Image recording apparatus having cutter to be easily replaced

An image recording apparatus includes an operation panel, a sheet conveyor, a print head, a cutting device, and a sheet discharge port. The operation panel is disposed at a first-side face of a housing in a particular direction that extends from a first side to a second side of the image recording apparatus. The sheet conveyor is configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path in a conveyance direction. The print head is disposed downstream of the sheet conveyor in the conveyance direction. The cutting device has a cutter for cutting the sheet. The sheet discharge port is open at the first-side face of the housing. At least a part of the sheet passes through the sheet discharge port when the sheet is discharged from the conveyance path. The cutter positioned below the operation panel is exposed to an outside of the housing through the sheet discharge port.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-160363 filed on Sep. 30, 2021. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

As an image recording apparatus having a cutter for cutting a sheet, a printing apparatus has been known that includes a cutter configured to cut a medium printed by a print engine. The cutter includes a cutter unit configured to cut the printed medium discharged from a passing port of a casing. The cutter unit is disposed in an internal space of a projected part, which is a forward-protruding portion of the casing, below an operation panel. The passing port is located at a front face of the projected part of the casing. An exposure port is formed at a distance leftward from the passing port. The exposure port is open forward and upward. The internal space of the projected part is exposed to the outside through the exposure port. The exposure port is closed by a cover. When the cover is opened to expose the exposure port, a user is allowed to replace a blade of the cutter unit through the exposure port.

DESCRIPTION

In the known printing apparatus, since the blade is disposed in the internal space of the projected part that protrudes forward from the casing, it is possible to replace the blade safely. However, in such a configuration that the exposure port is exposed when the cover is opened, there is a problem that replacement of the blade is troublesome.

Aspects of the present disclosure are advantageous to provide one or more improved techniques for an image recording apparatus that make it possible to easily replace a cutter in a housing.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, an image recording apparatus is provided, which includes a housing, an operation panel, a sheet conveyor, a print head, a cutting device, and a sheet discharge port. The operation panel is disposed at a first-side face of the housing. The first-side face is a surface on a first side of the housing in a particular direction. The particular direction extends from the first side to a second side of the image recording apparatus. The sheet conveyor is configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path in a conveyance direction. The print head is disposed downstream of the sheet conveyor in the conveyance direction. The print head is configured to eject print liquid onto the sheet. The cutting device has a cutter disposed below the operation panel. The cutter is configured to cut the sheet. The sheet discharge port is open at the first-side face of the housing. At least a part of the sheet passes through the sheet discharge port when the sheet is discharged from the conveyance path. The cutter positioned below the operation panel is exposed to an outside of the housing through the sheet discharge port.

Hereinafter, an illustrative embodiment according to aspects of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, needless to say, that the illustrative embodiment described below is merely one example in which aspects of the present disclosure are embodied and that aspects of the present disclosure are capable of use in various other combinations and environments and are capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein. In the following description, a direction in which an opening13is open in a print engine11will be defined as a frontward direction51. An opposite direction of the frontward direction51will be defined as a rearward direction52. The frontward direction51and the rearward direction52together may be referred to as front-rear directions51and52. Upward and downward directions orthogonal to the front-rear directions51and52may be referred to as vertical directions53and54. Directions orthogonal to the front-rear directions51and52and the vertical directions53and54may be referred to as left-right directions55and56. An upward one of the vertical directions53and54will be defined as an upward direction53. A downward one of the vertical directions53and54will be defined as a downward direction54. When an image recording apparatus10is viewed in the rearward direction52(i.e., when the image recording apparatus10is viewed from the front), a leftward one of the left-right directions55and56will be defined as a leftward direction55. In this case, a rightward one of the left-right directions55and56will be defined as a rightward direction56.

As shown inFIG.1, the image recording apparatus10is a multi-function peripheral integrally provided with the print engine11and a scan engine12. The print engine1I is disposed at a lower portion of the image recording apparatus10. The scan engine12is disposed at an upper portion of the image recording apparatus10. The image recording apparatus10has a printing function, a scanning function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. The image recording apparatus10does not necessarily have the scan engine12, and may be a single-function printer without the scanning function or the copy function.

The image recording apparatus10is mainly used in connection with an external information device (not shown) such as a computer. The print engine11is configured to record an image on a recording sheet16based on print data received from the external information device or on image data of a document scanned by the scan engine12.

