Abstract:
An apparatus is provided that may offer functionalities including printing, scanning and/or copying. The apparatus may include a manual sheet feeding tray disposed at the rear of the apparatus. The height of the sheet feeding tray might not exceed a height of the apparatus, allowing use of the apparatus in spaces having smaller depths. The apparatus may include a sheet guide configured to move in conjunction with the movement of the tray. In some arrangements, a surface of the sheet feeding tray may differ in height between lateral edges of the tray and a central portion. This difference may cause a sheet to be curved in a lateral direction, rendering the sheet more inflexible in a longitudinal direction. According to other aspects, a depressed portion of the tray may match a protrusion extending from the guide in shape such that the two portions may mate in a retracted position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-196974, which was filed on Aug. 27, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having a manual paper feed tray. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Image recording apparatuses having a compact and an openable/closable manual paper feed tray are known. In some image recording apparatuses, the manual paper feed tray may be opened when being used and closed when unused. However, because the height of the manual paper feed tray often exceeds the height of the recording apparatus, a user may be required to place the apparatus in locations that have sufficiently large depths or space. Other image recording apparatuses may have a manual paper feed tray that is shorter. However, to accurately set a sheet on the manual paper feed tray located in the rear of the apparatus, the user may need to visually check an insertion section of the sheet. Accordingly, the user may have difficulties in setting the sheet on the manual paper feed tray when the manual feed paper tray is located in the rear of the image recording apparatus. For example, users may have to lean over the entire length of the image recording apparatus to visually insure correct placement on the tray and insertion into the apparatus. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an image recording apparatus that is compact and has an openable/closable manual paper feed tray on which a sheet may be set in an efficient manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects described herein provide a rear manual paper feed mechanism that minimizes the amount of depth required. For example, a rear manual paper feed tray may extend from the back of a printer or other printing device with a height smaller than the height of the printing device. A feed guide may be placed near an insertion opening to help guide the paper into an appropriate position where the paper may be secured and drawn into the printing device. One or more surfaces of the paper feed tray may further be curved so that a recording sheet resting thereon is also curved in the lateral direction. This may render the recording sheet less susceptible to bending in the longitudinal direction (which may cause the recording sheet to slip out or make it more difficult to draw the paper into the printing device). 
     According to another aspect, a lid plate of a manual feed paper tray may include a depressed portion having a shape corresponding to and/or matching a shape of a protrusion of a lid panel vertically formed at an upper end of a sheet guide. This configuration may prevent dust and other foreign objects and materials from entering the printing device when the manual feed mechanism is not in use. Thus, when in a closed configuration, the lid panel may cover the opening formed by the depressed portion of the lid plate. 
     According to yet another aspect, because the upper end of a tray in a first position is lower than the top of an apparatus, the tray does not excessively protrude from the upper side of the apparatus, so that the size of the apparatus is not increased. Furthermore, in one or more arrangements, when a user wants to insert a sheet into the apparatus, the user may use the surface of the tray as a guide to accurately insert the sheet into the apparatus. 
     According to another aspect, in cases where the leading end of a sheet is inserted using a tray on a rear side of an apparatus, a first guide and the tray direct the leading end to a gap therebetween, so that the sheet is easily inserted through the back side of the apparatus. Furthermore, in one example, a gap may exist between the tray and the first guide. The size of the gap may limit the thickness of a sheet that is insertable through the back side of the apparatus. The guide and the tray may also move in conjunction with one another from two or more positions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of an image forming apparatus as an example according to an embodiment of the invention while a manual paper feed tray is in a first position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of the image forming apparatus as the example according to the embodiment of the invention while the manual paper feed tray is in a second position. 
         FIG. 3A  is a left side view illustrating the image forming apparatus as the example according to the embodiment of the invention while the manual paper feed tray is in the first position.  FIG. 3B  is a left side view illustrating the image forming apparatus as the example according to the embodiment of the invention while the manual paper feed tray is in the second position. 
         FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a printer. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the manual paper feed tray, a sheet guide, and a width adjustment guide. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating the manual paper feed tray, the sheet guide, and the width adjustment guide. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating an example of a manual paper feed tray and a pair of the width adjustment guides having protrusions which extend inward toward the other width adjustment guide. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating an example of a manual paper feed tray and a pair of the width adjustment guides in which a distance between the pair of width adjustment guides increases in a tapering manner. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the invention will be hereinafter described with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are merely examples of the invention, and obviously, the embodiments can be suitably modified without departing from the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a multifunctional apparatus  10  as an example of an image recording apparatus according to an aspect of the invention. In the following description, a vertical direction  7  is defined on the basis of a state in which the multifunctional apparatus  10  is installed so as to be useable (a state in  FIG. 1 ), and a longitudinal direction  8  is defined on the basis that a side on which an operation panel  121  is provided is a foreside (front side), and a lateral direction  9  is defined on the basis of viewing the multifunctional apparatus  10  from the foreside (front side). 
     The multifunctional apparatus  10  may generally be formed into a thin rectangular-parallelepiped shape in which the width (length in the lateral direction  9 ) and the depth (length in the longitudinal direction  8 ) are larger than the height (length in the vertical direction  7 ). An image scanner  12  is disposed on the upper portion of the multifunctional apparatus  10 , and an ink jet printer  11  is disposed on the lower portion of the multifunctional apparatus  10 . The multifunctional apparatus  10  has various functions including a facsimile function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a copy function. In one embodiment, the multifunctional apparatus  10  may have a single-sided or double-sided image recording function. 
     [Configuration of the Image Scanner  12 ] 
     The image scanner  12  is disposed on the upper portion of the printer  11  and includes the operation panel  121  disposed on an anterior portion of an upper surface of the apparatus and a scanner  122 . 
     The operation panel  121  may be used for operating the printer  11  and the scanner  122  and may be disposed on an anterior portion of the upper surface of the multifunctional apparatus  10  so as to be positioned in front of the scanner  122 . The operation panel  121  includes various operation buttons and a liquid crystal display. Users input instructions using the operation panel  121  to operate the multifunctional apparatus  10 . For example, the various operation buttons include: mode selection buttons such as a start button used for initiating operation of the printer  11  and the scanner  122 , a stop button used for stopping such operation and finishing a setting operation, a facsimile button used for selecting a facsimile function, a scanner button used for selecting a scanner function, and a copy button used for selecting a copy function; a dial button used for inputting a copy number and/or scanning resolution of the scanner  122 ; and a plurality of input keys that may act as various setup buttons. 
     Although, in some configurations, the scanner  122  is configured as a flat bed scanner (FBS) and an automatic document feeder (ADF), the scanner  122  according to an aspect of the disclosure may have other suitable configurations in so far as an image recorded on a document is scanned. Therefore, such a configuration is not described herein in detail. 
     [Configuration of the Printer  11 ] 
     The printer  11  has a casing (housing)  14  in which an opening is formed on the front side and the back side. Each component of the printer  11  is disposed inside the casing  14 . 
     A cavity is formed so as to extend from the front opening (not illustrated) of the printer  11  to the inside of the casing  14 . A paper feed cassette  78  (see,  FIG. 4 ) is provided in the cavity. The paper feed cassette  78  is not illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . The paper feed cassette  78  is configured so as to be removably inserted from the front opening to the inside of the casing  14  in the longitudinal direction  8 . The paper feed cassette  78  can hold various sizes of recording paper (e.g., a sheet). Although the multifunctional apparatus  10  is described with only one paper feed cassette  78  in the present embodiment, the multifunctional apparatus  10  may be configured so as to be capable of accepting a plurality of the paper feed cassettes  78 . For example, the multifunctional apparatus  10  may have a first paper feed cassette and a second paper feed cassette that is capable of sliding above the first paper feed cassette in the longitudinal direction  8 . 
     A depressed portion is formed on a back side  14 A of the printer  11 . With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the depressed portion is formed at a height between the scanner  122  and the paper feed cassette  78  and includes a right side  14 AA, a left side  14 AB, and a recessed surface  14 AC. With reference to  FIG. 4 , the opening (hereinafter referred to as a back side opening  13 ) formed on the back side of the printer  11  is disposed at or towards a lower or bottom portion of the recessed surface  14 AC of the depressed portion. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a manual paper feed tray  20  (an example of a tray according to an aspect of the invention) is openably disposed on the depressed portion. For example, paper feed tray  20  may pivot about a rotation shaft  201 A.  FIGS. 1 and 3A  illustrate the closed manual paper feed tray  20 .  FIGS. 2 and 3B  illustrate the opened manual paper feed tray  20 . Recording paper of various sizes can be placed on the opened manual paper feed tray  20 . A configuration of the manual paper feed tray  20  will be described hereinafter. 
