Patent Publication Number: US-8973498-B2

Title: Recording apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and, in particular, to a roll paper storage cassette for storing roll paper. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A sublimation type recording apparatus using roll paper as a recording medium has come into wide use for business purpose and for household purpose as well. 
     The roll paper can be continuously supplied, so that the use of the roll paper is advantageous in that a paper feeding operation can be completed in a shorter time period than a rectangle-paper feeding operation in a continuous recording. For this reason, the use of the roll paper allows completing all recording in a shorter time period than that of the rectangle-paper if a large amount of recording is continuously performed. 
     In addition to the above advantage, the use of the roll paper is advantageous in that no margin is left on a recorded object, in other words, borderless recording can be easily performed. When a new roll paper is used, instead of replacing a whole roll paper storage case in which the roll paper is stored, a user prepares a roll paper, inserts a roll-paper shaft into the roll paper, puts the roll paper in the roll paper storage cassette, and loads the roll paper storage cassette onto a printer body. This allows a recording cost to be reduced. 
     In a conventional technique, a roll paper storage cassette includes a cassette body for storing roll paper, a cassette lid having a rotating roller for promoting the rotation of the roll paper, and an arm one of which is connected to the cassette body and the other of which is connected to the cassette lid via a connection unit as discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-306511, for example. 
     The roll paper storage cassette is rotated with the connection unit as a center to cause the cassette lid to close the cassette body. The roll paper storage cassette into which the roll paper is stored is attached to and detached from the recording apparatus body. 
     The recording apparatus is desired to be able to use roll paper with a plurality of sizes from the standpoint of convenience. In a case where roll paper of a plurality of sizes can be used, it is desirable that the roll paper can be replaced before it runs short. However, once the roll paper is stored in the roll paper storage cassette, it is desirable not to open the roll paper storage cassette before the roll paper is used up. 
     More specifically, if a roll paper storage cassette corresponding to a type of roll paper is prepared, the roll paper can be stored without being dirtied, and the type of the roll paper can be detected without an error. The roll paper can be replaced only by replacing the cassette. 
     However, in a case where the recording apparatus can record on a plurality of roll papers of the different sizes, there are two problems. 
     A first problem is that a user has to inevitably prepare a plurality of roll paper storage cassettes corresponding to the types of roll paper if a dedicated roll paper storage cassette is prepared for each size of roll paper. Therefore, the recording cost is increased. 
     A second problem is that, in a case where the user inserts a roll-paper shaft into the roll paper and loads the roll paper onto the roll paper storage cassette intending to reduce a recording cost, the roll paper may be used with the combination being incompatible among the roll paper, roll-paper shaft, and the roll paper storage cassette. The use of the roll paper with the combination being incompatible among the roll paper, roll-paper shaft, and the roll paper storage cassette causes the disagreement of a recording range and a feed rate of the roll paper, producing protrusion and margin to degrade recording quality. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a roll paper storage cassette and a recording apparatus which do not need a roll paper storage cassette corresponding to each size of a plurality of roll papers and can prevent a roll paper, a roll-paper shaft, and a roll paper storage cassette from being erroneously loaded. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a roll paper storage cassette housing a roll paper wound around the core portion of a roll paper shaft includes a pair of openable and closable cases, an attachment which can be detached to the inside of both ends of the case according to the size of the roll paper, and a regulation member configured to prevent the roll paper shaft of a specific type from entering and allow the roll paper shaft of another specific type to enter in a state where the attachment is detached and configured to be moved from a position where the roll paper shaft of the specific type is prevented from entering in a state where the attachment is attached. 
     Further features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an external schematic diagram of an example recording apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the principal part of the recording apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of the roll paper to which the roll paper shaft is attached and the opened roll paper storage cassette. 
         FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C illustrate a pressing method of a biasing guide. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are schematic diagrams illustrating an end face of the roll paper storage cassette with an upper case closed. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a postcard-sized roll paper into which the roll paper shaft is inserted, and the opened roll paper storage cassette to which attachments are attached. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic diagrams of the roll paper and the roll paper shaft illustrated in  FIG. 2  respectively. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are schematic diagrams of the postcard-sized roll paper and the roll paper shaft illustrated in  FIG. 6  respectively. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are top views of a lower case of the roll paper storage cassette. 
         FIGS. 10A ,  10 B, and  10 C are schematic perspective views of the attachment. 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are schematic diagrams illustrating the roll paper storage case to which the attachment is attached. 
         FIGS. 12A and 12B  are schematic cross sections taken along line S-S of the lower case in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram illustrating the roll paper storage cassette and the card-sized roll paper. 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  illustrate the card-sized roll paper and the roll paper shaft respectively. 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of the lower case of the roll paper storage cassette to which the attachments are attached. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 
     In the accompanying drawings, the same reference is given to a component with the similar function. The description thereof is omitted herein. 
