Patent Publication Number: US-2022234372-A1

Title: Recording apparatus

Description:
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2021-008553, filed Jan. 22, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a recording apparatus. 
     2. Related Art 
     In the related art, as shown in JP-A-2015-63382, a recording apparatus is known that includes a recording unit that performs recording on a transported medium, a cutting unit that cuts the medium, a storage container that stores cutting waste, and a receiving unit that is attached to the storage container and receives the cut medium. 
     However, in the above-described recording apparatus, the storage container and the receiving unit are formed separately. Therefore, for example, when the recording apparatus is used with the receiving unit detached from the storage container, a place is necessary for placing the detached receiving unit. Further, there is a problem that the removed receiving unit is easily lost. 
     SUMMARY 
     A recording apparatus includes a housing that houses a transport unit that transports a medium in a transport direction, a recording unit that performs recording on the medium transported by the transport unit, a cutting unit that is disposed downstream of the recording unit in the transport direction and that cuts the medium, and a discharge unit that is disposed downstream of the cutting unit in the transport direction and that discharges the cut medium; a storage unit that is disposed below the cutting unit and that is configured to store cutting waste of the medium; and a receiving unit that is disposed downstream of the discharge unit in the transport direction and that has a receiving surface configured to receive the medium discharged from the discharge unit; wherein the storage unit and the receiving unit are integrated, and the storage and the receiving unit which are integrated are configured to be detachable from the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating configuration of a storage unit and a receiving unit according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating configuration of the storage unit and the receiving unit according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating configuration of the storage unit and the receiving unit according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating configuration of the storage unit according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial plan view illustrating configuration of the storage unit and the receiving unit according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating configuration of an extension according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating the form of a receiving unit according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating configuration of a recording apparatus according to a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     1. First Embodiment 
     First, configuration of a recording apparatus  11  will be described. The recording apparatus  11  is, for example, a printer that performs recording (printing) by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium S, such as paper. 
     In each figure, the direction along the X-axis is the lateral width direction of the recording apparatus  11 , the direction along the Y-axis is the depth direction of the recording apparatus  11 , and the direction along the Z-axis is the height direction of the recording apparatus  11 . In the present embodiment, the +Y-direction side of the recording apparatus  11  is the front-surface side, and the −Y-direction side is the back-surface side. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the recording apparatus  11  includes a housing  12 . The housing  12  has a box-shaped exterior. At the front-surface side of the recording apparatus  11  are provided a receiving unit  50  for receiving the recorded medium S and a storage unit  19  that stores cutting waste of the medium S. 
       FIG. 1  shows a storage state in which the receiving unit  50  retreats to the housing  12  side, and  FIG. 2  shows a receiving state in which the receiving unit  50  advances toward the +Y-direction from the housing  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the receiving unit  50  is in the storage state, the receiving unit  50  covers the storage unit and constitutes a part of the exterior of the recording apparatus  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , an opening  13  is formed in the front-surface side of the housing  12  of the recording apparatus  11 . In the housing  12 , a medium-holding unit  16  is housed in a state in which it can be pulled out through the opening  13 . 
     The medium-holding unit  16  is provided with a front-plate portion  22  constituting a part of the exterior of the recording apparatus  11  when the medium-holding unit  16  is housed in the housing  12 , and a support wall  23  for rotatably supporting a roll body R of the elongated medium S wound up into a cylindrical shape. 
     The roll body R can be replaced or replenished by pulling the medium-holding unit  16  out through the opening  13 . 
     The storage unit  19  of the present embodiment is detachably attached to the opening  13  of the housing  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in addition to the medium-holding unit  16 , a recording unit  31 , a transport unit  35 , a cutting unit  34 , a discharge unit  20 , or the like are accommodated in the housing  12 . 
     Specifically, the recording unit  31  for recording on medium S unwound from the roll body R is accommodated above the space for accommodating the medium-holding unit  16 . The recording unit  31  includes a liquid-ejection head  32  that is configured to eject ink, which is an example of a recording material. 
     The medium S has a first surface S 1 , which is the surface on which ink is ejected, and a second surface S 2 , which is the surface to the rear of the first surface S 1 . The medium S is held in the medium-holding unit  16  in the state of the roll body R with the second surface S 2  forming the inner-peripheral surface. 