     Subsequently, a configuration of the printer  11  will be described in further detail with reference to  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4 , illustration of the front side of the paper feed cassette  78  is omitted (right side in  FIG. 4 ). The printer  11  includes, in addition to the paper feed cassette  78 , a feeding section  15  that picks up recording paper on the paper feed cassette  78  to feed (transport) the paper and includes an ink jet recording section  24  (e.g., a recording portion) that ejects ink droplets onto the recording paper fed by the feeding section  15  to form an image on the recording paper. Such components are provided inside the casing  14 . The recording section  24  is not limited to an ink jet type, and an electrophotographic printing technique or a thermosensitive recording technique can be employed. 
     [Transport Path  65 ] 
     In the printer  11 , a transport path  65  is formed from the paper feed cassette  78  and the manual paper feed tray  20  to an ejected-paper holding section  79  through the recording section  24 . The transport path  65  is sectionalized into: a curved path  65 A formed between the leading end (rear end) of the paper feed cassette  78  and the recording section  24 ; a transport path  65 B formed between the leading end (forward end) of the manual paper feed tray  20  and a junction  36  where the curved path  65 A and the transport path  65 B meet; and a paper ejection path  65 C formed between the recording section  24  and the ejected-paper holding section  79 . The ejected-paper holding section  79  may be configured so as to be integrated with the paper feed cassette  78  or so as to be fixed to a frame or the like of the printer  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the curved path  65 A extends in a curved shape from the vicinity of the upper end of an inclined separation plate  22  included in the paper feed cassette  78  to the recording section  24 . Recording paper is backward transported from the paper feed cassette  78 . The recording paper is moved through a U-shape from the lower side to upper side of the multifunctional apparatus  10  through the curved path  65 A at a posterior portion of the apparatus. Then, the recording paper is forward transported. The curved path  65 A is defined by an exterior guide member  18  and an interior guide member  19  which are spaced apart with a predetermined gap therebetween so as to face each other. The exterior guide member  18 , the interior guide member  19 , and a first lower-side guide member  80 , first upper-side guide member  81 , second upper-side guide member  82 , second lower-side guide member  83 , and third upper-side guide member  84  which will be hereinafter described all extend in a vertical direction (the lateral direction  9  in  FIG. 1 ) with respect to  FIG. 4 . Furthermore, the first lower-side guide member  80 , the first upper-side guide member  81 , the second upper-side guide member  82 , a first transport roller  60  and a pinch roller  61 , which will be hereinafter described, may correspond to an example of a first feeding section, and the feeding section  15 , the exterior guide member  18  and the interior guide member  19  may correspond to an example of a second feeding section. 
     The transport path  65 B linearly extends from the back side opening  13  of the printer  11  to the junction  36  where the curved path  65 A and the transport path  65 B meet. Recording paper is inserted from the back side opening  13  toward an interior or front end of apparatus  10  by users of the multifunctional apparatus  10  while being supported by the manual paper feed tray  20 . The recording paper is inserted into a nip  60 A between a first transport roller  60  and a pinch roller  61  through the transport path  65 B. 
     The transport path  65 B is defined by the first lower-side guide member  80  and the first upper-side guide member  81  which are spaced apart with a predetermined gap therebetween so as to face each other. The second upper-side guide member  82  is disposed on a downstream side of the first upper-side guide member  81  with respect to a transport direction (hereinafter referred to as a “downstream side”, simply). The term “transport direction” means a direction in which recording paper is transported through the transport path  65  (a direction indicated by a chain double-dashed arrow in  FIG. 4 ). The second upper-side guide member  82  extends so as to be positioned between the leading end (forward end) of the first upper-side guide member  81  and the vicinity of the upper-side of the junction  36  and guides the recording paper inserted from the manual paper feed tray  20  to the nip  60 A through the junction  36 . In the embodiment, although the first lower-side guide member  80  and the exterior guide member  18  are separately formed, both may be integrally formed in other embodiments or arrangements. In addition, although the first upper-side guide member  81  and the second upper-side guide member  82  are separately formed, both may be integrally formed in some arrangements. 
     The paper ejection path  65 C is defined by the second lower-side guide member  83  and the third upper-side guide member  84  which are disposed on the downstream side relative to the recording section  24 . In the paper ejection path  65 C, a second transport roller  62  supports the under surface of the image-recorded recording paper and guides the paper to the downstream side. The third upper-side guide member  84  is disposed above the second lower-side guide member  83 . The third upper-side guide member  84  and the second lower-side guide member  83  are disposed so as to face each other while being spaced apart with a predetermined gap therebetween through which the recording paper can be transported. 