       FIG. 1  is an external schematic diagram illustrating an example recording apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The recording apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a recording apparatus body  3 , an ink ribbon cassette  2  housed in the recording apparatus body  3 , and a roll paper storage cassette  1 . The ink ribbon cassette  2  and the roll paper storage cassette  1  are detachable from the recording apparatus body  3 . 
     In recording, the ink ribbon cassette  2  and the roll paper storage cassette  1  for housing and holding a roll paper R 1  described below are loaded onto the recording apparatus body  3 . Thereafter, an image desired to be recorded is selected using an operation unit  301  such as a touch panel of the recording apparatus body  3  to record the image on the roll paper R 1  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the principal part of the recording apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment illustrating how the roll paper storage cassette  1  and the ink ribbon cassette  2  are arranged in the roll paper storage cassette  1 . 
     The roll paper R 1  (i.e., recording medium) is wound around a roll paper shaft  102  in a roll shape in the roll paper storage cassette  1 . The roll paper storage cassette  1  is provided with a cassette outlet  104   d  so that the roll paper R 1  can be discharged from the roll paper storage cassette  1 . The recording apparatus body  3  is equipped with a feed roller  311  which is driven by a motor (not illustrated) and conveys the roll paper R 1  in the roll paper storage cassette  1  to the cassette outlet  104   d.    
     A roller pair X of a grip roller  313  on the surface of which a projection is provided and a pinch roller  314  being a driven roller positioned opposing to the grip roller  313  sandwiching the conveyance path of the roll paper R 1  therebetween is provided in the downstream of the conveyance path of the roll paper R 1  in the roll paper storage cassette  1 . 
     The pinch roller  314  is strongly urged in the direction of the grip roller  313  to press the projection (not illustrated) on the surface of the grip roller  313  against the back face of the roll paper R 1 , thereby preventing the roll paper R 1  from slipping on the roller surface. Therefore, the roll paper R 1  is accurately conveyed over a desired distance. 
     A recording unit is provided at the downstream of the roller pair X. The recording unit is provided with a thermal head  315  and a platen roller  316  positioned opposing to the thermal head  315  sandwiching the conveyance path of the roll paper R 1  therebetween. The thermal head  315  is almost integrally formed of a mounting frame (not illustrated) with a rotational center and an elastic member (not illustrated) and movable integrally with the mounting frame toward the platen roller  316  by the control of a cam gear (not illustrated). 
     The ink ribbon cassette  2  is provided with a supply bobbin  202  in which an ink ribbon  203  is contained and a take-up bobbin  201  for winding a used ink ribbon  203 . When the ink ribbon cassette  2  is loaded onto the recording apparatus body  3 , the supply bobbin  202  and the take-up bobbin  201  are supported by a shaft provided on the recording apparatus body  3 . The take-up bobbin  201  is rotated by the same power source as that for driving the grip roller  313 . 
     The supply bobbin  202  is freely rotatable. The ink ribbon  203  is wound around the supply bobbin  202  and the leading edge thereof is coupled to the take-up bobbin  201 . The rotation of the take-up bobbin  201  winds the ink ribbon  203  from the supply bobbin  202 . 
     The thermal head  315  includes a heating unit with a plurality of heating elements and selectively heats the heating elements according to recording information to thermally transfer ink uniformly applied to the ink ribbon  203  to the roll paper R 1 . More specifically, the thermal head  315  is pressed against the platen roller  316  to bring the ink ribbon  203  supplied from the supply bobbin  202  into close contact with the roll paper R 1  under an appropriate pressure and at an appropriate temperature, enabling the ink to be thermally transferred to the roll paper R 1 . 
     Although not illustrated, there is provided a cutter for cutting a recorded portion of the roll paper R 1  and a conveyance roller (not illustrated) for conveying a recorded object cut off from the roll paper R 1  to a storage unit (not illustrated) in the downstream of the conveyance path of the roll paper R 1  in the recording unit. 
     A recording operation is described below. The roll paper R 1  is previously pulled out on the downstream side by a length required for recording at the time of feeding paper. When image data are prepared, recording is performed while the roll paper R 1  is conveyed upstream by the grip roller  313  with the thermal head  315  pressed in the direction of the platen roller  316 . 
     In recording, the ink ribbon  203  is brought into close contact with the roll paper R 1  by the thermal head  315  and the platen roller  316  and heat is applied to the ink ribbon  203  by the heating element provided in the thermal head  315  to transfer the ink of the ink ribbon  203  to the roll paper R 1 . The ink ribbon  203  is also conveyed in the same direction as the roll paper R 1  is conveyed (upstream) and a used ink ribbon is wound by the take-up bobbin  201 . 
     The sublimation type recording apparatus of the present exemplary embodiment has to superimpose yellow, magenta, and cyan in a case where color printing such as a photo is performed. For this reason, as soon as recording in yellow is finished at first, the roll paper R 1  is conveyed again to a position where recording is started and recording in magenta is performed similar to the recording in yellow. The similar operation is repeated by the number of colors to complete recording in all colors. Then, the roll paper R 1  is conveyed and the recorded portion thereof is cut off by a cutter and discharged by the conveyance roller to the storage unit. 
