RECORDING APPARATUS

A recording apparatus includes a recording unit that has a head unit that is movable, and a scanner unit that is provided on the upper side of the recording unit and is capable of opening and closing the upper side of the recording unit; the recording unit includes a housing that has an opening portion formed in the housing to expose at least part of the upper side of a movement region of the head unit, a flexible ink tube that is fixed to an upper surface of a surrounding area of the opening portion and extended to the outside of the housing while passing through a gap between the scanner unit and the recording unit, and a medium reception tray having a relief portion that is formed on the upstream side in a medium discharge direction so as to avoid a feeding unit.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in the examples described below, same configurations are given the same reference numerals, and explanations thereof will be made only in an example in which the stated configurations first appear and will be omitted in the subsequent examples.

FIGS. 1,2and3are external perspective views of an ink jet printer (hereinafter, called a “printer”)10as an embodiment of a “recording apparatus” according to the invention;FIG. 4is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a paper transport path of paper held in a lower stage tray of the printer according to the invention;FIG. 5is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a paper transport path of paper held in an upper stage tray of the printer according to the invention;FIG. 6is a perspective view illustrating a positional relationship between a feeding unit and a medium reception tray;FIG. 7is a perspective view of the medium reception tray;FIG. 8is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the medium reception tray is projected from a recording unit;FIG. 9is an external perspective view illustrating a state in which a scanner unit is opened according to a first example; andFIG. 10is a side view illustrating a state in which the scanner unit is opened according to the first example.

FIG. 11is an external perspective view illustrating a state in which the scanner unit is closed according to the first example;FIG. 12is an external perspective view illustrating a state in which a scanner unit is opened according to a variation on the first example;FIG. 13is an external perspective view illustrating a state in which a scanner unit is opened according to a second example;FIG. 14is an external perspective view illustrating a state in which a scanner unit is opened according to a third example; andFIG. 15is an external perspective view illustrating a state in which a scanner unit is opened according to a fourth example. Further,FIGS. 16A and 16Bare diagrams schematically illustrating the shapes of relief portions formed in a medium reception tray30.

The printer10according to this embodiment, as will be explained later in detail, includes ink holding units112, ink tubes110, and the like, as shown inFIG. 9. However, of these constitutional elements, some are omitted inFIGS. 1 through 3and the configuration of the printer10is illustrated excluding mainly the ink holding units112, the ink tubes110, and the like. Moreover, in a state in which a scanner unit14is closed to a maximum extent, a space (gap)106is formed between a main apparatus body12and the scanner unit14as shown inFIG. 10(explained later); however,FIGS. 1 through 3illustrate the printer10as if the space106is not formed.

InFIGS. 4 and 5, in order to illustrate rollers that are disposed on the paper transport path in the printer10, substantially all the rollers are drawn on the same plane. However, the positions in a depth direction thereof (front-back surface direction of the paper ofFIGS. 4 and 5) are not necessarily coincident with each other (may be coincident in some case). Moreover, in an X-Y-Z coordinate system indicated inFIG. 4, the X direction indicates a scanning direction of a recording head, the −Y direction indicates a depth direction of the recording apparatus, and the Z direction indicates a height direction of the apparatus. Note that in the drawings, the +Y direction side refers to the apparatus front surface side while the −Y direction side refers to the apparatus rear surface side.

1. General Configuration of Printer

Hereinafter, a general configuration of the printer10will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 5. The printer10includes the scanner unit14(seeFIGS. 4 and 5) as an “opening/closing member” above the main apparatus body12as a “recording unit” that performs ink jet recording on recording paper as an example of a medium, that is, the printer10is configured as a complex machine having a scanning function in addition to an ink jet recording function.

The scanner unit14is provided in a rotatable manner with respect to the main apparatus body12, and can take a closed state (FIG. 1) or an opened state (FIG. 9) by being rotated. A cover16provided on the scanner unit14is an openable/closable cover, and opening the cover16causes a document platform18of the scanner unit14(seeFIGS. 4 and 5) to appear. Further, the main apparatus body12is covered with a housing20in which an opening portion90is formed. The opening portion90exposes at least part of the upper side of a movement region of a head unit, or a carriage66, which will be explained later.

