main body case 12. Moreover, the transport apparatus 27 transports the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS by the different transport paths, respectively, and discharges the paper from the respective different outlets.

Next, the transport apparatus 27 will be described based on FIGS. 2 to 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transport apparatus 27 includes a case 31 having an inner portion of a hollow shape. In the lower portion of the right side wall 31a in the case 31, an inlet 32 for carrying the continuous paper S or the cut paper CS transported from the main body case 12 side via the roller pair 20 and the curl correction portion 22 into the case 31 is opened and formed. Furthermore, in the upper portion (that, is the upper portion of the vertical direction of the inlet 32) of the right side wall 31a in the case 31, a long outlet 33 for discharging the long cut paper CS or the continuous paper S from the inner portion of the case 31 to the outer portion of the case 31 is opened and formed. Moreover, in the lower portion (that is, the left oblique upper portion of the inlet 32) of the left side wall 31b in the case 31, a short outlet 34 for discharging the short cut paper CS from the inner portion of the case 31 to the outer portion of the case 31 is opened and formed.

In the case 31, an induction portion 35 which leads the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS into the case 31 through the transport port of the main body case 12 and the inlet 32 of the case 31, and a reversal transport portion 36 for transporting the long outlet 33 of the upper position while reversing the continuous paper S led by the induction portion 35 are provided. Furthermore, in the case 31, a transport portion 136 for transporting the cut paper CS led by the induction portion 35 with the recorded surface facing upward to the short outlet 34 of the left sloped upper position is provided.

The introduction portion 35 includes a first fixing introduction guide 37 and a second fixing introduction guide 38 of an approximately rectangular plate shape fixed to the case 31. The first fixing introduction guide 37 is sloped from a bottom surface 31c side of the case 31 toward the left upper part (in other words, so as to rise toward the downstream side of the transport direction). Furthermore, the second fixing introduction guide 38 is disposed vertically upward the first fixing introduction guide 37 and is gently sloped toward the left upper part. Moreover, the upper surface of the first fixing introduction guide 37 and the lower surface of the second fixing introduction guide 38 function as transport path surfaces 37a and 38a transporting the cut paper CS or the continuous paper S, whereby the introduction path is formed between the first fixing introduction guide 37 and the second fixing introduction guide 38.

The reversal transport portion 36 includes a reversal path forming member 39 which forms a reversal path leading the long cut paper CS or the continuous paper S to the long outlet 33 while reversing the same, and first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 which give the transport force to the long cut paper CS or the continuous paper S to be transported in the transport path toward the long outlet 33.

The reversal path forming member 39 includes a first fixing reversal guide 44 and a second fixing reversal guide 45 forming an approximate arc shape when viewed from the cross-section fixed to the case 31. The second fixing reversal guide 45 is disposed so as to face the surface (the left side surface in FIG. 2) of the outer peripheral side in the second fixing reversal guide 45 between the surface (the right side surface in FIG. 2) of the inner peripheral side of the first fixing reversal guide 44 in the position becoming the inner peripheral side of the first fixing reversal guide 44 at intervals slightly wider than the thickness size of the cut paper CS and the continuous paper S. Moreover, the right side surface of the first fixing reversal guide 44 and the left side surface of the second fixing reversal guide 45 function as the transport path surfaces 44a and 45a transporting the cut paper CS or the continuous paper S, whereby a reversal path curved toward the left side is formed between the first fixing reversal guide 44 and the second fixing reversal guide 45.

Furthermore, the first fixing reversal guide 44 is configured so that the length of the upstream side of the transport direction is shorter than the length of the upstream side of the transport direction in the second fixing reversal guide 45. That is, in the transport direction along the curved reversal path, in the first fixing reversal guide 44, length of the upstream side of the transport direction is formed to be short so that the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction is situated at the downstream side of the transport direction further than the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction in the second fixing reversal guide 45.

The first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 are disposed in the order of the first transport roller pair 41, the second transport roller pair 42, and the third transport roller pair 43 along the transport direction of the long cut paper CS or the continuous paper S facing from the upstream side of the reversal path toward the downstream side (from the lower side to the upper side in FIG. 2). Specifically, the first transport roller pair 41 is disposed in the position of the upstream end (that is, the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the introduction portion 35) of the reversal path formed by the reversal path forming member 39. The third transport roller pair 43 is disposed in the position of the downstream side (that is, the left side of the long outlet 33) of the reversal path. Furthermore, the second transport roller pair 42 is disposed in the position of the approximate center (that is, between the first and third transport roller pairs 41 and 43 that is the left sides of the first and third transport roller pairs 41 and 43) of the reversal path.

Moreover, the long cut paper CS or the continuous paper S transported to the reversal transport portion 36 is transported from the upstream side toward the downstream side (that is, from the lower side to the upper side in FIG. 2) on the reversal path formed between the first fixing reversal guide 44 and the second fixing reversal guide 45 by the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43. Moreover, the long cut paper CS or the continuous paper S is discharged from the long outlet 33 toward the upper surface 12b of the main body case 12 in the state in which the recorded surface faces downward. In this manner, in the transport apparatus 27, a long transport path for transporting the long cut paper CS or the continuous paper S is formed by the introduction path and the reversal path.

The transport portion 136 includes a first fixing transport guide 144 and a second fixing transport guide 145 of an approximately rectangular plate shape fixed to the case 31. The first fixing transport guide 144 is disposed so as to be approximately horizontal from the left side of the first fixing reversal guide 44 toward the short outlet 34 in such a manner that the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction is close to the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction of the first fixing reversal guide 44 in the reversal transport portion 36. Furthermore, the second fixing transport guide 145 is disposed in the lower portion of the vertical direction of the first fixing transport guide 144 and is gently sloped to the left upper side from the left side of the first transport roller pair 41 toward the short outlet 34 in such a manner that the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction is close to the first transport roller pair 41.

Moreover, the lower surface of the first fixing transport guide 144 and the upper surface of the second fixing transport guide 145 function as the transport path surface that transports the relatively short cut paper CS, whereby a short transport path is formed which transports the short cut paper CS between the first fixing transport guide 144 and the second fixing transport guide 145. Moreover, the cut paper CS transported through the introduction path of the introduction portion 35 passes through the first transport roller pair 41, and then is transported from the upstream side toward the downstream side (that is, from the left side to the left side in FIG. 2) on the transport path formed between the first fixing transport guide 144 and the second fixing transport guide 145. Moreover, the short cut paper CS is discharged from the short outlet 34 to the outside of the transport apparatus 27 in the state in which the recorded surface faces upward.

