Abstract:
A liquid ejection head is operable to eject a liquid droplet toward a medium at a liquid ejection point A first roller transports the medium toward the liquid ejection point. A second roller ejects the medium transported from the liquid ejection point to the outside of the apparatus. At least one detection roller is directly brought into contact with the medium and is rotated in accordance with the transportation of the medium, the at least one detection roller being disposed in the vicinity of at least one of the first roller and the second roller. A detector detects a rotation amount of the detection roller. A controller controls the transportation of the medium in accordance with the rotation amount.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a medium transporting device that transports a medium and a recording apparatus incorporating the medium transporting device.  
         [0002]     A printer, one type of recording apparatus, is equipped with a medium transporting device including a drive roller and a follower roller that together pinch and transport a sheet of paper used as a recording medium to a recording section, and a ejection roller and a spur that together pinch and transport the sheet of paper to a discharge portion. The medium transporting device is provided with a detector to detect a quantity of rotations of the drive roller, and a quantity of rotations of the drive roller is controlled by feeding back a detection signal from the detector (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-304222A). Another medium transporting device is provided with a reader to optically read a test pattern that has been provided previously on a sheet of paper, and transportation of a sheet of paper is controlled by calculating a correction value for a quantity of transportation of the sheet of paper on the basis of a read signal from the reader (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-273956A).  
         [0003]     The former medium transporting device, however, is not able to control transportation errors occurring beyond the detector, that is, eccentric errors of the drive roller, errors of the diameter of the drive roller, slipping errors between the drive roller and a sheet of paper, etc. In addition, once the trailing end of a sheet of paper is released from pinching between the drive roller and the follower roller, the sheet of paper is transported by being pinched between the ejection roller and the spur alone. Transportation control by the detector is thus no longer performed, which may possibly deteriorate transportation accuracy of a sheet of paper. Further, a detection roller, serving as the detector, is supported by radial bearings provided with circular holes, and is therefore not able to suppress torsional vibrations, which may possibly adversely affect transportation of a sheet of paper. Meanwhile, the latter medium transporting device is able to calculate a correction value only when a sheet of paper provided with the test pattern is transported, and this value is effective in a short region for merely a limited kind of sheet of paper.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a medium transporting device insusceptible to any error that may occur during transportation of a medium and thereby achieving high transportation accuracy, and a recording apparatus equipped with the medium transporting device.  
         [0005]     In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention, there is provided an apparatus for transporting a medium, comprising: 
        a transporting path, through which the medium is transported;     a detection roller, which is directly brought into contact with the medium and is rotated in accordance with the transportation of the medium;     a detector, which detects a rotation amount of the detection roller; and     a controller, which controls the transportation of the medium in accordance with the rotation amount.        
 
         [0010]     With this configuration, the transportation amount of the medium can be set as an object to be controlled. Accordingly, the transportation with high accuracy can be attained almost without being affected by any intervening tolerances.  
         [0011]     Preferably, the apparatus further comprises: a first roller, which transports the medium toward the transporting path; and a second roller, which ejects the medium transported from the transporting path to the outside of the apparatus. The detection roller is disposed in the vicinity of at least one of the first roller and the second roller.  
         [0012]     With this configuration, the transportation amount of the ejected medium can be set as an object to be controlled. Accordingly, the medium transportation executed only by the second roller can be accurately controlled.  
         [0013]     Here, it is preferable that the apparatus further comprises an urging member which urges the detection roller against the first roller.  
         [0014]     In this case, the movement of the medium can be directly detected all the time during the transportation. Accordingly, the transportation can be controlled with high accuracy.  
         [0015]     It is further preferable that the urging member comprises at least one rotary member which is rotatable in accordance with the rotation of the detection roller.  
         [0016]     In this case, even in a case where the detection roller has a small diameter, it is reliably pressed against the first roller while the rotation thereof is not interfered.  
         [0017]     It is further preferable that the urging member comprises at least four rotary members disposed so as to come in contact with two portions on the detection roller in an axial direction thereof and with two portion on the detection roller in a circumferential direction thereof.  
         [0018]     In this case, the vibration generated when the small-diameter detection roller is rotated can be suppressed.  
         [0019]     Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a friction applier, which applies a frictional force onto an outer periphery of the detection roller.  
         [0020]     In this case, torsional vibrations generated in the detection roller can be reduced. Accordingly, the transportation amount of the medium can be detected with high accuracy.  
         [0021]     It is more preferable that the friction applier is configured so as to restrict a movement of the detection roller in a radial direction thereof.  
         [0022]     In this case, since the detection roller is configured to be merely rotated, it is able to follow the transportation of the medium with high accuracy.  
         [0023]     It is further preferable that the friction applier comprises a press member which is pressed against the detection roller.  
         [0024]     In this case, the movement of the detection roller in the radial direction thereof can be suppressed with a member having simple construction.  
         [0025]     It is further preferable that the press member is pressed against the detection roller in a point-contact manner.  
         [0026]     In this case, the press member can be configured by a simple mechanism using the leverage action. Accordingly, costs can be reduced.  
         [0027]     It is also preferable that the friction applier comprises a support member which supports the detection roller so as to restrict a movement thereof in a direction that the medium is transported.  
         [0028]     In this case, the movement of the detection roller in the medium transporting direction thereof can be suppressed with a member having simple construction.  
         [0029]     It is more preferable that the support member supports the detection roller at least two points.  
         [0030]     In this case, the support member can be configured by a simple mechanism using the leverage action. Accordingly, costs can be reduced.  
         [0031]     It is also preferable that the support member is formed with a groove having a V-shaped cross section for supporting the detection roller.  
         [0032]     In this case, the movement of the detection roller in the medium transporting direction can be reliably suppressed by simply putting the detection roller into the groove.  
         [0033]     It is also preferable that the friction applier comprises an urging member which urges the press member against the detection roller.  
         [0034]     In this case, the management for the pressing load with respect to the detection roller can be made easier. Accordingly, the movement of the detection roller in the radial direction thereof can be reliably suppressed.  
         [0035]     Preferably, the detection roller has a common outer periphery which is directly brought into contact with the medium while being rotatably supported by a support member.  
         [0036]     In this case, the medium contact portion and the shaft supporting portion can be integrally formed. Accordingly, the direct control of the medium transportation can be executed without being affected by the eccentricity of the detection roller.  
         [0037]     Preferably, the controller controls the transportation of the medium in a feedback manner.  
