Transport path switching device in double-sided recording apparatus, double-sided recording apparatus having the same and double-sided liquid ejecting apparatus

Abstract

A transport path switching device for switching a straight transport path for carrying out the recording operation over the rigid medium and a double-sided recording transport path having a medium inverting path branched in a middle of the straight transport path in order to carry out the recording operation over the both sides of the non-rigid medium, includes:

Description

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 an entire perspective view showing an inner part of a double-sided recording apparatus to which a transport path switching device is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a driving wheel train portion of the double-sided recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an inverting unit.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing two transport paths.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the driving wheel train portion in a normal rotation of a feed driving roller without a use of the inverting unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the driving wheel train portion in a reverse rotation of the feed driving roller with a use of the inverting unit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the driving wheel train portion in the normal rotation of the feed driving roller with a use of the inverting unit.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing an operating state of a rotating lever at a start of an insertion of a medium tray.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the operating state of the rotating lever in a middle of the insertion of the medium tray.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing the operating state of the rotating lever at an end of the insertion of the medium tray.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the operating state of the rotating lever at the start of the insertion of the medium tray.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship between a medium to be recorded and the rotating lever.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a path for the inverting unit according to another embodiment.

Claims

1. A transport path switching device in a double-sided recording apparatus having a mode for carrying out a recording operation over a single side of a non-rigid medium, a mode for carrying out the recording operation over both sides of the non-rigid medium, and a mode for carrying out the recording operation over a rigid medium, the transport path switching device for switching a straight transport path for carrying out the recording operation over the rigid medium and a double-sided recording transport path having a medium inverting path branched in a middle of the straight transport path in order to carry out the recording operation over the both sides of the non-rigid medium, the transport path switching device comprising: a rotatable gate member, provided at a portion in which the medium inverting path is branched from the straight transport path; anda flap, formed with the gate member and adapted to guide the non-rigid medium to the medium inverting path, whereinwhen the rigid medium is transported, a part of the rigid medium acts on the gate member directly or indirectly, thereby rotating the gate member in such a direction that the flap is opened, and the rigid medium can pass through a position of the flap to advance straight.

2. The transport path switching device in the double-sided recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rigid medium is transported in a state in which the rigid medium is mounted on a medium tray, andwhen the medium tray on which the rigid medium is mounted is transported, a part of the medium tray acts on the gate member directly or indirectly, thereby rotating the gate member in such the direction that the flap is opened, and the medium tray can pass through the position of the flap to advance straight.

3. The transport path switching device in the double-sided recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gate member is provided with a guide projection,the medium tray is provided with an abutting portion,a rotatable retracting member is provided in the vicinity of the gate member, the retracting member includes: a guiding portion for scooping the guide projection when the retracting member is rotated; and an abutting surface on which the abutting portion abuts to rotate the retracting member when the medium tray is transported, andwhen the retracting member is rotated in a predetermined amount or more, an abutment of the abutting portion and the abutting surface is released so that the medium tray can pass through the position of the flap to advance straight.

4. The transport path switching device in the double-sided recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the retracting member is positioned on an outside of a transport path for the non-rigid medium having a maximum width.

5. The transport path switching device in the double-sided recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a feed driving roller for carrying out a feed driving operation for the non-rigid medium or the rigid medium to a recording portion; and.a drive transmitting system for a first medium feed driving roller and a second medium feed driving roller which are adapted to apply a driving force to the non-rigid medium in the medium inverting path, whereinthe drive transmitting system includes a planetary gear mechanism for selectively engaging a first planetary gear and a second planetary gear with a first connecting gear and a second connecting gear, respectively, in order to rotate the first medium feed driving roller and the second medium feed driving roller in a feeding direction in the medium inverting path, irrespective of a rotating direction of the feed driving roller,the planetary gear mechanism includes a planetary lever having an arm portion on which an abutting portion is formed,the gate member includes an extended portion which is extended toward a side of the arm portion and is formed with an abutment receiving portion, andin the mode for carrying out the recording operation over the single side of the non-rigid medium, in a state in which the gate member is rotated in such a direction that the flap is closed, the planetary lever is rotated toward a side of the gate member in conjunction with a normal rotation of the feed driving roller and the abutting portion thus abuts on the abutment receiving portion so that the first planetary gear is not engaged with the first connecting gear and the second planetary gear is not engaged with the second connecting gear, and a driving operation is transmitted to neither the first medium feed driving roller nor the second medium feed driving roller.

6. A double-sided recording apparatus incorporating the transport path switching device according claim 2, wherein the double-sided recording apparatus has the mode for carrying out the recording operation over the single side of the non-rigid medium, the mode for carrying out the recording operation over the both sides of the non-rigid medium, and the mode for carrying out the recording operation over the rigid medium on the medium tray in the state in which the rigid medium is mounted on the medium tray.

7. The double-sided recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the medium inverting path has a curving and inverting portion for curving and inverting the non-rigid medium, anda curl correcting device for curving the non-rigid medium in a reverse direction to a curving direction of the non-rigid medium by the curving and inverting portion to correct a curl formed on the non-rigid medium by the curving and inverting portion is provided at a downstream side of the curving and inverting portion.

8. The double-sided recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the curl correcting device includes a curving path for curving the non-rigid medium in the reverse direction to the curving direction of the non-rigid medium by the curving and inverting portion, andthe curving path includes a plurality of rollers and one of the rollers which is positioned at a most downstream side is supported on the gate member.

9. A transport path switching device in a double-sided liquid ejecting apparatus having a mode for ejecting a liquid onto a single side of a non-rigid medium, a mode for ejecting the liquid onto both sides of the non-rigid medium, and a mode for ejecting the liquid onto a rigid medium, the transport path switching device for switching a straight transport path for ejecting the liquid onto the rigid medium and a double-sided liquid ejecting transport path having a medium inverting path branched in a middle of the straight transport path in order to eject the liquid onto the both sides of the non-rigid medium, wherein a rotatable gate member, provided at a portion in which the medium inverting path is branched from the straight transport path; anda flap, formed with the gate member and adapted to guide the non-rigid medium to the medium inverting path, whereinwhen the rigid medium is transported, a part of the rigid medium acts on the gate member directly or indirectly, thereby rotating the gate member in such a direction that the flap is opened, and the rigid medium can pass through a position of the flap to advance straight.

10. The transport path switching device in the double-sided liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the rigid medium is transported in a state in which the rigid medium is mounted on a medium tray, andwhen the medium tray on which the rigid medium is mounted is transported, a part of the medium tray acts on the gate member directly or indirectly, thereby rotating the gate member in such the direction that the flap is opened, and the medium tray can pass through the position of the flap to advance straight.

11. A double-sided liquid ejecting apparatus incorporating the transport path switching device according to claim 10, wherein the double-sided liquid ejecting apparatus has the mode for ejecting the liquid onto the single side of the non-rigid medium, the mode for ejecting the liquid onto the both sides of the non-rigid medium, and the mode for ejecting the liquid onto the rigid medium on the medium tray in the state in which the rigid medium is mounted on the medium tray.

12. A transport path switching device operable to switch a first transport path adapted to transport a first medium and a second transport path connected to the first transport path at a connection point and adapted to transport a second medium less than the first medium in rigidity while turning inside out, the transport path switching device comprising: a rotatable gate member, provided at the connection point; anda flap, formed with the gate member and adapted to guide the second medium to the second transport path, whereinwhen a part of the transported first medium acts on the gate member so as to rotate the gate member, the first medium is transported in the first transport path through the gate member.