On the front surface of the main apparatus body12, there is provided an operation panel22including a power button, operation buttons for various print settings and recording execution, a display unit, and the like. The display unit gives a preview display of the contents of print settings and a print image, and the like. The operation panel22is so structured as to be tilted;FIG. 1indicates a state of the panel being completely closed,FIG. 2indicates a state of the panel being fully opened, andFIG. 3indicates a state of the panel being halfway opened. As shown inFIGS. 1 through 3, the operation panel22can be adjusted to an angle at which a user can operate the panel with ease. Note that an open angle of the operation panel22is held by an angle holding mechanism (not shown); even if an external force is applied to the operation panel22in a direction toward which the panel is closed due to button pressing operation, the above open angle can be held.

On the apparatus front surface, there is provided a cover24under the operation panel22. The cover24is an openable/closable cover provided on a lower stage tray26;FIG. 1indicates a state of the cover24being closed, whileFIGS. 2 and 3indicate a state of the cover24being opened. Opening the cover24makes it possible to expose the lower stage tray26, an upper stage tray28, and the medium reception tray30, whereby attaching/detaching the lower stage tray26and the upper stage tray28, sliding the medium reception tray30, and so on can be performed.

The medium reception tray30is so provided as to be displaced by a motor (not shown) in a slidable manner between an accommodation position at which the tray is accommodated in the main apparatus body12(seeFIG. 1) and a projecting position projected frontward from the main recording body12(seeFIGS. 3,4and5). By taking the projecting position projected frontward from the main apparatus body12, the medium reception tray30can receive recording paper that has been recorded to be discharged. Although the medium reception tray30of this embodiment is moved to be displaced by driving force of a motor (automatic open type), the tray may be so configured as to be moved to be displaced by operation of a user (manual open type).

The lower stage tray26and the upper stage tray28provided above the lower stage tray26, which constitute a medium holding unit, are each capable of holding a plurality of sheets of recording paper and are detachable with respect to the main apparatus body12.

An openable/closable manual paper feed cover32is provided at an upper rear portion of the main apparatus body12. Opening this manual paper feed cover32makes it possible to manually feed paper by making use of a manual paper feed tray34(seeFIGS. 4 and 5).

Next, the paper transport path in the printer10will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5. The printer10according to this embodiment includes the lower stage tray26and the upper stage tray28on the apparatus bottom, and feeds out recording paper one by one from the lower stage tray26or the upper stage tray28.

The upper stage tray28is so provided as to be displaced in a slidable manner between a feedable position (FIG. 5) and a retreat position (FIG. 4), and is so configured as to be displaced by a motor (not shown) between the feedable position (FIG. 5) and the retreat position (FIG. 4).

InFIGS. 4 and 5, a symbol P1 denotes paper that is held in the lower stage tray26, while a symbol P2 denotes paper that is held in the upper stage tray28(hereinafter, these two kinds of paper are called “paper P” unless they need be specifically distinguished). A passing trajectory of paper P1 fed out from the lower stage tray26is indicated by a broken line T1 (seeFIG. 4), while a passing trajectory of paper P2 fed out from the upper stage tray28is indicated by a broken line T2 (seeFIG. 5).

A feed roller (also called a pickup roller)36rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) is provided in a swing member40that swings about a rotational shaft38; in a state in which the upper stage tray28has been slid to the apparatus front side to the maximum (right direction inFIGS. 4 and 5: extracting direction side of the upper stage tray28), that is, the upper stage tray28is at the retreat position (a state ofFIG. 4), the feed roller36makes contact with the uppermost sheet of paper P1 held in the lower stage tray26and rotates to feed out the uppermost sheet of paper P1 from the lower stage tray26.

Further, in the case where the upper stage tray28has been slid to the apparatus rear side to the maximum (left direction inFIGS. 4 and 5: a mounting direction side of the upper stage tray28and also a paper feed-out direction side) so as to be at an abutting position, that is, the upper stage tray28is at the feedable position (a state ofFIG. 5), the feed roller36makes contact with the uppermost sheet of paper P2 held in the upper stage tray28and rotates to feed out the uppermost sheet of paper P2 from the upper stage tray28.

