Patent Publication Number: US-9421801-B2

Title: Inkjet recording apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-205988, filed on Sep. 30, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many inkjet recording apparatuses include pairs of rollers that each transport a sheet while nipping the sheet therebetween. Such a pair of rollers includes a transporting roller that rotates by receiving a driving force transmitted thereto from a motor, and a follower roller that faces the transporting roller and rotates by following the rotation of the transporting roller. The transporting roller is rotatably supported by a bearing. 
     In a known image forming apparatus, a bearing that supports a roller is attached to a frame by inserting the bearing into an opening, provided in the frame, in the axial direction of the roller. 
     SUMMARY 
     If, however, a recording unit that records an image on a sheet is supported by a frame that is separate from the frame to which the bearing is attached, the frame serving as a reference for the positioning of the recording unit is provided separately from the frame serving as a reference for the positioning of the bearing. Therefore, the accuracy in the relative positions of the recording unit and the roller that is supported by the bearing may be deteriorated. 
     In light of the above, the present invention provides a mechanism that improves the accuracy in the relative positions of a recording unit and a roller that is supported by a bearing. 
     According to the present configuration, a contact portion provided on a bearing is in contact with a first support member from below. The first support member supports a carriage that carries a recording head. Hence, the recording head and a transporting roller are positioned with reference to the first support member. Therefore, the accuracy in the relative positions of the recording head and the transporting roller is improved. 
     According to one example aspect, an inkjet recording apparatus includes a carriage configured to support a recording head that is configured to eject ink from nozzles onto a recording medium to be conveyed. The inkjet recording apparatus also includes a first support member supporting the carriage, the carriage being movable in a scanning direction orthogonal to a transporting direction of the recording medium. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a second support member configured to support the first support member, and a transporting roller extending in the scanning direction and rotatable to transport the recording medium in the transporting direction. The inkjet recording apparatus further includes a bearing disposed at the second support member and supporting the transporting roller rotatably, the bearing comprising a contact portion that contacts the first support member. 
     According to a second example aspect, a method of operation of an inkjet recording apparatus is disclosed. The method includes movably mounting a carriage to a first support member, the carriage configured to support a recording head that is configured to eject ink from nozzles onto a recording medium to be conveyed, and positioning a bearing at a second support member, the bearing rotatably supporting a transporting roller that extends in a scanning direction. The method further includes maintaining contact between a contact portion of the bearing and the first support member. 
     According to a third example aspect, an inkjet recording apparatus includes a carriage configured to support a recording head that is configured to eject ink from nozzles onto a recording medium to be conveyed. The inkjet recording apparatus also includes a guide rail supporting the carriage, the carriage being movable in a scanning direction orthogonal to a transporting direction of the recording medium, as well as at least one side frame supporting the guide rail and a transporting roller extending in the scanning direction and rotatable to transport the recording medium in the transporting direction. The inkjet recording apparatus further includes a bearing attached to the at least one side frame and supporting the transporting roller rotatably, the bearing comprising a contact portion positioned in an opening of the side frame facing the guide rail and contacting the guide rail. 
     According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the accuracy in the relative positions of the carriage that carries the recording head and the transporting roller that is supported by the bearing is improved. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, needs satisfied thereby, and the objects, features, and advantages thereof, reference now is made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a vertical sectional view schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a printer section included in the multifunction machine; 
         FIG. 3A  is a left side view schematically illustrating part of the printer section including one of guiding portions of a lever unit, a platen, and associated elements, with the lever unit residing at a rear position; 
         FIG. 3B  is another left side view schematically illustrating the part of the printer section including the guiding portion of the lever unit, the platen, and associated elements, with the lever unit residing at a front position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a pair of side frames, the guiding portions, a second roller, and bearings, with the bearings not being fitted in the respective side frames and the lever unit residing at the rear position; 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view illustrating the pair of side frames, the guiding portions, the second roller, and the bearings, with the bearings being fitted in the respective side frames and the lever unit residing at the rear position; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view schematically illustrating the lever unit; 
         FIG. 7  is a right side view illustrating one of the side frames that is on the right side and associated elements; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a guide rail, the pair of side frames, the guiding portions, the second roller, and the bearings, with the lever unit residing at the rear position; and 
         FIG. 9  is another perspective view illustrating the guide rail, the pair of side frames, the guiding portions, the second roller, and the bearings, with the lever unit residing at the front position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments given below are only an example of the present invention, and any changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the following description, a vertical direction  7  (e.g., the “up/down” direction shown in  FIG. 1 ) is defined in a state where a multifunction machine  10  is set in one possible usable manner (the state illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), an anteroposterior direction  8  is defined with a side of the multifunction machine  10  on which an opening  13  is provided being the near side (front side), and a lateral direction  9  is defined when the multifunction machine  10  is seen from the near side (front side). 