Furthermore, in the position between the end portions of the upstream side of the transport direction of the first fixing reversal guide 44 and the first fixing transport guide 144 and the first transport roller pair 41, a flapper 46 is disposed. That is, the flapper 46 is oscillated (displaced) in that position, thereby switching over the path portion becoming the downstream side of the transport path further that that position between the long transport path for discharging the long cut paper CS or the continuous paper S and the short transport path for discharging the short cut paper CS.

Next, the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 will be described. In addition, since the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 have the same configuration, the configuration of the first transport roller pair 41 will be described as an example. Furthermore, in FIG. 3 used in the description of the first transport roller pair 41, the cross-sections of the first fixing introduction guide 37 and the second fixing introduction guide 38 are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first transport roller pair 41 includes a driving shaft 41a which is extended in a width direction (the front and rear direction) intersecting the transport direction of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS, and a plurality (in the present embodiment, six) of driving rollers 41b which is integrally rotatably supported on the driving shaft 41a at intervals in the axial direction. The driving roller 41b is formed by, for example, a metallic material or the like having a relatively low frictional coefficient in a cylindrical shape. The driving shaft 41a is connected to an output shaft of the transport motor 47 so that the driving can be transmitted. Furthermore, the first transport roller pair 41 includes a plurality (in the present embodiment, six) of driven rollers 41d which is rotatably supported on the rotation shaft 41c extending in the front and rear direction at intervals in the axial direction. The driven roller 41d is formed by, for example, a hard rubber or the like having a relatively high frictional coefficient in a cylindrical shape.

Moreover, the plurality of driving rollers 41b and the plurality of driven rollers 41d in the first transport roller pair 41 are disposed so as to face the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS interposed therebetween in the axial direction of the driving shaft 41a and the rotation shaft 41c. In addition, the driven roller 41d is subjected to the driven rotation along with the driving rotation of the driving roller 41b in the state of interposing the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS by the driving roller 41b and the driven roller 41d, thereby transporting the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the first transport roller pair 41 is disposed so that the driving roller 41b is situated at the relatively upper side (that is, the second fixing reversal guide 45 side) in the upstream end of the transport path and the driven roller 41d is situated at the relatively lower side (that is, the flapper 46 side).

As shown in FIG. 2, similar to the first transport roller pair 41, the second transport roller pair 42 includes a driving roller 42b formed of a metallic material having a low frictional coefficient supported on the driving shaft 42a, and a driven roller 42d formed of a hard rubber having a high frictional coefficient supported on the rotation shaft 42c. Moreover, the second transport roller pair 42 is disposed so that the driving roller 42b is situated at the left side (that is, the first fixing reversal guide 44 side) of the horizontal direction and the driven roller 42d is situated at the right side (that is, the second fixing reversal guide side 45 side) of the horizontal direction.

Similar to the first and second transport roller pairs 41 and 42, the third transport roller pair 43 includes a driving roller 43b formed of a metallic material having a low frictional coefficient supported on the driving shaft 43a, and a driven roller 43d formed of a hard rubber having a high frictional coefficient supported on the rotation shaft 43c. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the third transport roller pair 43 is disposed so that the driving roller 43b is situated at the lower side (that is, the second fixing reversal guide 45 side) of the vertical direction and the driven roller 43d is situated at the upper side (that is, the first fixing reversal guide 44 side) of the vertical direction.

Furthermore, the frictional coefficients of the respective driving rollers 41b to 43b in the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 are all the same value (as an example, μ1). Furthermore, the frictional coefficients of the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d in the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 are all the same value (as an example, μ2). Moreover, the frictional coefficients (μ1) of the driving rollers 41b to 43b are smaller than the frictional coefficients (μ2) of the driven rollers 41d to 43d (μ1<μ2).

In addition, the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 include first to third movement mechanisms 48 to 50 for moving the driven rollers 41d to 43d in a direction of approaching and being separated from the counterpart driving rollers 41b to 43b. That is, the first to third movement mechanisms 48 to 50 move the driven rollers 41d to 43d between the pinched position, where the driven rollers come close to the counterpart driving rollers 41b to 43b and pinch the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS, and a separated position where the driven rollers are separated from the counterpart driving rollers 41b to 43b and do not pinch the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first movement mechanism 48 in the first transport roller pair 41 is provided at one end side (the right end side in FIG. 3) of the rotation shaft 41c. As shown in FIG. 4A, the first movement mechanism 48 includes a plate-shaped first plate 51 formed in an approximately L shape when viewed from the front, and a plate-shaped first cam member 52 which comes into contact with the first plate 51. Furthermore, the first cam member 52 is connected to the output shaft of the first cam motor 53 driving and rotating the first cam member 52 in a power-transmissible manner. That is, the first cam member 52 is rotated around the rotation shaft 52a along with the driving of the first cam motor 53.

The first plate 51 includes a horizontal portion 51a extending in the left and right direction, and a vertical portion 51b extending from the left end side of the horizontal portion 51a toward the upper side of the vertical direction. The rotation shaft 41c is fixed to the right end side of the horizontal portion 51a. Furthermore, in the vertical portion 51b, a flat pate-shaped convex portion 51c is formed which is protruded from the right end of the vertical portion 51b toward the front side (that is, the front side of the vertical direction to the first plate 51). Moreover, the outer peripheral surface of the first cam member 52 comes into contact with the convex portion 51c from the left side.

Thus, when the first cam motor 53 is driven in the forward direction in the state shown in FIG. 4A, the first cam member 52 is rotated around the rotation shaft 52a in the clockwise direction in FIG. 4A by about 90°. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, along with the rotation of the first cam member 52, the first plate 51 is rotated around the rotation shaft 51d provided in the bent portion of the first plate 51 in the clockwise direction shown in FIG. 4B, whereby the rotation shaft 41c and the driven roller 41d in the first transport roller pair 41 are moved to the left lower portion. Furthermore, the rotation shaft 41c and the driven roller 41d in the first transport roller pair 41 is moved so that the outer peripheral surface as an example of the driven roller 41d is situated at the lower side further than the transport path surface 37a of the first fixing introduction guide 37 (see FIG. 11).