     In a case where the next image is recorded in succession, the roll paper R 1  is conveyed to the position where recording is started and the recording operation is again started. In a case where the next image is not to be recorded, the feed roller  311  is rotated reversely from the case where the paper is fed to draw the leading edge of the roll paper R 1  into the roll paper storage cassette  1 , bringing the roll paper R 1  into a standby state. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of the roll paper R 1  to which the roll paper shaft  102  is attached and the opened roll paper storage cassette  1 . The configuration of the roll paper storage cassette  1  is described further in detail below with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     The roll paper storage cassette  1  is mainly formed of the roll paper R 1 , a roll paper storage case  10 , and the roll paper shaft  102 . As an example of a method for replacing the roll paper R 1 , the user prepares only the roll paper R 1 , the roll paper shaft  102  is inserted into the roll paper R 1 , and the roll paper R 1  is stored in the roll paper R 1 . This method is advantageous in cost and natural resources saving because there are no objects to be disposed and recycled and no paper to be collected after the roll paper R 1  is used up. 
     If user-friendliness is prioritized, various forms according to the object can be adopted in such a manner that the roll paper R 1  is previously wound around the roll paper shaft  102  or the roll paper R 1  is previously loaded onto the roll paper storage cassette  1 , as another method. 
     The roll paper storage cassette  1  has a pair of openable and closable cases formed of upper and lower cases  103  and  104 . The upper case  103  can be opened and closed with respect to the lower case  104 . A plurality of ribs  103   a  and  104   a  and a plurality of driven rollers  105  for reducing a conveyance resistance are provided on the inner peripheral surfaces of the cases  103  and  104 . 
     On the inner surfaces of both ends of the lower case  104  is provided a concave groove  104   e  (See  FIGS. 12A and 12B ) for guiding the projection of the roll paper shaft to be described below, which passes through the center of an end face and extends from a certain position on the periphery of the end face to the vicinity of position on the periphery of the end face having a point symmetry with respect to the certain position. 
     Inside the concave groove  104   e  is provided with a slot  104   b  for the supported portion of the roll paper shaft  102 , which passes through the end face along the concave groove  104   e . The concave groove  104   e  is greater in width than the slot  104   b  for the supported portion. 
     The upper case  103  is provided with a pressure spring  106  for urging the roll paper shaft  102  and a pressure guide  107  slidable to the urging direction. The pressure springs  106  and the pressure guides  107  are provided at both ends of the upper case  103  and uniformly urge the supported portions  102   b  of the roll paper shaft  102  (refer to  FIG. 7 ). Furthermore, there are provided a feed roller opening  104   i  for bringing the feed roller  311  provided on the recording apparatus body  3  and the roll paper R 1  into contact with each other. 
     An inner wall  104   c  of end faces of the lower case  104  regulates the movement of the roll paper R 1  to the width direction to reduce meandering and widthwise displacement of the roll paper R 1 . On one of the end faces of the lower case  104  is provided with a biasing guide  108  for urging the vicinity of end portion of the roll paper R 1 . The biasing guide  108  is slidable to the width direction of the roll paper R 1  (the longitudinal direction of the lower case  104 ). 
     A method for supporting the biasing guide  108  is described below using  FIG. 4 . The biasing guide  108  presses the vicinity of the end face of the roll paper R 1  to prevent the widthwise displacement and meandering of the roll paper R 1 . 
     The lower case  104  is provided with a pickup guide  101  for picking up the leading edge of the roll paper R 1 . The pickup guide  101  is always urged in the direction of the roll paper R 1  by a spring (not illustrated). The leading edge of the pickup guide  101  abuts on the surface of the wound roll paper R 1  to allow surely picking up the leading edge of the roll paper R 1  at the time of feeding paper. 
     A pressing method of the biasing guide  108  urging the vicinity of the end portion of the roll paper R 1  is described below with reference to  FIGS. 4A to 4C .  FIG. 4A  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state where the roll paper storage case  1  is being attached to the recording apparatus body  3 .  FIG. 4B  is a developed view illustrating a configuration of an urging member and an attachment portion.  FIG. 4C  is a schematic cross section illustrating the biasing guide  108  viewed from the inside of the lower case  104 . 
     For easy understanding of the structure, the upper case  103 , the roll paper R 1 , and the roll paper shaft  102  are omitted. The lower case  104  is attached in the direction indicated by an arrow A. 
     The feed roller  311  is rotatably supported by a frame  310  inside the recording apparatus body  3  via a bearing  309  and provided with a slidable urging member  312  coaxial with the feed roller  311 . The urging member  312  includes a slider  308  contacting the biasing guide  108  and a compression spring  307 , and is slidably supported by a projection  309   a  projected from a bearing  309 . 
     The leading edge of the slider  308  is regulated by an E ring  306 . The urging member  312  can intrude into the end face of the lower case  104 . The lower case  104  is inserted into the recording apparatus body  3  to cause the urging member  312  to press the biasing guide  108  attached to the lower case  104 . 