The scan engine12is located above the print engine11. The scan engine12is a so-called flatbed scanner. The scan engine12includes a scanner body12adisposed above the print engine11, and a document cover12bdisposed above the scanner body12a. On an upper surface of the scanner body12a, a platen glass (not shown) is disposed on which a document sheet is placed. Inside the scanner body12a, an image sensor (not shown) is disposed that is configured to optically read an image of the document placed on the platen glass. The document cover12bincludes an ADF (“ADF” is an abbreviation for “Automatic Document Feeder”)12cthat is configured to pick up and feed, on a sheet-by-sheet basis, a plurality of document sheets to be scanned.

Print Engine

A configuration of the print engine11will be described below with reference toFIGS.1to4. It is noted that inFIG.2, a sheet feed cassette14is not shown for the sake of simplified explanation.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the print engine11has a housing20. The housing20contains therein the sheet feed cassette14, a sheet feed cassette15, a recording device17, a cutting device45, and other functional elements. An operation panel19is disposed on a front face of the housing20.

The operation panel19is formed in a flat plate shape. A front surface of the operation panel19has a rectangular shape with a longitudinal direction along the left-right directions55and56. The operation panel19is located at a central portion of the front face of the housing20in the left-right directions55and56. An upper end of the operation panel19is located near an upper end of the front face of the housing20. A lower end19aof the operation panel19is located above a middle position of the front face of the housing20in the vertical directions53and54. The front face of the operation panel19faces forward (i.e., faces in the frontward direction51). The operation panel19is configured to rotate about an axis A extending along the left-right directions55and56. The axis A is located at an upper portion of the operation panel19. The operation panel19is rotatable from a position where the front face faces in the frontward direction51to a position where the front face faces in the upward direction53and the frontward direction51. On the front surface of the operation panel19, a display and input keys are provided. The display is configured to display thereon various types of information. The input keys are configured to receive input of information. The image recording apparatus10is configured to operate based on instruction information input via the operation panel19or instruction information sent by the external information device through a printer driver or a scanner driver.

An opening13is disposed below the operation panel19on the front face of the housing20. The opening13is located substantially at the central portion of the front face of the housing20in the left-right directions55and56. The opening13is formed in a rectangular shape with a longitudinal direction along the left-right directions55and56. The opening13extends from the lower end19aof the operation panel19to the lower end of the housing20.

The housing20has an internal space20aextending backward from the opening13. A rear portion of the internal space20ais communicated with an after-mentioned conveyance path21. The internal space20aextends from an upper wall71to the lower end of the housing20. The upper wall71extends in the rearward direction52from an upper end of the opening13. A lower surface71aof the upper wall71defines an upper surface of the internal space20a. The upper wall71separates aboard housing space65from the internal space20a. The board housing space65is disposed rearward of the operation panel19. The board housing space65contains therein a board (not shown) on which one or more electronic circuits electrically connected with the operation panel19are mounted.

The upper wall71has a rib105protruding downward from the lower surface71a. The ribs105is formed in a flat plate shape extending in the front-rear directions51and52and the vertical directions53and54. The rib105is formed in such a manner that a downward-protruding amount of the rib105increases in the frontward direction51. The rib105extends forward from a position close to a downstream end of the after-mentioned conveyance path21to substantially a middle position of the upper wall71in the front-rear directions51and52.

As shown inFIG.3, the rib105is attached to the lower surface71aof the upper wall71, to be rotatable about an axis105A extending in the front-rear directions51and52. Thereby, the rib105is movable to a hanging position where the rib105hangs downward by gravity and to a contact position where the rib105is brought into contact with the lower surface71aof the upper wall71after rotating about the axis105A from the hanging position. For instance, the rib105may be held in the hanging position by a torsion spring (not shown). In this case, the rib105may be configured to rotate toward the contact position against an elastic force of the torsion spring when a force is applied in such a direction as to rotate the rib105about the axis105A. The structure of the rib105is not limited to a particular structure as long as a lower end of the rib105is movable higher than the hanging position. The number of the rib(s)105is not limited. For instance, two or more ribs105may be arranged spaced apart from each other in the left-right directions55and56. The rib105may not be rotatable. The rib105may be omitted.

