Patent Publication Number: US-7591552-B2

Title: Liquid ejecting apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting liquid droplets to a target medium, and more particularly, to a liquid ejecting apparatus configured to be able to transport a plate-shaped member such as a tray on which a disk-shaped target medium is mounted. 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus is not limited to a recording apparatus, such as a printer, a copier, or a facsimile, which employs an ink jet recording head and ejects ink from the recording head to a recording medium, to thus effect recording. The liquid ejecting device is employed to encompasses an apparatus that ejects a liquid appropriate to an application, in place of ink from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the ink jet recording head onto a target medium corresponding to a recording medium, thereby causing the liquid to adhere to the medium. 
     In addition to the recording head, the liquid ejecting head encompasses a coloring material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filer such as a liquid-crystal display or the like; an electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting head used for forming electrodes, such as an organic EL display or a field emission display (FED) or the like; a bio-organic substance ejecting head used for manufacturing a bio-chip; a sample ejecting head serving as a precision pipette; and the like. 
     Some of ink jet printers, which are examples of the recording apparatus or liquid ejecting apparatus, are configured to be able to take as a recording medium an optical disk, or the like, which is typified by a CD-R or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or the like, and to eject ink droplets onto a print face of the recording medium. As described in, e.g., Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2004-106344A and 2003-211757A, an optical disk is generally set, in such an ink jet printer, on a plate-shaped tray. The optical disk is transported along a transporting path in the ink jet printer while remaining set on the tray. The label face is subjected to ink jet recording. 
     Incidentally, an ejector disposed downstream of a recording section has an ejecting roller to be rotationally driven and an ejecting follower roller which is rotationally driven while remaining in contact with the ejecting roller. In order to prevent occurrence of a white patch of ink or transfer of ink, the ejecting follower roller adopts a spur roller having a plurality of teeth provided over an outer periphery of the roller However, some of the optical disks have a data storage area located immediately below the label face of the optical disk. When the ejecting follower roller (the spur roller) comes into contact with the label face of such an optical disk, there may arise a case where damage is inflicted on the data storage area located immediately below the label face. 
     Therefore, in an ink jet printer configured to be able to subject a label face of an optical disk, or the like, directly to ink jet recording, the ejecting follower roller is configured to retractably come into contact with the ejecting roller, as described in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2004-130774A, 2004-42382A, and 2003-211757A. When the label face of the optical disk is subjected to ink jet recording operation, the ejecting follower roller is configured to be retracted from the ejecting roller (i.e., the label face of the optical disk). 
     However, each of the above ink jet printers has been desired to be enhanced in view of the points provided below. 
     First, a recording apparatus described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-130774A is configured such that a frame supporting the ejecting follower roller is joined to an ejected sheet stacker by a link mechanism. The frame (the ejecting follower roller) is vertically actuated in accordance with operation for switching the position of the ejected sheet stacker. Accordingly, as a result of adoption of such a link mechanism, the configuration has become likely to incur a cost hike associated with an increase in the number of parts. 
     Second, a recording apparatus described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-42382A is configured such that an attachment (an optical disk transporter) is removably attached to a main body of the recording apparatus, and such that the ejecting follower roller is caused to retract from the ejecting roller by actuating a slide cover forming the attachment. Accordingly, a cost hike associated with an increase in the number of parts is likely to be incurred, and a predetermined operation must be performed. For these reasons, the recording apparatus cannot always be said to be user-friendly. 
     Third, a recording apparatus described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-211757A is configured such that, when the tray member on which an optical disk is mounted is set in the recording apparatus, the tray member pushes by itself a release roller provided on a frame provided with the ejecting follower roller ascends. This configuration enables reliable release of the ejecting follower roller without involvement of a special operation, but involves a disadvantage of the inability to ensure a large release stroke of the frame. In order to retain the frame in a retracted position in a stable state (posture), placing a plurality of release rollers in the widthwise direction of the tray member is desirable. However, the release rollers obstruct an ejection of a cut sheet and, hence, must be disposed outside the transporting path of the cut sheet. Consequently, when the release rollers are provided on both sides of the transporting path of the cut sheet, the width of the tray member must be increased correspondingly. 
     In addition to the above-described problems, problems such as those provided below are also encountered. In the ink jet printer, the recording medium is transported by a transporter provided upstream of an ink jet recording head. The tray member on which the optical disk is set is also transported by the transporter as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-106344A or Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-211757A. 