In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6, the rotational shaft38constitutes a swing shaft of the swing member40, and transmits power to the feed roller36via a gear train44from a transmission gear42provided on the rotational shaft38, as shown inFIG. 6, by being rotated upon receiving power from a motor (not shown). Further in this embodiment, the swing member40and the feed roller36constitute a feeding unit46(FIG. 6) that feeds paper P.

In this embodiment, the single feed roller36can access both the lower stage tray26and the upper stage tray28. Moreover, even in the case where any one of the lower stage tray26and the upper stage tray28has been detached from the main apparatus body12, the feed roller36can access the other tray and feed out paper therefrom.

In the main apparatus body12, a separation slope48is provided at a position opposed to leading ends of the lower stage tray26and the upper stage tray28; in a state in which the lower stage tray26is mounted, a stopper (not shown) provided on the leading end of the lower stage tray26is led to the depth side (left side inFIGS. 4 and 5) further than the separation slope48so that the leading end of paper held in the lower stage tray26can make contact with the separation slope48.

With regard to the upper stage tray28, in a state in which the upper stage tray28is located at the feedable position (abutting position:FIG. 5), a stopper50provided on the leading end of the upper stage tray28is led to the depth side further than the separation slope48so that the leading end of paper held in the upper stage tray28can make contact with the separation slope48.

Subsequently, paper P to be fed out from the lower stage tray26or the upper stage tray28is made to advance toward the downstream side while making contact with the separation slope48so that the uppermost sheet of paper P to be fed out is separated from the rest of the paper P.

Ahead of the separation slope48, there is provided an intermediate roller52that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown); paper P is curved and reversed by the intermediate roller52and made to advance toward the apparatus front side. On the circumference of the intermediate roller52, there are provided slave rollers54,56and58that can be rotationally driven with respect to the intermediate roller52along a paper transport path. Paper P, when fed into the paper transport path, is pinched between the intermediate roller52and the slave rollers54,56and58sequentially along the paper transport path and sent toward the downstream side of the paper transport path.

Ahead of the intermediate roller52, there are provided a transport driving roller60that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) and a transport slave roller62that is rotationally driven through making contact with the transport driving roller60. The paper P is sent by these rollers to a position under a recording head64.

The recording head64which ejects ink is provided on the bottom of the carriage66, and the carriage66is driven by a motor (not shown) so as to move back and forth in a main scanning direction (front-back surface direction of the paper ofFIGS. 4 and 5). In addition, at least part of the upper side of a movement region of the carriage66is exposed through the opening portion90that is formed in the housing20(seeFIG. 9). With this, in the case where the scanner unit14is opened with respect to the main apparatus body12, the carriage66can be accessed from exterior of the main apparatus body12, thereby making it possible to attach/detach an ink cartridge (not shown) that is attached to the carriage66.

A support member, or a platen68is provided at a position opposed to the recording head64, and an interval between paper P and the recording head64is defined by the support member68. On the downstream side of the support member68, there is provided a discharging unit including a discharge driving roller70that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) and a discharge slave roller72that is rotationally driven through making contact with the discharge driving roller70. Paper P on which recording has been performed by the recording head64is discharged by these rollers toward the medium reception tray30described above.

Further, in the case where recording is performed on both surfaces of paper P in the printer10, recording is performed first on a first surface of the paper P by the recording head64, thereafter the paper P is sent back to the upstream side of the transport driving roller60by reverse feed operation of the transport driving roller60and the discharge driving roller70. In the reverse feed operation, a side of the paper P which was the trailing end when recording was performed on the first surface is made to be the leading end. Furthermore, the paper P is sent to a reverse path69by the reverse feed operation of the transport driving roller60. The paper P having been sent into the reverse path69is pinched between the intermediate roller52and a reverse roller71so as to be returned to the paper transport path again.