Furthermore, when the first cam motor 53 is driven from the state shown in FIG. 4B in the backward direction, the first cam member 52 is rotated around the rotation shaft 52a in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 4B by about 90°. Then, the first plate 51 is rotated around the rotation shaft 51d in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4B and returns to the position shown in FIG. 4A, and the rotation shaft 41c and the driven roller 41d in the first transport roller pair 41 are moved to the right upper side according to the rotation of the first plate 51 and return to the position shown in FIG. 4A.

Furthermore, similar to the first movement mechanism 48, the second movement mechanism 49 in the second transport roller pair 42 is provided at one end side of the rotation shaft 42c. As shown in FIG. 5A, similar to the first movement mechanism 48, the second movement mechanism 49 includes a second plate 54 having an approximate L shape when viewed from the front, and a second cam member 55 which comes into contact with the second plate 54. Furthermore, the second cam member 55 is connected to the output shaft of the first cam motor 53 in the power-transmissible manner. That is, the second cam member 55 is rotated around the rotation shaft 55a along with the driving of the first cam motor 53.

The second plate 54 includes a horizontal portion 54a extending in the left and right direction, and a vertical portion 54b extending from the left end side of the horizontal portion 54a toward the upper side of the vertical direction. In the right end side of the horizontal portion 54a, a flat plate-shaped convex portion 54c is formed which is protruded from the lower end of the horizontal portion 54a toward the front side (that is, the front side of the vertical direction to the second plate 54). Furthermore, the rotation shaft 42c is fixed to the upper end side of the vertical portion 54b. Moreover, the outer peripheral surface of the second cam member 55 comes into contact with the convex portion 54c from the upper side.

Thus, when the first cam motor 53 is driven in the forward direction in the state shown in FIG. 5A, the second cam member 55 is rotated around the rotation shaft 55a in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5A by about 90°. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, along with the rotation of the second cam member 55, the second plate 54 is rotated around the rotation shaft 54d provided in the bent portion of the second plate 54 in the clockwise direction shown in FIG. 5B, whereby the driven roller 42d in the second transport roller pair 42 is moved to the right side. Furthermore, the rotation shaft 42c and the driven roller 42d in the second transport roller pair 42 is moved so that the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller 42d is situated more at the right side than the transport path surface 45a of the second fixing reversal guide 45 (see FIG. 11).

Furthermore, when the first cam motor 53 is driven from the state shown in FIG. 5B in the backward direction, the second cam member 55 is rotated around the rotation shaft 55a in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 5B by about 90°. Then, the second plate 54 is rotated around the rotation shaft 54d in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5B and returns to the position shown in FIG. 5A, and the rotation shaft 42c and the driven roller 42d in the second transport roller pair 42 are moved to the left upper side according to the rotation of the second plate 54 and return to the position shown in FIG. 5A.

Furthermore, similar to the first and second movement mechanisms 48 and 49, the third movement mechanism 50 in the third transport roller pair 43 is provided at one end side of the rotation shaft 43c. As shown in FIG. 6A, similar to the first and second movement mechanisms 48 and 49, the third movement mechanism 50 in the third transport roller pair 43 includes a third plate 56 having an approximate L shape when viewed from the front, and a third cam member 57 which comes into contact with the third plate 56. Furthermore, the third cam member 57 is connected to the output shaft of the first cam motor 53 in the power-transmissible manner. That is, the third cam member 57 is rotated around the rotation shaft 57a along with the driving of the first cam motor 53.

The third plate 56 includes a horizontal portion 56a extending toward the right lower portion in the left and right direction, and a vertical portion 56b extending from the left end side of the horizontal portion 51a toward the left lower portion. The rotation shaft 43c is fixed to the right end side of the horizontal portion 56a. Furthermore, in the vertical portion 56b, a flat pate-shaped convex portion 56c is formed which is protruded from the right end of the vertical portion 56b toward the front side (that is, the front side of the vertical direction to the third plate 56). Moreover, the outer peripheral surface of the third cam member 57 comes into contact with the convex portion 56c from the upper side.

Thus, when the first cam motor 53 is driven in the forward direction in the state shown in FIG. 6A, the third cam member 57 is rotated around the rotation shaft 57a in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6A by about 90°. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, along with the rotation of the third cam member 57, the third plate 56 is rotated around the rotation shaft 56d provided in the bent portion of the third plate 56 in the clockwise direction shown in FIG. 6B, whereby the driven roller 43d in the third transport roller pair 43 is moved to the upper side of the vertical direction. Furthermore, the rotation shaft 43c and the driven roller 43d in the third transport roller pair 43 is moved so that the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller 43d is situated at the upper side further than the transport path surface 44a of the first fixing reversal guide 44 (see FIG. 11).

Furthermore, when the first cam motor 53 is driven from the state shown in FIG. 6B in the backward direction, the third cam member 57 is rotated around the rotation shaft 57a in the clockwise direction shown in FIG. 6B by about 90°. Then, the third plate 56 is rotated around the rotation shaft 56d in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6B and returns to the position shown in FIG. 6A, and the rotation shaft 43c and the driven roller 43d in the third transport roller pair 43 are moved to the lower side according to the rotation of the third plate 56 and return to the position shown in FIG. 6A.

Next, the first and second fixing introduction guides 37 and 38 in the introduction portion 35 will be described based on FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B. In addition, in FIG. 7, the second fixing introduction guide 38 situated at the upper side of the first fixing introduction guide 37 and the second fixing reversal guide 45 situated at the upper side of the first fixing reversal guide 44 are shown by imaginary lines of dot and dash lines, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B, in the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first and second fixing introduction guides 37 and 38, rectangular concave portions 37b and 38b along the transport direction (the left and right direction) of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS are notched in a plurality of positions at intervals in the width direction of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS so that the end portion forms the teeth of a comb. That is, in the end portions of the downstream side of the transport direction of the first fixing introduction guide 37 and the second fixing introduction guide 38, in the plurality of positions where the driving roller 41b and the driven roller 41d of the first transport roller pair 41 correspond to the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS in the width direction, the concave portions 37b and 38b of the same numbers (in the present embodiment, six) as those of the driving roller 41b and the driven roller 41d are formed. In other words, in the respective end portions of the downstream side of the transport direction of the first and second fixing introduction guides 37 and 38, a plurality of rectangular convex portions 37c and 38c is formed toward the downstream side of the transport direction in a plurality (in the present embodiment, seven) of positions avoiding the region where the driving roller 41b and the driven roller 41d are disposed in the width direction of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8A, the convex portion 37c in the first fixing introduction guide 37 is extended to the upper position of the vertical direction of the rotation shaft 41c so as to overlap with the driven roller 41d of the first transport roller pair 41 in the transport direction (the left and right direction). Furthermore, the convex portion 38c in the second fixing introduction guide 38 is extended to the lower position of the vertical direction of the driving shaft 41a so as to overlap with the driving roller 41b of the first transport roller pair 41 in the transport direction (the left and right direction).