     The transporter is formed by comprising a transporting roller to be rotationally driven and a transporting follower roller which is rotationally driven while remaining in contact with the transporting roller. However, the transporting follower roller is provided so as to come into press contact with the transporting roller in order to ensure a high accuracy of transport during transport of the recording medium, such as a cut sheet. When the transporting follower roller comes into press contact with the label face of the optical disk set on the tray at the time of the tray being transported by the transporter of the above configuration, there may be a risk of a passage trace of the ejecting follower roller being formed on the label face. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide, at low cost, a user-friendly liquid ejecting apparatus wherein an ejection follower roller can be retracted from a label face of an optical disk without a special operation and size increasing of a tray member mounting the optical disk. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of preventing a passage trace of an ejecting follower roller from being formed on a label face of an optical disk mounted on a tray member, whereby maintaining a superior recording result. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, according to the invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising: 
     a transporting path, adapted to transport a first target medium in a first direction, and to transport a second target medium in the first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction; 
     a liquid ejecting head, adapted to eject liquid droplets toward the first target medium and the second target medium; 
     a first roller and a second roller, disposed in a downstream side of the liquid ejecting head relative to the first direction, and adapted to nip the first target medium therebetween; 
     a supporting member, supporting the second roller and movable between a first position at which the second roller comes in contact with the first roller and a second position at which the second roller is separated from the first roller; and 
     a releaser, rotatably supported on the supporting member and operable to move the supporting member between the first position and the second position in accordance with the rotation thereof, the releaser comprising a lever which is projected into the transporting path when the supporting member is placed in the first position, 
     wherein the lever is adapted to be pushed by a leading edge of the second target medium transported in the second direction, thereby receding from the transporting path and rotating the releaser in a such a direction that the releaser moves the supporting member to the second position. 
     With this configuration, since the supporting member is displaced to the second position by rotation of the releaser, a large release stroke of the supporting member can be ensured. Cost-reduction can be achieved without involvement of an increase in the number of components as in the case of adoption of a link mechanism. As a result of the second target medium being inserted into the transporting path, the second roller is reliably dissociated from the first roller without involvement of a necessity for a special operation. Hence, the user-friendly configuration can be attained. 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus may further comprise an urging member, which urges the releaser so as to rotate in such a direction that the releaser moves the supporting member to the first position. 
     With this configuration, when the second target medium is transported in the first direction (ejected), the lever acts so as to push the leading edge of the second target medium in the first direction. Consequently, the second target medium can be ejected smoothly. 
     The releaser may comprise at least one pressing member adapted to press the second target medium toward the first roller when the supporting member is placed in the second position. 
     With this configuration, lifting of the second target medium can be prevented, and the second target medium can be reliably prevented from contacting the separated second roller. 
     The press member may be a roller. 
     With this configuration, the second target medium can be smoothly transported without involvement of infliction of load. 
     A plurality of press members may be arranged in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, so as to be symmetrical with a center of the second target medium relative to the third direction. 
     With this configuration, the second target medium can be appropriately transported without being skewed. 
     The press member may project toward the transporting path when the lever recedes from the transporting path, and may recede from the transporting path when the lever project toward the transporting path. 
     With this configuration, the second target medium can be reliably prevented from contacting the separated second roller. 
     The press member may be disposed at an area in which the first target medium passes when the lever projects into the transporting path. 
     With this configuration, an increase in the dimension of the second target medium in the third direction can be prevented. In addition, passage of the first target medium is not obstructed. 
     The releaser may comprise a regulator, which regulates an attitude of the supporting member to be horizontal. 
     The upstream side of the supporting member relative to the first direction is used as an operation area of the liquid ejection head. When the supporting member assumes an inclined attitude in such a case, the upper end portion of the supporting member becomes prone to interfere with the operation of the liquid ejecting head. However, with the above configuration, the upper side edge section of the supporting member hardly Interferes with the operation of the liquid ejecting head. Therefore, there is no necessity for operation of greatly separating the supporting member from the liquid ejecting head, thereby preventing an increase in the size of the apparatus. 
     The regulator may comprise a positioning member having a stopper face facing the supporting member, and a projection provided on the supporting member projecting toward the stopper face. In this case, the projection is abutted against the stopper face, thereby defining the second position of the supporting member. 
     With this configuration, the supporting member can be retained in the second position with a simple configuration. 
     The regulator may comprise an urging member which urges the projection toward the stopper face. 
     With this configuration, the supporting member can be retained at the second position in a more stable manner. 
     The releaser may be disposed in a downstream side of the second roller relative to the first direction. 
     With this configuration, when there is adopted a configuration for inserting the second target medium from a downstream side of the second roller relative to the first direction, the second target medium can be prevented from contacting the separated second roller. 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus may further comprise a stopper which prevents the second target medium from entering the transporting path when the supporting member is placed in the first position. 
     With this configuration, there can be prevented occurrence of a problem of the second target medium contacting the second roller as a result of the second target medium being inserted from an inappropriate position (e.g., a position where the second target medium is not brought into contact with the lever). 
     The second target medium may be transported while being mounted on a tray. 
     With this configuration, a label face of an optical disk or the like can be subjected to the liquid ejection as the second target medium. 
     According to the invention, there is also provided a liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising: 
     a transporting path, adapted to transport a first target medium in a first direction, and to transport a tray in the first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, the tray having a first face on which a second target medium is mounted and a second face opposite to the first face; 
     a liquid ejecting head, adapted to eject liquid droplets toward the first target medium and the second target medium; 
     a first roller, adapted to come in contact with the second face of the tray; and 
     a second roller, adapted to come in contact with the first face of the tray so as to avoid the second target medium. 