The paper P having been returned to the paper transport path is sent again toward the transport driving roller60disposed on the downstream side of the paper transport path by the intermediate roller52via the slave rollers54,56and58. In this case, the first surface and a second surface of the paper P are curved and reversed so that the second surface is opposed to the recording head64. The paper P is sent by the transport driving roller60to a position where the paper P is opposed to the recording head64. The paper P, on the second surface of which recording has been performed by the recording head64, is discharged by the discharge driving roller70to the medium reception tray30disposed at the apparatus front side.

2. Configuration of Scanner Unit

Next, a configuration of the scanner unit14will be described. The scanner unit14is connected with the main apparatus body12in a rotatable manner via a rotational shaft74(FIGS. 4 and 5), and opens/closes the upper side of the main apparatus body12through the rotation. In a state in which the scanner unit14is opened, the interior of the main apparatus body12can be accessed, thereby making it possible to exchange an ink cartridge (not shown) mounted on the carriage66, to remove a paper jam, and so on.

The scanner unit14is provided with a reading unit76that scans along the X direction which is the same as the scanning direction of the recording head64. The reading unit76includes an image sensor such as a contact image sensor (CIS), a charge coupled device (CCD), or the like.

The reading unit76is formed in a shape elongating in the Y direction, that is, in the apparatus depth direction, and receives power from a driving source (not shown) to move in the X direction while being guided by a guide rail78as a “guide unit” extended in the X direction. A guided unit80so structured as to make sliding contact with the guide rail78is provided under the reading unit76. A slave roller82that is rotationally driven through making contact with an inner bottom surface of the scanner unit14is provided in the reading unit76. The orientation of the reading unit76is maintained to be parallel to the document platform18by the guided unit80and the slave roller82.

On a bottom surface84of the scanner unit14, a projection86extended in the X direction is provided so as to stick out from the bottom surface84toward the main apparatus body12side. The projection86is a projection used for disposing the guide rail78, and its occupation region in the apparatus depth direction (Y direction) is defined by a sloped surface86afacing to a movement region of the carriage66and a vertical surface86bfacing to a double-surface unit88.

In the configuration of the printer10described thus far, a symbol A1 inFIGS. 4 and 5indicates an occupation region of the carriage66in the unit depth direction (Y direction), a symbol A2 indicates the occupation region of the projection86, and a symbol A3 indicates an occupation region of the intermediate roller52.

In the printer10according to this embodiment, as illustrated in the drawings, a free end side14aof the scanner unit14, the carriage66disposed within the opening portion90, the projection86, and the rotational shaft74of the scanner unit14are disposed in that order in the apparatus depth direction from the apparatus front side (right side inFIGS. 4 and 5) toward the depth side (left side inFIGS. 4 and 5); the projection86is disposed at a position on the rotational shaft74side in the apparatus depth direction relative to a central position of the scanner unit14(position Yc (y1=y2) inFIGS. 4 and 5).

In other words, because the projection86of the scanner unit14and the carriage66are disposed being shifted in position from each other in the apparatus depth direction, the projection86and the carriage66need not be superposed on each other in the arrangement thereof. This makes it possible to overlap the carriage66and the projection86with respect to the height direction (Z direction). Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to lower the height of the apparatus in comparison with the configuration in which the projection86and the carriage66are disposed being superposed on each other.

3. Details of Medium Reception Tray30

Next, details of the medium reception tray30will be further described with reference toFIGS. 6 through 8. In this embodiment, an entire area of a paper reception surface30aof the medium reception tray30for receiving paper is formed with a single member, in other words, the medium reception tray30is configured not as a multi-stage type tray (drawer type) but as a single-stage type tray. To be more specific, in this embodiment, the whole medium reception tray30is integrally formed as one unit with a resin material, whereby rigidity of the medium reception tray30is enhanced as a whole and costs are lowered due to the structure of the tray being simplified.

Edge portions (edge portions in a direction intersecting with a paper discharge direction (in a paper width direction, or the scanning direction))30bof the medium reception tray30are supported in a slidable manner with respect to a frame92(FIG. 8) constituting a base section of the main apparatus body12. Racks30care formed along the paper discharge direction at both end portions of the medium reception tray30(both end portions in the direction intersecting with the paper discharge direction). The racks30care racks that constitute a rack and pinion mechanism and engage with pinions (not shown). When the pinions are rotated with power of a motor (not shown), the medium reception tray30is moved in a sliding manner. In this embodiment, although the racks30care formed at both the end portions, the rack30cmay be formed at any one of both the end portions.

