Patent Publication Number: US-10759191-B2

Title: Printing apparatus with curved feed path

Description:
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2018-112875, filed Jun. 13, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer. 
     2. Related Art 
     JP-A-2016-179688 describes a recording apparatus having a manual feed tray on the rear surface thereof that is capable of stacking media as an example of a printing apparatus. This recording apparatus feeds the media stacked on the manual feed tray. 
     In the recording apparatus described in JP-A-2016-179688, because the media are fed from the rear surface on which the manual feed tray is provided, the rear surface of the apparatus tends to be large. 
     SUMMARY 
     A printing apparatus that solves the above-mentioned problems includes a printing unit that performs printing on a medium by using a liquid; an apparatus main body that houses the printing unit therein, that is configured to have outer surfaces that include an upper surface and a front surface that adjoiningly intersects the upper surface, and that includes a paper feeding port provided on the upper surface; an upper feeding path configured to guide the medium fed from the paper feeding port toward the printing unit and including a first curved portion in a middle portion thereof for inverting the medium in a course of the guidance; a medium housing portion provided on a lower portion of the apparatus main body and configured to house the medium; and a lower feeding path configured to guide the medium from the medium housing portion toward the printing unit and including a second curved portion in a middle portion thereof for inverting the medium in a course of the guidance, in which an innermost portion of the first curved portion overlaps the second curved portion in a depth direction from the front surface toward a rear surface, which is on a side opposite to the front surface, of the apparatus main body when viewed from the upper surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a printing apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an internal structure of the printing apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the printing apparatus when a second lid is positioned at an open position. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the printing apparatus when an inverting cover is positioned at an open position. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the internal structure of the printing apparatus. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating the internal structure of the printing apparatus. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view illustrating a modification example of the printing apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printing apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a printing apparatus  11  of the present embodiment is an ink jet type printer that prints characters or images such as photographs by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium S such as a paper sheet. 
     The printing apparatus  11  includes an apparatus main body  12 . The apparatus main body  12  has predetermined lengths as a width, a depth and a height, respectively, while mounted in a place of usage. In the drawing, the direction of gravity is indicated by the Z axis assuming that the printing apparatus  11  is placed on a horizontal plane, and the directions along a plane intersecting the Z axis are indicated by the X axis and the Y axis. The X axis, Y axis, and Z axis are perpendicular to each other. Therefore, the X axis and the Y axis are along the horizontal plane. When the depth direction of the apparatus main body  12  is indicated by the Y axis, the width direction of the apparatus main body  12  is indicated by the X axis. Therefore, in this specification, the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are coordinate axes indicating the lengths of the width, the depth, and the height, respectively. In the following description, the X-axis direction is also referred to as a width direction X, the Y-axis direction as a depth direction Y, and the Z-axis direction as a vertical direction Z. 
     The outer surfaces of the apparatus main body  12  include an upper surface  12 A and a front surface  12 B that adjoiningly intersects the upper surface  12 A. The printing apparatus  11  has, on the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12 , a paper feeding port  60  for feeding a medium S. The apparatus main body  12  of the present embodiment includes a casing  13  and a lid  14  attached to the casing  13 . The casing  13  has an opening portion  13   a  on its upper surface. The lid  14  is attached to the casing  13  so as to close the opening portion  13   a . In the present embodiment, the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12  is formed by the upper surface of the lid  14 . The front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12  is formed by the front surface of the casing  13 . The casing  13  and the lid  14  may be integrally formed. 
     The printing apparatus  11  includes a mounting portion  15  and a lower medium setting portion  16 . The mounting portion  15  and the lower medium setting portion  16  are disposed in the apparatus main body  12  in order from a bottom portion side, which is the lower side in the vertical direction Z, to the upper side. A discharge port  17  through which the printed medium S is discharged, a discharge tray  18  extending forward from the discharge port  17 , and an operation portion  19  for operating the printing apparatus  11  are disposed on the front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12 . The discharge port  17 , the discharge tray  18 , and the operation portion  19  are disposed above the lower medium setting portion  16 . The medium S discharged from the discharge port  17  is placed on the discharge tray  18 . The operation portion  19  includes, for example, buttons and the like. The front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12  has a height and a width, and is a side surface on which operations are mainly performed for the printing apparatus  11 . In the apparatus main body  12 , the direction toward a rear surface  12 C opposite to the front surface  12 B is the depth direction Y. In the present embodiment, the rear surface  12 C of the apparatus main body  12  is formed by the rear surface of the casing  13 . 
     The mounting portion  15  is covered with a rotatable front lid  21  forming a portion of the front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12 . The mounting portion  15  is configured so that one or more containers  22  are mounted therein. The mounting portion  15  of the present embodiment is configured so that four containers  22  are mounted therein. The containers  22  are detachable from the mounting portion  15 . Each of the containers  22  is configured so that a liquid housing portion  22 A that houses the liquid is mounted therein. The liquid housing portions  22 A are detachable from the containers  22 . The liquid housed in the liquid housing portions  22 A is a liquid used by the printing apparatus  11  to print on the medium S. 
     The liquid housing portions  22 A house different types of liquid. The different types of liquid are, for example, inks of different colors such as black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Each of the containers  22  can be mounted in the mounting portion  15  by itself without the liquid housing portions  22 A held therein. The mounting portion  15  may be configured to enable the liquid housing portions  22 A to be mounted therein without using the containers  22 . That is, the mounting portion  15  is configured so that the liquid housing portions  22 A are mounted therein. The liquid housing portions  22 A are, for example, ink packs. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the lower medium setting portion  16  is configured so that a medium housing portion  23  is mounted therein. The medium housing portion  23  is configured to house the medium S. The medium housing portion  23  can house the medium S in a state where, for example, a plurality of media S are stacked. The medium housing portion  23  is detachable from the lower medium setting portion  16 . That is, the medium housing portion  23  is provided at a lower portion of the apparatus main body  12  and is detachable from the apparatus main body  12 . 
     The medium housing portion  23  is formed in a box shape with an upper portion thereof open. On an inner bottom surface  23   a  of the medium housing portion  23 , the media S, prior to printing by the printing apparatus  11 , are placed in a stacked state. The front surface of the medium housing portion  23  forms a portion of the front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12  when the medium housing portion  23  is mounted in the apparatus main body  12 . 