         [0038]     In this case, the medium transportation with high accuracy can be attained, so that the recording accuracy can be enhanced.  
         [0039]     Preferably, the detector comprises a rotary encoder scale. In this case, the detector can be simply configured.  
         [0040]     It is more preferable that: the detection roller is provided with a first mark indicating a direction and an amount of a first eccentricity of the detection roller which have been measured in advance; and the rotary encoder scale is provided with a second mark indicating a direction and an amount of a second eccentricity of the rotary encoder scale which have been measured in advance.  
         [0041]     In this case, the detention roller and the detector which are capable of canceling the efficiencies thereof can be selected within a short while. Since the rotation of the roller transporting the medium can be directly controlled, the medium transportation can be controlled with high accuracy.  
         [0042]     It is further preferable that: the direction of the first eccentricity is indicated by a position of the first mark, and the amount of the first eccentricity is indicated by a color of the first mark; and the direction of the second eccentricity is indicated by a position of the second mark, and the amount of the second eccentricity is indicated by a color of the second mark.  
         [0043]     In this case, the detention roller and the detector which are capable of canceling the efficiencies thereof can be visually confirmed. Accordingly, erroneous choices for those members can be eliminated.  
         [0044]     It is also preferable that a diameter of the detection roller is sufficiently smaller than a diameter of the rotary encoder scale.  
         [0045]     In this case, the high detective resolution can be maintained.  
         [0046]     According to the invention, there is also provided a liquid ejection apparatus, comprising: 
        a liquid ejection head, operable to eject a liquid droplet toward a medium at a liquid ejection point;     a first roller, which transports the medium toward the liquid ejection point;     a second roller, which ejects the medium transported from the liquid ejection point to the outside of the apparatus;     at least one detection roller, which is directly brought into contact with the medium and is rotated in accordance with the transportation of the medium, the at least one detection roller being disposed in the vicinity of at least one of the first roller and the second roller;     a detector, which detects a rotation amount of the detection roller; and     a controller, which controls the transportation of the medium in accordance with the rotation amount.        
 
         [0053]     According to the invention, there is also provided a recording apparatus, comprising: 
        a recording head, operable to record information on a medium at a recording point;     a first roller, which transports the medium toward the recording point;     a second roller, which ejects the medium transported from the recording point to the outside of the apparatus;     at least one detection roller, which is directly brought into contact with the medium and is rotated in accordance with the transportation of the medium, the at least one detection roller being disposed in the vicinity of at least one of the first roller and the second roller,     a detector, which detects a rotation amount of the detection roller; and     a controller, which controls the transportation of the medium in accordance with the rotation amount.       
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0060]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a printer according to a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0061]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of a essential portion of the printer of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0062]      FIG. 3  is a cross section showing an essential portion of the printer of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0063]      FIG. 4A  is a plan view showing a transporting amount detector in the printer of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0064]      FIG. 4B  is a side view showing the transporting amount detector of  FIG. 4A ;  
         [0065]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing a transporting amount detector according to a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0066]      FIG. 6  is a side view showing the transporting amount detector of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0067]      FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a transporting amount detector according to a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0068]      FIG. 8  is a side view showing the transporting amount detector of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0069]      FIG. 9  is a cross section showing an essential portion of a printer according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0070]      FIG. 10A  is a plan view showing a transporting amount detector in the printer shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0071]      FIG. 10B  is a side view showing the transporting amount detector of  FIG. 10A ;  
         [0072]      FIG. 11  is a plan view showing a transporting amount detector according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0073]      FIG. 12 a  side view showing the transporting amount detector of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0074]      FIG. 13  is a plan view showing a transporting amount detector according to a sixth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0075]      FIG. 14 a  side view showing the transporting amount detector of  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0076]      FIG. 15  is a cross section showing an essential portion of a printer according to a seventh embodiment of the invention;  
         [0077]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing a transporting amount detector in the printer of  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0078]      FIG. 17A  is a perspective view showing an essential portion of the transporting amount detector of  FIG. 16 ;  
         [0079]      FIG. 17B  is a side view showing an essential portion of the transporting amount detector of  FIG. 16 ;  
         [0080]      FIG. 18A  is a plan view showing a rotary encoder scale in a detector according to an eighth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0081]      FIG. 18B  is a side view showing a rotary encoder in the detector of  FIG. 18A ;  
         [0082]      FIG. 18C  is a front view showing the rotary encoder of  FIG. 18B ;  
         [0083]      FIG. 19  is a view used to explain the influences from the eccentricity caused between the rotary encoder scale and a detection roller;  
         [0084]      FIG. 20  is a block diagram showing a transportation controller in the printer of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0085]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view showing a paper feeder in the printer of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0086]      FIG. 22A  through  FIG. 27  are views detailing the use procedure of the printer of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0087]     Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0088]     An ink jet printer  100  according to a first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  is a large-scaled printer that enables recording on rolled paper or a cut sheet having a paper width of a relatively large size, for example, the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) Size A1 paper or the JIS Size B1 paper. The ink jet printer  100  is configured in such a manner that a recording section  120  and a medium transporting device  130  are provided in the interior of a main body  110 , and a paper feeder  150  is provided between legs  140  that support the main body  110 .  
         [0089]     As are shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 , the main body  110  includes a housing  111  made of plastic or a metal sheet to cover the recording section  120  and the medium transporting device  130 . As are shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 , the housing  111  is provided with a top cover  112  and a front cover  113  made of translucent or transparent plastic or metal sheet for the top face and the front face to be released.  
         [0090]     As are shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 , the top cover  112  is supported rotatably about the rear portion, and is thereby opened/closed when the user pushes up/pushes down the front portion by hand. The user is able to release widely a space above the recording section  120  and the medium transporting device  130  by opening the top cover  112 . This makes it easier to perform maintenance on recording heads  121 , a carriage  122  and the like, corrections of set position errors for rolled paper or a cut sheet, recovery from paper transportation errors, such as paper jamming during a recording or ejecting operation, etc.  
         [0091]     As are shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 , the front cover  113  is supported pivotably about the bottom portion, and is thereby opened or closed when the user manually moves up or down the top portion thereof. The user is able to release widely a space below the recording section  120  and the medium transporting device  130  by opening the front cover  113 . This makes it easier to perform recovery from paper transportation errors, such as paper jamming during a paper feed operation, etc.  