     [Overall Configuration of Multifunction Machine  10 ] 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the multifunction machine  10  has a substantially rectangular parallelpiped shape with a small thickness and includes a printer section  11  (an exemplary inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention) on the lower side thereof. The multifunction machine  10  has several functions such as a facsimile function and a printing function. The multifunction machine  10  has, as a printing function, a function of recording an image on one side of a recording sheet  12  (see  FIG. 2 ) in an inkjet manner. The multifunction machine  10  may also have a function of recording an image on each of two sides of the recording sheet  12 . 
     [Feed Tray  20 ] 
     As illustrated in the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the printer section  11  includes a housing  14 . The housing  14  has the opening  13  provided in a front wall  75  thereof. The housing  14  also has a recessed portion  80  on the front side thereof. The recessed portion  80  is recessed rearward from the opening  13 . A feed tray  20  is movable in the anteroposterior direction  8 , thereby being insertable into and removable from the recessed portion  80  through the opening  13 . The feed tray  20  is a box-like member whose upper side is open. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a stack of recording sheets  12  (pieces of an exemplary recording medium according to the present disclosure) is placed on a bottom plate  22  of the feed tray  20 . That is, the feed tray  20  is capable of storing recording sheets  12 . 
     [Output Tray  21 ] 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 2 , an output tray  21  is supported on the upper front side of the feed tray  20 . The output tray  21  is movable in the anteroposterior direction  8  together with the feed tray  20 . The output tray  21  is set in the recessed portion  80  together with the feed tray  20 . In such a state, the upper surface of the output tray  21  receives a recording sheet  12  that has been transported thereto by a second pair of rollers  44  to be described separately below. 
     [Feeding Unit  16 ] 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 2 , a feeding unit  16  is provided above the bottom plate  22  of the feed tray  20  that is set in the recessed portion  80 . The feeding unit  16  includes a feeding roller  25 , a feeding arm  26 , and a power transmitting mechanism  27 . The feeding roller  25  is supported at the distal end of the feeding arm  26 . The feeding arm  26  is rotatable in a direction of an arrow  29  about a rod  28  provided at the proximal end thereof. Hence, the feeding roller  25  is movable to and away from the stack of recording sheets  12  supported by the bottom plate  22  of the feed tray  20  or the feed tray  20 . 
     The feeding roller  25  is rotated by a driving force transmitted thereto from a transport motor (not illustrated) via the power transmitting mechanism  27 . The power transmitting mechanism  27  includes a plurality of gears that are in mesh with one another. In this manner, the uppermost one of the recording sheets  12  on the bottom plate  22  of the feed tray  20  that is in contact with the feeding roller  25  is fed into a transport path  65  to be described below. The feeding roller  25  may be rotated by a driving force transmitted thereto from a motor provided separately from the transport motor. 
     [Transport Path  65 ] 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 2 , the transport path  65  extends in the housing  14  from the rear end of the feed tray  20 . The transport path  65  includes a bent portion  33  and a linear portion  34 . The bent portion  33  extends from the rear end of the feed tray  20  while being bent upward. The linear portion  34  extends in the anteroposterior direction  8 . 