     The printing apparatus  11  includes a printing unit  25  and a medium supporting portion  26 . The printing unit  25  and the medium supporting portion  26  are housed in the apparatus main body  12 . The printing unit  25  and the medium supporting portion  26  are located above the lower medium setting portion  16 . The printing unit  25  prints on the medium S using a liquid. The medium supporting portion  26  is disposed so as to face the printing unit  25  in the vertical direction Z and supports the medium S, on which printing is performed by the printing unit  25 , from below. The printing unit  25  of the present embodiment has a head  25 A from which liquid is ejected onto the medium S, and a carriage  25 B on which the head  25 A is mounted. The carriage  25 B is configured to reciprocate in the width direction X. 
     The printing apparatus  11  includes liquid tubes  71  that connect the liquid housing portions  22 A mounted in the mounting portion  15  and the printing unit  25  to each other. The liquid tubes  71  extend in the apparatus main body  12 . The liquid tubes  71  guide the liquid from the liquid housing portions  22 A mounted in the mounting portion  15  to the printing unit  25 . The printing unit  25  performs printing on the medium S using the liquid supplied from the liquid housing portions  22 A via the liquid tubes  71 . 
     The printing apparatus  11  includes a lower feeding path  27  that guides the medium S housed in the medium housing portion  23 , a supplying portion  28  that supplies the medium S from the medium housing portion  23 , and a lower feeding portion  29  that feeds the medium S along the lower feeding path  27 . The lower feeding path  27  is a path extending from the lower medium setting portion  16  toward the printing unit  25 . The lower feeding path  27  is configured to guide the medium S from the medium housing portion  23  toward the printing unit  25 . 
     The lower feeding path  27  has a second curved portion  27   a  for inverting the medium S in the course of guidance. The second curved portion  27   a  is provided in a middle portion of the lower feeding path  27 . The second curved portion  27   a  in the present embodiment is a portion curved so as to invert the medium S in the lower feeding path  27 . The lower feeding path  27 , as indicated by a chain line in  FIG. 2 , extends upward from the rear of the lower medium setting portion  16 , curves toward the front of the printing apparatus  11  in order to invert the medium S, and extends to a position between the printing unit  25  and the medium supporting portion  26 . 
     The supplying portion  28  supplies the medium S housed in the medium housing portion  23  mounted in the lower medium setting portion  16  to the lower feeding path  27 . The supplying portion  28  includes a pickup roller  31 , a separate roller  32 , a retard roller  33 , and a pressing roller  34 . The pickup roller  31  rotates in a state of being in contact with the surface of the medium S housed in the medium housing portion  23  mounted in the lower medium setting portion  16 , thereby taking the medium S out from the medium housing portion  23 . The separate roller  32  and the retard roller  33  rotate in a state in which the medium S taken out from the medium housing portion  23  by the rotation of the pickup roller  31  is nipped from both the front and rear sides, thereby supplying the medium S to the lower feeding path  27 . 
     The pickup roller  31  is disposed above a rear end portion of the medium housing portion  23 , which is mounted in the lower medium setting portion  16 , in the depth direction Y. The pickup roller  31  rotates in a forward rotation direction which is a counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 2 , thereby taking the medium S out from the medium housing portion  23 . The separate roller  32  and the retard roller  33  are disposed further to the rear side in the depth direction Y than the pickup roller  31  and are opposed to each other so as to nip the medium S from both the front and rear sides. The retard roller  33  is positioned below the separate roller  32 . The rear side in the depth direction Y is the rear surface  12 C side in the apparatus main body  12 . 
     The retard roller  33  is a roller that is driven to rotate following the rotation of the separate roller  32 . The retard roller  33  is configured so that the friction coefficient with respect to the medium S is larger than that of the separate roller  32 . When a plurality of media S are taken out from the medium housing portion  23  in a state of being overlapped with each other, the separate roller  32  and the retard roller  33  separate and transport the media S one by one due to this difference in friction coefficient. The pressing roller  34  is disposed on the opposite side to where the separate roller  32  and the retard roller  33  are positioned with respect to the pickup roller  31 , that is, in front of the pickup roller  31  in the depth direction Y. The pressing roller  34  presses the medium S housed in the medium housing portion  23  from above. 
     The lower feeding portion  29  feeds the medium S supplied by the supplying portion  28  along the lower feeding path  27 . The lower feeding portion  29  has a plurality of rollers arranged along the lower feeding path  27 . The lower feeding portion  29  of the present embodiment has a first feeding roller  35  and a second feeding roller  36 . In the lower feeding path  27 , the first feeding roller  35  and the second feeding roller  36  are disposed in order from upstream. 
     The lower feeding portion  29  may be configured to have rollers other than the first feeding roller  35  and the second feeding roller  36 . In the present embodiment, the first feeding roller  35  is disposed immediately above the separate roller  32 . The first feeding roller  35  feeds the medium S while curving the medium S at the second curved portion  27   a . Therefore, the second curved portion  27   a  of this embodiment is a portion curved by the first feeding roller  35  in the lower feeding path  27 . The medium S fed through the lower feeding path  27  is curved along the circumferential surface of the first feeding roller  35  at the second curved portion  27   a.    
     The first feeding roller  35  transports the medium S fed by the supplying portion  28  while curving the medium S along the lower feeding path  27  from the upper side to the second feeding roller  36  in front. The first feeding roller  35  may transport the medium S supplied from the paper feeding port  60  disposed on the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12  to the middle of the lower feeding path  27  and transport it forward. The second feeding roller  36  is provided at a position downstream in the lower feeding path  27  and is arranged adjacent to the medium supporting portion  26 . The second feeding roller  36  transports the medium S transported by the first feeding roller  35  forward along the lower feeding path  27 . 
     The printing apparatus  11  includes a guide path  76  configured to guide the medium S from the printing unit  25  to the lower feeding path  27  so as to perform printing on both sides of the medium S. The guide path  76  extends from between the printing unit  25  and the medium supporting portion  26  so as to be linked to the lower feeding path  27 . The guide path  76  passes under the first feeding roller  35 . 