A relief portion30dfor avoiding the feeding unit46is formed at the upstream side in the paper discharge direction of the medium reception tray30(left side inFIGS. 4 and 5, upper left side inFIGS. 6 through 8). A width (width in the paper width direction) h of the relief portion30dis set slightly larger than the width of the swing member40; in other words, the relief portion30dis formed in a cutout shape so as to surround the feeding unit46in the case where the medium reception tray30is at the accommodation position (a state ofFIG. 6), and is set so that the swing member40can swing inside the relief portion30d. In addition, in this embodiment, since the feed reference position in the paper width direction is set at the center of paper P, the relief portion30dis formed approximately at the center in the paper width direction.

Action effects of the relief portion30dcan be obtained as follows. That is, the medium reception tray30is so provided as to be accommodated in the interior of the main apparatus body12; however, if the feeding unit46and the medium reception tray30are so provided as to be superposed on each other when the medium reception tray30is accommodated in the main apparatus body, the apparatus is likely to become large in size (particularly, the dimension in the height direction increases).

However, as described earlier, because the relief portion30dfor avoiding the feeding unit46is formed in the medium reception tray30, it is unnecessary to superpose the feeding unit46and the medium reception tray30on each other in the apparatus height direction, and it is possible to overlap the feeding unit46and the medium reception tray30with respect to the height direction. This in turn suppresses the increase in dimension in the apparatus height direction.

Raised areas30eonto which both end portions of paper P advance are formed at the downstream side of the paper reception surface30aof the medium reception tray30; when both the end portions of paper P (both end portions in a direction intersecting with the paper discharge direction (i.e., paper width direction)) advance onto the raised areas30e, a curl is formed in the paper P.FIG. 7illustrates a state in which such curl is formed in the paper that is indicated by a symbol P′ and a virtual line; the curl is formed in the paper P′ in the case where both the end portions on the downstream side thereof have advanced onto the raised areas30eand further the central portion on the upstream side thereof has come slightly into the relief portion30d.

Through this, it can be prevented from occurring that the leading end of the paper P′ sticks out from the paper reception surface30a, hangs down, and consequently drops therefrom. In order to form a curl in the paper P′ as shown inFIG. 7, it is preferable for the relief portion30dto be formed at the central portion in the paper width direction. However, even in the case where the relief portion30dis formed at an end portion in the paper width direction, it is possible to cause a curl to be formed in the paper P′ if the raised areas30eare formed on both the end portions at the downstream side.

In this embodiment, the relief portion30dis formed so that a bottom30sis even in a plan view, as shown inFIG. 16A. However, like a bottom30s′ of a relief portion30d′ illustrated inFIG. 16B, the relief portion may be formed so that the width thereof becomes narrower toward the downstream side in the discharge direction (downward direction inFIG. 16B), that is, may be formed in a V shape or a U shape, for example.

Further, in the medium reception tray30, a slope30fis formed at the downstream side of the paper reception surface30afor receiving paper P, that is, the medium reception tray30is structured so that paper P to be supported is upwardly inclined. With this, the paper P having been discharged is also unlikely to drop downward.

First Example

A first example of the printer10will be described with reference toFIGS. 9 through 11.FIG. 9illustrates a state in which the scanner unit14is opened with respect to the main apparatus body12. The main apparatus body12is covered with the housing20that constitutes the exterior appearance of the main apparatus body, and the opening portion90is provided in an upper surface94of the housing20. The opening portion90exposes at least part of the upper side of the movement region of the carriage66.

In the upper surface94of the housing20, while sandwiching the opening portion90in the apparatus depth direction, a front edge portion96is formed on the apparatus front side of the opening portion90and a rear edge portion98is formed on the apparatus rear side of the opening portion90. A front surface panel100including the operation panel22is provided on the apparatus front side of the front edge portion96. A top portion102of the front surface panel100is so structured as to be higher in position in the apparatus height direction than the front edge portion96(seeFIG. 10). The rear edge portion98is formed between the carriage66and the projection86of the scanner unit14in the apparatus depth direction.