     The biasing guide  108  is slidably supported by a T-shaped projection  104   g  provided on the lower case  104 . For this reason, the lower case  104  is inserted into the recording apparatus body  3  and then the biasing guide  108  slides inward in the longitudinal direction of the lower case  104  to allow urging the end portion of the roll paper R 1  and preventing the widthwise displacement and meandering of the roll paper R 1 . 
     The movement of the pressure guide  107  and the direction in which the supported portion is pressed are described below with reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are schematic diagrams illustrating the end face of the roll paper storage cassette  1  with the upper case  104  closed.  FIG. 5A  illustrates a state where the roll paper R 1  is not yet used.  FIG. 5B  illustrates a state where the roll paper R 1  is used up. The feed roller  311  is also illustrated on the assumption that the roll paper storage case  1  is loaded on the recording apparatus body  3 .  FIGS. 5A and 5B  also illustrate how the pressure spring  106  works. 
     When the roll paper R 1  into which the roll paper shaft  102  is inserted is stored in the lower case  104  and the upper case  103  is closed, the elastic force of the compressed pressure spring  106  urges the pressure guide  107  to press the supported portion  102   b  to the direction of the feed roller  311 . As a result, the surface of the wound roll paper R 1  is pressed against the feed roller  311 . 
     When the feed roller  311  is rotated so that the leading edge of the roll paper R 1  is conveyed to the cassette outlet  104   d  with the surface of the roll paper R 1  pressed against the feed roller  311 , the roll paper R 1  is rotated to send out the leading edge of the roll paper R 1  to the outside of the roll paper storage cassette  1 . 
     In a case where an unused roll paper R 1  is loaded, the supported portion  102   b  is away from the feed roller  311  and the pressure spring  106  is most fully compressed. Recording is performed on the roll paper R 1  and the roll paper R 1  becomes small in diameter according as the remaining amount of the roll paper R 1  is reduced. When the roll paper R 1  is used up, the supported portion  102   b  is the nearest to the feed roller  311 . 
     At this point, the pressure spring  106  is loose. The pressure force that the surface of the wound roll paper R 1  is pressed against the feed roller  311  is desirably strong and constant. However, as described above, the pressure spring  106  extends with reduction in the winding diameter of the roll paper R 1 , so that it is desirable to ensure the pressure force, make the winding diameter as large as possible, and make the winding number as large as possible, thereby keeping a spring constant low. 
     The configuration of a roll paper and a roll paper storage cassette which is applicable to two types of roll papers are described below with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 6 .  FIG. 3  illustrates an L-size roll paper R 1  wide in width.  FIG. 6  illustrates a postcard-sized roll paper R 2  narrow in width. The cited roll papers R 1  and R 2  are examples. The present invention is applicable to two types of the roll papers with various sizes. 
     The roll paper storage cassette  1  corresponding to the L-size roll paper R 1  illustrated in  FIG. 3  and the roll paper storage cassette  1  corresponding to the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  illustrated in  FIG. 6  are common components. 
     The difference between  FIGS. 3 and 6  is that the roll paper shafts  102  and  404  that are inserted into the roll papers R 1  and R 2  are different, and attachments  401  and  402  in  FIG. 6  are attached to the roll paper storage cassette  1  if the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  is used. 
     A dimensional relationship between the roll paper and the roll paper shaft is described below. The relationship in diameter and length between the roll papers R 1  and R 2  and the roll paper shafts  102  and  404  is described below with reference  FIGS. 3 and 6  respectively. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate the L-size roll paper R 1  and the roll paper shaft  102  illustrated in  FIG. 2  respectively.  FIG. 7A  illustrates the dimension of the roll paper R 1 .  FIG. 7B  illustrates the dimension of the roll paper shaft  102 . 
     The width of the roll paper R 1  is Lr 1 . The inside diameter of the roll paper R 1  is Dr 1 . 
     The roll paper shaft  102  includes a core portion  102   c  contacting the inner circumference portion of the roll paper R 1 , an end  102   a  projecting from the end face of the core portion  102   c , and the supported portion  102   b  projecting from the end  102   a  and supported by the lower case  104 . The core portion  102   c , the end  102   a , and the supported portion  102   b  increase in diameter in this order. The length between the ends  102   a  of the roll paper shaft  102  is Lc 1 . The diameter of the core portion  102   c  of the roll paper shaft  102  is Dc 1 . The diameter of the end  102   a  of the roll paper shaft  102  is Ds 1 . The diameter of the supported portion  102   b  is Dp 1 . 
     Since the roll paper shaft  102  needs to be capable of being inserted into the roll paper R 1 , a relationship of Dr 1 &gt;Dc 1  needs to be satisfied. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  and the roll paper shaft  404  illustrated in  FIG. 6  respectively.  FIG. 8A  illustrates the dimension of the roll paper R 2 .  FIG. 8B  illustrates the dimension of the roll paper shaft  404 . 
