Medium feeding apparatus with adjustable edge guide

A medium feeding apparatus includes: a placement portion on which a medium is placed; a feeding unit which feeds the fed medium placed on the placement portion in a feeding direction; an edge guide which makes contact with the medium placed on the placement portion at a side edge in a width direction so as to determine a position of the medium in the width direction; and an adjustment unit which displaces at least a part of the edge guide such that a contact portion of the edge guide with the medium is placed on a line along the feeding direction so as to adjust a posture of the medium with respect to the feeding direction.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a medium feeding apparatus including a placement portion on which a fed medium is placed, a feeding unit which feeds the fed medium placed on the placement portion in the feeding direction, and an edge guide which makes contact with the fed medium placed on the placement portion at a side edge in the width direction so as to determine a position of the fed medium in the width direction, and a recording apparatus including the medium feeding apparatus.

In the application, the recording apparatus includes various types of apparatuses such as an ink jet printer, a wire dot printer, a laser printer, a line printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine.

2. Related Art

In an existing technique, a printer as an example of a recording apparatus has a feeding portion as a medium feeding apparatus as described in JP-A-2007-223789. In the technique, the feeding portion has a hopper as a placement portion, an edge guide, and a feeding roller as a feeding unit. The hopper is provided such that a paper as an example of a medium is placed on the hopper. The edge guide is configured to be in contact with the placed paper at a side edge so as to determine a position and a posture of the paper in the width direction. Further, the feeding roller is configured so as to feed the placed paper in the feeding direction.

However, there arises a risk that a posture of a guide surface of the edge guide, which makes contact with the paper at the side edge, is not perpendicular to the feeding roller depending on an assembly accuracy of the apparatus if the configuration of the feeding portion becomes complicated. That is to say, a risk that the posture of the guide surface is inclined with respect to the feeding direction is caused. Accordingly, there arises a risk that the posture of the paper has already inclined when the paper is started to be fed and the inclination of the paper becomes larger as the paper is fed.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a medium feeding apparatus in consideration of a posture of a medium to be fed with respect to the feeding direction of the medium and a recording apparatus including the medium feeding apparatus.

A medium feeding apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention includes a placement portion on which a fed medium is placed, a feeding unit which feeds the fed medium placed on the placement portion in the feeding direction, an edge guide which makes contact with the fed medium placed on the placement portion at a side edge in the width direction so as to determine a position of the fed medium in the width direction, and an adjustment unit which displaces at least a part of the edge guide such that a contact portion of the edge guide with the fed medium is placed on a line along the feeding direction so as to adjust a posture of the fed medium with respect to the feeding direction.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the medium feeding apparatus can be made into a state where the posture of the fed medium is hardly inclined with respect to the feeding direction by the adjustment unit. That is, a so-called skew, which is inclination of the posture of the fed medium with respect to the feeding direction, can be reduced. Further, production tolerance generated when shapes of parts such as the placement portion and the edge guide in the medium feeding apparatus become complicated or the number of the parts is increased can be reduced.

The direction in which the adjustment unit displaces at least a part of the edge guide is as follows. That is, it is sufficient that a portion of the edge guide which makes contact with a side edge of the medium is displaced in an approaching/receding direction with respect to the side edge of the medium. In other words, the edge guide itself may be displaced arbitrarily in either direction.

For example, the contact portion is an inclined surface and is gradually inclined upward to the face side in a face-reverse direction of the medium toward the outer side in the width direction. In such a case, the contact portion can be displaced in the width direction by displacing the guide portion in the front-back direction. This makes it possible to adjust the posture of the medium.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the adjustment unit is configured such that at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the edge guide in the feeding direction is capable of swinging about the other of the upstream side and the downstream side as a fulcrum in the width direction which is the approaching/receding direction with respect to the side edge of the fed medium.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the following operation effect is obtained in addition to the same operation effect as that of the first aspect. That is, the adjustment unit can easily adjust the posture of the fed medium with respect to the feeding direction by displacing the posture of the edge guide with respect to the feeding direction.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the edge guide includes a first guide portion which makes contact with the side edge of the fed medium, and a second guide portion which is provided at a position different from that of the first guide portion in the feeding direction and makes contact with the side edge of the fed medium, and the adjustment unit is configured such that the second guide portion is relatively displaced with respect to the first guide portion by displacing the second guide portion in the width direction which is an approaching/receding direction with respect to the side edge of the fed medium.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the following operation effect is obtained in addition to the same operation effect as that of the first aspect. That is, the adjustment unit can easily adjust the posture of the fed medium with respect to the feeding direction by relatively displacing the second guide portion with respect to the first guide portion. That is, the adjustment unit moves a part of the edge guide so as to approach to or recede from the side edge of the fed medium in the width direction. Then, the posture of the fed medium can be adjusted by relatively displacing the part of the edge guide with respect to another portion in the width direction without changing the posture of the entire edge guide.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in any one of the first through third aspects of the invention, the adjustment unit includes an eccentric cam, and a cam follower which abuts against the eccentric cam, and the cam follower is provided on the edge guide.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the following operation effect is obtained in addition to the same operation effect as that of any one of the first through third aspects. That is, the adjustment unit can be configured more easily. Further, the posture of the fed medium can be finely adjusted by the eccentric cam. As a result, the accuracy of the posture of the fed medium with respect to the feeding direction can be improved.

A recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention includes a medium feeding unit which feeds a recording medium to a downstream side in the feeding direction, and a recording portion which records onto the recording medium fed by the medium feeding unit by a recording head. In the recording apparatus, the medium feeding unit includes the medium feeding apparatus according to any one of the first through fourth aspects of the invention, and the recording medium is the fed medium.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the medium feeding unit includes the medium feeding apparatus according to any one of the first through fourth aspects of the invention. Accordingly, the same operation effect as that of any one of the first through fourth aspects can be obtained with the recording apparatus.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the feeding unit is a feeding roller pair including a feeding driving roller which drives with a driving force of a motor, and a feeding driven roller which rotates following the feeding driving roller; the feeding roller pair is provided so as to be switchable between a first state where the feeding driving roller and the feeding driven roller approach to each other and a second state where the feeding driving roller and the feeding driven roller recede from each other; when the recording medium is placed, the feeding roller pair is in the second state, and the feeding roller pair is switched to the first state by a direction to execute recording so as to nip the recording medium; the feeding roller pair feeds the recording medium to the recording portion while keeping a state where the feeding roller pair nips the recording medium; and the recording portion executes recording onto the recording medium which is being nipped by the feeding roller pair.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the following operation effect is obtained in addition to the same operation effect as that of the fifth aspect. That is, the recording portion executes recording onto the recording medium while keeping a state where the feeding roller pair nips the recording medium. Namely, skew removal operation cannot be executed with the configuration. The adjustment unit is particularly effective for a configuration in which the skew removal operation is not executed and cannot be executed.

The expression “skew removal” is adjustment of the inclined posture of a recording medium with respect to the feeding direction. Further, the expression “skew removal operation” indicates an operation for adjusting the posture of the recording medium. The skew removal operation includes a so-called “bite and discharge method” and “push and abut method.”

The “bite and discharge method” is a method as follows. That is, a second roller pair provided at the downstream side with respect to a first roller pair nips a tip of the recording medium once. Then, the second roller pair is reversely rotated so as to reversely feed the tip of the recording medium to the upstream side in the feeding direction. Thereafter, the recording medium is made to bow between the first roller pair and the second roller pair and the tip of the recording medium is pushed to a nip line of the second roller pair. With this, the posture of the tip of the recording medium is made to be along the nip line.

The “nip line” indicates a line formed by a portion where the roller pair is circumscribed. That is, the “nip line” is a line formed by a portion where the roller pair nips the recording medium in a pressurized manner.

That is to say, after the tip of the recording medium is made to be bitten by the second roller pair once, the tip of the recording medium is discharged to the upstream side in the feeding direction so as to make the recording medium bow and make the posture of the tip thereof be along the nip line.

On the other hand, the “push and abut method” is a method as follows. That is, the recording medium is fed to the downstream side in the feeding direction by the first roller pair. Then, the tip of the recording medium is pushed to the nip line of the second roller pair in a state where the second roller pair stops or reversely drives. With this, the posture of the tip of the recording medium is made to be along the nip line. That is, the “push and abut method” is a method in which the tip of the recording medium is pushed to the second roller pair so as to make the posture of the tip of the recording medium be along the nip line. It is to be noted that the recording medium may be made to bow between the first roller pair and the second roller pair to make the posture of the tip thereof be along the nip line. Alternatively, the recording medium may not be made to bow therebetween to make the posture of the tip thereof be along the nip line.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating an inkjet printer (hereinafter, referred to as “printer”)1in a state where a second cover member (first tray) which will be described later is closed. The ink jet printer1is as an example of a “recording apparatus” or “liquid ejecting apparatus.”FIG. 2is a perspective view illustrating the printer in a state where the second cover member (first tray) of the printer is opened to a front side of the printer and a second tray which will be described later protrudes to the front side of the printer.

The liquid ejecting apparatus is not limited to an ink jet recording apparatus and a recording apparatus such as a copying machine and a facsimile machine, which execute recording onto a recording medium such as a recording paper by ejecting ink onto the recording medium from a recording head as a liquid ejecting head. As the liquid ejecting apparatus, the following apparatus is further cited. In the apparatus, instead of ink, liquid which can be used for a specific application is ejected onto an ejection target member corresponding to the recording medium from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the recording head so as to make the liquid adhere to the ejection target member.

Further, as the liquid ejecting head, the following heads are cited in addition to the above-described recording head. That is, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter of a device such as a liquid crystal display, an electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting head used for forming an electrode of a device such as an organic EL display or a surface light emission display (FED), a bioorganic compound ejecting head used for manufacturing a biochip, a specimen ejecting head which ejects a specimen as a precise pipette, and the like are cited.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the printer1has a housing2. Further, the printer1has a medium feeding apparatus42which will be described later (see,FIG. 3throughFIG. 6) in the housing2. A first cover member4is provided on an upper portion of the printer1in the vertical direction. The first cover member4as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2is closed. If the first cover member4is opened to an upper side, a user can set a plain paper P1on a hopper23. The plain paper P1is an example of a first-class medium. The hopper23serves as a first placement portion22which will be described later (see,FIG. 3throughFIG. 6).

The expression “first-class medium” indicates a medium which can be fed on a first feeding path (R1(see,FIG. 3)) by a feeding roller27as a first feeding unit26(see,FIG. 3throughFIG. 6) as will be described later. To be more specific, the “first-class medium” has flexibility and can be fed by the first feeding unit26(see,FIG. 3throughFIG. 6). The first feeding unit26applies a feeding force smaller than that by a second feeding unit35which will be described later (see,FIG. 3throughFIG. 6) to the medium. Further, the “first-class medium” is a medium which is fed one by one in a state where a plurality of media are laminated on the first placement portion22(see,FIG. 3throughFIG. 6). The expression “plain paper” indicates a paper of which weight is approximately 60 to 90 g/m2and which is commonly used. It is needless to say that the “plain paper” may be a paper beyond the above range.