         [0092]     Also, as are shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a holder main body  161  accommodating ink cartridges  10  of respective colors and an ink cartridge holder  160  having a cover  162  covering the front face of the holder main body  161  are provided at the lower-right portion when viewed from the front face of the main body  110 . The cover  162  is supported in such a manner that it is rotatable about the bottom portion with respect to the hold main body  161 , and is thereby opened or closed when the user manually moves up or down the top portion thereof. The user is able to release widely the holder main body  161  by opening the cover  162 . This makes it easier to replace the ink cartridge(s)  10 .  
         [0093]     Further, as are shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a control panel  170  for the user to perform a manipulation, such as recording control, is provided at the upper-right portion when viewed from the front face of the main body  110 . The control panel  170  is provided with a liquid crystal display screen and various kinds of buttons, so that the user is able to manipulate buttons or correct a set position error for rolled paper or a cut sheet while confirming the situations by watching the liquid crystal display screen. This enables the user to perform manipulations or jobs exactly through visual recognition, which can in turn eliminate operation errors or operation mistakes.  
         [0094]     As are shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the recording section  120  comprises: the carriage  122  on which the recording heads  121  are mounted; flexible flat cables (hereinafter, abbreviated to FFCs)  123  to electrically connect the recording heads  121  to a recording executer in a controller  180 ; ink tubes  124  to connect the recording heads  121  and the respective ink cartridges  10  filled with ink, etc.  
         [0095]     The recording heads  121  comprise a black ink recording head to eject black ink and a plurality of color ink recording heads to eject ink of respective colors, such as, dark yellow, yellow, light cyan, cyan, light magenta, and magenta. The recording heads  121  are provided with pressure generating chambers and nozzle openings communicating with the pressure generating chambers. By pressurizing ink stored in each pressure generating chamber at a predetermined pressure, an ink droplet of a controlled size is ejected through the nozzle opening toward rolled paper.  
         [0096]     As is shown in  FIG. 2 , the carriage  122  is mounted on a rail  127  provided in the primary scanning direction via bearings and linked to a carriage belt  128 . Hence, when the carriage belt  128  is moved by an unillustrated carriage driving device, the carriage  122  is guided by the rail  127  to reciprocate in association with motions of the carriage belt  128 . The FFCs  123  are connected to a connector of the controller  180  at one end and to connectors of the recording heads  121  at the other end for a recording signal to be sent from the controller  180  to the recording heads  121 .  
         [0097]     The ink tubes  124  are provided for respective colors, and communicate respectively with the ink cartridges  10  of corresponding colors at one ends via unillustrated ink pressurizing and supplying members, and with the recording heads  121  of corresponding colors at the other ends. The ink tubes  124  supply ink of respective colors, pressurized by the ink pressurizing and supplying members, from the ink cartridges  10  to the recording heads  121 .  
         [0098]     As are shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the medium transporting device  130  comprises: a paper feeding roller  131  and a follower roller  132  that together transport rolled paper or a cut sheet in the secondary scanning direction; a ejection roller  133  and a follower roller  134  that together transport rolled paper or a cut sheet in the secondary scanning direction to be ejected; a cutter  135  to cut recorded rolled paper; an unillustrated paper suction member to prevent rolled paper or a cut sheet from being afloat; a transporting amount detector  200  shown in  FIG. 3  to detect a quantity of transportation of rolled paper or a cut sheet, etca As the follower roller  134 , for example, a spur (ratchet roller), or a disc whose rim has an acutely-angled cross section, can be used.  
         [0099]     The paper feeding roller  131  is driven to rotate forward/backward by a driving force transmitted from an unillustrated motor. The follower roller  132  is pressed against the paper feeding roller  131  by an urging member, such as a spring, and thereby rotates forward/backward in association with the forward/backward rotational driving of the paper feeding roller  131 . The paper feeding roller  131  and the follower roller  132  together pinch and deliver rolled paper or a cut sheet to be fed.  
         [0100]     The ejection roller  133  is driven to rotate forward/backward by a driving force transmitted from the motor via the paper feeding roller  131 . The follower roller  134  is pressed against the ejection roller  133  by an urging member, such as a spring, and thereby rotates forward/backward in association with the forward/backward rotational driving of the ejection roller  133 . The ejection roller  133  and the follower roller  134  together pinch and send rolled paper or a cut sheet to be transported. As is shown in  FIG. 3 , the cutter  135  is provided to be free to move in a vertical direction and in the primary scanning direction with the cutting edge pointing downward.  
         [0101]     The transporting amount detector  200  is provided in a space between the paper feeding roller  131  and the recording head  121  to be connected to the controller  180 , and performs feedback control as to transportation of rolled paper or a cut sheet by detecting a quantity of transportation of rolled paper or a cut sheet and by outputting a signal, indicating a transportation position and a transportation velocity, to the controller  180 .  
         [0102]     As are shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B , the transporting amount detector  200  comprises a detection roller  210  that rolls in association with transportation of rolled paper R or a cut sheet P, and a detector  220  to detect a quantity of rotations of the detection roller  210 . The detection roller  210  comprises: a roller body  211  that rotates by coming in direct contact with rolled paper R and a cut sheet P; a pair of bearings  213  to axially support a shaft  212  of the roller body  211  at the both ends thereof; a holder  214  to hold these bearings  213 ; a pair of compression springs  215  to support the holder  214 ; a case  216  to support these compression springs  215  as well as the holder  214  to be free to move in a vertical direction, etc.  
         [0103]     The detector  220  comprises: a rotary encoder scale  221  made of a disc-shaped plastic plate and attached to the roller body  21   1 ; an optical sensor  222  comprising a light receiving and emitting element provided to sandwich slit portions in the rotary encoder scale  221  and attached to the case  216 ; a circuit board  223  connected to the optical sensor  222 , etc.  
         [0104]     According to the transporting amount detector  200  configured as above, the rotary encoder scale  221  rotates together with the roller body  211  that is axially supported by the bearings  213  in association with transportation of rolled paper R or a cut sheet P. The circuit board  223  is thus able to detect, at high accuracy, a quantity of rotations of the roller body  211 , that is, a quantity of transportation of rolled paper R or a cut sheet P, via the optical sensor  222 . Further, because the diameter of the roller body  211  can be made extremely small, control at high detection resolution is enabled. Should rolled paper R or a cut sheet P fluctuate while being transported, the holder  214  supporting the roller body  211  undergoes displacement inside the case  216  due to the action of the compression springs  215 . This eliminates adverse affects to rotations of the roller body  211  associated with transportation of roller paper R or a cut sheet P.  