     With this configuration, a passage trace of the second roller for transporting the tray is prevented from being left on the second target medium, so that a condition of the second target medium obtained by the liquid ejection can be maintained. In addition, if the second roller were passed over the second target medium, there may arise a case where the accuracy of transport of the tray is adversely affected as a result of the second roller passing over the steps at the boundary between the tray and the second target medium. However, with the above configuration, occurrence of a drop in the accuracy of transport, such as that mentioned previously, can be prevented. 
     The first roller and a third roller may be disposed in a downstream side of the liquid ejecting head relative to the first direction, and are adapted to nip the first target medium therebetween and to eject the first target medium toward an outside of the liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid ejecting apparatus may further comprise a releaser, operable to move the third roller between a first position at which the third roller comes in contact with the first roller and a second position at which the third roller is separated from the first roller. In this case, the second roller projects into the transporting path to press the second target medium toward the first roller when the third roller is placed in the second position. 
     With this configuration, the tray is transported by the first roller and the second roller disposed in the downstream side of the liquid ejecting head relative to the first direction. Namely, the third roller for transporting the first target medium is not utilized. Therefore, the force used for nipping the tray can be readily optimized. Consequently, infliction of damage on the tray, which would otherwise be caused by forcefully nipping the tray, can be prevented. Moreover, since a leading end portion of the tray does not need to be nipped by the first roller and the third roller during the liquid ejecting operation, the dimension of the leading end portion of the tray can be reduced, and an attempt can be made to miniaturize the tray. 
     The first roller and a third roller may be disposed in a downstream side of the liquid ejecting head relative to the first direction, and are adapted to nip the first target medium therebetween and to eject the first target medium toward an outside of the liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid ejecting apparatus may further comprise: a supporting member, supporting the third roller and movable between a first position at which the third roller comes in contact with the first roller and a second position at which the third roller is separated from the first roller; and a releaser, rotatably supported on the supporting member and operable to move the supporting member between the first position and the second position in accordance with the rotation thereof, the releaser comprising a lever which is projected into the transporting path when the supporting member is placed in the first position. In this case, the lever is adapted to be pushed by a leading edge of the second target medium transported in the second direction, thereby receding from the transporting path and rotating the releaser in a such a direction that the releaser moves the supporting member to the second position. 
     With this configuration, the supporting member is displaced to the second position by rotation of the releaser. Accordingly, a large release stroke of the supporting member can be ensured. Cost-reduction can be achieved without involvement of an increase in the number of components as in the case of adoption of a link mechanism. As a result of the second target medium being inserted into the transporting path, the second roller is reliably separated from the first roller without Involvement of a necessity for a special operation. Hence, user-friendly configuration can be attained. 
     The first roller and the second roller may be disposed in an upstream side of the liquid ejecting head relative to the first direction, and are adapted to nip the first target medium therebetween. In this case, the liquid ejecting apparatus may further comprise a releaser, operable to move the second roller between a first position at which the second roller comes in contact with the first roller and a second position at which the second roller is separated from the first roller. 
     With this configuration, a high degree of transport accuracy can be achieved at the time of transport of the tray. In general, such a first roller may be formed from a metal shaft element. Hence, the tray having a rigid body can be transported by the first roller having high strength. Therefore, durability of the apparatus can be enhanced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a front section of an ink jet printer according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic section view of the ink jet printer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a tray member to be inserted into the ink jet printer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a leading end portion of the tray member; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a frame assembly of an ejector in the ink jet printer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the frame assembly; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a releaser body incorporated in the frame assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of a longitudinal end portion of the releaser body, showing a state that the releaser body is fitted with the frame assembly; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic section view of the ejector in the ink jet printer of  FIG. 1 , showing a state that an ejecting follower roller comes in contact with an ejecting roller; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic section view of the ejector in the ink jet printer of  FIG. 1 , showing a state that the ejecting follower roller is retracted from the ejecting roller; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a front section of an ink jet printer according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the front section of the ink jet printer of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of a tray member to be inserted into the ink jet printer of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic section view of an ejector in the ink jet printer of  FIG. 11 , showing a state that an ejecting follower roller comes in contact with an ejecting roller; and 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic section view of the ejector in the ink jet printer of  FIG. 11 , showing a state that the ejecting follower roller is retracted from the ejecting roller. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     An ink jet printer (hereinafter simply called a “printer”)  1 , which is employed as an example of a recording apparatus or a liquid ejecting apparatus, will be described as a first embodiment. In the following description, the right direction (the front side of the printer) in  FIG. 2  will be referred to as “downstream” relative to a transporting direction of a recording medium (target medium). The left direction (the rear side of the printer) will be referred to as “upstream” relative to the transporting direction. 