     The width of the roll paper R 2  is Lr 2 . The inside diameter of the roll paper R 2  is Dr 2 . The width Lr 2  of the roll paper R 2  satisfies the following relationship.
 
 Lr 2&lt; Lr 1.
 
     The roll paper shaft  404  includes a core portion  404   c  contacting the inner circumference portion of the roll paper R 2 , an end  404   a  projecting from the end face of the core portion  404   c , and the supported portion  404   b  projecting from the end  404   a  and supported by the lower case  104 . The core portion  404   c , the end  404   a , and the portion  404   b  increase in diameter in this order. 
     The length between the ends  404   a  of the roll paper shaft  404  is Lc 2 . The diameter of the core portion  404   c  of the roll paper shaft  404  is Dc 2 . The diameter of the end  404   a  of the roll paper shaft  404  is Ds 2 . The diameter of the supported portion  404   b  is Dp 2 . 
     Since the roll paper shaft  404  need to be capable of being inserted into the roll paper R 2 , a relationship of Dr 2 &gt;Dc 2  needs to be satisfied. 
     The present exemplary embodiment is characterized in that the relationship between the inside diameters of the L-size roll paper R 1  and the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  is given by Dr 1 &gt;Dr 2 . The relationship between the diameter of the L-size roll paper shaft  102  and the inside diameters of the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  is given by Dc 1 &gt;Dr 2 , so that the L-size roll paper shaft  102  cannot be inserted into the postcard-sized roll paper R 2 . 
     The relationship in length between the ends  102   a  of the L-size roll paper shaft  102  and the ends  404   a  of the postcard-sized roll paper shaft  404  is given by Lc 1 &lt;Lc 2 . 
     The roll paper storage cassette  1  using the attachments  401  and  402  is described below with reference to  FIGS. 9A and 9B . 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are top views of the lower case  104  of the roll paper storage cassette  1 .  FIG. 9A  illustrates the lower case  104  to which the attachments  401  and  402  are not attached.  FIG. 9B  illustrates the lower case  104  to which the attachments  401  and  402  are attached. 
     If a roll paper storage width in a case where the attachments  401  and  402  are not attached to the lower case  104  (refer to  FIG. 9A ) is Wr 1  and a roll paper storage width in a case where the attachments  401  and  402  are attached to the lower case  104  (refer to  FIG. 9B ) is Wr 2 , the relationship therebetween can be represented by Wr 1 &gt;Wr 2 . Because Wr 1 &gt;Lr 1  and Wr 2 &gt;Lr 2 , the L-size roll paper R 1  can be loaded on the lower case  104  in a case where the attachments  401  and  402  are not attached (refer to  FIG. 9A ). The postcard-sized roll paper R 2  can be loaded on the lower case  104  in a case where the attachments  401  and  402  are attached (refer to  FIG. 9B ). 
     The roll paper storage width of the lower case  104  in a case where the attachments  401  and  402  are attached is decreased by the widths of the attachments  401  and  402 . If an attempt is made to put the L-size roll paper R 1  into the roll paper storage cassette  1 , the relationship between the roll paper storage width Wr 2  and the width Lr 1  of the L-size roll paper R 1  is set as Wr 2 &lt;Lr 1 , so that the L-size roll paper R 1  cannot be put into the roll paper storage cassette  1 . 
       FIGS. 10A to 10C  are schematic perspective views illustrating the attachment  401 .  FIG. 10A  illustrates the face contacting the roll paper R 2 .  FIG. 10B  illustrates the other face (the face contacting the end face of the roll paper storage cassette  1 ).  FIG. 10C  illustrates a biasing guide  403  attached to the attachment  401 . The attachment is described below with reference to  FIGS. 10A to 10C . 
     The attachment  401  is provided with an elastically deformable arm  401   a . When the attachment  401  is attached to the lower case  104 , the arm  401   a  is bent and a claw  401   c  of the arm  401   a  is latched to a latch portion (not illustrated) of the lower case  104 . When the attachment  401  is detached from the lower case  104 , the arm  401   a  is bent again to retreat the arm  401   a  from the latch portion of the lower case  104 , detaching the attachment  401  from the lower case  104 . 
     A notch portion  401   b  is provided on one attachment  401  out of the two attachments  401  and  402  attached to the lower case  104 . The biasing guide  403  is attached to the notch portion  401   b . Another attachment  402  is not provided with the notch portion. A reference face on which the biased roll paper R 2  abuts is formed. 
     The biasing guide  403  is attached from the other face of the attachment  401  illustrated in  FIG. 10B . A hole  403   a  of the biasing guide  403  is fitted to a guide shaft  401   d  of the attachment  401  and the attachment  401  is slidably supported. The biasing guide  403  is attached to cause a hook portion  401   a  of the attachment  401  to regulate the movement of the biasing guide  403 , preventing the biasing guide  403  from being detached. 