     The medium S supplied from the lower medium setting portion  16  or an upper medium setting portion  50  is printed on one side thereof by the printing unit  25 . When the second feeding roller  36  rotates in a reverse direction, the medium S printed on one side is fed through the guide path  76 . The medium S printed on one side is fed to the lower feeding path  27  via the guide path  76 . 
     The posture of the medium S fed through the lower feeding path  27  is inverted by the second curved portion  27   a . As a result, the medium S has a posture in which the other side opposite to the one side faces the printing unit  25 . In this manner, the printing apparatus  11  prints on both sides of the medium S. 
     The lower feeding portion  29  transports the medium S taken out from the medium housing portion  23  by the pickup roller  31  onto the medium supporting portion  26  disposed downstream in the lower feeding path  27 . At this time, after the medium S has been taken out from the medium housing portion  23  to the rear side, because it is fed to the front side while being curved toward the medium supporting portion  26 , the posture of the medium S is inverted vertically from when the medium S is located inside the medium housing portion  23  to when it is positioned on the medium supporting portion  26 . The width direction of the medium S to be fed coincides with the width direction X of the apparatus main body  12 . The medium S on which printing by the printing unit  25  has been completed is discharged onto the discharge tray  18  from the discharge port  17  located in front of the printing unit  25  in the apparatus main body  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the lid  14  has a first lid  41  and a second lid  42 . The first lid  41  is located on an upper surface of the casing  13  near the rear surface  12 C of the apparatus main body  12 . The first lid  41  is fixed to the casing  13 . The second lid  42  is located close to the front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12  on the upper surface of the casing  13 . The second lid  42  is attached to the casing  13  so as to cover the opening portion  13   a  formed on the upper surface of the casing  13 . 
     The second lid  42  is attached to the casing  13  via a hinge  42   a . The second lid  42  is configured to pivot with respect to the casing  13  by the hinge  42   a . The second lid  42  is configured to be displaced between an open position in which the opening portion  13   a  is open and a closed position in which the opening portion  13   a  is closed. The second lid  42  illustrated in  FIG. 3  is positioned at the open position. By positioning the second lid  42  at the open position, the interior of the apparatus main body  12  can be visually recognized from the opening portion  13   a.    
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the printing apparatus  11  includes the upper medium setting portion  50 . The upper medium setting portion  50  is provided on the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12 . The printing apparatus  11  includes an upper feeding path  52  extending from the upper medium setting portion  50  toward the printing unit  25 . The upper medium setting portion  50  is located above the lower medium setting portion  16 . In the vertical direction Z, the printing unit  25  is positioned between the upper medium setting portion  50  and the lower medium setting portion  16 . 
     The upper medium setting portion  50  includes a medium placement surface  51  on the upper surface of the lid  14  that forms the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12 . The medium placement surface  51  is formed on the upper surface of the lid  14  at a center portion thereof in the width direction X. The medium placement surface  51  is composed of a first placement surface  41   a  provided on the upper surface of the first lid  41  and a second placement surface  43  provided on the upper surface of the second lid  42 . The first placement surface  41   a  is inclined so as to descend in the depth direction Y. That is, the first placement surface  41   a  is inclined so as to descend from the front surface  12 B side to the rear surface  12 C side of the apparatus main body  12 . 
     The second placement surface  43  is composed of an upstream horizontal surface  43   a  and a downstream inclined surface  43   b . The upstream horizontal surface  43   a  is positioned close to the front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12  on the upper surface of the second lid  42 . The downstream inclined surface  43   b  is positioned close to the rear surface  12 C of the apparatus main body  12  on the upper surface of the second lid  42 . The upstream horizontal surface  43   a  and the downstream inclined surface  43   b  are continuous in the depth direction Y. The downstream inclined surface  43   b  and the first placement surface  41   a  of the second placement surface  43  are continuous in the depth direction Y. As described above, the upstream horizontal surface  43   a , the downstream inclined surface  43   b , and the first placement surface  41   a  are continuous in the depth direction Y, whereby the medium placement surface  51  is formed. 
     An inclined surface  45 , which is continuous and inclined so as to descend in the depth direction Y, is formed by the downstream inclined surface  43   b  of the second placement surface  43  and the first placement surface  41   a . The medium placement surface  51  is formed by the upstream horizontal surface  43   a  and the inclined surface  45 . The inclined surface  45  is positioned lower than the upstream horizontal surface  43   a  in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the inclined surface  45  is provided so as to be recessed from the upstream horizontal surface  43   a . Due to the inclined surface  45 , a recessed portion recessed from the upstream horizontal surface  43   a  is provided on the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12 . 
     When the medium S placed on the medium placement surface  51  is a postcard, the entire medium S is placed on the inclined surface  45 . In this case, the medium S is housed in the recessed portion. When the medium S placed on the medium placement surface  51  is an A4 size sheet, the medium S is placed on the upstream horizontal surface  43   a  and the inclined surface  45 . In this case, a portion of the medium S is housed in the recessed portion. A pair of edge guides  44  that can slide reciprocally in the width direction X are provided on the first placement surface  41   a . The medium S placed on the first placement surface  41   a  is positioned in the width direction X by being interposed between the pair of edge guides  44 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , an inverting cover  59  is attached to the first lid  41 . The inverting cover  59  forms the upper medium setting portion  50 . The inverting cover  59  is attached so as to pivot with respect to the first lid  41 . The inverting cover  59  is configured to be displaceable between an open position where the first placement surface  41   a  of the medium placement surface  51  is exposed and a closed position where the inverting cover  59  covers the first placement surface  41   a  from the upper side. The inverting cover  59  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is positioned at the closed position. The inverting cover  59  illustrated in  FIG. 4  is positioned at the open position. 
     The paper feeding port  60  is formed on the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12 . The paper feeding port  60  enables the medium S to be fed into the apparatus main body  12 . When the inverting cover  59  is positioned at the closed position, the paper feeding port  60  of the present embodiment is formed between the first placement surface  41   a  having a downward slope toward the rear surface  12 C of the apparatus main body  12  and a front end of the inverting cover  59 , which is horizontal, on the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12 . 