     A feeder  2 , into which recording media (target media) P in a cut-sheet form (hereinbelow referred to as “sheet P”) can be set in an inclined posture, is provided in a rear section of the printer  1 . A sheet P is fed from the feeder  2  to a transporter  4  located downstream. The thus-fed sheet P is transported downstream to a recording section  3  by the transporter  4 , whereby recording is effected. The sheet P recorded by the recording section  3  or an optical disk D (a tray  50 ) is discharged forward of the recording apparatus by an ejector  5  located downstream. The transporter  4  and the ejector  5  also transport the tray  50  to be described later. The recording section  3  subjects the optical disk D which is set in the tray  50  also serves as a “recording medium” or a “target medium.” 
     Constituent elements disposed in the medium transporting path of the printer  1  will be described in more detail. The feeder  2  is constructed of a hopper  11 , a feeding roller  12 , a retard roller  13 , and a returning lever  14 . 
     The hopper  11  is formed from a plate-shaped element and constructed to be able to pivot about a pivot center (not shown) provided in an upper part of the hopper  11 . As a result of the hopper  11  pivoting, the inclined sheet P supported on the hopper  11  is brought into press contact with the feeding roller  12  or caused to retract from the feeding roller  12 . The feeding roller  12  essentially assumes the shape of the letter D when viewed from the side. The feeding roller  12  feeds downstream the top sheet P, which remains in press contact with an arcuate portion of the D-shaped cross section of the feeding roller  12 . During the course of the sheet P being transported by the transporter  4  after feeding of the sheet P, the transporter  4  is controlled such that a flat portion of the D-shaped cross section of the feeding roller  12  opposes the sheet P as illustrated, so as to prevent occurrence of transport load. 
     The retard roller  13  is provided so as to be able to come into press contact with the arcuate portion of the feeding roller  12 . When overlapping transfer of the sheets P does not arise and only one sheet P is being fed, the retard roller  13  comes into contact with the sheet P to be thus rotated (clockwise in  FIG. 2 ) When a plurality of the sheets P are present between the feeding roller  12  and the retard roller  13 , the retard roller  13  does not rotate and remains stationary, because the frictional coefficient between the sheets P is lower than the frictional coefficient between the sheet P and the retard roller  13 . Consequently, sheets P, which are subsequent to the top sheet P and are about to be delivered In an overlapping manner along with the top sheet P to be fed, do not proceed downstream from the retard roller  13 , thereby preventing overlapped delivery of the sheets P. The returning lever  14  is pivotably provided and performs operation for returning to the hopper  11  sheets P, which are subsequent to the top sheet and have been prevented from being delivered in an overlapping manner. 
     A sensor (not shown) for detecting passage of the sheet P and a guide roller  26 , which sets an attitude for feeding the sheet P and prevents the sheet P from contacting the feeding roller  12  to thus lessen transport load, are interposed between the feeding device  2  and the transporter  4 . In the present embodiment, the guide roller  26  is rotatably supported by an upstream end of an upper guide  24 . 
     The transporter  4  provided downstream of the feeder  2  comprises a transporting roller  30  rotationally driven by a motor and a transporting follower roller  31  which comes into press contact with the transporting roller  30  and rotates in a following manner. The transporting roller  30  is formed from an adhesion layer which is formed by dispersing, in an essentially uniform manner, wear-and-abrasion resistant particles over an outer peripheral surface of a metal shaft extending in the widthwise direction of the sheet. An outer peripheral surface of the transporting follower roller  31  is formed from low frictional material, such as an elastomer or the like A plurality of the transporting follower rollers  31  are provided around the transporting roller  30  in the axial direction thereof. 
     In the present embodiment, two transporting follower rollers  31  are axially supported by a downstream end portion of one upper paper guide  24  so as to be able to freely rotate. As shown in  FIG. 1 , three transporting follower rollers  31  are arranged side by side on the paper guide  24  in the widthwise direction of the sheet A shaft  24   a  is axially supported by a main frame  23 , and hence the sheet guide  24  is pivotable about the shaft  24   a  when the medium transporting path is viewed from the side. The transporting follower rollers  31  are urged by a coil spring  25  in a direction to come into press contact with the transporting roller  30 . 
     The sheet P having reached the transporter  4  is transported to the recording section  3  located downstream, by rotation of the transporting roller  30 , while being nipped between the transporting roller  30  and the transporting follower rollers  31 . 
     The recording section  3  comprises an ink jet recording head (hereinafter referred to as a “recording head”)  36  and a lower guide  37  provided so as to oppose the recording head  36 . The recording head  36  is provided at the bottom of a carriage  33 , and the carriage  33  is driven so as to move back and forth in the primary scanning direction by an unillustrated motor while being guided by a carriage guide shaft  34  extending in the primary scanning direction. The carriage  33  carries ink cartridges  35  of a plurality of colors which are independent of each other, and supplies ink to the recording head  36 . 