Further, an operation portion3having buttons and the like is provided at a front portion of the printer1. A user operates the operation portion3so as to set conditions of a medium such as a recording condition and a paper, and the like. Further, a signal directing to start recording is sent to a controller (not shown) by operating the operation portion3. In addition, a second cover member5is provided at the front portion of the printer1.FIG. 1shows a state where the second cover member5is closed.

On the other hand,FIG. 2shows a state where the second cover member5is opened. When the second cover member5is opened and made into a state where the second cover member5is slidingly extended, the second cover member5serves as a first tray7as a first discharge portion6. At this time, the second cover member5is slidingly extended such that an inner portion of the second cover member5is drawn. The plain paper P1is discharged from the first discharge portion6. Further, if the second cover member5is opened, a second tray10in the printer1can protrude to the front side of the printer1. In the state where the second tray10protrudes, the second tray10serves as a second placement portion8on which a board paper or a CD-R tray P2and a dedicated paper P3can be placed. The board paper and the CD-R tray are thick media as will be described later and are examples of a second-class medium. The dedicated paper P3is a thick medium as will be described later and is an example of a third-class medium.

The expression “second-class medium” indicates a medium which cannot be fed through the first feeding path (R1) by the first feeding unit26as will be described later. To be more specific, the “second-class medium” is a medium which does not have flexibility and has high rigidity or a medium which has high elasticity even if the medium has flexibility. Further, the expression “board paper” indicates a panel (board) integrated with a medium.

The expression “third-class medium” indicates a medium which cannot be fed through the first feeding path (R1) by the first feeding unit26like the “second-class medium.” To be more specific, the “third-class medium” is a medium which has flexibility and has small elasticity in comparison with that of the “second-class medium.” Further, the “dedicated paper” indicates a paper used for a specific purpose such as a photograph unlike the plain paper P1. The “dedicated paper” has high elasticity in comparison with that of the plain paper P1.

Further, the second tray10also serves as a second discharge portion9. The board paper or the CD-R tray P2and the dedicated paper P3on which recording has completed are discharged from the second discharge portion9.

A movable guide member25is provided at a rear portion of the printer1.FIG. 2shows a state where the movable guide member25is opened to the rear side. To be more specific,FIG. 2shows a state where the movable guide member25is opened and is slidingly extended upward such that an inner portion of the movable guide member25is drawn. If the movable guide member25is made into the opened state when recording is executed onto the dedicated paper P3, a medium feeding path (R3) is bent when seen from the side, as will be described later in detail (see,FIG. 5).

In the Case of Plain Paper (First-Class Medium)

Next, an inner portion of the printer1is described.

FIG. 3is a schematic side view illustrating an inner portion of the printer1when the plain paper (first-class medium) is transported and recording is executed onto the plain paper.

As shown inFIG. 3, the printer1includes the medium feeding apparatus42which feeds a medium and a recording portion30. Further, the medium feeding apparatus42includes the first placement portion22, the first feeding unit26, a separation unit28, the second feeding unit35, the recording portion30, a third feeding unit38, and the first discharge portion6. The first placement portion22is provided such that the plain paper P1can be placed thereon. To be more specific, the first placement portion22has the hopper23, and first edge guides24.

The hopper23is provided so as to move to approach to or recede from the feeding roller27which will be described later in a state where the hopper23is integrated with the placed plain paper P1. The first edge guides24are provided in a pair so as to move to approach to or recede from the feeding roller27in a state where the first edge guides24are integrated with the hopper23. Further, the first edge guides24are provided so as to move on the hopper in a width direction X at both sides of the plain paper P1.

Accordingly, both side edges of the plain paper P1placed on the hopper can be aligned neatly. Further, the plain paper P1in the width direction X can be positioned on the hopper with high accuracy.

The first feeding unit26is provided so as to feed the plain paper P1on the hopper to the downstream side in the feeding direction. To be more specific, the first feeding unit26has a feeding roller27which drives by a first motor (not shown).

The first feeding unit26is provided so as to feed an uppermost plain paper P1to the downstream side in the feeding direction with a friction force generated when the uppermost plain paper P1on the hopper is made into contact with the feeding roller27.

In the embodiment, a configuration in which the hopper23which also serves as the first placement portion22moves to approach to or recede from the feeding roller27is employed. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. It is sufficient that the hopper23and the feeding roller27relatively move to approach to or recede from each other. In other words, it is needless to say that a configuration in which the feeding roller27moves to approach to or recede from the hopper23may be employed.

Further, the separation unit28is provided such that the second and subsequent plain papers P1which are unnecessary at this time can be separated from the uppermost plain paper P1when a plurality of plain papers P1to be fed by the first feeding unit26are laminated. To be more specific, the separation unit28has a so-caller retard roller29as an example. The retard roller29is a roller which rotates with a predetermined load and has been commonly known.

It is to be noted that the separation unit28may be a pad made of a material having a high friction coefficient.

A tip of the uppermost plain paper P1is guided to the second feeding unit35by a second guide portion44. The second guide portion44is provided at the downstream side with respect to the first guide portion43in the feeding direction at the time of the recording (the direction shown by an arrow of Y-axis). The first guide portion43is configured to guide a medium when the medium is the dedicated paper P3or the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2as will be described later.

On the other hand, the second feeding unit35is configured to further feed the plain paper P1fed by the first feeding unit26to the recording portion30at the downstream side in the feeding direction when the medium is the plain paper P1.