         [0105]     As is shown in  FIG. 3 , the transporting amount detector  200  is provided in a space between the paper feeding roller  131  and the recording head  121 ; however, it may be provided directly above the paper feeding roller  131 , at the upper stream portion of the paper feeding roller  131  in the transportation direction, or at the lower stream portion of the recording heads  121  in the transportation direction. The detector  220  may comprise, instead of the rotary encoder scale  221 , the optical sensor  222 , and the circuit board  223 , respectively, a magnetic encoder attached to the roller body  211 , a magnetic sensor, attached to the case  216 , to detect a change in magnetism of the magnetic encoder, and a circuit board connected to the magnetic sensor.  
         [0106]      FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  show a second embodiment of the invention. Like components are labeled with like reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. A transporting amount detector  200  in this embodiment comprises: a detection roller  230  that rolls in association with transportation of rolled paper R or a cut sheet P; a pressing member  240  to press the detection roller  230  against the paper feeding roller  131 ; and a detector  250  to detect a quantity of rotations of the detection roller  230 . The detection roller  230  is provided directly above the paper feeding roller  131 , and comprises a roller body  231  that rotates by coming into direct contact with rolled paper R or a cut sheet P, a shaft  232  penetrating through the roller body  231 , etc. The roller body  231 , made of metal, such as stainless, is coated with nonslip ceramic powder on the periphery, and is shrink-fit at one end of the shaft  232  also made of metal, such as stainless. When temperature corrections or the like are possible, the roller body  231  may be made of rubber or the like.  
         [0107]     The pressing member  240  comprises: rotors  241  that keep the shaft  232  pushed down from above in close proximity to the both ends of the roller body  231 ; a supporting arm  243  to axially support the shaft  232  of the roller body  231  and the shaft  242  of the rotors  241 ; a supporter  244  to support the supporting arm  243  to be free to pivot; a tensile spring  245  to keep pushing the supporting arm  243 , etc. Four rotors  241  are provided in close proximity to the both ends of the roller body  231  on the both sides in the axial direction and in the radial direction of the shaft  232 .  
         [0108]     To serve as the rotors  241 , it is sufficient to assist the roller body  231  to be pressed against the paper feeding roller  131 , and for example; bearings, metal or plastic rollers, etc. can be used. At one end, the supporting arm  243  axially supports the shaft  232  of the roller body  231  to be free to rotate while supporting the axes  242  of the rotors  241  fixedly. The supporter  244  is fixed to the main body frame  101 , and axially supports the supporting arm  243  nearly at the center to be free to pivot. The tensile spring  245  is stopped by the supporter  244  at one end and, and is stopped at the other end by the other end of the supporting arm  243 .  
         [0109]     The detector  250  comprises: a rotary encoder scale  251  made of a disc-shaped plastic plate and attached to the other end of the shaft  232  of the roller body  231 ; an optical sensor  252  comprising a light receiving and emitting element provided to sandwich slit portions in the rotary encoder scale  251  and attached to the main body frame  102 ; a circuit board  253  connected to the optical sensor  252 , etc. The detector  250  may comprise, instead of the rotary encoder scale  251 , the optical sensor  252 , and the circuit board  253 , respectively, a magnetic encoder attached to the roller body  231 , a magnetic sensor, attached to the main body frame  102 , to detect a change in magnetism of the magnetic encoder, and a circuit board connected to the magnetic sensor.  
         [0110]     According to the transporting amount detector  200  in this embodiment, because the rotors  241  keep pressing the roller body  231  against the paper feeding roller  131 , it is possible to suppress turbulence while the roller body  231  is rolling in association with transportation of rolled paper R or a cut sheet P. Hence, not only can the diameter of the roller body  231  be reduced further to an extremely small size, but also the length of the shaft  232  of the roller body  231  can be increased further. It is thus possible to provide the roller body  231  directly above the paper feeding roller  131  to be astride an ejectionability recovering device of the recording heads  121 .  
         [0111]     For instance, let r be the diameter of the roller body  231 , R be the diameter of the rotary encoder scale  251 , and 1/n be a slit interval, then detection resolution as high as (1/n)·(r/R) can, be achieved on the roller body  231 , which can in turn improve the stopping accuracy or enables more elaborate corrections to be made, etc. Hence, motions of rolled paper R or a cut sheet P can be detected more directly while keeping detection resolution high, and transportation can be thus controlled at a further higher degree of accuracy. The transporting amount detector  200  in this embodiment may be provided as well at the upper stream portion of the paper feeding roller  131  in the transportation direction or at the lower stream portion of the recording heads  121  in the transportation direction.  
         [0112]      FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  show a third embodiment of the invention. Like components are labeled with like reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In a transporting amount detector  200  in this embodiment, a pressing member  240  and a detector  250  are of the same configuration as the counterparts in the second embodiment; however, a detection roller  260  that rolls in association with transportation of rolled paper R or a cut sheet P is of a different configuration.  
         [0113]     To be more specific, unlike the detection roller  230  of the second embodiment that is divided into the roller body  231  and the shaft  232  having different diameters, the detection roller  260  is formed into a shape of a round rod having the same diameter. The detection roller  260  functions at one end, that is, a section on the side kept pushed down by the rotors  241 , as a rotary section  261  that rotates in association with transportation of a sheet of paper, and functions at the other end, that is, a section on the side where the rotary encoder scale  251  is fit in, as an axial supporter  262  that axially supports the rotary section  261 . The detection roller  260  is made of metal, such as stainless, and may be coated with non-slip ceramic powder on the periphery of the rotary section  261 .  
         [0114]     Because the rotary section  261  and the axial supporter  262  are both formed on the same outer peripheral face of the detection roller  260  as has been described, it is possible to manufacture a detection roller  260  in which there is no substantial eccentricity between the rotary section  261  and the axial supporter  262  by processing materials of the detection roller  260  integrally through polishing or the like. In addition, most of influences of the eccentricity in the fitting portion of the axial supporter  262  of the detection roller  260  and the rotary encoder scale  251  can be cancelled, by giving a larger ratio for the diameter of the rotary encoder scale  251  with respect to the diameter of the axis supporter  262 . For example, let r be the diameter of the detection roller  260 , R be the diameter of the rotary encoder scale  251 , and 1/n be a slit interval, then detection resolution as high as (1/n)·(r/R) can be achieved on the detection roller  260 , which can in turn improve the stopping accuracy and enables more elaborate corrections to be made. Precise, direct control on transportation of a sheet of paper that is substantially insusceptible to the influences of the eccentricity is thus enabled.  