Next, the flapper 46, which is an example of a path switch-over member switching over the transport path of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS, will be described based on FIGS. 7 and 8A and 8B.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B, the flapper 46 includes a first guide 61 of an approximately rectangular plate shape when viewed from the plane, and a second guide 62 of an approximately rectangular plate shape when viewed from the plane disposed so as to be overlap with the upper part of the vertical direction of the first guide 61. The length in the width direction (the front and rear direction) in the first guide 61 intersecting the transport direction of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS is shorter than the length of the width direction in the second guide 62. Furthermore, the first guide 61 is formed so that the length along the transport direction (the left and right direction) of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS in the first guide 61 is greater than the length of the transport direction (the left and right direction) in the second guide 62. That is, the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction of the first guide 61 is extended toward the downstream side of the transport direction (toward the left side) further than the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction of the second guide 62.

As shown in FIG. 8A, in the second guide 62, the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction comes into contact with the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 in the state in which the tip thereof is aligned. Furthermore, the second guide 62 is disposed with respect to the first guide 61 so as to become a position state in which a space portion AS is formed between the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the second guide 62 and the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61. That is, the second guide 62 is disposed so as to sloped upward to the first guide 61 so that, as the second guide 62 goes toward the downstream side of the transport direction, the gap between the second guide 62 and the first guide 61, that is, the space portion AS formed between the second guide 62 and the first guide 61 is increased. Moreover, the respective end portions of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first fixing reversal guide 44 and the first fixing transport guide 144 are inserted and positioned in the space portion AS formed between the first guide 61 and the second guide 62. That is, the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the second guide 62 is disposed so as to overlap in the thickness direction of the continuous paper S to be transported along the transport path from the upper side by being situated at the upper side of the vertical direction with respect to the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first fixing reversal guide 44. Furthermore, the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 is disposed so as to overlap in the thickness direction of the cut paper CS to be transported along the transport path from the lower side by being situated at the lower side of the vertical direction with respect to the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first fixing reversal guide 44.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, in the respective end portions of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 and the second guide 62, rectangular concave portions 61a and 62a along the transport direction (the left and right direction) of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS are notched in a plurality of positions at intervals in the width direction of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS so that the end portions form the teeth of a comb. That is, in the respective end portions of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 and the second guide 62, in the plurality of positions where the driving roller 41b and the driven roller 41d of the first transport roller pair 41 correspond to the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS in the width direction, the concave portions 61a and 62a of the same numbers (in the present embodiment, six) as those of the driving roller 41b and the driven roller 41d are formed, respectively. In other words, in the respective end portions of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 and the second guide 62, a plurality of rectangular convex portions 61b and 62b is formed toward the upstream side of the transport direction in a plurality (in the present embodiment, seven) of positions avoiding the region where the driving roller 41b and the driven roller 41d are disposed in the width direction of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8A, the convex portions 61b and 62b is extended to the position close to the rotation shaft 41c so as to overlap with the driven roller 41d of the first transport roller pair 41 in the transport direction (the left and right direction). Meanwhile, the respective end portions of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 and the second guide 62 are formed so as to be extended in a linear shape along the width direction (the left and right direction) intersecting the transport direction of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B, the second guide 62 is supported on an upper end of an arm 63 formed in an approximately L shape when viewed from the front which is bent toward the left side in the position of the downstream side of the transport direction of the second guide 62. In the left end side of the arm 63, the respective one end sides of the two shafts 64a and 64b protruded and extended in the vertical direction to the arm 63 are fixed so as to be the position where the shaft 64a is separated from the bent portion of the arm 63 further than the shaft 64b. Moreover, in the other end sides of the two shafts 64a and 64b, an oscillation mechanism 65 for oscillating the flapper 46 is provided. The oscillation mechanism 65 oscillates the flapper 46 between the long position where the upper surface of the second guide 62 is lower than the transport path surface (the upper surface) 37a of the first fixing introduction guide 37 of the introduction portion 35 as shown in FIG. 8A and the short position where the lower surface of the first guide surface 61 is higher than the transport path surface 38a (the lower surface) of the second fixing introduction guide 38 of the introduction portion 35 as shown in FIG. 8B.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the oscillation mechanism 65 includes a plate 66 formed in a plate shape, and a cam member 67 coming into contact with the plate 66. Furthermore, the cam member 67 is connected to the output shaft of the second cam motor 68 driving and rotating the cam member 67 in the power transmissible manner. That is, the cam member 67 is rotated around the rotation shaft 67a along with the driving of the second cam motor.

In the bent portion bent at an obtuse angle in the approximate center of the plate 66, the other end side of the shaft 64b with one end side fixed to the arm 63 is rotatably supported. Furthermore, in the left end of the plate 66, similarly, the other side of the shaft 64a with the one end side fixed to the arm 63 is fixed. Furthermore, more to the right side than the bent portion by which the shaft 64b is supported in the plate 66, a flat plate-shaped convex portion 66a is protruded from the upper end toward the rear side (that is, the rear side of the vertical direction to the plate 66). Moreover, the outer periphery surface of the cam member 67 comes into contact with the convex portion 66a from the lower side.

Thus, when the second cam motor 68 is driven in the forward direction in the state shown in FIG. 9A, the cam member 67 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 9A by about 90°. Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, the plate 66 is rotated around the shaft 64b in the clockwise direction in FIG. 9B along with the rotation of the cam member 67, whereby the flapper 46 is oscillated around the shaft 64b as the rotation center in the clockwise direction in FIG. 9B, and the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction of the flapper 46 is moved upward. As shown in FIG. 8B, the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction of the flapper 46 situated at the short position is situated at the upper part of the vertical direction further than the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction of the second fixing introduction guide 38. Moreover, the flapper 46 blocks the inlet to the reversal path in the upstream side of the transport direction of the reversal transport portion 36 (see FIG. 10).