     The paper feeding port  60  is formed so as to face the front surface  12 B side of the apparatus main body  12 . With respect to the positional relationship with the paper feeding port  60 , the medium placement surface  51  is provided so as to extend toward the paper feeding port  60  along a paper feeding direction from a position closer to the front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12  than is the paper feeding port  60 . The media S may be fed one by one by manual insertion by the user via the paper feeding port  60  or a plurality of media S may be fed collectively. 
     The first lid  41  is provided downstream in the paper feeding direction when viewed from the paper feeding direction. The second lid  42  is provided upstream in the paper feeding direction. The first placement surface  41   a  of the medium placement surface  51  is inclined so as to descend from upstream to downstream in the paper feeding direction, the upstream horizontal surface  43   a  of the second placement surface  43  is located upstream in the paper feeding direction, and the downstream inclined surface  43   b  is inclined so as to descend from upstream to downstream in the paper feeding direction downstream of the upstream horizontal surface  43   a  in the paper feeding direction. 
     The inclined surface  45  of the medium placement surface  51  is formed such that the downstream inclined surface  43   b  of the second placement surface  43  and the first placement surface  41   a  are continuous in the paper feeding direction. The inclined surface  45  is inclined so as to descend from upstream to downstream in the paper feeding direction. 
     The printing apparatus  11  includes the upper feeding path  52  configured to guide the medium S fed from the paper feeding port  60  toward the printing unit  25 . The medium S fed from the paper feeding port  60  is fed to the printing unit  25  via the upper feeding path  52  provided in the apparatus main body  12 . An end portion of the upper feeding path  52 , as indicated by a chain line in  FIG. 2 , on the opposite side to the end portion on the side of the paper feeding port  60  is joined to the lower feeding path  27  on the peripheral surface of the first feeding roller  35 . 
     The upper feeding path  52  has a first curved portion  52   a  for inverting the medium S in the course of guidance. The first curved portion  52   a  is provided in a middle portion of the upper feeding path  52 . The first curved portion  52   a  is a portion curved in order to invert the medium S in the upper feeding path  52 . The upper feeding path  52  extends downward from a position closer to the rear surface  12 C of the apparatus main body  12  than is the paper feeding port  60  by the first curved portion  52   a  and then curves toward the front obliquely downward where a junction point of the lower feeding path  27  is located. When the medium S passes through the first curved portion  52   a  in the upper feeding path  52 , the front and rear sides thereof become inverted. 
     The printing apparatus  11  is configured such that the innermost portion of the first curved portion  52   a  and the second curved portion  27   a  overlap in the depth direction Y when viewed from the upper surface. That is, the upper feeding path  52  and the lower feeding path  27  extend within the apparatus main body  12  so that the innermost portion of the first curved portion  52   a  and the second curved portion  27   a  overlap in the depth direction Y. In this way, the upper feeding path  52  and the lower feeding path  27  can be made compact. Consequently, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus  11 . In particular, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus  11  in the depth direction Y. In the present embodiment, the innermost portion of the first curved portion  52   a  is located above the second curved portion  27   a . The innermost portion of the first curved portion  52   a  is a rearmost portion of the first curved portion  52   a . That is, the innermost portion of the first curved portion  52   a  in this embodiment is a portion of the first curved portion  52   a  farthest in the depth direction Y from the front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12 . 
     The printing apparatus  11  is configured such that the first curved portion  52   a  and the carriage  25 B overlap in the vertical direction Z. That is, the upper feeding path  52  extends within the apparatus main body  12  such that the first curved portion  52   a  and the carriage  25 B overlap in the vertical direction Z. In this way, the upper feeding path  52  can be made compact. Consequently, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus  11 . In particular, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus  11  in the vertical direction Z. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the printing apparatus  11  includes an upper feeding portion  53  that feeds the medium S along the upper feeding path  52 . The upper feeding portion  53  includes a pair of first rollers  54  and a pair of second rollers  55 . In the upper feeding path  52 , the pair of first rollers  54  and the pair of second rollers  55  are located closer to the side where the paper feeding port  60  is located than is the first curved portion  52   a . The upper feeding portion  53  feeds the medium S toward the printing unit  25  via the upper feeding path  52  by the pair of first rollers  54  and the pair of second rollers  55 , which correspond to a pair of feeding rollers, rotating while nipping the medium S, which has been fed from the paper feeding port  60 , from the front and rear sides. In this respect, the upper feeding path  52  is capable of guiding the medium S fed from the paper feeding port  60  toward the printing unit  25  in the apparatus main body  12 , and functions as a feeding path having, in its middle portion, the first curved portion  52   a  for inverting the medium S in the course of guidance. 
     In the upper feeding path  52 , the pair of first rollers  54  are located closer to the side where the paper feeding port  60  is located than are the pair of second rollers  55 . That is, the pair of first rollers  54  are located upstream of the pair of second rollers  55  in the upper feeding path  52 . In the depth direction Y, the pair of first rollers  54  of the present embodiment are located closer to the front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12  than are the pair of second rollers  55 . 
     The pair of first rollers  54  are formed of a driving roller  54 A provided on the inverting cover  59  and a separation roller  54 B provided on the first lid  41 . The separation roller  54 B is configured so that the friction coefficient of the outer peripheral surface thereof with respect to the medium S is larger than the friction coefficient of the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller  54 A with respect to the medium S. The separation roller  54 B is configured to rotate at a slightly lower speed than the driving roller  54 A. Even if a plurality of media S overlap and are fed, by using the difference in friction coefficient and the rotational speed difference between the outer peripheral surfaces of both the driving roller  54 A and the separation roller  54 B, the pair of first rollers  54  separate the lowermost sheet and feed it downstream in the paper feeding direction. 
     In the depth direction Y, the pair of first rollers  54  are located closer to the side where the printing unit  25  is located than is the first feeding roller  35 . Consequently, the printing apparatus  11  can be made compact. In the depth direction Y, the pair of first rollers  54  of the present embodiment are located closer to the front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12  than is the first feeding roller  35 . 