         [0115]      FIG. 9  through  FIG. 10B  show a fourth embodiment of the invention. Like components are labeled with like reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the transporting amount detector  200  in the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  is provided to the ejection roller  133 . Alternatively, the transporting amount detector  200  may be provided to both the paper feeding roller  131  and the ejection roller  133 .  
         [0116]      FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  show a fifth embodiment of the invention. Like components are labeled with like reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the transporting amount detector  200  in the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  is provided to the ejection roller  133 . Alternatively, the transporting amount detector  200  may be provided to both the paper feeding roller  131  and the ejection roller  133 .  
         [0117]      FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  show a sixth embodiment of the invention. Like components are labeled with like reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the transporting amount detector  200  in the third embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  is provided to the ejection roller  133 . Alternatively, the transporting amount detector  200  may be provided to both the paper feeding roller  131  and the ejection roller  133 .  
         [0118]     According to the configurations of the fourth through sixth embodiments, once the trailing end of a sheet of paper is released from pinching between the paper feeding roller  131  and the follower roller  132 , the sheet of paper is transported by being pinched between the ejection roller  133  and the follower roller  134  alone; however, because the transporting amount detector  200  performs transportation control, the sheet of paper can be transported at high accuracy.  
         [0119]      FIG. 15  through  FIG. 17B  show a seventh embodiment of the invention. Like components are labeled with like reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. A transporting amount detector  200  in this embodiment comprises: a detection roller  270  that rotates in accordance with transportation of rolled paper R or a cut sheet P; a friction applier  280  to apply a frictional resistance on the peripheral face of the detection roller  270 ; and a detector  290  to detect a quantity of rotations of the detection roller  270 .  
         [0120]     As is shown in  FIG. 16 , the detection roller  270  is provided in such a manner that one end comes in direct contact with one end of the paper feeding roller  131  directly above, and the friction applier  280  and the detector  290  are provided at the other end. The detection roller  270  is made of metal, such as stainless, and is shaped like a single round rod. Rotors that keep the detection roller  270  pushed down from above at one end may be provided. By providing four rotors on the both sides in the axial direction and in the radius direction of the detection roller  270 , it is possible to rotate the detection roller  270  in a more stable manner.  
         [0121]     As are shown in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17A , the friction applier  280  comprises a shaft pressing lever  281  and a tensile spring  282  to keep the detection roller  270  pushed down from above, a bearing  283  to axially support the detection roller  270 , etc. The shaft pressing lever  281  is axially supported at the center by an unillustrated printer main body or the like to be free to pivot. A flat groove  281   a  is formed on the lower face at one end to abut on the upper outer peripheral face of the detection roller  270  at one point, and one end of the tensile spring  282  is stopped at the other end. The other end of the tensile spring  282  is stopped by the unillustrated printer main body or the like. In the bearing  283  is made a through hole  283   a  for the detection roller  270  to penetrate through. A V-shaped groove  283   a  is formed on the lower inner peripheral face of the through hole  283   a  to abut on the lower outer peripheral face of the detection roller  270  at two points.  
         [0122]     By providing the friction applier  280  configured as described above, as is shown in  FIG. 17B , the friction applier  280  confers frictional resistance on the detection roller  270  while supporting the outer peripheral face of the detection roller  270  at three points. It is thus possible to regulate runouts in the radial direction by reducing torsional vibrations occurring in the detection roller  270 . To be more specific, because the shaft pressing lever  281  keeps the detection roller  270  pushed down from above in a direction indicated by an arrow “a” in the drawing due to the function of the tensile spring  282 , of the runouts of the detection roller  270  in the radial direction, runouts in the vertical direction can be regulated. Also, because the bearing  283  supports the detection roller  270  from diagonally below on the both sides, which are indicated by b 1  and b 2  in the drawing, due to the function of the shaft pressing lever  281  and the tensile spring  282 , of the runouts of the detection roller  270  in the radial direction, the runouts in the paper transportation direction can be regulated.  
         [0123]     As is shown in  FIG. 16 , the detector  290  comprises a rotary encoder scale  291  made of a disc-shaped plastic plate and attached to the other end of the detection roller  270 , an optical sensor  292  comprising a light receiving and emitting element provided to sandwich the slit portions in the rotary encoder scale  291  and attached to the unillustrated printer main body, etc. The detector  290  may comprise, instead of the rotary encoder scale  291  and the optical sensor  292 , respectively, a magnetic encoder attached to the detection roller  270  and a magnetic sensor, attached to the unillustrated printer main body, to detect a change in magnetism of the magnetic encoder.  
         [0124]     For the transporting amount detector configured as has been described, it is necessary to manage a load to be applied to the detection roller in reducing the torsional vibrations occurring in the detection roller. The transporting amount detector conventionally applies a load to the detection roller by pushing the radial bearing that supports the detection roller, in an axial direction with the use of a spring. Hence, a spring having a high spring constant is needed, which makes it difficult to manage a load. In this embodiment, however, friction resistance is applied on the detection roller  270  by supporting the outer peripheral face of the detection roller  270  at three points by the friction applier  280  through the use of this principle, which makes it easy to manage a load.  
         [0125]     In addition, the transporting amount detector in the related art is fixed to the printer main body. This allows the follower roller  132  to be released from the paper feeding roller  131  with ease, but inhibits the detection roller from being released from the paper feeding roller  131 . It is therefore difficult to insert a sheet of paper in a space between the paper feeding roller  131  and the follower roller  132 . In contrast, the transporting amount detector  200  in this embodiment is not fixed to the printer main body, and the detection roller  270  can be released from the paper feeding roller  131  with ease. It is therefore easy to insert a sheet of paper in a space between the paper feeding roller  131  and the follower roller  132 .  
         [0126]     Also, let r be the diameter of the detection roller  270 , R be the diameter of the rotary encoder scale  291 , and 1/n be a slit interval, then, because the torsional vibrations occurring in the detection roller  270  are reduced, it is possible to obtain detection resolution as high as (1/n)·(r/R) on the detection roller  270  by making the diameter of the detection roller  270 , r, sufficiently small with respect to the diameter of the rotary encoder scale  291 , R. Hence, not only can stopping accuracy be improved, but also more elaborate corrections can be made. It is thus possible to detect motions of rolled paper R or a cut sheet P more directly while keeping the detection resolution high, which in turn enables transportation to be controlled at a further higher degree of accuracy.  