     [Recording Section  24 ] 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the recording section  24  is disposed above the paper feed cassette  78 . The recording section  24  is configured so as to be reciprocated along a guide rail (not illustrated) extending in a vertical direction with respect to  FIG. 4  (main scanning direction). Platen  42  is disposed below the recording section  24 . The platen  42  horizontally supports the recording paper while an image is recorded on the paper by the recording section  24 . The recording section  24  ejects ink in the form of fine ink droplets from a nozzle  39  onto the recording paper transported on the platen  42  during reciprocation of the recording section  24  in a main scanning direction, the ink being supplied from an ink cartridge (not illustrated). Consequently, an image is recorded on the recording paper. 
     The first transport roller  60  and the pinch roller  61  are disposed between the posterior end of the curved path  65 A and the recording section  24 . Such rollers form a pair such that the pinch roller  61  is disposed below the first transport roller  60  and contacts a surface of the first transport roller  60  by being urged thereon with a biasing member (not illustrated) such as a spring. The first transport roller  60  and the pinch roller  61  pinch the recording paper transported through the curved path  65 A and the transport path  65 B to transport the paper onto the platen  42 . 
     The second transport roller  62  and a toothed roller  63  are disposed between the recording section  24  and the beginning of the paper ejection path  65 C. Such rollers form a pair such that the toothed roller  63  is disposed above the second transport roller  62  and contacts a surface of the second transport roller  62  by being urged thereon by its own weight or a spring. The second transport roller  62  and the toothed roller  63  pinch the recording paper on which recording has been performed and then further transport the paper to a downstream side (toward the ejected-paper holding section  79 ). 
     The first transport roller  60  and the second transport roller  62  rotate by receiving a rotational driving force from a transport motor (not illustrated) through a driving force transmission mechanism. The first transport roller  60  and the second transport roller  62  are intermittently driven during image recording. Accordingly, the recording paper is subjected to image recording while being transported in accordance with a predetermined pitch. 
     [Feeding Section  15 ] 
     The feeding section  15  serves to transport recording paper held in the paper feed cassette  78  to the curved path  65 A and includes a paper feed roller  25 , a paper feed arm  26 , and a driving force transmission mechanism  27 . The paper feed roller  25  is disposed above the paper feed cassette  78 . The paper feed roller  25  serves to pick up recording paper held in the paper feed cassette  78  to transport the paper to the curved path  65 A and is rotatably supported by the paper feed arm  26  at an end thereof. The paper feed roller  25  is rotationally driven by receiving the rotational force of a paper feed motor (not illustrated) through the driving force transmission mechanism  27 . The driving force transmission mechanism  27  is supported by the paper feed arm  26  and includes a plurality of gears that are linearly arranged substantially in parallel with a direction in which the paper feed arm  26  extends. The paper feed roller  25  is capable of rotating about a shaft  28  as a central rotational shaft to contact an upper surface of the recording paper held in the paper feed cassette  78  by being pressured thereon. 
     [Registration Sensor  110 ] 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a registration sensor  110  is disposed in the curved path  65 A, the sensor  110  detecting a position of the leading end of the recording paper transported through the curved path  65 A or inserted from the manual paper feed tray  20  through the transport path  65 B. For example, the registration sensor  110  includes a rotating body having detectors  112 A and  112 B and includes an optical sensor  111 , such as a photointerrupter, having a light emitting device (light emitting diode, for example) and a light receiving device (phototransistor, for example) that receives light emitted from the light emitting device. The rotating body is disposed so as to be able to rotate about a shaft  113 . The detector  112 A protrudes from the shaft  113  so as to approach the curved path  65 A relative to a position of the exterior guide member  18 . The detector  112 B intrudes in an optical path between the light emitting device and the light receiving device of the optical sensor  111  while external force is not applied to the rotating body, and blocks the light passing the optical path. 