As will be described later in detail, the second feeding unit35is configured to feed a medium to the upstream side or the downstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording when the medium is the dedicated paper P3, or the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2.

To be more specific, the second feeding unit35has a first roller pair36. The first roller pair36includes a first driving roller36awhich drives with a driving force of a second motor41and a first driven roller36bwhich rotates following the first driving roller36a. Further, the second feeding unit35is configured such that the first driving roller36aand the first driven roller36brelatively move to approach to or recede from each other by a first approaching/receding unit37as will be described later in detail. That is to say, the second feeding unit35is configured such that a state where the first driving roller36aand the first driven roller36bapproach to each other and a state where the first driving roller36aand the first driven roller36brecede from each other can be switchable. In the embodiment, the first driving roller36aand the first driven roller36bare provided such that the first driven roller36bcan move to approach to or recede from the first driving roller36a.

It is needless to say that a configuration in which the first driving roller36amoves to approach to or recede from the first driven roller36bmay be employed. However, the configuration in which the first driven roller36bmoves to approach to or recede from the first driving roller36ais employed in the embodiment for the following reason. That is, the configuration in which the rotationally driven member can move is realized more easily in comparison with the configuration in which the driving member can move in consideration of the driving force transmission mechanism to the first driving roller36a.

Further, as the first approaching/receding unit37which is a unit for causing the first driven roller36bto approach to or recede from the first driving roller36a, a structure which transmits a driving force by a cam mechanism or a gear mechanism can be exemplified.

When the plain paper P1is fed from the first feeding unit26to the second feeding unit35, a so-called skew removal operation is executed. The skew removal operation is an operation for adjusting the posture of the plain paper P1with respect to the feeding direction.

The skew removal operation may be a so-called “bite and discharge method” or “push and abut method.”

The “bite and discharge method” is a method as follows. That is, the first roller pair36as the second feeding unit35nips a tip of the plain paper P1once. Then, the first roller pair36is reversely rotated so as to reversely feed the tip of the plain paper P1to the upstream side in the feeding direction. Thereafter, the plain paper P1is made to bow between the feeding roller27as the first feeding unit26and the first roller pair36as the second feeding unit35while the tip of the plain paper P1is pushed to the nip line of the first roller pair36. With this, the posture of the tip of the plain paper P1is made to be along the nip line.

That is to say, in the “bite and discharge method”, the tip of the plain paper P1is made to be bitten by the first roller pair36once. Thereafter, the tip of the plain paper P1is discharged to the upstream side in the feeding direction so that the plain paper P1is made to bow. With this, the posture of the tip of the plain paper P1is made to be along the nip line.

The “nip line” indicates a line formed by a portion where the first roller pair36is circumscribed. That is, the “nip line” is a line formed by a portion where the first roller pair36nips the plain paper P1in a pressurized manner.

On the other hand, the “push and abut method” is a method as follows. That is, the plain paper P1is fed to the downstream side in the feeding direction by the feeding roller27. Then, the tip of the plain paper P1is pushed to the nip line of the first roller pair36in a state where the first roller pair36stops or reversely drives. With this, the posture of the tip of the plain paper P1is made to be along the nip line. That is, the “push and abut method” is a method in which the tip of the plain paper P1is pushed to the first roller pair36so as to make the posture of the tip of the plain paper P1be along the nip line. It is to be noted that the plain paper P1may be made to bow between the feeding roller27and the first roller pair36to make the posture of the tip thereof be along the nip line. Alternatively, the plain paper P1may not be made to bow therebetween to make the posture of the tip thereof be along the nip line.

Accordingly, in the case of the plain paper P1, even when the posture of the plain paper P1is inclined with respect to the feeding direction, the plain paper P1can be fed to the recording portion30after adjusting the posture thereof.

Further, the recording portion30is configured to execute recording onto a fed medium such as the plain paper or the like (P1through P3). To be more specific, the recording portion30has a recording head31and a medium supporting portion34.

The recording head31is provided so as to execute recording by discharging ink droplets from a nozzle row32. Further, the medium supporting portion34is provided at a position opposed to the recording head31. Then, the medium such as the plain paper and the like (P1through P3) is supported from a lower side in the vertical direction. Therefore, a predetermined space can be kept between the recording head31and the medium such as the plain paper and the like (P1through P3).

It is to be noted that a space between the recording head31and the medium supporting portion34in the Z-axis direction can be adjusted depending on types such as a material, thickness and the like of the medium (P1through P3) to be fed on the recording portion30. In other words, the recording head31and the medium supporting portion34are configured so as to be relatively displaced. The displacement can be performed manually or automatically.

The direction of the Z-axis corresponds to a direction in which the recording head31and the medium (P1through P3) are opposed to each other.

A configuration in which the recording head31is displaced with respect to the medium supporting portion34may be employed. Alternatively, a configuration in which the medium supporting portion34is displaced with respect to the recording head31may be also employed. This prevents the medium (P1through P3) to be fed from making contact with the recording head31. Therefore, the recording head31can be prevented from being damaged or soiled and the medium (P1through P3) can be prevented from being damaged or soiled.

Further, the third feeding unit38is provided at the downstream side with respect to the recording portion30in the feeding direction at the time of recording so as to further feed the recorded medium (P1through P3) to the downstream side in the feeding direction. To be more specific, the third feeding unit38has a second roller pair39as in the above-described second feeding unit35. The second roller pair39includes a second driving roller39awhich drives with a driving force of the second motor41and a second driven roller39bwhich rotates following the second driving roller39a.