As shown inFIG.1, on the front face of the housing20, an opening/closing cover41is attached to the right of the opening13. When the opening/closing cover41is opened, a cartridge attachment space is opened. Thus, ink cartridges40to store ink are allowed to be attached to or removed from the housing20. As shown inFIGS.2and4, the ink cartridges40are positioned in front of the recording device17in the housing20. In the illustrative embodiment, four ink cartridges40that store four types of ink having respective different colors are attachable to the housing20. Each ink cartridge40is configured to, when attached to the housing20, supply ink to a recording head37of the recording device17through a tube44. The tubes44will be described later in detail.

As shown inFIG.1, the sheet feed cassettes14and15are attached to the housing20in a state where the sheet feed cassettes14and15are inserted into the opening13. The sheet feed cassettes14and15are configured to be inserted into and pulled out of the housing20along the front-rear directions51and52. Thus, the sheet feed cassettes14and15are removably attachable to the housing20. The sheet feed cassette14is, when attached to the housing20, is positioned below the sheet feed cassette15. As shown inFIG.2, the sheet feed cassette15is configured to hold a stack of standard-form recording sheets16set therein. Examples of the standard form of the recording sheets16may include, but are not limited to, A3 size, A4 size, and B5 size in the Japanese Industrial Standards. A sheet discharge tray18is disposed above the sheet feed cassette15. The sheet discharge tray18is configured to support recording sheets16discharged from the conveyance path21. In the illustrative embodiment, the two types of sheet feed cassettes14and15are provided. However, the sheet feed cassette14may be omitted.

The sheet feed cassette15is configured to hold a plurality of recording sheets16. The sheet feed cassette15is formed in the shape of a container a part of which is open at the rear side (i.e., the left side inFIG.2) of the image recording apparatus10. The recording sheets16are held in a stacked state in an internal space of the sheet feed cassette15. The sheet discharge tray18disposed above the sheet feed cassette15is formed on the front face side (i.e., the right side inFIG.2) of the image recording apparatus10.FIG.2shows the sheet feed cassette15inserted into the housing20.

As shown inFIG.2, in the housing20, a sheet conveyor43is disposed that is configured to convey a recording sheet16along the conveyance path21from the sheet feed cassette15to the sheet discharge tray18. The conveyance path21is a so-called U-turn path that extends upward from the sheet feed cassette15, then curves to make a U-turn toward the front, and further extends straight in the frontward direction51toward the sheet discharge tray18. A downstream end of the conveyance path21is communicated with the internal space20a.

The sheet conveyor43includes a pick-up roller32, two intermediate rollers24, two PF rollers25, two first discharge rollers27, and two second discharge rollers28. Along the conveyance path21, the above rollers32,24,25,27, and28are disposed in the aforementioned order from the upstream side in a conveyance direction from the sheet feed cassette15to the sheet discharge tray18.

The pick-up roller32is disposed above the sheet feed cassette15. The pick-up roller32is provided at a distal end portion of an arm33. The pick-up roller32is rotatable with the left-right direction55,56as a direction of axis. A base end portion of the arm33is rotatable about a shaft34. When the arm33rotates, the sheet feed roller32moves in such a direction that the pick-up roller32is brought into contact with or separated from the sheet feed cassette15. The arm33is rotated toward the sheet feed cassette15by the weight of the pick-up roller32. Thereby, the pick-up roller32is brought into contact with a topmost recording sheet16of a plurality of recording sheets16stacked in the sheet feed cassette15. When the sheet feed roller32rotates in this state, the topmost recording sheet16is fed from the sheet feed cassette15to the conveyance path21.

The intermediate rollers24are disposed at a curved portion of the conveyance path21. The intermediate rollers24are rotatable with the left-right direction55,56as a direction of axis. The intermediate rollers24are configured to rotate by a driving force transmitted from a motor (not shown). The recording sheet16fed from the sheet feed cassette15to the conveyance path21is pinched between the intermediate rollers24and conveyed toward the PF rollers25.

The PF rollers25are located near a downstream end of the curved portion of the conveyance path21in the conveyance direction. The PF rollers25are rotatable with the left-right direction55,56as a direction of axis. The PF rollers25are configured to rotate by a driving force transmitted from a motor (not shown). The recording sheet16conveyed by the intermediate rollers24is pinched between the PF rollers25and conveyed toward under the recording head37.