     The recording apparatus  11  includes the transport unit  35  that transports the medium S along a transport direction from the medium-holding unit  16  toward a discharge port  21  provided in the front of the housing  12 . The transport unit  35  includes a plurality of transport-roller pairs arranged along the transport direction. 
     The transport direction of the medium S in the present embodiment is a direction that first goes upward (the +Z-direction) from the medium-holding unit  16 , and then goes toward the front side (the +Y-direction). 
     A heating unit  33  that dries the ink adhering to the medium S by heating the medium S is arranged downstream of the recording unit  31  in the transport direction of the medium S. 
     The cutting unit  34  for cutting the medium S is arranged downstream of the heating unit  33 . The cutting unit  34  cuts the recorded portion of the elongated medium S for each unit length. Thus, the medium S becomes a cut sheet. 
     The storage unit  19  for storing the cutting waste of the medium S is arranged below the cutting unit  34 . The storage unit  19  is a container having an inlet  19   a  that is opened upward. The cutting unit  34  of the present embodiment cuts off a margin portion or the like between the rear end of the medium S cut sheet that was cut previously and the front end of the medium S to be cut next. The cutting waste cut off from the medium S (the margin portion) falls downward and is stored in the storage unit  19  via the inlet  19   a . In addition, by removing the storage unit  19  from the housing  12  as shown in  FIG. 3 , it is possible to discard the cutting waste contained in the storage unit  19 . 
     The discharge unit  20  for discharging the cut sheet of the medium S cut by the cutting unit  34  is disposed downstream of the cutting unit  34  in the transport direction. The discharge unit  20  contains the discharge port  21 , and the medium S is discharged from the discharge port  21 . The discharge port  21  is on the front surface (the surface on the +Y-direction side) of the housing  12 , and is disposed at a position above the opening  13  and the storage unit  19 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the receiving unit  50  for receiving the discharged medium S is disposed downstream of the discharge port  21  in the transport direction. The receiving unit  50  is plate-shaped and has a receiving surface  50   a  for receiving the discharged medium S. The medium S is received by the receiving unit  50  with the second surface S 2  and the receiving surface  50   a  facing each other. The second surface S 2  is the opposite side of medium S from the recorded first surface S 1 . 
     Next, detailed configurations of the storage unit  19  and the receiving unit  50  will be described. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 , the recording apparatus  11  of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the storage unit  19  and the receiving unit  50  are integrated. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the integrated storage unit  19  and the receiving unit  50  are configured to be removable from the housing  12 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the storage state of the receiving unit  50 , and  FIGS. 6 and 7  show the receiving state of the receiving unit  50 . The receiving unit  50  and the storage unit  19  are displaceable by pivot portions  60  between the storage state and the receiving state. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the pivot portions  60  configured to rotate the receiving unit  50  with respect to the storage unit  19  are provided on one end side of the discharge portion side of the receiving unit  50  (the discharge unit  20  side). The pivot portions  60  of the present embodiment are configured by shafts  61  and spaces  70 . 
     In this embodiment, the shafts  61  are located in the storage unit  19  and the spaces  70  are located in the receiving unit  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the shafts  61  are at +Y-direction end portions of the storage unit  19  and at an end portion in the +Z-direction. More specifically, plate-shaped protruding portions  64  protruding in the +Z-direction are formed at +Y-direction end portions of the storage unit  19 , and the shafts  61  are formed at a tip portion of the protruding portions  64 . The shafts  61  are arranged near either end of the storage unit  19  in the X-axis direction. The shafts  61  are formed along the X-axis. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the receiving unit  50  is composed of a frame body formed by a first plate portion  51  and a second plate portion  52 . The first plate portion  51  and the second plate portion  52  are approximately the same size. 
     The second plate portion  52  is disposed facing the opposite surface of the first plate portion  51  than the receiving surface  50   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , recesses  71  are formed in the opposite surface of the first plate portion  51  than the receiving surface  50   a  at positions corresponding to the shafts  61 . The recesses  71  have a rectangular shape in a plan view and are formed to be larger than the diameter of the shafts  61 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the recesses  71  are formed larger than the shafts  61  in the direction along the Y-axis, the direction along the X-axis, and the direction along the Z-axis. 