     The attachment  401  to which the biasing guide  403  is attached is fixed to the lower case  104  and then the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  into which the roll paper shaft  404  is inserted is housed in the lower case  104 . The upper case  103  is closed and the roll paper storage case  1  is loaded on the recording apparatus body  3 . The urging member  312  described above using  FIGS. 4A to 4C  urges the biasing guide  108 , pressing biasing guide  403  for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2 , which biases the roll paper R 2 . 
     Both in the attachments  401  and  402  are provided with slots  401   j  into which the ends  404   a  of the roll paper shaft  404  can be inserted. 
     A detection projection  401   g  for identifying the size of the roll paper is provided on the attachment. The type of the attachment  401  attached to the lower case  104  is different depending on the size of the roll paper. For that reason, the type of the attachment  401  is determined to allow the size of the roll paper to be detected. A method of detection is described below. 
     Furthermore, there is provided a projection  401   f  that forms a part of a mechanism for preventing the roll paper from being erroneously loaded. The above mechanism is described below. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  are schematic diagrams illustrating the roll paper storage case  1  to which the attachment  401  is attached.  FIG. 11A  is a schematic diagram in which the end of the roll paper storage case  1  on the side where the attachment  401  is attached is viewed from the outside.  FIG. 11B  is a schematic cross section taken along line Y-Y′ of  FIG. 11A . 
     On the end face of the lower case  104  includes a determination portion  104   h  with a concave portion  104   k  having a hole  104   j  passing through the center thereof. The leading edge of the projection portion  401   g  of the attachment  401  is positioned in the hole  104   j . The projection portion  401   g  can be seen through the hole  104   j  even with the upper and lower cases  103  and  104  being closed. 
     An attachment identification sensor  5  with four projections is provided on the recording apparatus body  3 . The projection is pressed to generate a signal, thereby determining the type of the attachment. Although not illustrated, in a case where the roll paper storage cassette  1  is loaded onto the recording apparatus body  3  without the attachment, the face of the concave portion  104   k  of the determination portion  104   h  presses only the lowermost projection of the sensor  5  to cause the sensor  5  to detect that no attachment is provided, i.e., the roll paper is of size L. 
     On the other hand, in a case where the roll paper storage cassette  1  with the attachment  401  being attached is loaded onto the recording apparatus body  3 , the face of the concave portion  104   k  of the determination portion  104   h  and the projection portion  401   g  of the attachment  401  press the second projection of the sensor  5  from the top and the lowermost projection thereof. This causes the sensor  5  to detect that the roll paper is of postcard size. 
     The position of the projection portion  401   g  is changed or the number of the projection portion  401   g  is increased for each attachment to change the positions of the projections of the sensor  5  (i.e., attachment identification sensor), allowing the recognition of a plurality of types of the attachments. 
     The mechanism for preventing the roll paper from being erroneously loaded is described below with reference to  FIGS. 12A and 12B . 
     In a case where the attachments  401  and  402  are not attached to the lower case  104  (refer to  FIG. 9A ), Wr 1 &gt;Lr 2 . For this reason, the lower case  104  can store not only the L-size roll paper R 1 , but also the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  and a card-sized roll paper R 3  smaller in width than the L-size roll paper R 1 . 
     Then, the roll paper storage cassette  1  in the present exemplary embodiment is made unable to store the postcard-sized and card-sized roll papers R 2  and R 3  and able to store only the L-size roll paper R 1  in a case where the attachments  401  and  402  are not attached to the lower case  104 . For that reason, the following mechanism is provided for preventing the roll paper from being erroneously loaded. 
       FIGS. 12A and 12B  are schematic cross sections taken along line S-S of the lower case  104  illustrated in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9A  is the cross section in a case where the attachment  401  is not attached.  FIG. 9B  is the cross section in a case where the attachment  401  is attached. 
     The mechanism for preventing the roll paper from being erroneously loaded is formed of a torsion spring  111  provided on the end of the lower case  104 , a regulating lever  110  as a regulating member, a slot  104   b  for the supported portion, the concave groove  104   e , and the projection  401   f  of the attachment  401 . As described above, the concave groove  104   e  is greater in width than the slot  104   b  for the supported portion. 
     If the width of the slot  104   b  for the supported portion is taken as M 1  and the width of the concave groove  104   e  is taken as M 2 , M 2 &gt;Ds 2 =Ds 1 &gt;M 1 , and M 1 &gt;Dp 1 =Dp 2 , where Lc 2 &gt;Wr 1 &gt;Lc 1 . 
     In a state where the attachment is not attached, the regulating lever  110  is rotated by the torsion spring  111  urging and can be positioned in the concave groove  104   e  (this position is taken as a regulation position). However, the regulating lever  110  is never positioned in the slot  104   b  for the supported portion. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12A , in a state where the attachment  401  is not attached, the regulating lever  110  is urged in a clockwise direction by the torsion spring  111  to project to the concave groove  104   e , in other words, the regulating lever  110  is positioned at the regulation position. For the roll paper shaft  102  used for the L-size roll paper R 1 , as Wr 1 &gt;Lc 1 , only the supported portions  102   b  having a diameter of Dp 1  passes along the concave groove  104   e  and the slot  104   b  for the supported portion. Therefore, although the regulating lever  110  projects to the concave groove  104   e , the roll paper shaft  102  is arranged in a predetermined position. 