Further, the third feeding unit38is configured such that the second driving roller39aand the second driven roller39brelatively move to approach to or recede from each other by a second approaching/receding unit40as will be described later in detail. The second approaching/receding unit40has the same configuration as that of the first approaching/receding unit37. That is to say, a state where the second driving roller39aand the second driven roller39bapproach to each other and a state where the second driving roller39aand the second driven roller39brecede from each other can be switchable. In the embodiment, the second driving roller39aand the second driven roller39bare provided such that the second driven roller39bcan move to approach to or recede from the second driving roller39a.

Further, the first discharge portion6is provided so as to receive and laminate the plain paper P1when the plain paper P1onto which recording has been performed on the recording portion30is fed to the downstream side in the feeding direction by the third feeding unit38and discharged. To be more specific, the first discharge portion6has the first tray7which is provided at a lower side in the vertical direction and at a downstream side in the feeding direction at the time of recording with respect to the third feeding unit38. Accordingly, the plain papers P1which have been continuously discharged can be laminated on the first tray7.

As described above, when the medium is the plain paper P1, the plain paper P1is guided to the first feeding path R1. The first feeding path R1is a path from the first placement portion22to the first discharge portion6.

Note that inFIG. 3, the second discharge portion9is not shown for ease of understanding. The second tray10as the second discharge portion9is located at such a position not to hinder the plain paper P1from being discharged onto the first tray.

In the Case of Board Paper, CD-R Tray or the Like (Second-Class Medium)

Next, a case where the medium is a board paper, a CD-R tray, or the like (second-class medium) is described.

FIG. 4is a schematic side view illustrating an inner portion of the printer when the board paper, the CD-R tray, or the like is transported and recording is performed thereon.

As shown inFIG. 4, in a state where the movable guide member25is closed, an upper surface of the second tray10, an upper surface of the medium supporting portion34, an upper surface of the second guide portion44and an upper surface of the first guide portion43form a straight line when viewed from the side.

Further, the upper surface of the second tray10, the upper surface of the medium supporting portion34, the upper surface of the second guide portion44and the upper surface of the first guide portion43form a second feeding path R2as a feeding path on which the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2is fed. That is, the second feeding path R2is formed into a straight line when viewed from the side. The reason for this is as follows. When the medium is the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2, the medium cannot be fed on the first feeding path (R1) which is curved when viewed from the side, because the medium is a rigid body or has high elasticity. Therefore, the second feeding path R2which is formed into a straight line when viewed from the side is required to be provided separately from the first feeding path R1.

It is to be noted that in a case of the three-class medium (P3) which will be described later, the medium can be also fed on the second feeding path (R2) as in the second-class medium (P2).

To be more specific, when the medium is the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2, the user places the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2on the second tray10which is the second placement portion8at the front side of the printer1. At this time, when the type of a medium is set by the operation portion3, the first roller pair36is made to be into the receding state by the first approaching/receding unit37. In the same manner, the second roller pair39is made to be into the receding state by the second approaching/receding unit40. Then, the user adjusts the medium at a predetermined position depending on the types of the medium on the second tray.

The expression “predetermined position” indicates a position where a part of the medium (P2, P3) is located between the first driving roller36aand the first driven roller36bof the first roller pair36.

Thereafter, when the user operates the operation portion3, a signal directing to start recording is sent to the controller. Thus, the first roller pair36is switched to the approaching state. Accordingly, the medium (P2, P3) is nipped by the first roller pair36.

A first sensor33is provided between the first roller pair36and the recording head31. The first sensor33can detect presence or absence of the medium (P2, P3). Accordingly, the printer1can judge that the medium (P2, P3) is set. Based on the judgment, the controller switches the first roller pair36to be in the approaching state. If it is judged that the medium (P2, P3) is not set, an error may be displayed.

Note that the second roller pair39is kept in the receding state in order to improve accuracy of feeding the medium (P2, P3) by the first roller pair36. It is needless to say that the second roller pair39may be switched to the approaching state in the same manner as the first roller pair36. In such a case, it is sufficient that the “predetermined position” is a position where a part of the medium (P2, P3) is located between the second driving roller39aand the second driven roller39bof the second roller pair39.

Then, the medium (P2, P3) nipped by the first roller pair36is fed to the upstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording until the first sensor33does not detect the presence of the medium (P2, P3). At this time, the medium (P2, P3) moves to the upstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording on the second feeding path (R2) while being guided by the second tray10, the medium supporting portion34, the second guide portion44and the first guide portion43.

When the medium (P2, P3) is long, the upstream side of the medium (P2, P3) in the feeding direction at the time of the recording can protrude to the outer side of the housing2while being guided by the first guide portion43. That is to say, the upstream side of the medium (P2, P3) can protrude to the rear side of the printer1.

The printer1can grasp a position of the edge of the medium (P2, P3) on the downstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording by grasping a timing at which the first sensor33does not detect the presence of the medium (P2, P3). That is, the printer1can grasp a position of the tip of the medium (P2, P3) at the time of the recording. Then, the first roller pair36is driven based on the position of the tip of the medium (P2, P3). This makes it possible to adjust the position of the tip of the medium (P2, P3) at the time of the recording to a reference position when the recording is started. The so-called fitting of the tip of the paper is completed.

At this time, the medium (P2, P3) is kept to be nipped by the first roller pair36.