The first discharge rollers27and the second discharge rollers28are disposed downstream of the recording head37in the conveyance direction, along the conveyance path21. The first discharge rollers27are located upstream of the second discharge rollers28in the conveyance direction. The first discharge rollers27and the second discharge rollers28are configured to rotate by a driving force transmitted from a motor (not shown). The recording sheet16conveyed by the PF rollers25is pinched between the first discharge rollers27and pinched between the second discharge rollers28, and is conveyed onto the sheet discharge tray18.

As shown inFIG.2, the recording device17is disposed between the PF rollers25and the first discharge rollers27, along the conveyance path21. Namely, the recording device17is located downstream of the PF rollers25and upstream of the first discharge rollers27in the conveyance direction. The recording device17includes a carriage35, a platen36, and the recording head37. The carriage35is located above the conveyance path21. The platen36is located below the conveyance path21. The recording head37is mounted on the carriage35. A configuration of the carriage35will be described later in detail.

As shown inFIG.4, the recording head37is a so-called inkjet head configured to be supplied with ink of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) from the ink cartridges40through the tubes44, and to eject the ink of each color as ink droplets. The recording device17is configured to perform image recording on the recording sheet16being conveyed on the platen36by ejecting ink droplets from the recording head37while the carriage is reciprocating along the left-right directions55and56.

As shown inFIG.4, the carriage35is supported by guide frames61and62. The guide frames61and62are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear directions51and52. Each of the guide frames61and62extends along the left-right directions55and56. The carriage35is mounted straddling the guide frames61and62, to be movable in a reciprocating manner along the left-right directions55and56. The guide frame61located rearward of the guide frame62is formed in the shape of a flat plate longer than a reciprocating range of the carriage35in the left-right directions55and56. An upper surface of the guide frame61slidably supports a rear end portion of the carriage35.

The guide frame62located in front of the guide frame61is formed in the shape of a flat plate that is substantially as long as the guide frame61in the left-right directions55and56. The guide frame62has an edge section63configured to support a front end portion of the carriage35. The edge section63is bent upward substantially at a right angle. The carriage35is slidably supported on an upper surface of the guide frame62. The carriage35pinches the edge section63by rollers (not shown). Thus, the carriage35is slidably supported on the guide frames61and62. The carriage35is movable in a reciprocating manner along the left-right directions55and56, on the basis of the edge section63of the guide frame62.

A belt drive mechanism46is disposed on the upper surface of the guide frame62. The belt drive mechanism46includes a first pulley47, a second pulley48, and a ring-shaped endless belt49. The first pulley47and the second pulley48are disposed near two ends of the conveyance path21in the left-right directions55and56, respectively. The ring-shaped endless belt49has teeth provided on an inner circumference thereof. Thus, the belt drive mechanism46is configured with the ring-shaped endless belt49being wound around the first and second pulleys47and48. The first pulley47and the second pulley48are located at two ends of the range within which the carriage35reciprocates in the left-right directions55and56. The first pulley47is configured to rotate in response to a driving force being transmitted from a CR motor (not shown) as a driving source to a shaft of the first pulley47. The rotation of the first pulley47causes the belt49to make a circulating movement. At this time, the second pulley48is driven to rotate by the circulating movement of the belt49. Examples of the belt49may include, but are not limited to, a belt of which two ends are fixedly attached to the carriage35, as well as the endless belt as shown inFIG.4.

The carriage35is fixedly connected with the belt49. Although a joint portion between the carriage35and the belt49is not shown in detail in any drawing, the belt49is slightly pulled upward when connected with the carriage35. Thereby, a tension for elastically returning downward is generated in the belt49. By the tension, the carriage35is elastically urged against the guide frames61and62. As described above, when the belt49makes a circulating movement, the carriage35reciprocates on the guide frames61and62on the basis of the edge section63. Thus, the recording head37, which is mounted on the carriage35, is movable in a reciprocating manner with the left-right direction55,56as a main scanning direction.

Each tube44is a synthetic resin tube, and has flexibility to bend according to the reciprocating movement of the carriage35. In the illustrative embodiment, four tubes44are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges40. One end of each tube44is connected with a case (not shown) in which the ink cartridges40are set. The other end of each tube44is connected with the recording head37on the carriage35. Between the carriage35and the ink cartridges40in the front-rear directions51and52, each tube44extends leftward from the carriage35, then curves to make a U-turn toward the right, further extends rightward, and is connected with the housing20at a fixed location96. The tubes44are disposed as appropriate from the fixed location96to the case of the ink cartridges40. In response to the movement of the carriage35along the left-right directions55and56, each tube44follows the carriage35while changing its U-turn-curved shape.