     [Manual Paper Feed Tray  20 ] 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6 , the manual paper feed tray  20  is provided in the rear of the recessed surface  14 AC. A sheet of recording paper of various sizes, such as A4-size paper, is capable of being mounted on the manual paper feed tray  20 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the manual paper feed tray  20  has a mounting plate  201  on which the recording paper is mounted and has a lid plate  202  (e.g., a protruding portion) vertically formed at the leading end (upper end) of the mounting plate  201 , the plate  202  extending in the lateral direction  9  with respect to a surface on which the recording paper is mounted. The lid plate  202  includes a depressed portion  203  having a shape corresponding to and/or matching a shape of a protrusion  212 A of a lid panel  212  vertically formed at an upper end of a sheet guide  21  (e.g., a restriction plate) that will be described below. The manual paper feed tray  20  is configured in a substantially flat plate shape. 
     In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , each of the manual paper feed tray  20  and the sheet guide or restriction plate  21  is described only at the right side thereof, and the left side thereof is omitted. The manual paper feed tray  20 , the sheet guide  21 , and supporting mechanisms thereof have symmetric configuration. Accordingly, the right sides of the manual paper feed tray  20 , the sheet guide  21 , and the supporting mechanisms thereof will be mainly described in the following, and description of left sides thereof is omitted or described where appropriate. 
     A right rotating shaft (not illustrated) and a left rotating shaft  201 A (see,  FIG. 4 ) are provided at the base end (lower end) of the manual paper feed tray  20 , the right rotating shaft extending in a right direction from the right side of the mounting plate  201 , and the left rotating shaft  201 A extending in a left direction from the left side of the mounting plate  201 . The right rotating shaft is inserted into an opening formed on the right side  14 AA at a position facing the right rotating shaft. The left rotating shaft  201 A is inserted into an opening formed on the left side  14 AB at a position facing the left rotating shaft. In other words, the manual paper feed tray  20  is supported by the right rotating shaft and the left rotating shaft  201 A at the base end and is configured so as to be able to rotate about the right rotating shaft and the left rotating shaft  201 A as the central axis of rotation. 
     On the basis of the above, the manual paper feed tray  20  can be rotated as indicated by a dashed arrow in  FIG. 4 . The manual paper feed tray  20  is rotated and therefore takes a closing position (indicated by a dashed line in  FIG. 4  and corresponding to a first position according to an aspect of the invention) and an opening position (indicated by a full line in  FIG. 4  and corresponding to a second position according to an aspect of the invention) with respect to the printer  11 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3A , the manual paper feed tray  20  in the first position rises in parallel with the back side  14 A. A surface of the mounting plate  201  on which the recording paper is mounted faces the recessed surface  14 AC. The lid plate  202  forms an upper surface of the manual paper feed tray  20 . The lid plate  202  covers a gap between the manual paper feed tray  20  in the first position and the recessed surface  14 AC. With reference to  FIG. 3A , in cases where the manual paper feed tray  20  is in the first position, the upper end of the manual paper feed tray  20 , namely an outer surface  202 A of the lid plate  202 , is located at a lower position than an upper surface  122 A of the scanner  122 , the surface  122 A being the highest position of the multifunctional apparatus  10 . 
     The manual paper feed tray  20  has a raised-state holding mechanism that holds the first position. For example, with reference to  FIG. 5 , protrusions  202 B are disposed on the lid plate  202  at the two ends thereof in the lateral direction  9  on a side from which the recording paper is inserted. Each of the protrusions  202 B is formed with a biasing member or the like having biasing force from the leading end of the mounting plate  201  to the base end. In cases where the manual paper feed tray  20  is in a first position, the protrusions  202 B are pressed against a surface  202 C facing the protrusion  202 B. Accordingly, the manual paper feed tray  20  holds the first position unless force larger than the biasing force is applied to the manual paper feed tray  20 . Such a mechanism is capable of being employed as the raised-state holding mechanism. Obviously, the holding mechanism is not limited to such a mechanism, and any mechanism may be applied in so far as the manual paper feed tray  20  can hold the first position. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 B,  5 , and  6 , the manual paper feed tray  20  in the second position is inclined obliquely upward and outward from the rear of the back side  14 A. 
     The manual paper feed tray  20  has an inclined-state holding mechanism that holds the second position. For example, a configuration is supposed, in which a supporting plate is disposed below the manual paper feed tray  20 . In cases where the manual paper feed tray  20  is in the second position, such a supporting plate abuts on a rear surface of the mounting plate  201 , the rear surface being behind a surface on which the recording paper is mounted. Accordingly, the manual paper feed tray  20  is supported. The inclined-state holding mechanism is not limited to such a mechanism, and any mechanism may be applied in so far as the manual paper feed tray  20  can hold the second position. 