Thereafter, the medium (P2, P3) is fed to the downstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording by the first roller pair36and recording is performed onto the medium (P2, P3) on the recording portion30. When the recording is completed, the medium (P2, P3) is further fed to the downstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording by the first roller pair36and is discharged to the second tray10. That is to say, the medium (P2, P3) is discharged to a position which is substantially the same as the position on which a user sets the medium (P2, P3).

The following configuration may be employed. That is, if the type of the medium (P2, P3) is set by the operation portion3, the second tray10moves to a position which is on the downstream side with respect to the third feeding unit38in the feeding direction at the time of the recording and of which height is the same as that of the third feeding unit38in the vertical direction Z. At this time, the position of the second tray10may be moved with a driving force of a motor (not shown) or may be switched manually.

Further, if the second tray10does not hinder the plain paper P1from being discharged, the second tray10may be provided at a position which is the same as that in the case of the plain paper P1as long as the height of the upper surface of the second tray10is the same as that of the upper surface of the medium supporting portion34in the vertical direction Z. In such a case, the second tray10may move to a position as shown inFIG. 4in conjunction with the operation in which the second cover member5is opened to the front side.

Further, the controller is configured to judge whether the movable guide member25is in a closed state as shown inFIG. 4by using a second sensor (not shown). The controller is configured in such manner for judging whether the second feeding path R2on which the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2is fed is in the opened state at the rear side of the printer1.

When the movable guide member25is opened, a direction is indicated for a user to make the movable guide member25be in the closed state. For example, such direction may be displayed on a display device such as a liquid crystal panel provided on the operation portion3or a warning sound may be generated.

In the Case of Dedicated Paper (Third-Class Medium)

Subsequently, a case where the medium is a dedicated paper (third-class medium) is described.

FIG. 5is a schematic side view illustrating an inner portion of the printer when the dedicated paper is transported and recording is performed thereon.

As shown inFIG. 5, in a state where the movable guide member25is opened, a first linear zone S1is formed of the upper surface of the second tray10, the upper surface of the medium supporting portion34, the upper surface of the second guide portion44and the upper surface of the first guide portion43. Further, a curved zone S2which is curved when viewed from the side is formed of the upper surface of the first guide portion43on the upstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording and the movable guide member25on a swing fulcrum side. In addition, a second linear zone S3is formed of the movable guide member25on a free end side.

Then, a third feeding path R3as a feeding path on which the dedicated paper P3is fed is formed of the first linear zone S1, the curved zone S2which is curved when viewed from the side and the second linear zone S3. That is, the third feeding path R3is formed so as to have the curved zone S2which is curved when viewed from the side at the rear side of the printer1. The reason for this is that the posture of the dedicated paper P3on the upstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording can be bent in the curved zone S2. To be more specific, the posture of the dedicated paper P3can be bent in the curved zone S2when the dedicated paper P3which is a medium having flexibility is placed on the second placement portion8as in the same manner as the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2, and is fed to the upstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording at a stage before recording.

With this configuration, the length of protrusion of the medium (P3) to the rear side of the printer1can be made shorter than that when the second feeding path R2is used. Accordingly, even when a barrier such as a wall of a room is present near the rear of the printer1, a risk that the medium (P3) protruding to the rear side of the printer1makes contact with the barrier at a stage before the recording can be substantially eliminated. As a result, in the case of the dedicated paper P3, a sufficiently large space required when the second feeding path R2is used is not required to be ensured at the rear side of the printer1by using not the second feeding path R2but the third feeding path R3.

That is to say, in the case of the dedicated paper P3, time and effort of a user for moving the printer1to the front side for ensuring the sufficiently large space at the rear side of the printer1can be eliminated.

It is to be noted that the dedicated paper P3has high elasticity and friction resistance and the like generated between the dedicated paper P3and the feeding path is large in comparison with the plain paper P1. Therefore, it is difficult to apply a sufficient feeding force to the dedicated paper P3with the feeding roller27and the dedicated paper P3cannot be fed on the first feeding path R1unlike the plain paper P1.

For these reasons, the dedicated paper P3is placed on the second placement portion8as in the same manner as the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2. Then, the dedicated paper P3is nipped by the first roller pair36so as to be fed to the upstream side or the downstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording.

The first roller pair36nips the medium (P3) firmly so as to apply a feeding force larger than that by the feeding roller27to the medium (P3).

The dedicated paper P3cannot be fed on the first feeding path R1unlike the plain paper P1. However, the dedicated paper P3is a medium having flexibility and low elasticity in comparison with the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2.

Thereafter, as in the case of the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2as described above, the dedicated paper P3nipped by the first roller pair36is fed to the upstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording until the first sensor33does not detect the presence of the dedicated paper P3. At this time, the dedicated paper P3moves to the upstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording on the third feeding path (R3) while being guided by the second tray10, the medium supporting portion34, the second guide portion44, the first guide portion43and the movable guide member25.

The printer1can grasp a position of the edge of the dedicated paper P3on the downstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording by grasping a timing at which the first sensor33does not detect the presence of the dedicated paper P3. That is, the printer1can grasp a position of the tip of the dedicated paper P3at the time of the recording. Then, the first roller pair36is driven based on the position of the tip of the dedicated paper P3. This makes it possible to adjust the position of the tip of the dedicated paper P3at the time of the recording to a reference position when the recording is started. The so-called fitting of the tip of the paper is completed.

At this time, the dedicated paper P3is kept to be nipped by the first roller pair36.

Thereafter, the dedicated paper P3is fed to the downstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording by the first roller pair36and recording is performed onto the dedicated paper P3on the recording portion30. When the recording is completed, the dedicated paper P3is further fed to the downstream side in the feeding direction at the time of the recording by the first roller pair36and is discharged to the second tray10. That is to say, the dedicated paper P3is discharged to a position which is substantially the same as the position on which a user sets the medium P3.