Cutting Device

As shown inFIGS.2and4, ahead of the recording device17, the cutting device45is disposed above the conveyance path21. The cutting device45is, when stopped, located in a stop position that is leftward of an image recording area A1. As shown inFIG.6, the cutting device45is located in a middle position of the conveyance path21in the left-right directions55and56at a replacement time (described below) when a cutter83is replaced. The image recording area A1is a maximum width within which image recording is executable by ejecting ink from the recording head37reciprocating together with the carriage35. If a maximum size of the recording sheets16on which image recording is executable by the print engine11is A4, the image recording area A1may be wider than the width of the A4 size in the left-right directions55and56.

The cutting device45is configured to cut the recording sheet16conveyed by the sheet conveyor43along the left-right directions55and56. More specifically, the cutting device45is configured to cut the recording sheet16by moving rightward from the stop position (i.e., the position of the cutting device45shown inFIG.4) that is leftward of the image recording area A1. For instance, a single A4-size recording sheet16is cut into two A5-size recording sheets16by the cutting device45. As shown inFIG.5, the cutting device45includes a guide rail81, a cutter carriage82, the cutter83, and a fixed blade95. The guide rail81extends along the left-right directions55and56. The cutter carriage82is configured to move while being guided by the guide rail81. The cutter83is mounted on the cutter carriage82. InFIG.5, an endless belt90(described below) is shown in cross section, to make the configuration of the cutting device45easier to understand. InFIG.2, the cutting device45is shown in a simplified form, with a detailed structure thereof omitted.

The guide rail81has a flat shape extending along the left-right directions55and56. The guide rail81is longer than the conveyance path21in the left-right directions55and56. Left and right end portions of the guide rail81extend outward from the image recording area A1. Both the end portions of the guide rails81in the left-right directions55and56are fixedly attached to side frames (not shown) that support rotational shafts of the second discharge rollers28.

The guide rail81includes a base plate81a, a first erecting plate81b, a first extending plate81c, a second erecting plate81d, and a second extending plate81e. The base plate81aextends in the left-right directions55and56. The first erecting plate81bextends upward from a rear end of the base plate81a. The first extending plate81cextends rearward from an upper end of the first erecting plate81b. The second erecting plate81dextends upward from a front end of the base plate81a. The second extending plate81eextends frontward from an upper end of the second erecting plate81d. The base plate81a, the first erecting plate81b, the first extending plate81c, the second erecting plate81d, and the second extending plate81eare formed by bending a single rectangular steel plate.

The cutter carriage82includes a cutter holder82aand a connecting section82b. The cutter holder82ais configured to hold the cutter83. The connecting section82bis configured to be connected with the guide rail81. The cutter holder82ais disposed rearward of the guide rail81. It is noted that the cutter holder82amay be disposed in front of the guide rail81. The cutter holder82aextends downward lower than the guide rail81.

The cutter holding portion82ahas an inclined surface82cat an upper portion of an outer surface. The inclined surface82cfaces backward and upward. As shown inFIG.5, when viewed in the left-right directions55and56, the inclined surface82coverlaps a front end portion35aof the carriage35in the vertical directions53and54and in the front-rear directions51and52. Thereby, the image recording apparatus10is reduced in size in the vertical directions53and54and in the front-rear directions51and52. Since the cutter holder82ahas the inclined surface82c, a front portion (i.e., a portion close to the connecting section82b) of the cutter holder82ais increased in thickness and strengthened, in the vertical directions53and54and in the front-rear directions51and52. Moreover, it is possible to reduce a gap between the cutter carriage82and the carriage35.

The connecting section82bextends forward from the cutter holder82a, and is connected with the guide rail81. The connecting section82bhas a first contact portion84, a second contact portion85, a third contact portion86, a fourth contact portion87, a fifth contact portion88, and a sixth contact portion89. The first contact portion84is configured to contact an upper surface of the first extending plate81c. The second contact portion85is configured to contact a lower surface of the second extending plate81e. The third contact portion86is configured to contact a rearward-facing surface of the first erecting plate81b. The fourth contact portion87is configured to contact a frontward-facing surface of the first erecting plate81b. The fifth contact portion88is configured to contact an upper surface of the second extending plate81e. The sixth contact portion89is configured to contact a lower surface of the first extending plate81c.