Furthermore, when the second cam motor 68 is driven in the backward direction from the state shown in FIG. 9B, the cam member 67 is rotated around the rotation shaft 67a in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 9B by about 90°. Then, the plate 66 is rotated around the shaft 64b in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 9B and returns to the position shown in FIG. 9A, and the flapper 46 is oscillated around the shaft 64b in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 9A according to the rotation of the plate 66 and returns to the position shown in FIG. 9A. As shown in FIG. 8A, the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction of the flapper 46 situated at the long position as shown in FIG. 8A is situated more at the lower portion of the vertical direction than the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction of the first fixing introduction guide 37. Moreover, the flapper 46 blocks the inlet to the transport path in the upstream side of the transport direction of the transport portion 136 (see FIG. 11).

Next, the action of the printer 11 configured as above will be described based on FIGS. 10 and 11.

Firstly, a case will be described where the relatively short cut paper CS is cut from the recorded continuous paper S. In addition, at this time, the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d in the first to third roller pairs 41 to 43 are situated at the pinched position, and the flapper 46 is situated at the short position shown in FIGS. 8B and 9B.

Incidentally, for example, when the short cut paper CS is selected as the paper to be cut and transported after recording in the printer 11 and the recording processing is started, the second cam motor 68 of the transport apparatus 27 is driven for the forward rotation based on the selected information. Then, the flapper 46 in the transport apparatus 27 is oscillated (displaced) from the long position which is also the standby position to the short position (see FIG. 8B) which is also the oscillation position. In addition, the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d of the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 are still situated at the pinched position. Moreover, the continuous paper S is unwound from the unwinding portion 13 and is transported from the upstream side of the transport direction to the downstream side. Next, when the continuous paper S passes through the lower portion of the recording head 19 in the recording portion 17, ink is ejected from the recording head 19 to the continuous paper S, whereby the surface of the continuous paper S is recorded.

When the continuous paper S with the ink attached thereto is transported to the further downstream side and passes through the lower portion of the cutter 21, the continuous paper S is cut into the short cut paper CS by the cutter 21. Herein, the curl of the short cut paper CS is corrected (decurled) by being provided with the pinching force from the decurl roller 25. In addition, the cut paper CS is transported to the transport apparatus 27.

As shown in FIG. 10, the short cut paper CS, in which the curl is corrected and which is transported into the transport apparatus 27, is transported to the first transport roller pair 41 while coming into sliding-contact with the transport path surface 37a of the first fixing introduction guide 37 in the introduction portion 35. At this time, the driven roller 41d of the first transport roller pair 41 is situated at the pinched position. For that reason, in the state in which the cut paper CS passing through the first transport roller pair 41 is pinched by the first transport roller pair 41, along with the movement of the downstream side (the left side) of the transport direction of the continuous paper S based on the driving rotation of the driving roller 41b, the driven roller 41d is subjected to the driven rotation, whereby the transport force from the first transport roller pair 41 is given to the continuous paper S. Moreover, the cut paper CS is further transported to the downstream side.

When the relatively short cut paper CS is transported, since the flapper 46 is situated at the short position which is also the oscillation position, the inlet to the reversal path in the reversal transport portion 36 is blocked by the flapper 46 in the position of the upstream side of the transport direction. For that reason, it is suppressed that the short cut paper CS passed through the first transport roller pair 41 is brought into the reversal path of the reversal transport portion 36 by the flapper 46. Moreover, the short cut paper CS is transported to the left side while the recorded surface comes into sliding-contact with the lower surface of the first guide 61 in the flapper 46. That is, the lower surface of the first guide 61 is the transport path surface through which the cut paper CS is transported.

The short cut paper CS sliding on the lower surface of the first guide 61 is transported while the recorded surface is pressed against the lower surface of the first guide 61 by the transport force given from the first transport roller pair 41. For that reason, force is applied from the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 to the recorded surface of the short cut paper CS. Herein, if the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 is formed in a comb shape, there is a concern that the recording performed on the surface of the cut paper CS is disturbed by the comb-shaped end portion, and a sliding contact trace of the comb-shaped end portion is formed on the surface of the cut paper CS.

However, in the present embodiment, the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 is formed so as to be extended in the linear shape along the width direction of the cut paper CS. For that reason, the force from the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 is uniformly applied to the cut paper CS passing through the end portion along the width direction. Moreover, even if the cut paper CS passing through the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 is transported while being pressed against the first guide 61, the recording performed on the surface is not disturbed and the sliding contact trace is not formed in the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61.

Moreover, the short cut paper CS passed through the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 is transported to the further downstream side (the left side in FIG. 10) and slides on the lower surface of the first fixing transport guide 144 in the transport portion 136.

Herein, the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first fixing transport guide 144 overlaps with the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 in the thickness direction (the up and down direction) of the cut paper CS, and is situated at the upper side further than the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61. That is, the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first fixing transport guide 144 is provided without providing a gap in the transport direction between it and the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61. Moreover, the cut paper CS is smoothly transported to the downstream side so that the tip (the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction) in the transport direction is not caught by the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first fixing transport guide 144 disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the transport direction of the flapper 46.

Moreover, after the short cut paper CS is further transported toward the downstream side (the left side in FIG. 10) of the transport direction in which the recorded surface faces upward, the short cut paper CS is discharged from the short outlet 34 to the outside of the case 31.

Next, a case will be described where the relatively long cut paper CS is cut and transported from the recorded continuous paper S (the long recording medium). At this time, the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d in the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 are situated at the pinched position, and the flapper 46 is situated at the long position that is also the standby position.

Incidentally, for example, when the long cut paper CS is selected as the paper, which is cut and transported after the recording in the printer 11, and the recording processing is started, the first cam motor 53 of the transport apparatus 27 is subjected to the forward rotation driving based on the selected information. Then, the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d of the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 in the transport apparatus 27 are moved to the separated position. In addition, the flapper 46 is still situated at the long position that is also the standby position. Moreover, the continuous paper S is unwound from the unwinding portion 13 and is transported from the upstream side of the transport direction to the downstream side. Next, when the continuous paper S passes through the lower portion of the recording head 19 in the recording portion 17, ink is ejected from the recording head 19 to the surface of the continuous paper S, whereby the surface of the continuous paper S is recorded.

Even after the tip (the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction) in the transport direction of the continuous paper S passes through the lower portion of the recording head 19, the continuous paper S is further transported to the downstream side while continuously recording the upstream side part of the continuous paper S by the recording head 19, and the tip passes through the lower portion of the cutter 21. Moreover, the tip of the continuous paper S passed through the cutter 21 is further transported and passes through the curl correction portion 22. Herein, since the continuous paper S is continuously recorded by the recording head 19 in the upstream side part, the pinching force is not given to the continuous paper S from the decurl roller 25. Moreover, the continuous paper S is transported to the transport apparatus 27 in the curled state without correcting the curl.