     Ribs (not shown) and a recess (not shown), where ink is discarded, are formed on a surface of the lower guide  37  opposing the recording head  36 , which defines a distance between the sheet P and the recording head  36 . Ink ejected to an area outside the edges of the sheet P is discarded to the recess, thereby effecting so-called marginless printing where printing is carried out so as not to leave margins on the sheet P. 
     Subsequently, a guide roller  43  and the ejector  5  are provided downstream of the recording head  36 . The guide roller  43  exhibits the function of preventing lift of the sheet P from the lower guide  37 , to thus maintain the distance between the sheet P and the recording head  36  constant. The ejector  5  comprises an ejecting roller  41  to be rotationally driven by the unillustrated motor; and an ejecting follower roller  42  which comes into contact with the ejecting roller  41  and is rotated in a driven manner. In the present embodiment, the ejecting roller  41  is formed from a rubber roller, and a plurality of the ejecting rollers  41  are provided around a shaft element, which is rotationally driven, in an axial direction thereof (see  FIG. 11 ). 
     The ejecting follower roller  42  is formed from a toothed roller having a plurality of teeth provided along an outer periphery thereof. A plurality of the ejecting follower rollers  42  are provided in a frame assembly  45 , which is elongated in the primary scanning direction, so as to correspond to the plurality of ejecting rollers  41 . The sheet P, on which information is recorded by the recording section  3 , is rotationally driven by the ejecting rollers  41  while being nipped between the ejecting rollers  41  and the ejecting follower rollers  42 , and is ejected forward of the recording apparatus to an ejected sheet stacker (not shown). 
     The frame assembly  45  is provided in such a way that the assembly can be displaced by a releaser  6  (described later) so as to be able to assume a contact position where the ejecting follower rollers  42  come into contact with the ejecting rollers  41 , and a retracted position where the ejecting follower rollers  42  are retracted from the ejecting rollers  41 . 
     The printer  1  is configured so as to be able to subject a label face of an optical disk such as a CD-R directly to ink jet recording, in addition to the recording medium of cut-sheet form. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the optical disk D is transported along a linear tray transporting path of the printer  1  while being mounted on the plate-shaped tray  50 . The tray  50  is formed separately from the printer  1 , and is manually inserted, toward the rearward direction (upstream) of the printer  1 , into the tray transporting path while remaining supported by a tray guide  7  provided at the front of the printer  1 . 
     The configuration of the tray  50  will be described hereunder by reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tray  50  assumes a rectangular shape when viewed from above; forms the shape of a plate which enables nipping action by the transporting roller  30  and the transporting follower roller  31 ; and is able to effect feeding in the secondary scanning direction in association with rotation of the transporting roller  30 . 
     The tray  50  is formed integrally from a resin material so as to have a tray body  51  and a disk holding section  52 . As illustrated, the disk holding section  52  is formed by a recessed section having a circular shape when viewed from above. A protrusion  53  is formed in the center of the disk holding section  52 . When the optical disk D is set in the disk holding section  52 , the protrusion  53  fits into a center hole (not shown) of the optical disk D, whereby the position of the optical disk D in the disk holding section  52  is determined. Holes  54  formed in the perimeter of the disk holding section  52  are holes used for removing the optical disk D from the disk holding section  52 . 
     The upper-lower direction of  FIG. 3  corresponds to the transporting direction of the tray  50 . The tray  50  is inserted (fed) into the transporting path of the tray  50  by way of the tray guide  7 , an upper portion of the tray in  FIG. 3  is inserted as a leading end. Specifically, reference numeral  56  designates the leading edge of the tray  50 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , tabs  57  are formed integrally on the tray  50  so as to protrude in the inserting direction of the tray  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , each of the tabs  57  is thinned toward the tip end thereof, and the bottom surface of the tab  57  is made flat and flash with the bottom surface of the tray body  51 . Similarly, the leading edge  56  of the tray  50  is also formed so as to become thinned toward the front. 
     When the tray  50  is inserted into the transporting path of the tray  50 , the leading edge  56  of the tray  50  is inserted rearward of the printer  1 . At this time, the ejecting follower roller  42  is retracted from the ejecting roller  41  by the releaser  6  to be described later, and a press roller  63  (see  FIG. 2 ) advances to the transporting path. The tray  50  is sandwiched between the ejecting roller  41  and the press roller  63  (when the transporting path is viewed from the side). When the ejecting roller  41  is rotationally driven in this state, the tray  50  is transported toward the transporter  4 . 
     In order to feed the tray  50  in the secondary scanning direction by the transporting roller  30  and the transporting follower roller  31 , the leading edge  56  of the tray  50  must be inserted between the transporting roller  30  and the transporting follower roller  31 . Here, since the tabs  57  are formed at the leading edge  56  of the tray  50 , the tabs  57  first enter between the transporting roller  30  and the transporting follower roller  31  when the tray  50  is transported toward the transporter  4  in association with rotation of the ejecting roller  41 . The leading edge  56  of the tray  50  then enters between the transporting roller  30  and the transporting follower roller  31 , and the tray  50  is nipped between the rollers. 