In this example, a gap formation member104is provided at a central portion of the front edge portion96in the scanning direction; further, the gap formation member104sticks out upward from the upper surface94of the housing20. In other words, the gap formation member104is positioned on the free end side14aof the scanner unit14in the apparatus depth direction.

The gap formation member104engages with the free end side14aof the scanner unit14and makes the scanner unit14ajar with respect to the main apparatus body12when the scanner unit14is closed against the main apparatus body12. With this, on the front edge portion96, the space106is formed as a “gap” between the front surface panel100and the gap formation member104in the apparatus depth direction and also between the front edge portion96of the housing20and the free end side14aof the scanner unit14in the apparatus height direction.

The height of the space106in the apparatus height direction is defined by the height of the gap formation member104in the apparatus height direction. The space106is formed to be sufficiently large in size so that the ink tubes110, which will be explained later, can be passed therethrough and at least ink flow paths (not shown) in the ink tubes110are not blocked. Accordingly, the above-mentioned height of the gap formation member104is set so that at least the ink tubes110are not crushed by the free end side14aof the scanner unit14.

At least one ink relay unit108is attached to the carriage66disposed in the opening portion90. In this example, a plurality of ink relay units108a,108b,108cand108dare attached to the carriage66. The ink relay units108are so configured as to communicate with the recording head64disposed on the lower portion of the carriage66and send ink from the ink relay units108to the recording head64.

The flexible ink tubes110are connected with the ink relay units108. Ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dwhich are respectively connected with the ink relay units108a,108b,108cand108d, are routed to be arranged within the main apparatus body12, arranged and fixed in a horizontal direction on the front edge portion96in the upper surface94of the housing20(seeFIG. 10), and extended to the outside of the housing20passing through the space106.

In other words, the ink tubes110are located on the free end side14aof the scanner unit14in the apparatus depth direction. Here, if the ink tubes110are disposed on the rotational shaft74side of the scanner unit14, the free end side14aof the scanner unit14need be largely opened with respect to the main apparatus body12in order to extend the ink tubes110to the outside of the housing20without the ink flow paths of the ink tubes110being blocked. This increases the amount of displacement in the height direction of the scanner unit14and consequently increases the height of the printer10.

On the other hand, when the ink tubes110are disposed on the free end side14aof the scanner unit14like in this example, it is unnecessary to largely open the free end side14aof the scanner unit14with respect to the main apparatus body12in comparison with the case in which the tubes are disposed on the rotational shaft74side. This makes it possible to suppress the increase in the amount of displacement in the height direction of the scanner unit14, that is, possible to suppress the height of the printer10.

Moreover, the front surface panel100also functions as a guidance unit that guides the ink tubes110to be extended to the outside of the housing20passing through the space106. It is to be noted that the expression “the ink tubes110are arranged in a horizontal direction” does not refer to a state in which the ink tubes110are precisely arranged in a horizontal direction; as long as the ink tubes110are aligned along the apparatus depth direction, it is acceptable even if the ink tubes110are deviated from each other in the apparatus height direction.

The ink holding units112are provided outside the housing20. In this example, the ink holding units112are arranged at the left side of the housing20. The ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dthat are extended to the outside of the housing20passing through the space106, are respectively connected with ink holding unit112a,112b,112cand112d.

Accordingly, the ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dare configured to send ink from the ink holding units112a,112b,112cand112dto the ink relay units108a,108b,108cand108dso that ink can be smoothly guided to the recording head64.

Further, the ink tubes110are extended from the carriage66without intersecting with the projection86of the scanner unit14in the depth direction of the main apparatus body12, and connected with the ink holding units112which are disposed outside the housing20. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a positional interference between the projection86of the scanner unit14and the ink tubes110. This makes it possible to lower the height of the apparatus as a whole.

Second Example

A printer116according to a second example will be described with reference toFIG. 13. The second example differs from the first example in that a plurality of gap formation members104are provided therein.