As shown in FIG. 11, the continuous paper S, in which the tip is transported into the transport apparatus 27 in the state of being continuously recorded by the recording head 19 in the upstream side part, is transported to the first transport roller pair 41 while coming into sliding-contact with the transport path surface 38a in the second fixing introduction guide 38 in the introduction portion 35. Moreover, when the tip of the continuous paper S passes through the first transport roller pair 41, the continuous paper S comes into contact with the driving roller 41b, whereby the transport force is given from the driving roller 41b to the continuous paper S. Meanwhile, the driven roller 41d of the first transport roller pair 41 is situated at the separated position where the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller 41d is lower than the transport path surface 37a in the first fixing introduction guide 37. For that reason, the continuous paper S passing through the first transport roller pair 41 does not come into contact with the driven roller 41d. Moreover, the continuous paper S, which is continuously recorded by the recording head 19 in the upstream side part, is further transported to the downstream side without the transport load applied from the driven roller 41d of the first transport roller pair 41.

When the continuous paper S is transported, since the flapper 46 is situated at the long position that is also the standby position, the inlet to the transport path in the transport portion 136 is blocked by the flapper 46 in the position of the upstream side of the transport direction. For that reason, it is suppressed that the continuous paper S passed through the first transport roller pair 41 is brought into the short transport path of the transport portion 136 by the flapper 46. Moreover, the continuous paper S is transported onto the second guide 62 of the flapper 46 in the state where the recorded surface faces upward.

The continuous paper S transported onto the second guide 62 of the flapper 46 is further transported to the downstream side (the left oblique upper part of FIG. 11) while sliding on the upper surface of the second guide 62. That is, the upper surface of the second guide 62 is the transport path surface through which the continuous paper S is transported. Moreover, the continuous paper S is transported from the upper surface of the second guide 62 onto the transport path surface 44a of the first fixing reversal guide 44.

Herein, the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first reversal transport guide 44 overlaps with the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the second guide 62 in the thickness direction (the up and down direction) of the continuous paper S, and is situated at the lower side further than the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the second guide 62. That is, the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first fixing reversal guide 44 is provided without providing a gap in the transport direction between it and the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the second guide 62. Moreover, the continuous paper S is smoothly transported from the upper surface of the second guide 62 onto the transport path surface 44a of the first fixing reversal guide 44 so that the tip (the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction) in the transport direction is not caught by the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first fixing reversal guide 44 disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the transport direction of the flapper 46.

Furthermore, since the reversal path has a strong bent, the continuous paper S is transported while being pressed against the upper surface of the second guide 62 of the flapper 46 situated at the outer peripheral side (the left side in FIG. 11) in the reversal transport portion 36 and the transport path surface 44a of the first fixing reversal guide 44. For that reason, force is applied from the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the second guide 62 to the continuous paper S passing through the end portion of the second guide 62. Herein, if the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the second guide 62 is formed in a comb shape, there is a concern that the sliding contact trace of the comb-shaped end portion is formed on the back surface of the continuous paper S.

However, in the present embodiment, the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the second guide 62 is formed so as to be extended in the linear shape along the width direction of the continuous paper S. For that reason, the force from the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the second guide 62 is uniformly applied to the continuous paper S passing through the end portion along the width direction. Moreover, even if the continuous paper S passing through the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the second guide 62 is transported while being pressed against the second guide 62, the sliding contact trace is not formed in the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction in the second guide 62.

Next, the continuous paper S is further transported to the downstream side while sliding on the transport path surface 44a of the first fixing reversal guide 44. Moreover, the continuous paper S coming into contact with the driving roller 42b disposed in the first fixing reversal guide 44 side upon passing through the second transport roller pair 42, whereby the transport force is given from the driving roller 42b to the continuous paper S. Meanwhile, the driven roller 42d of the second transport roller pair 42 is situated at the separated position where the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller 42d is the right side further than the transport path 54a in the second fixing reversal guide 45. For that reason, the continuous paper S passing through the second transport roller pair 42 does not come into contact with the driven roller 42d. Moreover, the continuous paper S, which is continuously recorded by the recording head 19 in the upstream side part, is further transported to the downstream side without even the transport load applied from the driven roller 42d of the second transport roller pair 42 in addition to the driven roller 41d of the first transport roller pair 41.

The recorded surface of the continuous paper S, in which the tip of the transport direction passes through the second transport roller pair 42 and is transported to the downstream side while sliding on the transport path surface 44a of the first fixing reversal guide 44, faces downward by being reversed. Then, the continuous paper S slides on the transport path surface 45a of the second fixing reversal guide 45 by receiving gravity in the vicinity of the upstream side of the transport direction of the third transport roller pair 43.

Moreover, the continuous paper S comes into contact with the driving roller 43b disposed in the second fixing reversal guide 45 side upon passing though the third transport roller pair 43, whereby the transport force is given from the driving roller 43b to the continuous paper S. Meanwhile, the driven roller 43d of the third transport roller pair 43 is situated at the separated position where the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller 43d is the upper side further than the transport path surface 44a in the first fixing reversal guide 44. For that reason, the continuous paper S passing through the third transport roller pair 43 does not come into contact with the driven roller 43d. Moreover, the continuous paper S, which is continuously recorded by the recording head 19 in the upstream side part, is further transported to the downstream side without even the transport load applied from the driven roller 43d of the third transport roller pair 43 in addition to the driven rollers 41d and 42d of the first and second transport roller pairs 41 and 42.

Furthermore, since the respective driving rollers 41b to 43b of the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 are formed by a metallic material having a relatively low frictional coefficient or the like, the transport force is given to the continuous paper S based on the frictional resistance, but the frictional resistance is extremely small, and the transport load is not added. The continuous paper S, which passes the reversal transport portion 36 and in which the front and the back are reversed, is discharged from the long outlet 33 toward the upper surface 12b of the main body case 12 in the state where the recorded surface faces downward.

Furthermore, the continuous paper S, in which the recording by the recording head 19 is finished in the upstream side part, is cut by the cutter 21 and becomes the relatively long cut paper CS. When cutting the continuous paper S by the cutter 21, the first cam motor 53 of the transport apparatus 27 is subjected to the backward rotation driving, and the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d of the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 are moved from the separated position to the pinched position. Moreover, the long cut paper CS enters the state of being pinched by the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 (see FIG. 2).