     In the depth direction Y, the pair of first rollers  54  are located closer to the side where the printing unit  25  is located than is the second curved portion  27   a . Consequently, the printing apparatus  11  can be made compact. In the depth direction Y, the pair of first rollers  54  of the present embodiment are located closer to the front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12  than is the second curved portion  27   a.    
     The pair of second rollers  55  are formed of a driving roller  55 A provided on the inverting cover  59  and a driven roller  55 B provided on the first lid  41 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the pair of second rollers  55  are provided so that the nipping point at which the medium S is nipped by the driving roller  55 A and the driven roller  55 B is located on an extension line L of the inclined surface  45  of the medium placement surface  51 . The pair of second rollers  55  are driven so as to rotate and so as to transport the medium S at the same transport speed as the pair of first rollers  54 . The separation roller  54 B and the driven roller  55 B rotate together with the rotation of the pair of driving rollers  54 A and  55 A. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the driving rollers  54 A and  55 A are, as a delivery roller unit  56 , swingably supported by the inverting cover  59 . The delivery roller unit  56  includes a frame body  57  having a generally rectangular shape in plan view. Inside the frame body  57 , the driving rollers  54 A and  55 A are supported so as to be rotatable around axes S 1  and S 2  extending in the width direction X of the apparatus main body  12  in a state where the driving rollers  54 A and  55 A are juxtaposed parallel to each other. In the frame body  57 , the driving roller  55 A and the driven roller  55 B of the pair of second rollers  55  are always arranged on the swing fulcrum side of the frame body  57  so that the driving roller  55 A and the driven roller  55 B always come into contact with each other, and the driving roller  54 A of the pair of first rollers  54  is disposed on the front side of the driving roller  55 A. 
     The delivery roller unit  56  is configured to be displaceable between a delivery position where the driving roller  54 A of the pair of first rollers  54  is in contact with the separation roller  54 B and a non-delivery position where it is separated upward from the separation roller  54 B. 
     The upper feeding portion  53  includes stoppers  58  disposed at positions interposing the pair of first rollers  54  in the width direction X. The stoppers  58  are arranged at positions where the medium S inserted toward the pair of first rollers  54  comes into contact when the delivery roller unit  56  is in the non-delivery position. In addition, the stoppers  58  are adapted to retreat toward the inverting cover  59  when the delivery roller unit  56  is in the delivery position. The lower portion of the delivery roller unit  56  enters a recessed portion formed by provision of the inclined surface  45 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the printing apparatus  11  includes a maintenance mechanism  81  for maintaining the printing unit  25 . The maintenance mechanism  81  is configured to receive the liquid discharged as waste liquid from the printing unit  25 . The maintenance mechanism  81  is positioned so as to be adjacent to the medium supporting portion  26  in the width direction X. 
     Maintenance of the printing unit  25  includes, for example, flushing, cleaning, and the like. Flushing is an operation in which the printing unit  25  ejects liquid irrespective of printing. Cleaning is, for example, an operation of forcibly ejecting liquid from the printing unit  25  by using a pump or the like. By flushing and cleaning, thickened liquid can be discharged in the printing unit  25 . Thereby, the printing quality of the printing apparatus  11  is maintained. 
     The printing apparatus  11  has a waste liquid box  82  that stores waste liquid from the printing unit  25 . The waste liquid box  82  is positioned so as to be adjacent to the maintenance mechanism  81  in the depth direction Y. The waste liquid box  82  houses the waste liquid discharged to the maintenance mechanism  81 . The waste liquid box  82  may be configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body  12 . In this way, the waste liquid box  82  can be exchanged. The waste liquid box  82  may directly house waste liquid from the printing unit  25 . 
     The printing apparatus  11  is configured such that the upper feeding path  52  and the waste liquid box  82  overlap each other in the depth direction Y. That is, the upper feeding path  52  extends inside the apparatus main body  12  so as to overlap with the waste liquid box  82  in the depth direction Y. In this way, the upper feeding path  52  can be made compact. In the present embodiment, the upper feeding path  52  is provided so that the first curved portion  52   a  and the waste liquid box  82  overlap in the depth direction Y. The first curved portion  52   a  of the present embodiment is, in the upper feeding path  52 , a portion from the nip point of the pair of second rollers  55  to a junction point where the upper feeding path  52  and the lower feeding path  27  join. 
     The liquid tubes  71  extend in the width direction X in the apparatus main body  12 . The liquid tubes  71  are configured to follow the movement of the carriage  25 B. The liquid tubes  71  have a turn-back portion  72  that turns back in the width direction X. The turn-back portion  72  is formed in the middle of the liquid tubes  71 . The liquid tubes  71  of the present embodiment have the turn-back portion  72  curved in a U shape. As the carriage  25 B moves, the position where the turn-back portion  72  of the liquid tubes  71  is formed moves. In this manner, the liquid tubes  71  deform so as to follow the movement of the carriage  25 B. 
     The printing apparatus  11  is configured such that the turn-back portion  72  and the upper feeding path  52  overlap each other in the vertical direction Z. That is, the upper feeding path  52  extends within the apparatus main body  12  so as to overlap the turn-back portion  72  of the liquid tubes  71  when viewed from the front surface in the vertical direction Z. In this way, the upper feeding path  52  can be made compact. Consequently, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus  11 . In particular, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus  11  in the vertical direction Z. In the present embodiment, the upper feeding path  52  is provided so that the first curved portion  52   a  and the turn-back portion  72  overlap. 
     Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. Further, as a prerequisite for the explanation, in a stage before the operation portion  19  is operated, it is assumed that the delivery roller unit  56  is in the delivery position where the driving roller  54 A is in contact with the separation roller  54 B and the stoppers  58  are in a position retracted toward the inverting cover  59 . 