     Specifically, since the area of the leading end of the tray  50  (when viewed from above) is made much smaller by the tabs  57 , the leading edge  56  of the small  50  can be readily caused to enter between the transport driver roller  30  and the transporting follower roller  31 . Thus, the tray  50  can be caused to enter between the drive roller  30  and the transporting follower roller  31  without use of a special mechanism for retracting the transporting follower roller  31  from the transporting roller  30 . 
     The frame assembly  45  and the releaser  6  for displacing the frame assembly  45  from the contact position to the retracted position will be described in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the frame assembly  45  comprises a frame  46  formed from a metal plate material, and a roller support  47  formed from resin material. The frame assembly  46  has a shape extending in the primary scanning direction (i.e., the widthwise direction of a sheet P). 
     Holders  44 , each of which rotatably supports the ejecting follower roller  42 , are integrally formed in the roller support  47 . Bearings  47   a , which rotatably support the releaser body  60  to be described later, are also formed integrally in the roller support  47 . 
     Ribs  47   b  shown in  FIG. 6  are guide ribs used for smoothly guiding the sheet P downstream when the sheet P is ejected. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the releaser body  60  of the releaser  6  is formed from an axial element which extends in the primary scanning direction. As shown in detail in  FIG. 8 , shaft end  60   a  of the releaser body  60  are fitted to the bearings  47   a  by snap-fitting action. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the frame  46  is fitted to the roller support  47 , so that a retainer  46   a  formed in the frame  46  reliably retains the shaft end  60   a  such that the shaft end  60   a  does not come off the bearing  47   a.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a lever  61  is formed in the vicinity of one shaft end  60   a  of the releaser body  60 . Moreover, the press rollers  63  formed from, e.g., a rubber roller are rotatably supported by bearings  62  which are in the vicinity of the lever  61  and the other shaft end  60   a.    
     Operation of the releaser body  60  will be described hereinbelow particularly in connection with a relationship between the lever  61  and the press roller  63 , by reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     In  FIG. 9 , which shows the contact position of the frame assembly  45 , the lever  61  protrudes into the transporting path of the tray  50  as illustrated, and the press roller  63  remains receded from the transporting path of the tray  50 . The releaser body  60  is provided such that the lever  61  is urged so as to protrude into the transporting path of the tray  50  (the direction of arrow “d” in  FIG. 9 ) by unillustrated urging member (e.g., a torsion spring). 
     In this state, when the tray  50  is manually inserted into the tray transporting path from the forward of the apparatus (i.e., a downstream position of the tray transporting path) to the rearward direction of the apparatus (i.e., an upstream position of the tray transporting path) in the direction of arrow “e” shown in  FIG. 9 , the tray  50  lifts the lever  61  as shown in  FIG. 10 . The releaser body  60  rotates, and the frame assembly  45  is upwardly displaced in association with rotation of the releaser body  60 . As a result, the releaser body  60  being displaced upwardly, the frame  45  is displaced from the contact position to the retracted position. 
     A guide frame  48  is provided at a position above the frame assembly  45 , and a projection  45   a  projecting toward the guide frame  48  is formed at a downstream end of the roller support  47 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , as a result of the projection  45   a  coming into contact with a lower face of the guide frame  48  (a face opposing the frame assembly  45 ), the frame assembly  45  is positioned in the retracted position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the frame assembly  45  is retained in an essentially horizontal attitude in the retracted position. The reason for this is that a position above and upstream of the frame assembly  45  is a primary scanning area of the carriage  35  as illustrated. For instance, when the attitude of the frame assembly  45  becomes inclined such that the upstream side of the frame assembly  45  is oriented upward, the upstream end of the frame assembly  45  interferes with the carriage  35 . Accordingly, as a result of the frame assembly  45  being held in the horizontal attitude in the retracted position as mentioned previously, occurrence of interference is prevented without greatly separating the frame assembly  45  from the carriage  35 , which in turn prevents an increase in the size of the apparatus. 
     A coil spring  49  is interposed between the frame assembly  45  and the guide frame  48 , and imparts urging force such that the upstream side of the frame assembly  45  is retracted from the guide frame  48 . The urging force of the coil spring  49  acts so as to generate a pressing force, by which the press roller  63  presses the tray  50  toward the ejecting roller  41 , and compressing force for bringing the projection section  45   a  into press contact with the guide frame  48 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 10 , according to the principle of a lever consisting of a power point “a”, a fulcrum “b”, and a working point “c”, the frame assembly  45  can stably hold the retracted position, and the tray  50  can be reliably pressed toward the ejecting roller  41 . 