After that, the long cut paper CS is moved to the downstream side of the transport direction based on the driving rotation of the respective driving rollers 41b to 43b, and in this connection, the respective paired counterpart driven rollers 41d to 43d are subjected to the driven rotation, whereby the transport force is given from the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 to the long cut paper CS. Moreover, the long cut paper CS is transported until the cut rear end portion (the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction) of the cut paper CS is discharged to the outside of the case 31 of the transport apparatus 27.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) When the continuous paper S as the long recording medium is transported within the transport path in which the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 are disposed, the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 enter the non-pinched state with respect to the continuous paper S. That is, in the case of the continuous paper S in which the length dimension along the transport direction is longer than the distance dimension between the position where the first transport roller pair 41 is disposed and the recording position of the upstream side from that position, the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 enter the non-pinched state with respect to the continuous paper S, whereby the transport load applied to the continuous paper S by the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 is smaller than the case of the pinched state. Thus, the transport load relative to the continuous paper S passing through the transport path is suppressed. As a result, for example, when the continuous paper S passes between the respective driving rollers 41b to 43b of the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 and the respective paired counterpart driven rollers 41d to 43d, even in a case where the recording is concurrently performed on the upstream side part in the continuous paper S in the recording position, it is possible to contribute to the suppression of a decline in recording quality.

(2) When the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 enter the non-pinched state with respect to the continuous paper S, the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 may move the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the respective rotation shafts 41c to 43c that is a direction separated from the transport direction of the continuous paper S. Thus, it is possible to easily realize the configuration of the transport apparatus 27 capable of suppressing the transport load.

In the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43, the respective paired counterpart driven rollers 41d to 43d are more easily moved to the direction intersecting the axial direction of the respective rotation shafts 41c to 43c than the respective driving rollers 41b to 43b. For that reason, it is possible to easily configure the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 enter the non-pinched state with respect to the continuous paper S. Thus, it is possible to easily realize the transport apparatus 27 capable of suppressing the transport load that is added to the continuous paper S to be transported in this manner.

(4) The respective driven rollers 41d to 43d of the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 are formed of a material having the frictional coefficient higher than the respective paired counterpart driving rollers 41b to 43b. For that reason, in the pinched state where the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d pinch the cut paper CS between the same and the respective paired counterpart driving rollers 41b to 43b, the sufficient transport force can be given to the cut paper CS to be transported. Thus, the transport apparatus 27 can be compatible with the function of suppressing the transport load to be added to the continuous paper S upon transporting the continuous paper S and the function of giving the necessary transport force to the cut paper CS upon transporting the cut paper CS.

(5) Flapper 46 is disposed such that the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction overlaps with the respective end portions of the upstream side of the transport direction of the first fixing reversal guide 44 and the first fixing transport guide 144 in the thickness direction of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS to be transported. For that reason, it is possible to dispose the flapper 46, the first fixing reversal guide 44 and the first fixing transport guide 144, which are adjacently disposed in the respective transport directions of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS, along the respective transport paths without providing unnecessary space between both members in the respective transport directions. Thus, even when the flapper 46 is included in the middle of the transport path in a displaceable manner, it is possible to suppress an increase in size of the apparatus in the transport direction and the transport defect of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS.

(6) The flapper 46 has a space portion AS, into which the end portions of the upstream side of the transport direction of the first fixing reversal guide 44 and the first fixing transport guide 144 can be inserted, in the end portion of the downstream side of the transport direction. For that reason, it is possible to smoothly transport the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS, in which the transport direction is switched over in the switch-over position by the flapper 46, without being caught by the end portions of the upstream side of the transport direction of the first fixing reversal guide 44 and the first fixing transport guide 144 disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the flapper 46.

(7) Owing to the simple configuration in which both guides are integrated so that the space portion AS, into which the respective end portions of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first fixing reversal guide 44 and the first fixing transport guide 144 disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the flapper 46 can be inserted, is formed between the end portions of the downstream side of the transport direction of the first guide and the second guide forming the plate shape, it is possible to suppress an increase in size of the transport apparatus 27 and the transport defect of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS.

(8) The respective end portions of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 and the second guide 62 of the flapper 46 are formed so as to be extended in a linear shape along the width direction. For that reason, when the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS are transported while coming into contact with the end portions of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 and the second guide 62, force from the respective end portions of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 and the second guide 62 is uniformly applied to the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS in the width direction intersecting the transport direction of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS. Thus, it is possible to suppress that the slid-trace is formed on the surfaces in the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS which come into sliding-contact with the end portions of the downstream side of the transport direction of the first guide 61 and the second guide 62.

(9) When the driven roller 41d of the first transport roller pair 41 is moved to the separated position, the driven roller 41d is moved to the position where the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller 41d is lower than the transport path surface 37a in the first fixing introduction guide 37. For that reason, the continuous paper S passing through the first transport roller pair 41 does not come into contact with the driven roller 41d. Thus, the first transport roller pair 41 can further transport the continuous paper S, which is continuously recorded by the recording head 19 in the upstream side part, to the downstream side without the transport load applied from the driven roller 41d of the first transport roller pair 41. As a result, for example, when the continuous paper S passes between the driving roller 41b and the driving roller 41d of the first transport roller pair 41, even in a case where the recording in the recording position is continuously performed in the upstream side part in the continuous paper S, it is possible to contribute to the suppression of decline in recording quality.

In addition, the embodiment mentioned above may be changed as below.

The recording medium may be, for example, a continuous film, a cut film or the like, without being limited to the continuous paper S or the cut paper CS. Furthermore, the recording medium to be discharged from the short outlet 34 may use a single sheet paper without being limited to the cut paper CS formed by cutting the continuous paper S during transportation.

The respective driving rollers 41b to 43b and the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d of the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 may be, for example, rollers which form a long cylindrical shape extended in the respective driving shafts 41a to 43a and the respective rotations shafts 41c to 43c, without being limited to toe rollers which are divided into a plurality of rollers in the axial direction of the respective driving shafts 41a to 43a and the respective rotations shafts 41c to 43c. Furthermore, in that case, in the end portions of the downstream side of the transport direction in the first fixing introduction guide 37 ad the second fixing introduction guide 38 and the end portions of the end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction in the first guide 61 and the second guide 62 in the flapper 46, the respective convex portions 37c, 38c, 61b and 62b may not be provided.