     [Sheet Guide  21 ] 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the sheet guide  21  is disposed between the manual paper feed tray  20  and the recessed surface  14 AC. The sheet guide  21  has an abutting plate  211  on which the recording paper abuts, side plates  215  vertically formed at the two ends of the abutting plate  211  in the lateral direction  9 , and the lid plate  212  vertically formed at the upper end of the abutting plate  211 . The lid plate  212  includes the protrusion  212 A having a shape corresponding to and/or matching a shape of the depressed portion  203 . The sheet guide  21  is configured in a substantially flat plate shape. 
     The abutting plate  211  includes an upper right shaft  211 A (e.g., a first engaging portion) and an upper left shaft (not illustrated) at the two upper ends thereof, the upper right shaft  211 A extending rightward from the right side of the plate  211 , and the upper left shaft extending leftward from the left side of the plate  211 . The abutting plate  211  further includes a lower right shaft  211 B (e.g., a second engaging portion) and a lower left shaft (not illustrated) at the two lower ends thereof, the lower right shaft  211 B extending rightward from the right side of the plate  211 , and the lower left shaft extending leftward from the left side of the plate  211 . 
     A u-shaped rail groove  213  (e.g., a rail groove) is provided on the right side  14 AA, the rail groove  213  extending in the vicinity of and/or proximate to the recessed surface  14 AC in the vertical direction  7 . In particular, a supporting member  214  disposed between the right side  14 AA and the sheet guide  21  is provided with the rail groove  213 . The upper right shaft  211 A is inserted into the rail groove  213 . Accordingly, the sheet guide  21  is supported by the rail groove  213  so as to be able to slide in the vertical direction  7 . 
     Pivot supports  204  (e.g., a tray-side engaging portion) are vertically formed on the two ends of the mounting plate  201  of the manual paper feed tray  20  in the lateral direction  9  between the leading end (upper end) and the base end (lower end) (for example, intermediate portions between the leading end and the base end). An opening or a hole is formed in the lateral direction  9  on each of the pivot supports  204  at positions corresponding to the lower right shaft  211 B and lower left shaft of the sheet guide  21 . The lower right shaft  211 B and the lower left shaft are individually inserted into the openings or holes formed on the pivotal supports  204 . Namely, the sheet guide  21  is supported by the pivotal support  204  so as to be able to rotate about the lower right shaft  211 B and the lower left shaft as the central shafts. 
     In cases where the manual paper feed tray  20  shifts from the second position to the first position, the manual paper feed tray  20  rotates about the right rotating shaft and the left rotating shaft  201 A as the central rotating shafts. Then, the pivot support (or tray-side engaging portion)  204  moves forward. Accordingly, the sheet guide  21  rotates about the lower right shaft  211 B and the lower left shaft as the central shafts, and the upper right shaft  211 A of the sheet guide  21  slides upward in the rail groove  213 , and the upper left shaft slide in a similar manner. Consequently, in cases where the manual paper feed tray  20  is in the first position, the sheet guide  21  takes a position (indicated by a dashed line in  FIG. 4  and corresponding to a third position according to an aspect of the invention) in which the sheet guide  21  is raised between the manual paper feed tray  20  and the recessed surface  14 AC in parallel with the back side  14 A. A surface of the abutting plate  211  on which the recording paper abuts faces the mounting plate  201 . The lid plates  212  and  202  are engaged with each other at the protrusion  212 A and the depressed portion  203 . Accordingly, the two lid plates  202  and  212  cover the gap between the manual paper feed tray  20  in the first position and the recessed surface  14 AC. 
     The manual paper feed tray  20  in the first position and the sheet guide  21  in the third position are positioned so as to be spaced apart each other with a predetermined gap therebetween in the longitudinal direction  8 . Consequently, the sheet guide  21  is prevented from abutting on a width adjustment guide  22  which is vertically formed on the mounting plate  201  and will be described hereinafter. 
     In cases where the manual paper feed tray  20  shifts from the first position to the second position, the manual paper feed tray  20  rotates about the right rotating shaft and the left rotating shaft  201 A as the central rotating shafts. Then, the pivot support  204  backward moves. Accordingly, the sheet guide  21  rotates about the lower right shaft  211 B and the lower left shaft as the central shafts, and the upper right shaft  211 A of the sheet guide  21  slides downward in the rail groove  213 , and the upper left shaft slides in a similar manner. Consequently, in cases where the manual paper feed tray  20  is in the second position, the sheet guide  21  takes a position (indicated by a full line in  FIG. 4  and corresponding to a fourth position according to an aspect of the invention) in which the sheet guide  21  inclines from the recessed surface  14 AC to the mounting plate  201 . In this case, an angle (θ) between the manual paper feed tray  20  and the sheet guide  21  is configured to be less than or equal to 90 degrees. 