         [0127]     In this embodiment, the friction applier  280  supports the outer peripheral face of the detection roller  270  at three points; however, the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the friction applier  280  may be configured to support the outer peripheral face at one point in the form of an arc or at four points in the form of two V-shaped grooves. Further, U-shaped grooves may be used instead of the V-shaped grooves. In addition, as is shown in  FIG. 15 , the transporting amount detector  200  in this embodiment is provided on the paper feeding roller  131 ; however, it may be provided on the ejection roller  133 , in a space between the paper feeding roller  131  and the recording heads  121 , at the upper stream portion of the paper feeding roller  131  in the transportation direction, or at the lower stream portion of the recording heads  121  in the transportation direction.  
         [0128]     Each of the rotary encoder scales  221 ,  251 , and  291  of the transporting amount detectors  200  in the respective embodiments described above is shaped like a disc, which is provided with a rotational axis hole at the center and a plurality of slits made at regular intervals along the circumference. For these rotary encoder scales  221 ,  251 , and  291 , the rotational axis hole may be made eccentrically because of a problem as to the accuracy of finishing. In such a case, the number of slits traversing the rotary encoders  222 ,  252 , and  292  may differ even when the rotational angles of the rotary encoder scales  221 ,  251 , and  291  are the same, which results in deterioration of the paper feed accuracy. An eighth embodiment of the invention provided with a detector that solves this problem will now be described with reference to  FIG. 18A  through  FIG. 19 .  
         [0129]     A detector  300  in this embodiment includes a rotary encoder scale  310  shown in  FIG. 18A , and a rotary encoder  320  shown in  FIG. 18B  and FIG.  18 C. The rotary encoder scale  310 , made of plastic or the like, is shaped like a disc, which is provided with a rotational axis hole  311  at the center and a plurality of slits  312  made at regular intervals along the circumference. The rotary encoder  320  comprises a box-shaped main body  321  having an almost C-shaped cross section, in which a light emitting element  322  and a light receiving element  323  are provided oppositely. In this example, the rotational axis hole  311  in the rotary encoder scale  310  is fit into the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270 . The main body  321  of the rotary encoder  320  is attached to the side frame, so that the light emitting element  322  and the light receiving element  323  are positioned at the both ends of a portion allocated for the slits  312  in the rotary encoder scale  310 .  
         [0130]     When configured in this manner, the rotary encoder scale  310  starts to rotate in association with rotations of the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270 . Light emitted from the light emitting element  322  is blocked by spaces between the adjacent slits  312  but passes through the slits  312  to go incident on the light receiving element  323 . Hence, by inputting a periodical signal outputted from the light receiving element  323 , it is possible to control paper feed by finding a quantity of rotations of the rotary encoder scale  310 , that is, a quantity of rotations of the follower roller  132 .  
         [0131]     Incidentally, the rotational axis hole  311  in the rotary encoder scale  310  may possibly be made eccentrically due to a problem as to the accuracy of finishing. In such a case, the center of the rotational axis hole  311  in the rotary encoder scale  310  is displaced from the center of the rotational axis of the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270 . Hence, the number of slits  312  traversing a space between the light emitting element  322  and the light receiving element  323  may differ even when the rotational angle of the rotary encoder scale  310  is the same, which results in deterioration of the paper feed accuracy. This will be described more in detail with reference to  FIG. 19 .  
         [0132]      FIG. 19  is a view used to explain influences of displacement caused between the rotary encoder scale  310  and the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270 . An error of the pitch circumferential length of the slits  312  resulted from eccentricity is a difference between the peripheral length AB in the case of rotations by an arbitrary angle θ about the rotational driving center P and the peripheral length CD corresponding to the angle θ when viewed from the center of the perfect circle O. The maximum error of the pitch circumferential length resulted from the eccentricity is derived from the relation as to the position at which OP divides the angle θ into halves (at a position shown in the drawing or a position at which the phase is shifted by π according to the circular method).  
         [0133]     Let r be the radius of the perfect circle, α be a central angle AOB of the perfect circle with respect to the arc AB, and e be the distance of OP, then the maximum error of the pitch circumferential length, ε, is expressed by Equation (1) below, and Equation (2) below is found from the positional relation shown in the drawing: 
 
ε= AB−CD=rα−rθ   (1) 
 
 e .sin(θ/2)= r .sin[(α−θ)/2]  (2) 
 
 Hence, in a range where sin [(α−θ)/2)]≈(α−θ)/2 is established by the circular method with small e, the maximum error of the pitch circumferential length, ε, resulted from the eccentricity is expressed by Equation (3) below as an approximate solution: 
 
ε= r (α−θ)=2 e .sin(θ/2)   (3) 
 
 Hence, for each rotary encoder scale  310 , the direction and a quantity of eccentricity have been measured previously. A dot mark  313  shown in the drawing, specifying the direction and a quantity of eccentricity, is indicated on the rotary encoder scale  310 . With the use of the mark  313 , the direction of eccentricity is specified, for example, by the indicated position (in the case of the drawing, in the 12 o&#39;clock direction), and a quantity of eccentricity is specified, for example, by an indicated color (for instance, blue means within 5 μm, yellow means from 5 μm to 8 μm, and red means 8 μm or greater). 
 
         [0134]     Further, for each of the detection rollers  210 ,  230 ,  260 , and  270 , the direction and a quantity of eccentricity have been measured previously. A line mark, specifying the direction and a quantity of the eccentricity, is indicated on the outer peripheral face at the edge of the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270 . With the use of this mark, too, the direction of eccentricity is specified by the indicated position and a quantity of eccentricity is specified by an indicated color (for instance, blue means within 5 μm, yellow means from 5 μm to 8 μm, and red means 8 μm or greater). According to the configuration as described above, the rotary encoder scale  310  and the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270  can be selectively combined, so that the eccentricity of the rotary encoder scale  310  and the eccentricity of the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270  are cancelled out. Hence, when the rotational angle of the rotary encoder scale  310  is the same, so is the number of the slits  312  traversing a space between the light emitting element  322  and the light receiving element  323  without fail, which enables paper feed to be controlled at high accuracy.  