     When printing is performed by the printing unit  25  on the medium S fed by manual insertion into the upper medium setting portion  50 , the medium S is inserted from the paper feeding port  60  until it comes into contact with the nip point of the pair of first rollers  54  and the medium S is made to reach the upper feeding portion  53 . At this time, the end of the medium S abuts against the pair of first rollers  54 , but, because it is not yet curved at this point and is in a flat state along the medium placement surface  51 , curving, which is likely to occur when the medium S abuts against the pair of first rollers  54  in a curved state, is suppressed. When the operation portion  19  is operated to start printing, the pair of first rollers  54  are driven to feed the medium S toward the pair of second rollers  55  positioned downstream in the paper feeding direction. At this time, the end of the medium S abuts against the pair of second rollers  55 , but, because it is not yet curved at this point and is in a flat state along the medium placement surface  51 , curving, which is likely to occur when the medium S abuts against the pair of second rollers  55  in a curved state, is suppressed. The pair of second rollers  55  rotate so as to transport the medium S at the same transport speed as that of the pair of first rollers  54  and feed the medium downstream in the paper feeding direction. 
     The medium S fed by the upper feeding portion  53  is inverted via the first curved portion  52   a  of the upper feeding path  52  and then fed toward a junction point of the lower feeding path  27  located on the peripheral surface of the first feeding roller  35 . The first feeding roller  35  feeds the medium S while curving the medium S along the lower feeding path  27  from the upper side to the front side. The second feeding roller  36  transports the medium S fed by the first feeding roller  35  forward along the lower feeding path  27 . The medium S transported onto the medium supporting portion  26  is printed on by the printing unit  25 . The medium S on which printing has been completed is discharged from the discharge port  17  onto the discharge tray  18 . 
     Next, effects of the above embodiment will be described. 
     (1) The innermost portion of the first curved portion  52   a  of the upper feeding path  52  that guides the medium S fed from the paper feeding port  60  that opens on the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12  and the second curved portion  27   a  of the lower feeding path  27  that guides the medium S from the medium housing portion  23  that houses the medium S overlap in the depth direction Y. Consequently, the upper feeding path  52  and the lower feeding path  27  can be made compact. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus  11 . 
     (2) The upper feeding path  52  and the turn-back portion  72  of the liquid tube  71  overlap in the vertical direction Z when viewed from the front surface. Consequently, the upper feeding path  52  can be made compact. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus  11 . 
     (3) The upper feeding path  52  and the waste liquid box  82  overlap in the depth direction Y. Consequently, the upper feeding path  52  can be made compact. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus  11 . 
     (4) The first curved portion  52   a  and the carriage  25 B overlap in the vertical direction Z. Consequently, the upper feeding path  52  can be made compact. 
     (5) By providing the guide path  76 , duplex printing for printing on both sides of the medium S can be executed. 
     (6) In the depth direction Y, the pair of first rollers  54  are located closer to the side where the printing unit  25  is located than is the first feeding roller  35 . Consequently, the printing apparatus  11  can be made compact. 
     (7) In the depth direction Y, the pair of first rollers  54  are located closer to the side where the printing unit  25  is located than is the second curved portion  27   a . Consequently, the printing apparatus  11  can be made compact. 
     (8) The medium S, which is fed from the paper feeding port  60  into the apparatus main body  12  and is guided toward the printing unit  25  via the upper feeding path  52 , strikes the pair of first rollers  54  before the end thereof reaches the first curved portion  52   a  in the upper feeding path  52 . Then, from this state, the pair of first rollers  54  rotate while nipping the medium S from the front and rear sides so that the fed medium S is fed to the printing unit  25  along the first curved portion  52   a . That is, even though the fed medium S curves when it passes through the first curved portion  52   a  of the upper feeding path  52 , the medium S abuts against the pair of first rollers  54  before curving and does not become curved. Therefore, it is possible to suppress curving of the fed medium S when it is fed through a curved path toward the printing unit  25  in the apparatus main body  12 . 
     (9) The paper feeding port  60  opens toward the front surface  12 B of the apparatus main body  12 , and on the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12 , the medium placement surface  51  on which the medium S can be placed is provided so as to be located closer to the front surface  12 B side than is the paper feeding port  60  and so as to extend along the paper feeding direction toward the paper feeding port  60 . As a result, the user can place the medium S for paper feeding from the front surface  12 B side of the apparatus main body  12  on the medium placement surface  51  provided on the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12 , and the medium S can be easily fed from the paper feeding port  60  into the upper feeding path  52  by sliding it rearward from the front surface  12 B side along the medium placement surface  51 . 
     (10) The medium placement surface  51  is provided on the upper surface of the lid  14 , and the lid  14  includes the first lid  41  disposed downstream in the paper feeding direction and the second lid  42  disposed upstream in the paper feeding direction. The first lid  41  is fixed to the casing  13  and the second lid  42  is attached to the casing  13  so as to be displaceable between an open position in which the opening portion  13   a  is open and a closed position in which the opening portion  13   a  is closed. As a result, even if the medium placement surface  51  is provided on the upper surface of the lid  14 , the interior of the casing  13  can be viewed by displacing the second lid  42  of the lid  14  to the open position. 
     (11) The medium placement surface  51  has the inclined surface  45  which is inclined so as to descend from upstream to downstream in the paper feeding direction. As a result, by utilizing the inclination of the inclined surface  45  of the medium placement surface  51 , the medium S placed on the medium placement surface  51  is easily fed to the paper feeding port  60 . In addition, on the upper surface  12 A of the apparatus main body  12 , the height of the portion provided with the inclined surface  45  can be lower than the height of the portion without the inclined surface  45 . 
     (12) The medium placement surface  51  has the first placement surface  41   a  disposed on the upper surface of the first lid  41  and the second placement surface  43  disposed on the upper surface of the second lid  42 , and the first placement surface  41   a  is inclined so as to descend from upstream to downstream in the paper feeding direction. The second placement surface  43  includes the upstream horizontal surface  43   a  positioned upstream in the paper feeding direction and the downstream inclined surface  43   b  that is inclined so as to descend from upstream to downstream in the paper feeding direction downstream of the upstream horizontal surface  43   a  in the paper feeding direction, and the inclined surface  45  is formed in which the downstream inclined surface  43   b  and the first placement surface  41   a  are continuous in the paper feeding direction. As a result, for example, compared with the case where an inclined surface is provided only in the first lid  41 , the area of the inclined surface  45  in the medium placement surface  51  is increased. Therefore, it becomes easier to feed the medium S placed on the medium placement surface  51  toward the paper feeding port  60 . 