     As described above, the sheet guide  21  changes position in conjunction with the manual paper feed tray  20  so as to take the third position while the tray  20  is in the first position and so as to take the fourth position while the tray  20  is in the second position. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in cases where the sheet guide  21  is in the fourth position, a gap  40  into which the recording paper can be inserted is formed between an lower end  211 C of the abutting plate  211  and the surface of the mounting plate  201  on which the recording paper is mounted. The gap  40  is formed so as to have a height less than or equal to the maximum thickness of recording paper allowed to be inserted into the multifunctional apparatus  10 . For example, in cases where the recording paper to be inserted into the multifunctional apparatus  10  has a maximum allowed thickness of 2 mm, the gap  40  is formed so as to have a height that is less than or equal to 2 mm or that is not exceeding a value which is obtained by adding a certain height to the height of 2 mm to allow for easier insertion of the recording paper. 
     [Width Adjustment Guide  22 ] 
     With reference to the illustrative embodiments of  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A,  3 B,  5 , and  6 , in order to accommodate the width of the recording paper inserted into the multifunctional apparatus  10 , a pair of width adjustment guides  22  (an example of a guide plate according to an aspect of the invention) are vertically formed on a surface of the mounting plate  201  on which the recording paper is mounted, the guide extending in parallel with a direction in which the recording paper is inserted. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the width adjustment guide  22  includes a portion  22 A that has a height greater than the height of gap  40  and includes a portion  22 B that has a height less than the height of gap  40 . The portion  22 A may be positioned to the rear of the gap  40  (as defined by the orientation of the apparatus  10 ) in the second position where the manual feed paper tray  20  is inclined obliquely upward from a rear side of the apparatus  10 , and the portion  22 B being positioned in front portion  22 A but behind gap  40 . 
     The width adjustment guides  22  are supported on a surface of the mounting plate  201 , on which the recording paper is mounted, so as to be able to slide in the lateral direction  9 . In particular, the width adjustment guides  22  slide between a position corresponding to the maximum size of recording paper to be inserted into the multifunctional apparatus  10  and a position corresponding to the minimum size thereof. 
     In a state in which the pair of width adjustment guides  22  have slid to a position corresponding to the size of the recording paper mounted on the mounting plate  201 , the width adjustment guides  22  abut on the two ends of the recording paper. In particular, a left side surface of the width adjustment guide  22  at a right side abuts on a right end of the recording paper, and a right side surface thereof at a left side abuts on a left end of the recording paper. 
     An example of a supporting mechanism of the width adjustment guides  22  may include: forming a rail groove (not illustrated) extending in a lateral direction  9  on a surface of the mounting substrate  201  on which the recording paper is mounted; and then sliding the width adjustment guides  22  along the rail groove. Furthermore, the below configuration can be added. Namely, rack gears extending in the lateral direction  9  are disposed in the rear of one width adjustment guide  22  and in front of the other width adjustment guide  22 . A pinion gear is disposed between the two rack gears so as to mesh with the two rack gears. Accordingly, by virtue of the rack gears and the pinion gear, the pair of width adjustment guides  22  are each capable of reversely sliding in the lateral direction  9  in an equal distance. Obviously, the supporting mechanism is not limited to such a mechanism, and any mechanism may be applied in so far as the width adjustment guides  22  can slide in a lateral direction  9 . 
     Advantageous Effect of the Embodiments 
     Because the upper end of the manual paper feed tray  20  in the first position is at a lower position relative to the top of the scanner  122 , the manual paper feed tray  20  does not excessively protrude to the upper-side of the multifunctional apparatus  10 . In cases where the recording paper to be inserted into the multifunctional apparatus  10  contacts with the manual paper feed tray  20  in the second position, the recording paper is guided to the inside of the multifunctional apparatus  10  along the manual paper feed tray  20 . This reduces the amount of space needed for placement of the apparatus  10 . For example, a surface with less depth may be required to use the multifunctional apparatus  10  having a manual paper feed tray  20  that does not extend over an upper-side of the multifunctional apparatus  10 . 