         [0135]     Also, because the rotary encoder scale  310  is provided coaxially with the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270 , it is insusceptible to influences from backlash of gears or the like. A quantity of paper feed based on the detection signal from the rotary encoder  320  therefore agrees with an actual quantity of paper feed by the paper feeding roller  131  and the follower roller  132 , which enables paper feed to be controlled at high accuracy.  
         [0136]     While the embodiment above employed the detector  300  using light, the invention is applicable when a detector using magnetism or capacitance is used instead. In addition, the mark  313 , specifying the direction and a quantity of eccentricity, to be indicated on the rotary encoder scale  310  is not limited to a dot, and it can be of an arbitrary shape. The mark, specifying the direction and a quantity of eccentricity, to be indicated on the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270  is not limited to a line, either, and it can be of an arbitrary shape.  
         [0137]     According to the detector  300  as has been described, the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270  and the rotary encoder scale  310  are provided in combination in such a manner that the eccentricity of the rotational center of the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270  and the eccentricity of the rotational center of the rotary encoder scale  310  provided coaxially with the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270  are cancelled out. Rotations of the paper feeding roller  131  that transports a sheet of paper can be thus detected directly by means of the rotary encoder scale  310 , from which the eccentricity is eliminated completely. Transportation of a sheet of paper can be thus controlled at high accuracy.  
         [0138]     Also, the direction and a quantity of eccentricity have been measured previously for the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270  and for the rotary encoder scale  310 , which are indicated in the form of the mark  313  that specifies the direction of eccentricity by the indicated position and a quantity of eccentricity by an indicated color. The detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270  and the rotary encoder scale  310  that can cancel out the eccentricities can be thus selected in a short time through visual confirmation. Hence, not only can a selection mistake of the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270  and the rotary encoder scale  310  be eliminated, but also a time needed for the assembly work can be shortened. It should be noted that the same advantages can be achieved even when the axes of the follower rollers  132  and  134  are extended to be used in place of the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270 .  
         [0139]      FIG. 20  shows a transportation controller  181  provided inside the controller  180  in the respective embodiments above. The transportation controller  181  is configured to perform feedback control on transportation of a sheet of paper, such as rolled paper R and a cut sheet P, with the use of the transporting amount detector  200 . In other words, an adjuster  182  regulates a transportation position of a sheet of paper and a transportation velocity of a sheet of paper, and adjusts a transportation velocity SPV of a sheet of paper on the basis of a difference between a transportation target position SPP of a sheet of paper stored in a memory or the like and a current transportation position SFP of a sheet of paper fed back from the transporting amount detector  200 .  
         [0140]     Another adjuster  183  is configured to find a current state, a history in the past or the like of a sheet of paper, and adjusts a quantity of operation SCA, such as a current value needed to operate an object  185  to be controlled, such as a motor that drives the paper feeding roller  131 , via a driver  184  on the basis of a difference between the transportation velocity SPV of a sheet of paper from the adjuster  182  and a current transportation velocity SFV of a sheet of paper fed back from the transportation quantity device  200 .  
         [0141]     Hence, a quantity of rotations of the motor is a quantity of rotations of the paper feeding roller  131 , and a quantity of rotations of the paper feeding roller  131  is a quantity of transportation of a sheet of paper. By detecting a quantity of rotations of the detection roller  210 ,  230 ,  260 , or  270 , which is capable of detecting the transportation directly, with the use of the detector  220 ,  250 , or  300 , it is possible to control transportation of a sheet of paper at high accuracy without being affected by any error that may occur during the transportation. By directly detecting and controlling a quantity of transportation of a sheet of paper in this manner, it is possible to transport a sheet of paper at markedly improved accuracy without being affected by slipping, that is, by canceling the influences from a change in back tension or front resistance of a sheet of paper and thereby eliminating influences of a sheet of paper that differ in each kind. Further, because the detection rollers  210 ,  230 ,  260 , and  270  do not have to have a high frictional coefficient, the detection rollers  210 ,  230 ,  260 , and  270  can be manufactured at low costs.  
         [0142]     As are shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the legs  140  include two supporting pillars  142  each having traveling rollers  141 . The main body  110  is placed on the top portions of the supporting pillars  142  and fastened with screws. By providing the traveling rollers  141  to the supporting pillars  142 , the user is able to move the heavy main body  110  to a desired location smoothly for installation.  
         [0143]     As are shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the paper feeder  150  is provided at the bottom of the main body  110  between the legs  140 , and includes a pair of supporters  151  to support the both ends of rolled paper R, and a delivery roller  152  and a pinch roller  153  that together feed and transport rolled paper R. Further, the paper feeder  150  includes a pair of arm portions  154 , to which the supporters  151  are fixed, and by which the both ends of the respective delivery roller  152  and the pinch roller  153  are axially supported. The paper feeder  150  configured in this manner will no now be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 21 .  
         [0144]     The pair of supporters  151  is attached fixedly to the opposing faces of the pair of the oppositely placed arm portions  154 . The pair of supporters  151  houses bearings to axially support the both ends of a spindle  155 , used to support rolled paper R by being inserted through the inner peripheral portion C of roller paper R shown in  FIG. 22B , to be free to rotate.  
         [0145]     In other words, as are shown in  FIG. 22A  and  FIG. 22C , in the spindle  155  is fit roller paper R at the center, and a pair of flange-shaped rolled paper holders  156  is fit in at the both ends of the rolled paper R, while as is shown in.  FIG. 23B , the spindle  155  is put across the pair of supporters  151 . The user can complete loading of rolled paper R by merely lifting up rolled paper R to which the spindle  155  is attached, and by fitting the both ends of the spindle  155  in the pair of supporters  151 . The number of steps needed to set rolled paper R can be thus reduced markedly.  
         [0146]     The delivery roller  152  and the pinch roller  153  are axially supported on the opposing faces of the pair of oppositely placed arm portions  1541  at the both ends to be free to rotate. In other words, the delivery roller  152  and the pinch roller  153  are provided across the pair of arm portions  154 . The both ends of the delivery roller  152  are axially supported at constant points on the opposing faces of the pair of arm portions  154 . However, to enable the pinch roller  153  to abut on and to be spaced apart from the delivery roller  152 , the both axial ends of the pinch roller  153  are axially supported movably, for example, within grooves made in the opposing faces of the pair of arm portions  154 . The pinch roller  153 , at positions to abut on and to be spaced apart from the delivery roller  152 , is locked by a locking mechanism that uses, for example, a stopping member, an urging member and the like provided on the opposing faces of the arm portions  154 .  