     On the other hand, for the roll paper shaft  404  used for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2 , as Lc 2 &gt;Wr 1 , the end  404   a  with a diameter of Ds 2  of the roll paper shaft  404  needs to pass along the concave groove  104   e . For that reason, if an attempt is made to press the roll paper shaft  404  into the predetermined position, the regulating lever  110  prevents the end  404   a  of the roll paper shaft  404  from entering, thereby the roll paper shaft  404  cannot be pressed thereinto. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12B , if the attachment  410  ( FIG. 12  illustrates only the projection  401   f ) is attached to the lower case  104 , the projection  401   f  provided on the attachment  401  passes along an opening  104   f  and is pressed thereinto. The projection  401   f  abuts on the regulating lever  110  to press the regulating lever  110 . The pressed regulating lever  110  is rotated counterclockwise and retreated from the concave groove  104   e  (the position is taken as a non-regulation position). Consequently, the end  404   a  of the roll paper shaft  404  for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  is movable along the concave groove  104   e  and the roll paper shaft  404  for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  can be arranged in the predetermined position. 
     As described above, in a state where the attachments  401  and  402  are not attached, the regulating lever  110  prevents the roll paper shaft of a specific type (or, the roll paper shaft  404  for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2 ). At the same time, the regulating lever  110  allows the roll paper shaft of another specific type (the roll paper shaft  102  for the L-size roll paper R 1 ) to enter. The attachments  401  and  402  are attached to move the regulating lever  110  from the position where the roll paper shaft  404  for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  is prevented from entering to the position where the roll paper shaft  404  is not prevented. 
     Since Wr 2 &lt;Lr 1 , the L-size roll paper R 1  cannot be loaded onto the roll paper storage cassette  1  to which the attachments  401  and  402  are attached. Furthermore, since Wr 1 &lt;Lc 2 , the roll paper shaft  404  for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  cannot enter the roll paper storage cassette  1  to which the attachments  401  and  402  are not attached. 
     Furthermore, recording can be performed in a state where the size of the roll paper detected by a cassette-type detection switch  5  in loading the roll paper storage cassette  1  onto the printer body  3  agrees with the size of the roll paper actually loaded onto the roll paper storage cassette  1 . For this reason, the control of the amount of conveyance of the roll paper and the setting of a recording size can be correctly performed to enable preventing the occurrence of paper jam, the protrusion of a recording image, and margin. 
     Since Dc 1 &gt;Dr 2 , the roll paper shaft  102  for the L-size roll paper R 1  cannot be inserted into the postcard-sized roll paper R 2 . 
     If the roll paper storage cassette according to the size of each roll paper can be prepared, instead of using the roll paper having a plurality of sizes with a common roll paper storage cassette  1 , the attachments  401  and  402  may be integrated with the lower case  104 . 
     In this case, the roll paper can be prevented from being erroneously loaded only by providing the slot  104   b  for the supported portion having a width of M 1  and the concave groove  104   e  having a width of M 2  can prevent, so that there is no need for preparing the mechanism for preventing the roll paper from being erroneously loaded using the regulating lever  110 , which can simply prevent the roll paper from being erroneously loaded. 
     A roll paper storage cassette in another exemplary embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention is described below with reference to  FIG. 13 . In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the roll paper has two different types. In the present exemplary embodiment, the roll paper has three different types; the foregoing two types of roll papers R 1  and R 2  and a newly added card-sized roll paper R 3 . The description of the configuration similar to that in the above-described exemplary embodiment is omitted herein. 
       FIG. 13  is schematic diagram illustrating a roll paper storage cassette  1  and the card-sized roll paper R 3 . 
     When the card-sized roll paper R 3  is used, as is the case with the use of the postcard-sized roll paper R 2 , attachments  601  and  602  for the card-sized roll paper R 3  are attached to the roll paper storage cassette  1 . 
     Although the attachments  601  and  602  are basically similar in configuration to the attachments  401  and  402  for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2 , slots  601   j  and  602   j  for fixing a roll paper shaft  604  (refer to  FIG. 14 ) are different in shape. Each of the slots  601   j  and  602   j  in the present exemplary embodiment has two-stage width because a step is provided. The width is smaller on the side of end of the lower case  104  and larger on the side where the attachment contacts the roll paper R 3 . 
     As is the case with the attachment  401  for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2 , a biasing guide  603  for biasing the outer periphery of the card-sized roll paper R 3  is fixed to the attachment  601 . 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  illustrate the card-sized roll paper R 3  and the roll paper shaft  604 .  FIG. 14A  illustrates the dimensions of the roll paper R 3 .  FIG. 14B  illustrates the dimensions of the roll paper shaft  604 . 
     The width of the roll paper R 3  is Lr 3  and the inside diameter thereof is Dr 3 , where, Lr 3 &lt;Lr 2 . 