     The paper feed tray  20  takes the first position while the tray  20  is not used. In cases where the manual paper feed tray  20  is in the first position, a gap is generated between the tray  20  and the recessed surface  14 AC. Foreign objects may intrude into the multifunctional apparatus  10  from the gap. However, in the embodiment, the lid plate  202  of the manual paper feed tray  20  and the lid plate  212  of the sheet guide  21  cover the gap between the tray  20  in the first position and the recessed surface  14 AC, so that the intrusion of foreign objects into the multifunctional apparatus  10  can be decreased. 
     In the manual paper feed tray  20  in the second position, the leading end of the recording paper is inserted between the tray  20  and the back side  14 A, and then the leading end of the recording paper abuts on the sheet guide  21  to be guided to the mounting plate  201  along the inclination of the plate  201 . Then, the leading end of the recording paper abuts on a mounting surface of the mounting plate  201 , and subsequently the leading end is guided to the gap  40  between the manual paper feed tray  20  and the sheet guide  21  while abutting on the mounting surface, and then is further guided to the back side opening  13 . This allows for a user to appropriately insert one or more recording sheets through the manual paper feed tray  20  without requiring the user to visual confirm alignment and correct placement. 
     In some arrangements, the size of the gap  40  between the sheet guide  21  in the fourth position and the manual paper feed tray  20  in the second position does not exceed the maximum thickness of the recording paper that may be inserted into the multifunctional apparatus  10 . Accordingly, faulty insertion of the recording paper, which has a thickness being too large for the multifunctional apparatus  10 , can be prevented. 
     The two ends of the recording paper abut on the pair of width adjustment guides  22 , so that the recording paper is mounted on the manual paper feed tray  20  at a predetermined position (position in which the recording paper is appropriately inserted into the multifunctional apparatus  10 ). 
     Modifications of Embodiments 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the width adjustment guides  22  may have a protruding portion ( 22 C) which is positioned inside and between the pair of the guide plates. In this configuration where the recording paper is inserted into the manual paper feed tray  20 , the recording paper contacts the protruding portion and is caused to be curved such that the central portion in the lateral direction  9  comes to be lower than the two ends. The curve enables the recording paper to be more inflexible. For example, the curvature of the recording paper may render the recording paper less susceptible to bending in a longitudinal direction. Accordingly, even if a posterior end of the recording paper protrudes from the tray, the posterior end of the recording paper is less likely to droop or bend (namely, bending of the recording paper (e.g., in the longitudinal direction) is reduced). 
     Furthermore, the width adjustment guides  22  may have a protrusion in the vicinity (at a point “A” in  FIG. 6 ) of the sheet guide  21  in the fourth position on a side from which the recording paper is inserted, the protrusion being vertically formed on an upper surface of the guides  22 . The protrusion is disposed so as not to abut on the sheet guide  21  in the third position. 
     For example, in cases where thin recording paper is mounted on the manual paper feed tray  20 , the leading end of the recording paper may get over the width adjustment guides  22  to intrude into a gap  41  (see,  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) between the guides  22  and the sheet guide  21 . However, the protrusion bends a path through which the recording paper gets over the width adjustment guide  22  to intrude into the gap  41 , and therefore such a problem is decreased. 
     Furthermore, with reference to  FIG. 8 , a distance between the pair of width adjustment guides  22  may be increased at a posterior portion of the manual paper feed tray  20  in a tapering manner. In particular, the distance between the pair of width adjustment guides  22  is constant at an anterior portion of the manual paper feed tray  20  but is increased toward a posterior portion from a certain position. By virtue of such a configuration, the position in which the distance between the pair of width adjustment guides  22  is increased helps the recording paper to be guided between the width adjustment guides  22 . Namely, the recording paper can be easily placed at an appropriate position. 
     Furthermore, a hole may be formed at the base end (lower end) of the manual paper feed tray  20 . In cases where the manual paper feed tray  20  is in the second position, foreign objects may intrude into the multifunctional apparatus  10  from the back side opening  13 . However, in cases where the hole is formed, foreign objects that fall toward the back side opening  13  fall to the rear of the back side  14 A through the hole. Accordingly, the intrusion of foreign objects into the multifunctional apparatus  10  can be reduced. 
     In the embodiment, the rail groove is provided on the printer, but may be provided on the manual paper feed tray  20 . In this case, the sheet guide  21  is rotatably supported by the printer (e.g., via pivot supports  204 ) and slides along the rail groove provided on the manual paper feed tray  20 .