         [0147]     The user is able to pull out the leading edge of rolled paper R with ease due to the bearings housed in the supporters  151 . Moreover, the user is able to insert and pinch the leading edge of rolled paper R in a space between the delivery roller  152  and the pinch roller  153  with ease due to the moving mechanism of the pinch roller  153 . Hence, the number of steps needed to set rolled paper R can be reduced markedly.  
         [0148]     The pair of arm portions  154  is attached to the opposing faces of the two supporting pillars  142  of the legs  140  to be free to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow. Rotations of the pair of arm portions  154  are positioned between the setting position of rolled paper R shown in  FIG. 23A  and the feeding position of rolled paper R shown in  FIG. 21 , by being locked by the locking mechanism using the stopping member, the urging member and the like provided, for example, on the opposing faces of the supporting pillars  142 .  
         [0149]     To be more specific, when the pair of arm portions  154  is rotated to the setting position of rolled paper R, the delivery roller  152  and the pinch roller  153  pop up to the front face of the printer  100 , and when the pair of arm portions  154  is rotated to the feed position of rolled paper R, the delivery roller  152  and the pinch roller  153  come around to the backside of the printer  100  to be connected to a transportation path of rolled paper R.  
         [0150]     The user is thus able to insert and pinch the leading edge of rolled paper R in a space between the delivery roller  152  and the pinch roller  153  at the normal standing position on the front face side of the printer  100  without having to go around the backside of the printer  100 . The number of steps needed to set rolled paper R can be thus reduced markedly.  
         [0151]     In the embodiments described above, the pair of supporters  151  is attached fixedly to the opposing faces the pair of oppositely placed arm portions  154 , and thereby rotates together with the arm portions  154 . It should be appreciated, however, that the same advantages can be achieved by attaching the pair of supporters  151  fixedly to axes coaxial with the rotational axes of the arm portions  154  attached to the opposing faces of the two supporting pillars  142  of the legs  140 . In short, the supporters  151  may be fixed to a constant position always regardless of the rotations of the arm portions  154 .  
         [0152]     The use procedure of the printer  100  configured as described above will now be described with reference to  FIG. 22A  through  FIG. 27 . As is shown in  FIG. 22A , the user first pulls out one of the pair of rolled paper holders  156  fit in the spindle  155  from one end of the spindle  155 . Then, as is shown in  FIG. 22B , the user inserts one end of the spindle  155  into the axial hole C of the rolled paper R from one end to penetrate through.  
         [0153]     Further, as is shown in  FIG. 22C , the user fits one end of the axial hole C of rolled paper R in the other rolled paper holder  156  that is inserted in and fixed to the other end of the spindle  155  until the former abuts on the latter. Subsequently, the user inserts one rolled paper holder  156  from one end of the spindle  155  to be fit in the axial hole C of rolled paper R at the other end. Roll paper R is thus able to rotate together with the spindle  155 .  
         [0154]     The user then pulls, for example, the delivery roller  152  forward to cause the arm portions  154  to pivot. The arm portions  154 , currently being positioned at the feeding position of rolled paper R (see  FIG. 21 ), are thus re-positioned at the setting position of rolled paper R shown in  FIG. 23A  to be locked. The user lifts up the rolled paper R, in which the spindle  155  is inserted, above the supporters  151 , and as is shown in  FIG. 23B , the user fits the both ends of the spindle  155  into recesses  151   a  in the respective supporters  151 . Because the user can complete the loading of rolled paper R by merely fitting the both ends of the spindle  155  into the pair of supporters  151  in this manner, the number of steps needed to set rolled paper R can be reduced markedly.  
         [0155]     As is shown in  FIG. 24A , the user then lifts up the pinch roller  153  to be spaced apart from the delivery roller  152  and locks the pinch roller  153 . The user pulls the leading edge of rolled paper R forward and inserts the same in a space between the pinch roller  153  and the delivery roller  152 . Subsequently, as is shown in  FIG. 24B , the user pushes down the pinch roller  153  to abut on the delivery roller  152 , so that the leading edge of the rolled paper R is pinched between the pinch roller  153  and the delivery roller  152 . As has been described, because the user is able to pull out the leading edge of rolled paper R and pinch the same between the delivery roller  152  and the pinch roller  153  at the normal standing position on the front face side of the ink jet printer  100 , the number of steps needed to set rolled paper R can be reduced markedly.  
         [0156]     Subsequently, as is shown in  FIG. 25A , the user pushes, for example, the delivery roller  152  inward to cause the arm portions  154  to pivot, and the arm portions  154 , currently being positioned at the setting position of rolled paper R, are then re-positioned to the feeding position of rolled paper R. The leading edge of rolled paper R pinched between the pinch roller  153  and the delivery roller  152  is thus positioned at the entrance of the paper feed guide  157 .  
         [0157]     When the user manipulates the control panel  170  to activate the printer  100  at this point, as is shown in  FIG. 25B , the delivery roller  152  starts to rotate. The rolled paper R pinched between the pinch roller  153  and the delivery roller  152  is then guided by the paper feed guide  157  to be fed to the recording section  120  provided above.  
         [0158]     Then, as is shown in  FIG. 26 , on the rolled paper R that is transported in the secondary scanning direction by being pinched between the paper feeding roller  131  and the follower roller  132 , specific information is recorded with ink droplets ejected from the recording heads  121  that move in the primary scanning direction. In this instance, because transportation of the rolled paper R is controlled at high accuracy by the transporting amount detector  200 , the recording accuracy on the rolled paper R can be maintained high. When the recording ends, as is shown in  FIG. 27 , the rolled paper R is cut by the cutter  135 , and pinched between the ejection roller  133  and the follower roller  134  to be ejected.  
         [0159]     The invention is applicable to any type of recording apparatus, such as a facsimile machine and a copying machine, provided that it is equipped with the medium transporting device. Further, applications of the invention are not limited to a recording apparatus. The invention is also applicable to an apparatus equipped with a color material ejection head used when manufacturing color filters for use, for example, in a liquid crystal display, an electrode material (electrical conductive paste) ejection head used when forming electrodes in an organic EL display, an FED (Field Emission Display) or the like, a bio-organic material ejection head used when manufacturing bio-chips, and a sample spraying head used as a micro-pipette, in terms of a liquid ejection device that ejects, instead of ink, liquid adequate for the purpose from a liquid ejection head to a target medium.