     The roll paper shaft  604  for the roll paper R 3  includes a core portion  604   c , an end  604   a , a step  604   d  with a diameter of between the diameters of the core portion  604   c  and the end  604   a , and a supported portion  604   b  projecting from the end  604   a.    
     The core portion  604   c , the step  604   d , the end  604   a , and the supported portion  604   b  increase in diameter in this order. 
     The length between the steps  604   d  of the roll paper shaft  604  is Lc 3 . The diameter of the core portion  604   c  of the roll paper shaft  604  is Dc 3 . The diameter of the step  604   d  of the roll paper shaft  604  is Ds 3 . The description of the dimensions Ds 2 , Lc 2 , and Dp 2  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) similar to those in the roll paper shaft  404  for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  is omitted herein. 
     Since Dr 1 &gt;Dc 1 &gt;Dr 2 &gt;Dc 2 &gt;Dr 3 &gt;Dc 3 , the roll paper shaft  404  for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  and the roll paper shaft  102  for the L-size roll paper R 1  cannot be inserted into the card-sized roll paper R 3 , which prevents the roll paper shaft from being erroneously inserted. 
     If the integration of the roll paper with the roll paper shaft is used instead of the user inserting the roll paper shaft into the roll paper shaft, the structure for preventing erroneous insertion does not need to be provided on the roll paper shaft to allow realizing a simple configuration. 
     The configuration in which the card sized roll paper shaft  604  cannot be loaded onto the roll paper storage cassette  1  to which the attachments  601  and  602  are not attached is similar to that in the foregoing exemplary embodiment. In a case where the attachments  601  and  602  are not attached, the regulating lever  110  provided on the lower case  104  is positioned on the concave groove  104   e  to prevent the end  604   a  of the roll paper shaft  604  from being moved. 
     On the other side of the attachment  601  (the face contacting the end of the roll paper storage cassette  1 ) is provided with a projection for rotating the regulating lever and a projection for detecting the type of the cassette, as is the case with the attachment  401  for the postcard-sized roll paper R 2 . For this reason, as is the case with the above-described exemplary embodiment, the attachments  601  and  602  are attached to enable the regulating lever  110  to be retracted from the concave groove  104   e.    
       FIG. 15  is a top view of the lower case  104  of the roll paper storage cassette  1  to which the attachments  601  and  602  are attached. 
     A roll paper storage width in a state where the attachments  601  and  602  are attached to the lower case  104  is Wr 3 . If the length between positions where the diameters of the slots  601   j  and  602   j  of the attachments  601  and  602  are changed respectively is taken as Wr 4 , Lr 3 &lt;Wr 3 &lt;Lc 3 &lt;Wr 4 . Since Lr 1 &gt;Lr 2 &gt;Wr 3 &gt;Lr 3 , the L-size roll paper R 1  and the postcard-sized roll paper R 2  which are larger in width than the Wr 3  are not housed in the lower case  104  to which the attachments  601  and  602  are attached, in other words, only the card-sized roll paper R 3  can be housed therein. 
     Incidentally, the width of thick portion of the slots  601   j  and  602   j  (the side contacting the roll paper R 3 ) is larger than the diameter Ds 3  of the step  604   d . The width of thin portion of the slots  601   j  and  602   j  (the side of end of the lower case  104 ) is larger than the diameter Ds 2  of the end  604   a  and smaller than the diameter Ds 3  of the step  604   d.    
     Thus, the roll paper shaft  604  inserted into the roll paper R 3  can be put into the lower case  104 . 
     Since Lr 3 &lt;Wr 2 , the card-sized roll paper R 3  can be housed in the lower case  104  to which the attachments  401  and  402  are attached (refer to  FIG. 9B ). Then, in the roll paper storage cassette according to the present exemplary embodiment, such a relationship that Wr 4 &gt;Lc 3 &gt;Wr 2 &gt;Wr 3  is defined and the diameter Ds 3  of the step  604   d  is made larger than the width (diameter) of the slot  401   j  of the attachment  401 . 
     Therefore, when the roll paper shaft  604  inserted into the card-sized roll paper R 3  is loaded onto the lower case  104  to which the attachments  401  and  402  are attached, the step  604   d  of the roll paper shaft interferes with the slot  401   j  of the attachment  401  not to allow the roll paper shaft to be loaded thereonto. 
     Thus, even in a case where the L-size, the postcard-sized, and the card-sized roll paper R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are used, it can be made easy to agree a combination among the roll paper, the attachment, and the roll paper shaft. Furthermore, the roll paper loaded onto the roll paper storage cassette  1  can be correctly detected, so that the control of conveyance of the roll paper and the setting of a recording size can be correctly performed to enable preventing the occurrence of paper jam, the protrusion of an image, and margin. 
     The method for loading three types of the roll papers onto the recording apparatus is described above. If four or more types of roll papers are used, only a plurality of steps needs to be provided on the roll paper shaft. Only the shape of the slot of the attachment needs to be changed in accordance with the steps. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions. 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-152989 filed Jul. 5, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.