     (13) On the first placement surface  41   a , the edge guides  44  that enable positioning of the medium S placed on the medium placement surface  51  in the width direction X are provided. As a result, it is possible to suppress skewing with respect to the paper feeding direction from occurring on the medium S placed on the medium placement surface  51  by the edge guides  44 . 
     The present embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The present embodiment and the following modification examples can be implemented in combination with each other to the extent that they do not conflict technically. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the printing apparatus  11  may be provided with a rear side printing path  90  for printing on the rear side of the medium S. In this modification example, the printing apparatus  11  is provided with the rear side printing path  90  instead of the guide path  76 . The printing apparatus  11  may include both the guide path  76  and the rear side printing path  90 . 
     The rear side printing path  90  is a path extending from a position downstream of the printing unit  25  to a position upstream of the printing unit  25 . The rear side printing path  90  extends so as to surround the medium supporting portion  26 . The rear side printing path  90  has a third curved portion  90   a  for inverting the medium S in the course of guidance. 
     The third curved portion  90   a  is provided in a middle portion of the rear side printing path  90 . The third curved portion  90   a  is a portion of the rear side printing path  90  that is curved. When the medium S is switched back after passing through the printing unit  25 , the medium S is guided to the rear side printing path  90 . The posture of the medium S is inverted at the third curved portion  90   a  when being fed along the rear side printing path  90 . Therefore, by feeding the medium S via the rear side printing path  90 , it is possible to print on the rear side of the medium S. 
     In this modification example, in the depth direction Y, the pair of first rollers  54  are located closer to the side where the printing unit  25  is located than is the third curved portion  90   a . As a result, the rear side printing path  90  becomes compact. As a result, the printing apparatus  11  becomes compact. 
     According to this modification example, the following effects can be obtained. 
     (14) In the depth direction Y, the pair of first rollers  54  are located closer to the side where the printing unit  25  is located than is the third curved portion  90   a . Consequently, the printing apparatus  11  can be made compact. 
     The edge guides  44  of the medium placement surface  51  may be omitted. 
     The edge guides  44  may be provided on the downstream inclined surface  43   b  of the second lid  42  or may be provided on the upstream horizontal surface  43   a.    
     The upstream horizontal surface  43   a  of the second lid  42  may be omitted, the entire upper surface of the second lid  42  may be inclined, and the inclined surface  45  may be formed by the entire upper surface of the second lid  42  and the first placement surface  41   a  of the first lid  41 . 
     The entire upper surface of the second lid  42  may be a horizontal surface and the inclined surface  45  may be formed of only the first placement surface  41   a  of the first lid  41 . 
     The inclined surface  45  need not be provided on the upper surface of the lid  14  and the medium placement surface  51  may be a horizontal surface. 
     In the lid  14 , the first lid  41  may be attached to the casing  13  so as to be pivotable, the opening portion  13   a  of the casing  13  can be covered with the first lid  41 , and the second lid  42  may be fixed to the casing  13 . 
     The driving roller  54 A of the pair of first rollers  54  and the driving roller  55 A of the pair of second rollers  55 , which make up a portion of the upper feeding portion  53 , are disposed in the inverting cover  59 ; however, the entirety of the upper feeding portion  53  may be disposed in the lid  14  or in the inverting cover  59 . 
     The pair of feeding rollers may be formed of only the pair of second rollers  55  and the pair of first rollers  54  may be omitted. 
     The medium S is not limited to paper, but may be a plastic film or the like. 
     The liquid ejected by the printing unit  25  is not limited to ink and, for example, may be a liquid body in which particles of a functional material are dispersed or mixed in a liquid or the like. For example, the printing unit  25  may eject a liquid body containing a material such as an electrode material or a coloring material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescence display, a surface emitting display, or the like in a dispersed or dissolved form. 
     The technical ideas grasped from the embodiment and the modification examples described above and the operation effects thereof are described below. 
     A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that performs printing on a medium by using a liquid; an apparatus main body that houses the printing unit therein, that is configured to have outer surfaces that include an upper surface and a front surface that adjoiningly intersects the upper surface, and that includes a paper feeding port provided on the upper surface; an upper feeding path configured to guide the medium fed from the paper feeding port toward the printing unit and including a first curved portion in a middle portion thereof for inverting the medium in a course of the guidance; a medium housing portion provided on a lower portion of the apparatus main body and configured to house the medium; and a lower feeding path configured to guide the medium from the medium housing portion toward the printing unit and including a second curved portion in a middle portion thereof for inverting the medium in a course of the guidance, in which an innermost portion of the first curved portion overlaps the second curved portion in a depth direction from the front surface toward a rear surface, which is on a side opposite to the front surface, of the apparatus main body when viewed from the upper surface. 
     According to this configuration, the innermost portion of the first curved portion of the upper feeding path that guides the medium fed from the paper feeding port that opens on the upper surface of the apparatus main body and the second curved portion of the lower feeding path that guides the medium from the medium housing portion that houses the medium overlap. Consequently, the upper feeding path and the lower feeding path can be made compact. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus. 
     A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that performs printing on a medium by using a liquid; an apparatus main body that houses the printing unit therein, that is configured to have outer surfaces that include an upper surface and a front surface that adjoiningly intersects the upper surface, and that includes a paper feeding port provided on the upper surface; an upper feeding path configured to guide the medium fed from the paper feeding port toward the printing unit and including a first curved portion in a middle portion thereof for inverting the medium in a course of the guidance; a mounting portion configured so that a liquid housing portion for housing the liquid is mounted therein; and a liquid tube for guiding the liquid from the liquid housing portion mounted in the mounting portion to the printing unit, in which the printing unit has a carriage configured to move in a width direction of the medium, the liquid tube extends in the width direction and has a turn-back portion, which turns back, in a middle portion thereof, and the upper feeding path and the turn-back portion overlap in a vertical direction when viewed from the front surface. 
     According to this configuration, because the upper feeding path overlaps the turn-back portion of the liquid tube in the vertical direction, the upper feeding path can be made compact. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus. 