     The bent portion  33  is defined by an outer guide member  18  and an inner guide member  19  that face each other with a predetermined gap interposed therebetween. The linear portion  34  is defined, at a position where a recording unit  24  is provided, by the recording unit  24  and a platen  42  that face each other with a predetermined gap interposed therebetween. 
     The recording sheets  12  supported by the feed tray  20  are each fed into the bent portion  33  by the feeding roller  25  and is transported from the bent portion  33  to the linear portion  34  in a transporting direction  15  represented by the dash-dot-line arrow illustrated in  FIG. 2 . That is, each of the recording sheets  12  is transported in the anteroposterior direction  8  (an exemplary transporting direction according to the present disclosure) in the linear portion  34 . 
     [Recording Unit  24 ] 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 2 , the recording unit  24  is provided above the linear portion  34 . The recording unit  24  includes a carriage  40  and a recording head  38 . 
     The carriage  40  is supported by two guide rails  56  and  57  that are spaced apart from each other in the anteroposterior direction  8 , whereby the carriage  40  is movable back and forth in the lateral direction  9  (an exemplary scanning direction according to the present disclosure). The direction of the movement of the carriage  40  is the lateral direction  9  that is orthogonal to the transporting direction  15  in which the recording sheet  12  is transported, but is not limited to the lateral direction  9  as long as the direction of the movement of the carriage  40  crosses the transporting direction  15 . The guide rails  56  and  57  will be described in detail separately below. 
     The recording head  38  is carried by the carriage  40 . Ink is supplied from an ink cartridge (not illustrated) to the recording head  38 . The recording head  38  has nozzles  39  in the lower surface thereof. 
     The platen  42  is provided at a position below the recording head  38  and faces the recording unit  24 . The platen  42  supports the recording sheet  12  that is transported in the linear portion  34  of the transport path  65 . The platen  42  will be described in detail separately below. 
     While the carriage  40  is moving in the lateral direction  9 , the recording head  38  ejects ink droplets from the nozzles  39  toward the recording sheet  12  that is being transported in the transporting direction  15  while being supported by the platen  42 . Thus, an image is recorded on the recording sheet  12 . 
     [Guide Rails  56  and  57 ] 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the guide rail  56  is provided on the rear side with respect to the recording head  38  and supports a rear portion of the recording unit  24 . The guide rail  57  (an exemplary first support member according to the present invention) is provided on the front side with respect to the recording head  38  and supports a front portion of the recording unit  24 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , the guide rails  56  and  57  each include a flat portion  51  extending in the lateral direction  9 , and upright portions  83  extending upward from two respective ends, in the anteroposterior direction  8 , of the flat portion  51 . The flat portion  51  has a substantially flat-plate-like shape whose lengths in the anteroposterior direction  8  and in the lateral direction  9  are larger than that in the vertical direction  7 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the positions of the upright portions  83  are not limited to the two respective ends of the guide rail  57  in the anteroposterior direction  8 . For example, the upright portions  83  may be provided in a central part of the guide rail  57  in the anteroposterior direction  8 . Moreover, the number of upright portions  83  may be one or more. The upright portions  83  are each preferably provided at a position that does not coincide with a position of a third projecting portion  104  of a corresponding one of bearings  70 , to be described separately below, in the anteroposterior direction  8 . Nevertheless, the upright portions  83  may each be provided at a position that coincides with the position of the third projecting portion  104  of the bearing  70  in the anteroposterior direction  8 . 
     A known belt mechanism (not illustrated) is provided on the flat portion  51  of the guide rail  57 . The belt mechanism includes pulleys provided at the right and left ends, respectively, on the upper surface of the guide rail  57 , and a belt stretched between the pulleys. The belt is connected to the carriage  40  and to a carriage driving motor (not illustrated) that provides a driving force to the carriage  40 . When the carriage driving motor is activated, a driving force acting in the lateral direction  9  is transmitted to the carriage  40  via the belt mechanism. Thus, the carriage  40  moves back and forth in the lateral direction  9 . 