The guide rail81is in contact with the first contact portion84and the fifth contact portion88, thereby supporting the cutter carriage82against a downward load. Thus, the cutter carriage82is positioned in the vertical directions53and54. The guide rail81is in contact with the third contact portion86and the fourth contact portion87, thereby positioning the cutter carriage82in the front-rear directions51and52. When the cutter carriage82moves upward relative to the guide rail81, at least one of the second contact portion85and/or the sixth contact portion89is (i.e., the second contact portion85, or the sixth contact portion89, or both the second contact portion85and the sixth contact portion89are) brought into contact with the guide rail81. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the cutter carriage82from disengaging upward from the guide rail81.

As shown inFIG.4, the cutter carriage82is driven by a drive mechanism101. The drive mechanism101includes a driving pulley102, a driven pulley103, and an endless belt90wound around the driving pulley102and the driven pulley103. The driving pulley102and the driven pulley103are disposed at two end portions in the left-right directions55and56, respectively, on the upper surface of the base plate81a. Each of the driving pulley102and the driven pulley103is rotatable about an axis along the vertical directions53and54. A driving force from a motor (not shown) is transmitted to the driving pulley102. The endless belt90is connected with the cutter carriage82, in front of the fourth contact portion87of the connecting section82bof the cutter carriage82. When the driving pulley102rotates, the endless belt90makes a circulating movement, and the driven pulley103is driven to rotate. In response to the circulating movement of the endless belt90, the cutter carriage82reciprocates along the guide rail81in the left-right directions55and56.

The cutter83, supported by the cutter holder82a, protrudes downward from a lower end of the cutter holder82a. The cutter83is disk-shaped, and is rotatably supported by the cutter holder8with the front-rear direction51,52as an axial direction. The cutter83is removably attached to the cutter holder82a.

The fixed blade95is disposed below the cutter holder82aof the cutter carriage82. The fixed blade95is supported by a side frame (not shown) and extends across the image recording area A1along the left-right directions55and56. A cutting edge of the fixed blade95is in contact with the cutter83from behind. The recording sheet16is cut by being sandwiched between the cutter83and the fixed blade95.

Layout

As shown inFIGS.2and6, the cutter holder82aand the cutter83are located behind the discharge rollers28. The cutter holder82aand the cutter83are located below the lower end19aof the operation panel19. The cutter holder82aand the cutter83are exposed to the outside through the internal space20aand the opening13in a state where the cutter holder82aand the cutter83are located in a middle position of the conveyance path21in the left-right directions55and56. Thereby, the user is allowed to visually recognize the cutter holder82aand the cutter83through the opening13and the internal space20a. In other words, the user is allowed to access the cutter holder82aand the cutter83through the opening13and the internal space20ato replace the cutter83. It is noted that when the cutting device45is in the stop position, the cutter holder82aand the cutter83may be exposed to the outside through the internal space20aand the opening13in such a manner that the user is allowed to replace the cutter83. In another instance, only the cutter83may be exposed to the outside through the internal space20aand the opening13.

The following provides an explanation of how the image recording apparatus10cuts one A4-size recording sheet16into two A5-size recording sheets.

When the pick-up roller32rotates, a topmost one of A4-size recording sheets16is fed from the sheet feed cassette15to the conveyance path21. The recording sheet16fed from the sheet feed cassette15to the conveyance path21is conveyed to below the recording head37by the intermediate rollers24and the PF rollers25. The recording sheet16conveyed to below the recording head37is supported from underneath by the platen36. While the conveyance of the recording sheet16is stopped, the carriage35moves along the left-right directions55and56with ink being ejected from the recording head37onto the recording sheet16. Thereby, a single pass of image is recorded on the recording sheet16. The image recording on the recording sheet16is completed when the image recording apparatus10has performed image recording for a particular number of passes while repeatedly performing an operation of conveying and stopping the recording sheet16. In this example, image recording for two A5-size recording sheets is performed on the single A4-size recording sheet16. During the image recording, the recording sheet16that has passed over the platen36is conveyed to below the cutting device45by the first discharge rollers27.