     A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that performs printing on a medium by using a liquid; an apparatus main body that houses the printing unit therein, that is configured to have outer surfaces that include an upper surface and a front surface that adjoiningly intersects the upper surface, and that includes a paper feeding port provided on the upper surface; an upper feeding path configured to guide the medium fed from the paper feeding port toward the printing unit and including a first curved portion in a middle portion thereof for inverting the medium in a course of the guidance; and a waste liquid box for housing waste liquid from the printing unit, in which the upper feeding path and the waste liquid box overlap in a depth direction from the front surface toward a rear surface, which is on a side opposite to the front surface, of the apparatus main body when viewed from the upper surface. 
     According to this configuration, because the upper feeding path and the waste liquid box overlap in the depth direction, the upper feeding path can be made compact. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the printing apparatus. 
     The printing apparatus may be configured such that the first curved portion and the carriage overlap in the vertical direction. 
     According to this configuration, because the first curved portion and the carriage overlap in the vertical direction, the upper feeding path can be made compact. 
     The printing apparatus may further include a guide path configured to guide the medium from the printing unit to the lower feeding path so as to perform printing on both sides of the medium. 
     According to this configuration, duplex printing for printing on both sides of the medium can be executed. 
     The printing apparatus may further include a pair of first rollers that are located closer to a side where the paper feeding port is located than is the first curved portion in the upper feeding path and that feed the medium toward the printing unit via the upper feeding path by rotating while nipping the medium fed from the paper feeding port; and a first feeding roller that feeds the medium while the medium is curved at the second curved portion, in which the pair of first rollers may be located closer to a side where the printing unit is located than is the first feeding roller in the depth direction. 
     According to this configuration, because the pair of first rollers are located closer to the side where the printing unit is located than is the first feeding roller in the depth direction, the printing apparatus can be made compact. 
     In the printing apparatus, the pair of first rollers may be located closer to a side where the printing unit is located than is the second curved portion in the depth direction 
     According to this configuration, the printing apparatus can be made compact. 
     The printing apparatus may include a rear side printing path for performing printing on a rear side of the medium, in which the rear side printing path has a third curved portion for inverting the medium in a course of guidance and the pair of first rollers are located closer to a side where the printing unit is located than is the third curved portion in the depth direction. 
     According to this configuration, because the pair of first rollers are located closer to the side where the printing unit is located than is the third curved portion in the depth direction, the printing apparatus can be made compact. 
     A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that performs printing on a medium by using a liquid, an apparatus main body that houses the printing unit therein and that has outer surfaces that include an upper surface and a front surface that adjoiningly intersects the upper surface, a paper feeding port that is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body and that enables the medium to be fed into the apparatus main body, an upper feeding path that is capable of guiding the medium fed from the paper feeding port toward the printing unit in the apparatus main body and that has a first curved portion for inverting the medium in the course of guidance, and a pair of feeding rollers that are provided closer to a side where the paper feeding port is located than is the first curved portion in the upper feeding path and that feed the medium toward the printing unit via the upper feeding path by rotating while nipping the medium fed from the paper feeding port from both the front and rear sides. 
     According to this configuration, the medium fed from the paper feeding port into the apparatus main body and guided toward the printing unit via the upper feeding path abuts against the pair of rollers before the end thereof reaches the first curved portion in the upper feeding path. Then, from this state, the pair of rollers rotate while nipping the medium from the front and rear sides, so that the fed medium is fed to the printing unit along the first curved portion. That is, although the fed medium curves as it passes through the first curved portion of the upper feeding path, before the medium curves, the medium abuts against the pair of feeding rollers and does not become curved. Therefore, it is possible to suppress curving of the fed medium when it is fed through a curved path toward the printing unit in the apparatus main body. 
     In the printing apparatus, the paper feeding port may open toward a front surface side of the apparatus main body and a medium placement surface on which the medium can be placed may be provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body so as to extend along a paper feeding direction from the front surface side toward the paper feeding port. 
     According to this configuration, the user can place the medium for paper feeding on the medium placement surface provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body from the front surface side of the apparatus main body, and, by sliding the medium placed in such a manner rearward along the medium placement surface from the front surface side, the medium can be easily fed from the paper feeding port into the paper feeding path. 
     In the printing apparatus, the apparatus main body may include a casing having an opening portion on an upper surface thereof and a lid attached to the casing so as to close the opening portion, the medium placement surface may be provided on the upper surface of the lid, the lid may include a first lid disposed downstream in the paper feeding direction and a second lid disposed upstream in the paper feeding direction, one of the first lid and the second lid being fixed to the casing, and the other being attached to the housing so as to be displaceable between an open position in which the opening portion is open and a closed position in which the opening portion is closed. 
     According to this configuration, even if the medium placement surface is provided on the upper surface of the lid, by displacing one of the first lid and the second lid among the lids to the open position, it is possible to make the inside of the casing visible. 
     In the printing apparatus, the medium placement surface may include an inclined surface inclined so as to descend from upstream to downstream in the paper feeding direction. 
     According to this configuration, by utilizing the inclination of the inclined surface of the medium placement surface, it is easy to feed the medium placed on the medium placement surface to the paper feeding port. In addition, on the upper surface of the apparatus main body, the height of the portion provided with the inclined surface can be lower than the height of the portion without the inclined surface. 
     In the printing apparatus, the medium placement surface may have a first placement surface disposed on the upper surface of the first lid and a second placement surface disposed on the upper surface of the second lid, the first placement surface may be inclined so as to descend from upstream to downstream in the paper feeding direction, the second placement surface may include an upstream horizontal surface positioned upstream in the paper feeding direction and a downstream inclined surface that is inclined so as to descend from upstream to downstream in the paper feeding direction downstream of the upstream horizontal surface in the paper feeding direction, and the inclined surface may be formed so that the downstream inclined surface of the second placement surface and the first placement surface are continuous in the paper feeding direction. 
     As a result, for example, compared with the case where an inclined surface is provided only in the first lid, the area of the inclined surface in the medium placement surface is increased. Therefore, it becomes easier to feed the medium placed on the medium placement surface toward the paper feeding port. 
     In the printing apparatus, on the first placement surface, edge guides that enable positioning of the medium placed on the medium placement surface in the width direction may be provided. 
     According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress skewing of the medium placed on the medium placement surface with respect to the paper feeding direction from occurring by the edge guides.