     [Side Frames  84 ] 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the printer section  11  includes a pair of side frames  84  (exemplary second support member according to the present invention) that are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction  9 . The pair of side frames  84  are provided on right and left sides, respectively, in the lateral direction  9  with respect to the linear portion  34 . The side frames  84  are each a substantially flat-plate-like member whose lengths in the vertical direction  7  and in the anteroposterior direction  8  are larger than that in the lateral direction  9 . 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIGS. 7 to 9 , the pair of side frames  84  are provided below the guide rail  57  and support the guide rail  57  from below. The pair of side frames  84  also support the guide rail  56  at a position  69  that is on the rear side with respect to the position where the pair of side frames  84  support the guide rail  57 . In  FIGS. 7 to 9 , the guide rail  56  is not illustrated. 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 , a lower end portion of each of the pair of side frames  84  is bent toward the other side frame  84 , that is, toward the inner side in the lateral direction  9 . Upper surfaces  67  of the bent portions support a lever unit  90  to be described separately below. 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 , the pair of side frames  84  each have a fitting portion  71  that is open in an arc shape and extends downward from the upper end thereof. The fitting portion  71  receives a corresponding one of the bearings  70  to be described separately below. 
     The pair of side frames  84  each have a projecting portion  85  (an exemplary platen contact portion according to the present invention) projecting toward the other side frame  84 . The projecting portion  85  is provided on the rear side with respect to a second roller  62  to be described separately below. The projecting portion  85  is brought into contact with the upper surface of the platen  42 , to be described separately below, from above (see  FIG. 3A ). 
     [First Pair of Rollers  59  and Second Pair of Rollers  44 ] 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 2 , a first pair of rollers  59  is provided in the linear portion  34  on the upstream side in the transporting direction  15  with respect to the recording head  38  of the recording unit  24 . The second pair of rollers  44  is provided in the linear portion  34  on the downstream side in the transporting direction  15  with respect to the recording head  38  of the recording unit  24 . 
     The first pair of rollers  59  includes a first roller  60  provided on the lower side of the linear portion  34 , and a pinch roller  61  provided on the upper side of the linear portion  34  and facing the first roller  60 . The first roller  60  and the pinch roller  61  each rotate about an axis extending in the lateral direction  9 . The pinch roller  61  is pressed against the first roller  60  by an urging member (not illustrated) such as a coil spring. Hence, when the first roller  60  rotates, the pinch roller  61  rotates by following the rotation of the first roller  60 . 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 2 , the second pair of rollers  44  includes the second roller  62  (an exemplary transporting roller according to the present invention) provided on the lower side of the linear portion  34 , and a plurality of spurs  63  (an exemplary follower roller according to the present invention) provided on the upper side of the linear portion  34  and facing the second roller  62 . 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 , the second roller  62  includes a shaft  64  extending in the lateral direction  9 , and roller members  58  provided on the shaft  64  at specific intervals in the lateral direction  9 . That is, the second roller  62  extends in the lateral direction  9 . 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 8 , the spurs  63  that are arranged at specific intervals in the lateral direction  9  face the respective roller members  58 . The spurs  63  are provided on the guide rail  57 . More specifically, a shaft extending through the spurs  63  in the lateral direction  9  is rotatably supported by supporting members  73  provided on the lower surface of the guide rail  57 . 
     The second roller  62  is urged upward by coil springs  72  (exemplary first urging members according to the present invention, see  FIG. 4 ). The coil springs  72  will now be described in detail. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the coil springs  72  are each connected to the lever unit  90  at the lower end thereof and to a corresponding one of supporting members  74  at the upper end thereof. The lever unit  90 , to be described separately below, is movable. Hence, the coil springs  72  and the supporting members  74  move together with the lever unit  90 . When the lever unit  90  is at a rear position as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the supporting members  74  are in contact with the shaft  64  of the second roller  62  from below. Hence, the coil springs  72  urge the second roller  62  upward, e.g., toward the spurs  63  when the second roller  62  and the spurs  63  are in the positions shown in  FIG. 2  and the coil springs  72  are positioned and oriented as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B . Thus, the second roller  62  and the spurs  63  are in contact with each other, and, when the second roller  62  rotates, the spurs  63  rotate by following the rotation of the second roller  62 . 