In the second example, the gap formation members104are disposed at both end portions, in the scanning direction, of the front edge portion96of the housing20. Accordingly, the plurality of gap formation members104(two gap formation members in this example) are configured to support the free end side14aof the scanner unit14.

As a result, because both sides in the scanning direction of the scanner unit14are supported by the gap formation members104, it is possible to reduce a risk that the scanner unit14is inclined along the scanning direction due to an external force or the like. This makes it possible to reduce a risk that the ink tubes110are crushed by the scanner unit14.

Third Example

Next, a printer118according to a third example will be described with reference toFIG. 14. The third example differs from the first example in that a plurality of through-holes are provided in a gap formation member.

In the third example, a gap formation member120is disposed at a central portion of the front edge portion96in the scanning direction. At least one through-hole122is provided in the gap formation member120. Four through-holes122a,122b,122cand122dare formed in the gap formation member120in this example.

The ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dwhich are extended from the ink relay units108a,108b,108cand108d, are respectively inserted through and fixed to the through-holes122a,122b,122cand122d.

Accordingly, when the free end side14aof the scanner unit14is engaged with the gap formation member120, the ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dare located lower in the apparatus height direction than the free end side14aof the scanner unit14. As a result, in the printer118of this example, a risk that the ink flow paths of the ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dare blocked by the scanner unit14is not present, or such risk is low.

This makes it possible for the ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dto smoothly guide the ink from the ink holding units112a,112b,112cand112dto the recording head64.

Fourth Example

A printer124according to a fourth example will be described with reference toFIG. 15. The fourth example differs from the third example in that a plurality of gap formation members120are provided therein.

In the fourth example, the gap formation members120are disposed at both the end portions, in the scanning direction, of the front edge portion96of the housing20. Accordingly, the plurality of gap formation members120(two gap formation members in this example) are configured to support the free end side14aof the scanner unit14. As a result, because both the sides in the scanning direction of the scanner unit14are supported by the gap formation members120, a risk that the scanner unit14is inclined along the scanning direction due to an external force or the like can be reduced.

Because the ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dare inserted through the through-holes122a,122b,122cand122d, in the case where the free end side14aof the scanner unit14is engaged with the gap formation members120, the ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dare located lower in the apparatus height direction than the free end side14aof the scanner unit14.

As a result, a risk that the ink flow paths of the ink tubes110are blocked by the scanner unit14is not present, or such risk can be lowered. This makes it possible for the ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dto smoothly guide the ink from the ink holding units112a,112b,112cand112dto the recording head64.

Variations on First Through Fourth Examples

1. The ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dmay be configured to be appropriately bound with a binding member114such as a binding band or the like in a region between the ink relay units108a,108b,108cand108dand the ink holding units112a,112b,112cand112d.

2. Instead of the ink tubes110being fixed on the front edge portion96, the ink tubes110may be configured to be fixed on the rear edge portion98, that is, arranged on the rotational shaft74side of the scanner unit14, or maybe configured to be fixed to a surrounding area of the opening portion90in the upper surface94of the housing20.

3. Instead of the ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dbeing extended from the left side of the housing20, the ink tubes110a,110b,110cand110dmay be configured to be extended from the right side of the housing20.

4. A configuration as illustrated inFIG. 12may be employed in which the ink tubes110aand110bare extended from the left side of the housing20to be respectively connected with the ink holding units112aand112bdisposed at the left side of the housing20, while the ink tubes110cand110dare respectively connected with the ink holding units112cand112dprovided at the right side of the housing20.

5. In place of the configuration in which the gap formation member104is disposed on the front edge portion96, a configuration in which the gap formation member104is disposed on the rear edge portion98may be employed.

6. The ink holding units112a,112b,112cand112dmay be integrally formed together with the housing20, may be disposed being spaced from the housing20, or may be configured such that some of the ink holding units are disposed at the right side of the housing20and the remaining ink holding units are disposed at the left side of the housing20.

7. In the above examples, although the ink relay units108are configured of the four ink relay units108a,108b,108cand108d, the number of ink relay units is not limited to four; the ink relay units108may be so configured as to correspond to ink colors, and the number thereof may be six, for example.