When the center of the recording sheet16in the conveyance direction is conveyed to below the cutting device45, in response to the rotation of the driving pulley102, the cutter carriage82moves rightward from the stop position (i.e., the position of the cutting device45shown inFIG.4) along the guide rail81. At this time, the first contact portion84and the fifth contact portion88of the cutter carriage82slide on an upper surface of the first extending plate81cand an upper surface of the second extending plate81eof the guide rail81, respectively. The A4-size recording sheet16is pinched by the cutter83and the fixed blade95, and is cut thereby along the left-right directions55and56into two A5-size recording sheets. The two A5-size recording sheets are discharged from the conveyance path21onto the sheet discharge tray18by the discharge rollers28. At this time, the recording sheet16is guided toward the sheet discharge tray18by linear contact with the lower end of the rib105in the internal space20a. As a result, the recording sheet16is supported on the sheet discharge tray18with a front portion of the recording sheet16having passed through the opening13.

Next, a method for replacing the cutter83in the image recording apparatus10will be described.

First, when the user presses an input key indicating that it is time to replace the cutter83on the operation panel19, the cutting device45moves from the stop position to the middle position of the conveyance path21in the left-right directions55and56. As a result, the cutter holder82aand the cutter83are exposed to the outside of the housing20through the opening13and the internal space20a(seeFIG.6). Subsequently, the user pulls the sheet feed cassettes14and15forward to remove the sheet feed cassettes14and15from the housing20. Thereby, a larger work space is secured in the internal space20aof the housing20. At this time, only the sheet feed cassette15may be pulled out of the housing20. Next, the user accesses the cutter83while visually recognizing the cutter83through the opening13and the internal space20a. At this time, when the user's arm contacts the rib105, the rib105is rotated about the axis105A to move from the hanging position to the contact position (seeFIG.3). Then, the user detaches the cutter83from the cutter holder82aand removes the cutter83out of housing20through the internal space20aand the opening13. Thereafter, the user accesses the cutter holder82athrough the opening13and the internal space20awhile holding a new cutter83, and attaches the new cutter83to the cutter holder82a. Finally, the user inserts the sheet feed cassettes14and15into the internal space20aof the housing20through the opening13, and attaches the sheet feed cassettes14and15to the housing20.

Operations and Advantageous Effects of Illustrative Embodiment

In the aforementioned image recording device10, the cutter83is disposed below the operation panel19, and is exposed to the outside of the housing20through the opening13formed in the front face of the housing20. Hence, the user is allowed to visually recognize the cutter83through the opening13. Therefore, the user is allowed to easily replace the cutter83through the opening13. In addition, there is no need to form another opening for replacing the cutter83in the housing20separately from the opening13. Thus, it is possible to achieve a simplified configuration of the image recording apparatus10.

The aforementioned image recording apparatus10has the rib105that protrudes downward from the lower surface71aof the upper wall71. Therefore, when a recording sheet16with ink ejected thereon passes through the opening13, the rib105prevents the recording sheet16from rubbing against the lower surface71aof the upper wall71and from sticking to the lower surface71aof the upper wall71. Thus, the ink on the recording sheet16is prevented from adhering to the lower surface71aof the upper wall71. Further, the recording sheet16that has passed through the opening13is securely supported by the sheet discharge tray18.

In the aforementioned image recording apparatus10, the lower end of the rib105is movable from the hanging position to the contact position higher than the hanging position. Therefore, to keep the rib105from serving as a barrier when the user replaces the cutter83through the opening13, the user may move the lower end of the rib105from the hanging position to the contact position. Moreover, when discharged by the discharge rollers28, the recording sheet16comes into linear contact with the lower end of the rib105. Therefore, it is difficult for the recording sheet16to come into surface contact with the lower surface71aof the upper wall71. Thus, the ink on the recording sheet16is prevented from adhering to the lower surface71aof the upper wall71. Further, the recording sheet16is prevented from sticking to the lower surface71aof the upper wall71.

In the aforementioned image recording apparatus10, the sheet discharge tray18is removably attached to the housing20. Therefore, the user may remove the sheet discharge tray18from the housing20, thereby securing a larger work space for replacing the cutter83in the internal space20aof the housing20. Thus, the user is allowed to safely and easily replace the cutter83.

In the aforementioned image recording apparatus10, the cutter83is located behind the discharge rollers28. Therefore, the recording sheet16cut by the cutter83is smoothly discharged forward by the discharge rollers28.