     The first roller  60  and the second roller  62  rotate by receiving a driving force transmitted thereto from the transport motor (not illustrated). When the first roller  60  rotates with a recording sheet  12  nipped between the first pair of rollers  59 , the recording sheet  12  is transported onto the platen  42  by the first pair of rollers  59 , that is, the recording sheet  12  is transported in the transporting direction  15 . When the second roller  62  rotates with the recording sheet  12  nipped between the second pair of rollers  44 , the recording sheet  12  is transported in the transporting direction  15  by the second pair of rollers  44  and is discharged onto the output tray  21  provided in the recessed portion  80 . 
     The shaft  64  of the second roller  62  is provided with gears (not illustrated) that are rotatable about the shaft  64 . The gears are in mesh with respective transmission gears so that the driving force from the transport motor is transmitted thereto. The gears on the shaft  64  are provided adjacent to the respective bearings  70  in the lateral direction  9 . The bearings  70  will be described separately below. 
     [Platen  42 ] 
     The platen  42  has a substantially flat-plate-like shape whose lengths in the anteroposterior direction  8  and in the lateral direction  9  are larger than that in the vertical direction  7 . 
     As illustrated in the examples of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the platen  42  has at the front end thereof a plurality of upper projections  76  (an exemplary roller contact portion according to the present invention) and a plurality of lower projections  77 . The upper projections  76  and the lower projections  77  extend frontward from an upper portion and a lower portion, respectively, at the front end of the platen  42 . The upper projections  76  and the lower projections  77  are arranged at specific intervals in the lateral direction  9 . The positions of the upper projections  76  and the positions of the lower projections  77  in the lateral direction  9  may be the same as or different from each other. 
     The shaft  64  of the second roller  62  is placed in a space defined between the upper projections  76  and the lower projections  77  in the vertical direction  7 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , when the lever unit  90  is at the rear position, the upper projections  76  are in contact with the shaft  64  that is urged upward by the coil springs  72 . Hence, the platen  42  is urged upward by the coil springs  72 . 
     Coil springs  78  (an exemplary second urging member according to the present invention) are provided on the rear side with respect to the upper projections  76 . The upper end of each of the coil springs  78  is connected to the lower surface of the platen  42 . The lower end of each of the coil springs  78  is connected to a corresponding one of supporting members  82 . The supporting members  82  are each supported by a corresponding one of guiding surfaces  89  of the lever unit  90 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , when the lever unit  90  is at the rear position, the platen  42  is urged upward by the coil springs  78  at positions, in the anteroposterior direction  8 , not coinciding with the position where the upper projections  76  are provided. The upper surface of the platen  42  that is urged upward by the coil springs  78  is in contact with the projecting portions  85  from below. The projecting portions  85  are provided on the respective side frames  84 . That is, the projecting portions  85  stop the upward movement of the platen  42  that is urged by coil springs  78 . Thus, the state of contact between the upper projections  76  and the shaft  64  of the second roller  62  is maintained. 
     [Bearing  70 ] 
     As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 4 , the bearings  70  each include a cylindrical body  101  having an opening  106 , a first projecting portion  102  projecting from an outer circumferential surface  105  of the cylindrical body  101 , a second projecting portion  103  spaced apart from the first projecting portion  102  in the lateral direction  9  and projecting from the outer circumferential surface  105 , and the third projecting portion  104  projecting from the second projecting portion  103 . 
     The following description of the bearing  70  is given on the basis of a state where the bearing  70  is oriented as illustrated in  FIG. 4  and with reference to the vertical direction  7 , the anteroposterior direction  8 , and the lateral direction  9 . 