     As has been described above, since the frame assembly  45  is displaced to the retracted position by rotation of the releaser body  60 , a large release stroke of the frame assembly  45  can be ensured. Further, in comparison with the case of adoption of a link mechanism or the like, the releaser  6  can be constituted at low cost without involvement of an increase in the number of components. Further, as a result of the tray  50  being inserted into the transporting path, the tray  50  displaces by itself the frame assembly  45  from the contact position to the retracted position. Therefore, the ejecting follower roller  42  can be reliably retracted from the ejecting roller  41  without involvement of a necessity for special operation. Moreover, since the tray  50  is pressed by the press roller  63  toward the ejecting roller  41 , lifting of the tray  50 ; i.e., occurrence of contact between the optical disk D set In the tray  50  and the ejecting follower roller  42 , can be prevented reliably. Moreover, since the press roller  63  is freely rotatable, the transport load arising during transport of the tray  50  can be minimized. 
     As indicated by a change from  FIG. 9  to  FIG. 10 , the press roller  63  advances into the transporting path in association with receding operation of the lever  61  from the transporting path, to thereby press the tray  50  toward the ejecting roller  41 . Consequently, the tray  50  is sandwiched between the ejecting roller  41  and the press roller  63  (when the transporting path is viewed from the side). 
     By rotation of the ejecting roller  41 , the tray  50  is transported upstream. According to the tabs  57  formed at the leading end of the tray  50 , the leading edge  56  of the tray  50  smoothly enters between the transporting roller  30  and the transporting follower roller  31 , whereby the tray  50  becomes nipped between the transporting roller  30  and the transporting follower roller  31 . In subsequent operation, the tray  50  is fed downstream in the secondary scanning direction by rotation of the transporting roller  30 . The recording head  36  performs recording of information onto the optical disk D. 
     When the tray  50  is ejected in the direction of arrow “f” in  FIG. 9 , the releaser body  60  is urged so as to pivot in the direction of arrow “d.” Therefore, the lever  61  acts so as to push the leading edge  56  of the tray  50  in the ejecting direction. The ease of output of the tray  50  is thus enhanced, so that the tray  50  can be ejected smoothly. 
     An area B in the primary scanning direction in  FIG. 12  represents an area through which the sheet P passes, and an area A represents an area through which the tray  50  passes. As illustrated, the press rollers  63  are situated in the area B. As shown in  FIG. 9 , when the medium transporting path is viewed from the side, the press rollers  63  recede from the area where the sheet P passes in a case where the frame assembly  45  is placed in the contact position. Further, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the press rollers  63  advance into the area where the sheet P passes in a case where the frame assembly  45  is placed in the retracted position. 
     When the press roller  63  is placed outside of the area B where the sheet P passes, so as not to obstruct passage of the sheet P, the widthwise dimension of the area A; namely, the widthwise dimension of the tray  50 , becomes greater accordingly. However, the press rollers  63  are located within the area B where the sheet P passes in the primary scanning direction, whereby an increase in the widthwise dimension of the tray  50  can be prevented. In a state where the sheet P passes (i.e., the contact position of the frame assembly  45  shown in  FIG. 9 ), the press rollers  63  recede from the passage area of the sheet P, and hence passage of the sheet P is not obstructed. 
     A plurality of press rollers  63  (two press rollers in the present embodiment) are provided. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the positions of the press rollers  63  become symmetrical about the center of the tray  50  in the primary scanning direction (located in the vicinity of both ends of the tray  50  in the present embodiment). Therefore, when the tray  50  is transported by the press rollers  63  and the ejecting roller  41 , the tray  50  can be transported appropriately without inducing a skew. 
     Subsequently, there will be described erroneous insert prevention means for preventing insertion of the tray  50  from an erroneous position when the frame assembly  45  is located in the contact position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , guide ribs  74 ,  75  are formed on the tray guide  7 . The guide ribs  74 ,  75  are provided on respective side edges of the tray  50 , to thus regulate the positions of the side edges of the tray  50 . The guide rib  74  has a hood section  74   a , and the guide rib  75  has a hood section  75   a . These hood sections  74   a ,  75   a  perform the function of preventing lifting of the tray  50  from the tray guide  7 . 
     In a case where the tray  50  is not correctly set by way of the guide ribs  74 ,  75 ; for instance, where the tray  50  is set such that one of the side edges of the tray  50  runs onto an upper portion of the hood section  74   a  or  75   a  and is inserted in its present form into the apparatus, if the leading edge of the tray  50  pushes the releaser body  60  upward, the frame assembly  45  will be displaced from the contact position to the retracted position. Therefore, there may arise a case where the tray  50  is inserted into the apparatus while remaining lifted from the tray guide  7 , to thus induce a problem of the optical disk CD set on the tray  50  coming into contact with the ejecting follower roller  42  or a problem of the leading edge of the tray  50  breaking constituent elements in the apparatus. 
     However, when the side edge of the tray  50  has run on the upper portion of the hood section  74   a  or  75   a , the leading edge of the tray  50  performs the function of guiding the leading edge of the tray  50  so as to come into contact with the roller support  47 . Consequently, even when the tray  50  is inserted while not being guided properly, the leading edge of the tray  50  contacts the roller support  47 , whereupon further advancement of the leading edge is prevented. Namely, the frame assembly  45  is not displaced from the contact position to the retracted position, thereby preventing occurrence of a failure, which would otherwise be caused as a result of erroneous insertion of the tray  50 . 
     Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described by reference to  FIGS. 11 to 15 . Components similar to those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and repetitive explanations for those will be omitted. 
     As mentioned previously, the press rollers  63  advance into the tray transporting path in association with receding action of the ejecting follower roller  42  as indicated by a change from  FIG. 9  to  FIG. 10 , to thus press the tray  50  toward the ejecting roller  41 . Accordingly, the tray  50  is brought into a transportable state by rotation of the ejecting roller  41 . In the first embodiment, the tray  50  is transported to the transporter  4  located upstream, by rotating the ejecting roller  41  in this state. During actual recording operation, the tray  50  is fed in the secondary scanning direction by the transporter  4 . However, in the present embodiment, even at the time of actual recording operation, the tray  50  is fed in a secondary scanning direction without use of the transporter  4 , by rotation of only the ejecting roller  41  (the transporter  4  is not used). Specifically, the ejecting roller  41  and the press roller  63  serve a tray transporter which feeds the tray  50 A in the secondary scanning direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , when the tray  50 A is inserted into the transporting path for the tray  50 A, the leading edge  56  of the tray  50 A is inserted rearward into the printer  1  by way of the tray guide  7  while the leading edge  56  is taken as a head. At this time, as mentioned previously, the ejecting follower roller  42  is retracted from the ejecting roller  41  by the releaser  6 , and the press rollers  63  advance into the transporting path. The tray  50 A is sandwiched between the ejecting roller  41  and the press rollers  63  (when the transporting path is viewed from the side). As a result of the ejecting roller  41  being rotationally driven in this state, the tray  50 A is transported. 
     The press rollers  63  are disposed on the recording face side of the optical disk D. As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the press rollers  63  are arranged so as to come into contact with the area of the tray  50 A (the tray body  51 ) other than the disk holding section  52 . Specifically, the tray transporter that transports the tray  50 A is located on the recording face side of the optical disk D, and has first rollers (the press rollers  63 ) which come into contact with the area of the tray body  51  except the disk holding section  52  and a second roller (the ejecting roller  41 ) which comes into contact with a face of the tray body  51  opposite the face thereof which the first rollers are to contact. 
     Consequently, a passage trace of the rollers is not left on the recording face of the optical disk D set on the tray  50 A, so that a superior recording result can be maintained. In addition, when the rollers pass by the disk holding section  52  of the tray  50 A, the rollers pass over a stepped shape of the disk holding section  52 , which may in turn adversely affect the accuracy of transport. However, as mentioned previously, the tray transporter contacts the area other than the disk holding section  52 . Therefore, occurrence of a decrease in the accuracy of transport, such as that mentioned previously, can be prevented. 
     Since the transporter  4  is not utilized, no consideration must be paid to the accuracy of transport of the cut-sheet form medium (particularly, a custom-designed glossy sheet, or the like, used for effecting super-high quality printing equivalent to a silver-salt picture). Pressing force of the press rollers  63  used for pressing the tray  50 A can be readily made optimal. Consequently, infliction of damage to the tray  50 A, which would be induced by forceful pressing of the tray  50 A, can be prevented. Further, the transporting roller  30  has the adhesion layer formed by essentially, uniformly dispersing abrasion-resistant particles around the peripheral surface of the metal shaft, as mentioned previously. Accordingly, infliction of damage to the tray  50 A, which would be caused when the tray  50 A is transported by such a transporting roller  30 , can be prevented. 
     In addition, the tray  50 A is manually inserted from the front side of the printer  1 . However, the leading edge of the tray  50 A does not need to be nipped by the transporter  4  during recording of information onto the optical disk D. Consequently, there can be employed a configuration where the dimension of the leading edge of the tray  50 A (i.e., the distance from the area of the disk holding section  52  to the leading edge thereof; indicated by reference symbol L) is made shorter. Thus, an attempt can be made to miniaturize the tray. 
     In the embodiment, when recording of information onto the optical disk D is commenced, the leading edge of the tray  50 A is located in a further upstream position with reference to the transporter  4 . Therefore, there is provided a releaser (not shown) for retracting the transporting follower roller  31  from the transporting roller  30 . 
     In the present embodiment, the tray transporter that transports the tray  50 A has the press rollers  63  and the ejecting roller  41 . However, the tray transporter may be constituted of the transporting roller  30  and the transporting follower roller  31 . In other words, so long as the transporting follower roller  31  is placed so as to contact the area of the tray  50 A except the disk holding section  52 , the passage trace of the rollers is not left on the recording face of the optical disk D set on the tray  50 A. A superior recording result can be maintained. 
     The object to be transported is not limited to the above-described tray  50 A. For example, any medium may be employed, so long as the medium is plate-shaped and having great rigidity; e.g., cardboard or the like. 
     Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. Such changes and modifications as are obvious are deemed to come within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention as defined in the appended claims.