The respective outer peripheral surfaces of the respective driving rollers 41b to 43b in the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 may not be formed of a material having the frictional coefficient higher than those of the respective outer peripheral surfaces in the respective paired counterpart driving rollers 41b to 43b. However, in that case, it is desirable that the pinched force of the respective driving rollers 41b to 43b and the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d relative to the cut paper CS in the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 be strong, and the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d do not idle upon pinching the cut paper CS.

The first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 may be configured so that the respective driving rollers 41b to 43b are moved away from the respective paired counterpart driven rollers 41d to 43d without being limited to the movement of the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d from the respective paired counterpart driving rollers 41b to 43b. Furthermore, the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 may be configured so that both of the rollers are moved in a direction away from each other without being limited to the separation of one of that paired counterpart rollers from the other thereto. In addition, the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 may be configured so that the driving rollers are paired without being limited to one in which the driving roller and the driven roller form the pair.

The respective driven rollers 41d to 43d of the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43 may not be moved until the outer peripheral surfaces of the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d are situated outside the transport path further than the transport path surfaces 37a, 44a, and 45a of the first fixing introduction guide 37, the first fixing reversal guide 44, and the second fixing reversal guide 45, which are situated on the side where the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d are disposed. However, in that case, it is desirable that the respective driven rollers 41d to 43d be formed of a member having the relatively low frictional coefficient relative to the cut paper CS.

The respective driven rollers 41d to 43d of the first to third transport roller pairs 41 to 43, for example, may be individually moved without being limited to the simultaneous movement (at the same timing).

The number of the transport roller pair disposed in the transport apparatus 27 may be equal to or greater than three or more or equal to or less than three.

The first transport roller pair 41 may not be provided between the first fixing introduction guide 37 and the flapper 46. In that case, it is desirable that the plurality of convex portions 61b in the comb-shaped end portion of the upstream side of the transport direction of the flapper 46 meshes with the plurality of concave portions 37b and 38b in the respective comb-shaped end portions of the downstream side of the transport direction of the first and second fixing introduction guides 37 and 38. In this case, even between the flapper 46, the first fixing reversal guide 44 and the first fixing transport guide 144 of the downstream side adjacently disposed in the transport direction of the continuous paper S and the cut paper CS as well as between the flapper 46 and the first and second fixing introduction guide 37 and 38 of the upstream side, an unnecessary space is not provided between the adjacent both members. Thus, in a case where the flapper 46 is provided in the middle of the transport path in a freely displaceable manner, it is possible to further suppress an increase in size of the apparatus in the transport direction.

The flapper 46 may be, for example, an approximately triangular-shaped prism or the like when viewed from the cross-section in which an approximately rectangular, triangular or arc-shaped concave portion or the like when viewed from the cross-section are recessed in the lower side portion becoming the downstream side of the transport direction along the transport direction, without being limited to that formed by two sheets of plate-like first guide 61 and the second guide 62.

In the embodiment described above, although the recording apparatus was embodied to the ink jet type printer 11, the recording apparatus may be embodied to a FAX device, a copy device or a multifunction machine including a plurality of functions or the like without being limited to the printer. Furthermore, in the ink jet type printer, a recording apparatus ejecting or discharging liquid other than ink may also be adopted. Furthermore, the recording apparatus can be applied to various liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a liquid ejecting head or the like for ejecting small amount of liquid droplet. In this case, the liquid droplet refers to the state of liquid to be ejected from the recording apparatus and also include one which leaves traces in a granular shape, a tear shape, a thread shape. Furthermore, liquid may be a material that can be ejected by the recording apparatus. For example, the material may be one in which the substance is the state of the liquid phase, and the material includes a liquid body having high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvent, organic solvent, solution, liquid phase resin, a flow-shaped body such as a liquid phase metal (metallic melt), liquid as one state of substance, as well as one in which particles of a functional material formed of solid body such as pigment or metallic particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in the solvent. Furthermore, a typical example of liquid includes ink as described in the embodiment described above, a liquid crystal or the like. Herein, ink includes various ink compositions such as a general water-based ink, an oil-based ink, a gel ink, and a hot-melt ink. Specific examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus may be, for example, a recording apparatus for ejecting liquid which includes the material such as an electrode material or a color material to be used in manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a plane emission display, a color filter, or the like in the form of the dispersion or the dissolution; a recording apparatus that ejects a bio organic matter to be used in manufacturing a bio chip; a recording apparatus which is used as a precision pipette and ejects liquid becoming a sample; a printing apparatus; a micro dispenser or the like. Furthermore, it may be possible to adopt a recording apparatus which ejects a lubricant oil to precision machine such as a watch or a camera by a pinpoint, a recording apparatus which ejects a transparent resin liquid such as an ultraviolet-curing resin onto the substrate so as to form a micro hemispherical lens (an optical lens) to be used in an optical communication element or the like, and a recording apparatus which ejects an etching liquid such as acid or alkaline so as to etch the substrate or the like. Moreover, it is possible to apply the invention to any kind of recording apparatus of them.

Claims

1. A transport apparatus that transports a recording medium from an upstream side of a transport path to a downstream side thereof, comprising: a transport roller pair which is disposed at a position more on a downstream side than a recording position where the recording medium is recorded in the transport path, at least one of a roller situated at one surface side of the recording medium and a roller situated at the other surface side thereof comes into contact with the recording medium passing through the position and is rotated, whereby the transport roller pair transports the recording medium along the transport path,wherein, when the recording medium passes through between both rollers, in a case where a length dimension along the transport direction of the recording medium is longer than a distance dimension between a position where the transport roller pair is disposed and the recording position more on the upstream side than the position, both rollers do not pinch a long recording medium.

2. The transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when both rollers enter the non-pinched state, the transport roller pair is moved in a direction that is a direction in which at least one roller intersects an axial direction of the roller, and is separated from the transport path.

3. The transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport roller pair includes a driving roller which comes into contact with one surface side in the recording medium and is subjected to driving rotation, and a driven roller which comes into contact with the other surface side in the recording medium to be transported along with the driving rotation of the driving roller and is subjected to driven rotation, and when the driven roller transports the long recording medium, the transport roller pair is moved in the direction separated from the driving roller.

4. The transport apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a roller surface of the driven roller is formed by a member that has a frictional coefficient higher than that of a roller surface in the driving roller.

5. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit that records a recording medium to be transported from an upstream side of a transport path to a downstream side thereof; andthe transport apparatus of claim 1 that transports the recording medium recorded by the recording unit.