     Then, in a state in which the shafts  61  are arranged in the recesses  71  of the first plate portion  51 , the first plate portion  51  and the second plate portion  52  are combined to form the spaces  70  where the recesses  71  are provided. Also, the shafts  61  are disposed in the spaces  70 . The first plate portion  51  and the second plate portion  52  are combined together so as to prevent the shafts  61  disposed in the spaces  70  from falling out of the spaces  70 . Thus, the storage unit  19  and the receiving unit  50  are integrated. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , relief grooves  52   a  for avoiding interference with the protruding portions  64  are provided at positions of the second plate portion  52  corresponding to the protruding portions  64 . Thus, the receiving unit  50 , which has the spaces  70 , and the storage unit  19 , which has the shafts  61 , are configured to rotate relative to each other. 
     Also, since the spaces  70  are larger than the shafts  61 , the receiving unit  50  can move in the Z-axis direction with respect to the storage unit  19  when the receiving unit  50  is in the storage state, and the receiving unit  50  can move in the substantially Y-axis direction with respect to the storage unit  19  when the receiving unit  50  is in the receiving state. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 9 , opposing surfaces  71   a  of the recesses  71  are formed in one direction intersecting with the extending direction (the direction along the X-axis) of the shafts  61  and abut the shafts  61  when the receiving unit  50  is in the storage state. Thus, movement of the receiving unit  50  in the −Z-direction with respect to the storage unit  19  is restricted when the receiving unit  50  is in the storage state. That is, in the storage state, the position of the receiving unit  50  with respect to the storage unit  19  is maintained. Therefore, when the recording apparatus  11  is not used, by placing the receiving unit  50  in the storage state, protrusion of the receiving unit  50  from the housing  12  in the +Y-direction can be suppressed, and the recording apparatus  11  can be made compact. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , recesses  66  are provided on the surface of the storage unit  19  on the +Y-direction side, that is, the surface facing the receiving unit  50 . On the other hand, the surface of the second plate portion  52  of the receiving unit  50  facing the storage unit  19  is provided with protruding portions  76  that can fit into the recesses  66  of the storage unit  19 . When the receiving unit  50  is in the storage state, the protruding portions  76  fit into the recesses  66 . As a result, for example, when the recording apparatus  11  is moved while the receiving unit  50  is in the storage state, rattling of the receiving unit  50  against the housing  12  is suppressed. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , when the receiving unit  50  is in the receiving state, an end portion of the receiving unit  50  in the +Y-direction (another end) is disposed at a position higher than the position of the discharge port  21  of the discharge unit  20 . In the present embodiment, the receiving surface  50   a  of the receiving unit  50  is inclined upward from the discharge port  21  side toward the +Y-direction. Thus, the medium S discharged from the discharge unit  20  can be surely received. 
     In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , a support surface  62  is provided at either end of the storage unit  19  in the direction along the X-axis, to support the receiving unit  50  when the receiving unit  50  is in the receiving state. The support surfaces  62  are inclined surfaces inclining upward from the −Y-direction toward the +Y-direction when viewed in the +X-direction. The support surfaces  62  of the present embodiment are inclined upward by about 20° with respect to the horizontal direction. 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 9 , grooves  72  are formed in the opposite surface of the receiving unit  50  than the receiving surface  50   a , one at both ends in the direction along the X-axis, at positions corresponding to the support surfaces  62  in the receiving state. The grooves  72  are provided with an abutment surface  72   a  configured to abut the corresponding support surface  62 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the upper end of the storage unit  19  is provided with a protrusion  65  having an abutment surface  65   a  abutting the receiving surface  50   a  in the receiving state. The abutment surface  65   a  extends in a direction along the X-axis. 
     Next, a method of displacing the receiving unit  50  from the storage state to the receiving state will be described. 
     First, in the storage state, the lower end portion of the receiving unit  50  is pulled out in the +Y-direction with respect to the storage unit  19  (the housing  12 ). As a result, the protruding portions  76  of the receiving unit  50  detach from the recesses  66  of the storage unit  19 , and the receiving unit  50  becomes pivotable around the shafts  61  of the storage unit  19 . Then, the receiving unit  50  is rotationally moved upwardly with respect to the storage unit  19 . When the abutment surfaces  72   a  of the receiving unit  50  and the support surfaces  62  of the storage unit  19  abut against each other, the rotational movement of the receiving unit  50  with respect to the storage unit  19  is restricted. With the abutment surfaces  72   a  and the support surfaces  62  in abutment, the receiving unit  50  is then pushed in the direction of the discharge port  21  (the −Y-direction). Because of the spaces  70 , the receiving unit  50  can move in the −Y-direction relative to the storage unit  19 . By moving the receiving unit  50  in the −Y-direction, a portion of the receiving surface  50   a  on the discharge port  21  side abuts the abutment surface  65   a . Thus, the receiving unit  50  is held by the abutment surface  65   a  and the support surfaces  62 , and the receiving surface  50   a  of the receiving unit  50  is held in a receiving state inclined upward in the +Y-direction from the discharge port  21  side. In the present embodiment, the angle of the receiving surface  50   a  with respect to the horizontal plane is about 20°. 