Next, an adjustment unit13according to the invention is described.

FIG. 6is a schematic plan view illustrating an inner portion of the printer according to the invention. As shown inFIG. 6, a second edge guide11is provided on the second tray10as the second placement portion8at one edge side in the width direction X. The second edge guide11is provided so as to make contact with the side edge of the medium of the dedicated paper P3or the board paper, the CD-R tray or the like P2set on the second tray10. Therefore, the second edge guide11can determine a position of the medium (P2, P3) in the width direction X and a posture of the medium (P2, P3) with respect to the feeding direction.

Further, the adjustment unit13which adjusts the posture of the medium (P2, P3) with respect to the feeding direction is provided on the second tray10.

To be more specific, the adjustment unit13can adjust the posture of the second edge guide11. The posture of the medium (P2, P3) is adjusted by adjusting the posture of the second edge guide11. The adjustment unit13according to the embodiment has an eccentric cam portion14, and a cam follower portion17as an example of a configuration.

The eccentric cam portion14is provided so as to be rotatable about a first fulcrum shaft15on the second tray10.

On the other hand, the cam follower portion17is provided on the second edge guide11so as to make contact with the eccentric cam portion14. Then, the eccentric cam portion14operates so that the second edge guide11swings about a second fulcrum shaft18. Hereinafter, the adjustment unit13is described in more detail.

FIG. 7is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a main portion of the adjustment unit according to the invention.FIG. 8is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the main portion of the adjustment unit according to the invention. Note that the second edge guide shown inFIG. 7is not shown inFIG. 8for ease of understanding.FIG. 9is an enlarged plan view illustrating the main portion of the adjustment unit according to the invention.FIG. 10is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the main portion of the adjustment unit according to the invention. Further,FIG. 10illustrates a state where the posture of the medium is adjusted.

As shown inFIG. 7throughFIG. 10, the eccentric cam portion14is provided so as to be rotatable about the first fulcrum shaft15. The eccentric cam portion14is eccentric with respect to the first fulcrum shaft15. Further, a tooth-shaped jagged portion16is formed on a free end of the eccentric cam portion14. A part of the jagged portion16is configured so as to engage with a claw portion21formed on the second tray10. That is, a part of the jagged portion16is made to engage with the claw portion21by changing the posture of the eccentric cam portion14in a stepwise manner. This makes it possible to make the posture of the eccentric cam portion14stable. Further, the eccentric cam portion14in the engaged state can be fixed with a screw.

Further, the second edge guide11is biased in the direction of approaching to the eccentric cam portion14with a spring20as an example of a biasing unit19. Accordingly, the cam follower portion17formed on the second edge guide11is in contact with the eccentric cam portion14all the time. Thus, the posture of the second edge guide11can be changed by rotating the eccentric cam portion14to change the posture of the eccentric cam portion14.

As a result, the posture of a guide surface12of the second edge guide11can be adjusted so as to be perpendicular to the posture of the first roller pair36. The guide surface12is a surface which makes contact with the medium (P2, P3). To be more specific, the medium (P2, P3) is set on the second tray10and one side edge of the medium (P2, P3) is aligned to the guide surface12. Then, the operation portion3is operated so as to select a mode in which a predetermined test pattern is recorded and press an execution button.

The expression “test pattern” is a pattern formed of lines parallel with and perpendicular to the feeding direction. The inclination degree of the posture of the medium (P2, P3) with respect to the feeding direction can be judged based on the test pattern.

With the operation, the predetermined test pattern is recorded on the medium (P2, P3) while being guided by the above-described second feeding path R2or the third feeding path R3. Then, the medium (P2, P3) is discharged to the second tray10. Next, the user looses the screw and rotates the eccentric cam portion14based on the test pattern visually recognized so as to slightly swing the posture of the second edge guide11about the second fulcrum shaft18disposed in the Z-axis direction. Thus, the inclination of the posture of the medium (P2, P3) with respect to the feeding direction when the medium (P2, P3) is set on the second tray10can be substantially eliminated.

The posture of the guide surface12of the second edge guide11tends to be inclined with respect to the feeding direction due to production tolerance or the like in the following cases. That is, in a case where the configuration of the second placement portion8is complicated or a case where the number of parts of the second placement portion8is large, the posture of the guide surface12tends to be inclined. Therefore, the adjustment unit13is particularly effective in these cases. Further, when the medium (P2, P3) is set on the second placement portion8, the skew removal operation is not executed or cannot be executed as described above. The adjustment unit13is also particularly effective in such a case.

It is to be noted that although the eccentric cam portion14is rotated so as to adjust the posture of the second edge guide11manually in the embodiment, the posture of the second edge guide11may be automatically adjusted. For example, a configuration in which a user inputs information about the degree of the inclination of the medium (P2, P3) based on the test pattern on the operation portion3may be employed. Then, the eccentric cam portion14may be made to rotate automatically with a driving force of a motor (not shown) based on the input information. Further, it is needless to say that a configuration in which a reading portion which can recognize the test pattern is provided and the eccentric cam portion14is rotated automatically based on the read information may be employed.

Further, the adjustment unit13adjusts the posture of the medium (P2, P3) placed on the second placement portion8in the embodiment. However, it is needless to say that the adjustment unit13may adjust the posture of the medium (P1) placed on the first placement portion22. In such a case, the posture of the plain paper P1with respect to the feeding direction can be adjusted by adjusting the posture of the first edge guide24. As a result, accuracy of the posture of the plain paper P1at the time of the recording can be improved.