8. Although an opening/closing member to open/close the upper side of the main apparatus body (recording unit)12is the scanner unit14in the above embodiment, the invention is not limited thereto; the opening/closing member may be simply a cover, or may be a functional unit having a function other than the scanning function.

9. The plurality of ink holding units (ink tanks)112are adopted and described in the embodiment; however, for example, a configuration in which a single ink holding unit corresponding to one ink color such as black is provided and only one ink tube110corresponding to the black ink is provided, may be employed.

10. The plurality of ink holding units (ink tanks)112may be configured to be disposed inside the main apparatus body12. Alternatively, a configuration in which only a specific color ink is disposed outside the main apparatus body12, may be employed.

11. The ink holding units (ink tanks)112may be what is called a refill type unit into which ink can be injected, or may be what is called a pack-exchange type unit in which an ink pack that holds ink in a pack (bag) is exchanged.

The following is a summary of the descriptions given above. The printers10,116,118and124of the examples each include: the main apparatus body12that has the carriage66provided with the recording head64for ejecting ink onto paper P at a position inside the main apparatus body in a movable manner in the scanning direction of the recording head64; and the scanner unit14that is provided on the upper side of the main apparatus body12and is capable of opening and closing the upper side of the main apparatus body12. The main apparatus body12includes: the housing20that has the opening portion90formed therein to expose at least part of the upper side of a movement region of the carriage66; the flexible ink tubes110that are fixed to the upper surface94of a surrounding area of the opening portion90in the housing20and extended to the outside of the housing20while passing through a gap between the scanner unit14and the main apparatus body12, and that guides ink which is sent from the ink holding units112for holding the ink to the carriage66; the feeding unit46configured to feed out paper P from the upper stage tray28and the lower stage tray26for holding the paper P; and the medium reception tray30that is so provided as to be displaced in the depth direction of the main apparatus body12, that has the relief portion30dformed therein on the upstream side in the medium discharge direction so as to avoid the feeding unit46, and that receives paper P to be discharged.

In the depth direction of the main apparatus body12, the free end side14aof the scanner unit14, the opening portion90, and the rotational shaft74of the scanner unit14are disposed in that order from the front side of the main apparatus body12toward the depth side thereof. The ink tubes110are disposed on the free end side14aof the scanner unit14relative to the opening portion90, or disposed on the rotational shaft74side relative to the opening portion90.

The printers10,116,118and124each include the plurality of ink tubes110. The ink tubes110are arranged in the horizontal direction. Further, in the printers10,116,118and124, at least one ink tube110of the plurality of ink tubes110is extended to the left side of the housing20and the remaining ink tubes110are extended to the right side of the housing20.

The printers10,116,118and124each include the ink holding units112outside the housing20; the ink tubes110are connected with these ink holding units112.

Although the main apparatus body12and the scanner unit12according to the invention are applied as an example of a recording apparatus to the ink jet printers in the embodiment, they can also be applied to general liquid ejecting apparatuses aside from the ink jet printers.

Note that the liquid ejecting apparatuses include not only recording apparatuses, such as a printer, a copy machine and a fax machine, that use an ink jet recording head and perform recording on a target recording medium by ejecting ink from the ink jet recording head, but also apparatuses that eject liquid corresponding to the usage of recording in place of ink onto an ejection target medium equivalent to the target recording medium from a liquid ejecting head equivalent to the ink jet recording head, and adhere the ejected liquid to the ejection target medium.

As the liquid ejecting heads, the following can be cited aside from the above-mentioned recording heads: that is, coloring material ejecting heads used in the manufacture of color filters of liquid crystal displays or the like, electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting heads used in the formation of electrodes of organic EL displays, surface emitting displays (FEDs) or the like, bioorganic matter ejecting heads used in the manufacture of biochips, sample ejecting heads serving as precision pipettes, and so on.

It is to be noted that the invention is not limited to the above embodiment and examples, and various kinds of variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described in the aspects of the invention. Further, it is needless to say that those variations also fall within the scope of the invention.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-178525, filed Aug. 10, 2012 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.