     Next, a method of displacing the receiving unit  50  from the receiving state to the storage state will be described. 
     First, while in the receiving state, the receiving unit  50  is pulled out in the +Y-direction with respect to the storage unit  19  (the housing  12 ). Thus, the receiving unit  50  separates from the abutment surface  65   a  and the support surfaces  62 , and becomes pivotable about the shafts  61  of the storage unit  19 . Then, the receiving unit  50  is rotationally moved downwardly with respect to the storage unit  19 . When the receiving unit  50  rotates downward, the shafts  61  abut against the opposing surfaces  71   a , and the receiving unit  50  is supported by the storage unit  19 . Then, with the lower end portion of the receiving unit  50  facing downward, the lower end portion of the receiving unit  50  is pushed in the −Y-direction toward the storage unit  19  (the housing  12 ). As a result, the protruding portions  76  of the receiving unit  50  fit into the recesses  66  of the storage unit  19 , and the storage state is held. 
     Next, an extension  80  of the receiving unit  50  will be described. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 10 , the receiving unit  50  has the extension  80  that is configured to extend the receiving surface  50   a  in the transport direction (the direction in which the medium S is transported from the discharge port  21  substantially toward the +Y-direction). 
     The extension  80  of the present embodiment has a plate shape and is smaller than the first plate portion  51  or the second plate portion  52 . The extension  80  is housed in a withdrawable manner, between the first plate portion  51  and the second plate portion  52  in the direction along the discharge direction (the +Y-direction in  FIG. 10 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a cutout portion  78  is formed in the second plate portion  52  and in the receiving state a portion of the extension  80  is exposed by the cutout portion  78 . Thus, the extension  80  can be easily pulled out by hooking fingers onto the exposed part of the extension  80 . The extension  80  has a stopper, and the extension  80  is held by a predetermined pull-out amount. By including the extension  80 , the receiving surface  50   a  of the receiving unit  50  (including a receiving surface  50   b ) capable of receiving the medium S can be elongated. By this a longer medium S can be received. Note that the extension  80  may be configured according to the length of the medium S discharged from the discharge port  21 . For example, the length of the extension  80  in the transport direction may be increased. In addition, the pull-out structure may be configured in three or more stages. Further, the extension  80  may have an unfolding structure instead of a pull-out structure. 
     Next, a regulation part  90  of the receiving unit  50  will be described. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 10 , the receiving unit  50  is provided with the regulation part  90  at the downstream end of the receiving unit  50  in the transport direction (the direction in which the medium S is transported from the discharge port  21  toward the substantially +Y-direction). The regulation part  90  is for restricting the movement in the transport direction of the medium S to be received. 
     The regulation part  90  pivots and switches between a regulating state ( FIG. 2 ) in which it protrudes upward from the receiving surface  50   a  ( 50   b ) and a retracted state ( FIG. 10 ) in which it is flush with the receiving surface  50   a  ( 50   b ). 
     It should be noted that the regulation part  90  of the present embodiment is provided at the downstream end of the extension  80 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 10 , the regulation part  90  has a plate shape. The regulation part  90  is smaller than the extension  80 . A recess  85  is provided in a part of the receiving surface  50   b  of the extension  80 , and the regulation part  90  is configured to be stored in the recess  85 . The thickness dimension of the regulation part  90  is equivalent to the depth dimension of the recess  85 . Therefore, in the retracted state, the receiving surface  50   b  and the regulation part  90  form a continuous flat surface. 
     The downstream end part of the regulation part  90  is provided with a shaft that is rotatable with respect to the extension  80 , and a stopper for restricting the rotated position of the regulation part  90  at a predetermined position. 