In addition, the adjustment unit13adjusts the posture of the medium at the one edge side in the width direction on the second placement portion8in the embodiment. However, it is needless to say that the adjustment unit13may adjust the posture of the medium at the both edge sides.

The posture of the medium is adjusted at only one side edge in the embodiment because the posture of the medium can be adjusted more easily when the adjusting is carried out at only one side in comparison with the case where the posture of the medium is adjusted at the both edge sides.

Further, in the embodiment, the upstream side of the second edge guide11is made to swing in the width direction X about the downstream side thereof as a fulcrum in the feeding direction at the time of the recording. However, it is needless to say that the downstream side of the second edge guide11may be made to swing about the upstream side thereof as a fulcrum. The same operation effect can be obtained with such configuration.

The medium feeding apparatus42according to the embodiment includes the second placement portion8, the second feeding unit35, the second edge guide11and the adjustment unit13. The second placement portion8is a placement portion on which the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium), which are examples of fed media, are placed. The second feeding unit35is a feeding unit which feeds the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium) placed on the second placement portion8in the feeding direction. The second edge guide11is an edge guide which makes contact with the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium) placed on the second placement portion8at a side edge thereof in the width direction so as to position the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium) in the width direction X. The adjustment unit13is a unit which displaces at least a part of the second edge guide11so as to adjust the posture of the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium) with respect to the feeding direction.

Further, in the embodiment, the adjustment unit13is configured such that one of the upstream side and the downstream side of the second edge guide11in the feeding direction can swing in the width direction X about the second fulcrum shaft18prepared in the other of the upstream side and the downstream side. The width direction X is the approaching/receding direction with respect to the side edge of the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium).

In addition, in the embodiment, the adjustment unit13has the eccentric cam portion14and the cam follower portion17. The eccentric cam portion14is an eccentric cam. The cam follower portion17is a cam follower which abuts against the eccentric cam portion14. The cam follower portion17is provided on the second edge guide11.

The printer1which is the recording apparatus according to the embodiment includes the medium feeding apparatus42and the recording portion30. The medium feeding apparatus42is a medium feeding unit which feeds the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium), which are examples of the recording media, to the downstream side in the feeding direction. The recording portion30executes recording onto the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium) fed by the medium feeding apparatus42by the recording head31.

Further, in the embodiment, the second feeding unit35is the first roller pair36including the first driving roller36aas a feeding driving roller and the first driven roller36bas a feeding driven roller. The first driving roller36adrives with a driving force of the second motor41. The first driven roller36brotates following the first driving roller36a. The first roller pair36is provided so as to be switchable between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the first driving roller36aand the first driven roller36bapproach to each other. In the second state, the first driving roller36aand the first driven roller36brecede from each other. When one of the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium) is placed, the first roller pair36is in the second state. Then, the first roller pair36is switched to the first state based on the direction to start recording so as to nip the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) or the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium). Then, the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) or the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium) is fed to the recording portion30while the first roller pair36nips the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) or the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium). Thereafter, the recording portion30executes recording onto the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) or the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium) nipped by the first roller pair36.

Another Embodiment

FIG. 11is a schematic plan view illustrating an adjustment unit according to another embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 11, in that another embodiment, a second edge guide50includes a first guide portion51and a second guide portion52.

It is to be noted that since other members of the adjustment unit are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, the same reference numerals denote the same members and description is not repeated.

The first guide portion51is integrally formed with the second tray10. That is, the first guide portion51is fixed in the width direction X. On the other hand, the second guide portion52is provided at a position different from that of the first guide portion51in the feeding direction. Further, the second guide portion52is configured to be displaced so as to approach to or recede from the side edge of the medium (P2, P3) in the width direction X. As a configuration for displacement, a configuration in which the eccentric cam portion14and the cam follower portion17are included as in the above-described embodiment can be exemplified.

Accordingly, as in the above-described embodiment, the inclination of the posture of the medium (P2, P3) with respect to the feeding direction when the medium (P2, P3) is set on the second tray10can be substantially eliminated.

In that another embodiment, the second edge guide50includes the first guide portion51and the second guide portion52. The first guide portion51makes contact with a side edge of the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium). The second guide portion52is provided at a different position from the first guide portion51in the feeding direction and makes contact with the side edge of the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium). The adjustment unit13has a configuration in which the second guide portion52is displaced in the width direction X so that the second guide portion52is relatively displaced with respect to the first guide portion51. The width direction X is the approaching/receding direction with respect to the side edge of the board paper or the CD-R tray P2(second-class medium) and the dedicated paper P3(third-class medium).

The direction in which the adjustment unit displaces at least a part of the second edge guide may be as follows. That is, it is sufficient that a portion on the second guide portion of the second edge guide which makes contact with the medium at a side edge (P2, P3) is displaced in the approaching/receding direction (X) with respect to the side edge of the medium. In other words, the second edge guide itself may be displaced in either direction.

For example, it is assumed that the contact portion on the second guide portion is an inclined surface and is gradually inclined upward to the face side in the face-reverse direction toward the outer side in the width direction.

In such a case, the contact portion can be displaced in the width direction X by displacing the second guide portion of the second edge guide in the face-reverse direction (Z-axis direction). This makes it possible to adjust the posture of the medium (P2, P3).

Further, it is needless to say that the invention is not limited to the above embodiments and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. Further, the modifications are encompassed within the invention.