While aspects of the present disclosure have been described in conjunction with various example structures outlined above and illustrated in the figures, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example embodiment(s) according to aspects of the disclosure, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative of the inventive concept, and not limiting the inventive concept. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all known or later developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents. Some specific examples of potential alternatives, modifications, or variations according to aspects of the disclosure are provided below.

Modifications

In the aforementioned illustrative embodiment, the cutting device45is configured to cut the recording sheet16by the cutter83and the fixed blade95. However, the configuration of the cutting device45is not limited to a particular configuration as long as the cutting device45is configured to cut the recording sheet16along the left-right directions55and56and to expose the cutter83to the outside of the housing20through the opening13. For instance, instead of the fixed blade95, the cutting device45may have two disk-shaped rotatable blades like the cutter83that are mounted on the cutter carriage82.

In the aforementioned illustrative embodiment, the cutting device45is configured to cut a standard-form rectangular recording sheet16. However, the cutting device45may be configured to cut a medium pulled out from a roll body with a long medium wound in a roll shape into standard-form rectangular recording sheets16.

In the aforementioned illustrative embodiment, the rib105is movable between the hanging position where the rib105hangs downward by gravity and the contact position where the rib105is brought into contact with the lower surface71aof the upper wall71after rotating about the axis105A from the hanging position. However, as shown inFIG.7, the rib105may be movable between a protruding position where the rib105protrudes downward from the lower surface71aof the upper wall71and a buried position where the rib105is buried in the upper wall71.

In this case, the upper wall71may have a hole106formed in such a manner that the rib105is buried thereinto from below. A rear end of the rib105may be rotatable about an axis B extending in the left-right directions55and56. The rib105may have a rotation-restricting mechanism configured to restrict the rib105from rotating downward from an orientation extending in the front-rear directions51and52. For instance, the rotation-restricting mechanism may be configured to lock the rib105by an inner surface of the hole106, although the configuration of the rotation-restricting mechanism is not limited to a particular configuration as long as the rib105is restricted from rotating downward from its orientation extending in the front-rear directions51and52.

In the aforementioned illustrative embodiment, the cutter holder82ais disposed behind the discharge rollers28. However, as shown inFIG.8, the cutter holder82amay be disposed in front of the discharge rollers28. In this case, the cutter83held by the cutter holder82ais closer to the opening13than in the illustrative embodiment. This configuration facilitates replacement of the cutter83through the opening13.

In the aforementioned illustrative embodiment, the sheet feed cassettes14and15are removed from the housing2when the cutter83is replaced. However, the sheet feed cassettes14and15may not be removed from the housing20if the cutter83is removable through the opening13and a space, above the sheet discharge tray18, of the internal space20a.

The following shows examples of associations between elements exemplified in the aforementioned illustrative embodiment and modifications, and elements according to aspects of the present disclosure. For instance, the image recording apparatus10may be an example of an “image recording apparatus” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The housing20may be an example of a “housing” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The operation panel19may be an example of an “operation panel” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The front-rear directions51and52may be included in examples of a “particular direction” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The front face of the housing20may be an example of “a first-side face of the housing” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The sheet conveyor43may be an example of a “sheet conveyor” according to aspects of the present disclosure. In this case, the pick-up roller32, the two intermediate rollers24, the two PF rollers25, the two first discharge rollers27, and the two second discharge rollers28may be included in the “sheet conveyor” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The conveyance path21may be an example of a “conveyance path” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The recording head37may be an example of a “recording head” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The cutting device45may be an example of a “cutting device” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The cutter83may be an example of a “cutter” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The opening13may be an example of a “sheet discharge port” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The sheet discharge tray18may be an example of a “sheet discharge tray” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The rib105may be an example of a “rib” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The hanging position, in which the rib105hangs downward by gravity as shown inFIG.3, may be an example of a “first position” of the “rib” according to aspects of the present disclosure. In this case, the contact position, in which the rib105is brought into contact with the lower surface71aof the upper wall71after rotating about the axis105A from the hanging position, may be an example of a “second position” of the “rib” according to aspects of the present disclosure. In another instance, the protruding position, in which the rib105protrudes downward from the lower surface71aof the upper wall71as shown inFIG.7, may be an example of the “first position” of the “rib” according to aspects of the present disclosure. In this case, the buried position, in which the rib105is buried in the upper wall71, may be an example of the “second position” of the “rib” according to aspects of the present disclosure. The second discharge rollers28may be included in examples of a “discharge roller” according to aspects of the present disclosure.