     In the case of moving the regulation part  90  from the retracted state to the regulating state, fingers are inserted into a cutout portion  85   a  provided in the recess  85  to rotationally move the regulation part  90  around the shaft. The rotating regulation part  90  is held in place by the stopper. In this regulating state, the angle between the receiving surface  50   b  and the regulation part  90  is 100° to 130°. 
     The regulation part  90  of the present embodiment is housed together with the extension  80  between the first plate portion  51  and the second plate portion  52 . 
     By the regulation part  90 , medium S falling off the receiving unit  50  can be suppressed. In addition, in the storage state of the receiving unit  50 , there is no protrusion from the housing  12  in the +Y-direction, and compactness is enhanced. 
     In the present embodiment, curled up medium S may be discharged from the discharge port  21 . In this case, the discharged medium S is received in a state of being curled in a convex shape protruding upward with respect to the receiving surface  50   a  and  50   b . In this state, when the next medium S is discharged, the downstream end of the medium S contacts the previously received medium S, and the previously received medium S is pushed downstream. However, the downstream end of the previously received medium S abuts against the regulation part  90 , and downstream movement of the medium S is restricted. The medium S discharged next is then supported on the upper surface of the medium S discharged previously. That is, the medium S is received by the receiving unit  50  in the order of discharge of the medium S. 
     Here, a front portion  19   b  of the storage unit  19  on the transport direction side (the +Y-direction side) and the receiving unit  50  are formed of light-transmissive members. For example, the storage unit  19  and the receiving unit  50  are made of transparent plastic material. 
     As a result, the inside of the storage unit  19  is viewable regardless of whether the receiving unit  50  is in the storage state, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or the receiving unit  50  is in the receiving state, as shown in  FIG. 2 , and the storage state of the stored cutting waste in the storage unit  19  can be easily confirmed. 
     Note that the front portion  19   b  of the storage unit  19  on the transport direction side may be formed of a light-transmissive member, and an opening may be provided in the receiving unit  50 . For example, a through-hole such as a slit may be provided at the center of the receiving unit  50 . Even in this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained. 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, the storage unit  19  and the receiving unit  50  are integrally configured. Therefore, as compared with a configuration in which the storage unit  19  and the receiving unit  50  are separate bodies, a space for placing the receiving unit  50  is not necessary. Also, losing the receiving unit  50  can be prevented. 
     In addition, when the cutting waste contained in the storage unit  19  is to be disposed, for example, when the storage unit  19  and the receiving unit  50  are configured as separate bodies, it is necessary to first remove the receiving unit  50  from the housing  12  and then remove the storage unit  19  from the housing  12 . However, according to the present embodiment, since the storage unit  19  and the receiving unit  50  are configured to be detached from the housing  12  together ( FIG. 3 ), cutting waste can be easily disposed of and operability can be improved. 
     2. Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment will be described. 
     The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. In the first embodiment, the receiving unit  50  in the receiving state is inclined upward, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 11 , when the receiving unit  50  is in the receiving state, the +Y-direction end portion (the other end) of the receiving unit  50  is disposed at a position lower than the discharge port  21  position of the discharge unit  20 . In the present embodiment, the receiving surface  50   a  of the receiving unit  50  inclines downward from the discharge port  21  side toward the +Y-direction. In this case, in order to maintain the position of the receiving unit  50  in the receiving state, the angle of the support surfaces  62  of the storage unit  19  in contact with the receiving unit  50  or the angle of the abutment surface  65   a  of the protrusion  65  may be changed. 
     In this manner, the medium S discharged from the discharge port  21  can be received. 
     3. Third Embodiment 
     Next, a third embodiment will be described. 
     The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , a storage unit  190  of a recording apparatus  11 A of the present embodiment is formed with an inclined surface in which the front surface  190   b  on the transport direction side (the +Y-direction side) of the storage unit  190  protrudes forward (+Y-direction) from above to below. The inclined surface serves as a receiving surface  190   b  that receives the medium S. 
     The storage unit  190  is a square frustum shaped container and has an inlet  190   a  on the upper side. The receiving surface  190   b  is inclined from the discharge port  21  side to the lower end portion toward the +Y-direction. That is, the storage unit  190  and the receiving unit are integrally formed. 
     According to the present embodiment, in addition to the above-described effects, the volume in the storage unit  190  capable of accommodating cutting waste can be further increased.