     The length of the body  101  in the anteroposterior direction  8  is substantially the same as the inside diameter of the fitting portion  71 . The opening  106  is an oblong hole extending substantially in the vertical direction  7  (an exemplary direction that crosses the transporting direction and the scanning direction according to the present invention). In the embodiment, the opening  106  extends obliquely with respect to the vertical direction  7  with the upper end thereof residing on the rear side with respect to the lower end thereof. The direction in which the opening  106  extends is not limited to such a direction and may be any direction that crosses the anteroposterior direction  8  and the lateral direction  9 . For example, the opening  106  may extend in the vertical direction  7 . 
     The length of the opening  106  in the long-side direction thereof (in the vertical direction  7 ) corresponds to the length of travel of the second roller  62 , to be described separately below, in the vertical direction  7 . The length of the opening  106  in the short-side direction (the anteroposterior direction  8 ) is substantially the same as the diameter of the shaft  64  of the second roller  62 . A groove  87  is provided between the first projecting portion  102  and the second projecting portion  103 . The width of the groove  87  (the length in the lateral direction  9 ) is substantially the same as the length of each of the pair of side frames  84  in the lateral direction  9 , i.e., the thickness of an edge portion  86  defining the fitting portion  71 . 
     As illustrated in the examples of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the bearing  70  is fitted into the fitting portion  71  of a corresponding one of the pair of side frames  84  from above with the third projecting portion  104  being oriented upward. More specifically, the edge portion  86  defining the fitting portion  71  is inserted into the groove  87  provided between the first projecting portion  102  and the second projecting portion  103 , whereby the bearing  70  is fitted in the fitting portion  71 . That is, the groove  87  is fitted onto the fitting portion  71 . In this manner, the bearings  70  are positioned on the pair of side frames  84  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . While  FIG. 4  illustrates a state where the bearings  70  are yet to be fitted in the respective fitting portions  71 ,  FIG. 5  illustrates a state where the bearings  70  have been fitted in the respective fitting portions  71 . 
     The shaft  64  of the second roller  62  is inserted into the openings  106 . The second roller  62  that extends through the openings  106  is rotatable. Since the openings  106  extend in the vertical direction  7  as described above, the shaft  64  is movable in the vertical direction  7  along the openings  106 .  FIGS. 5 and 8  illustrate a state where the shaft  64  is in contact with the upper ends of the openings  106 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a state where the shaft  64  is in contact with the lower ends of the openings  106 . In the state illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the bearings  70  support the shaft  64  of the second roller  62  while allowing the rotation of the shaft  64 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , when the bearings  70  are in the respective fitting portions  71 , upper surfaces  79  (an exemplary contact portion according to the present invention) of the third projecting portions  104  are in contact with a lower surface  88  of the flat portion  51  of the guide rail  57  from below. The upper surfaces  79  are each longer in the anteroposterior direction  8  than in the lateral direction  9 . The pair of side frames  84  are each longer in the anteroposterior direction  8  than in the lateral direction  9 . That is, the upper surfaces  79  extend along the respective side frames  84 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , positions  52  where the pair of side frames  84  support the guide rail  57  are on the front side with respect to the positions where the upper surfaces  79  of the third projecting portions  104  are in contact with the flat portion  51  of the guide rail  57  from below. That is, the positions  52  do not coincide, in the transporting direction  15 , with the positions of contact between the guide rail  57  and the upper surfaces  79 . 
     When the bearings  70  are in the respective fitting portions  71  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the third projecting portion  104  of one of the bearings  70  that is on the right side resides on the right side in the lateral direction  9  with respect to the positions  52  of the side frame  84  that is on the right side, while the third projecting portion  104  of the other bearing  70  that is on the left side resides on the left side in the lateral direction  9  with respect to the positions  52  of the side frame  84  that is on the left side. In other words, the upper surfaces  79  of the third projecting portions  104  reside on the outer side in the lateral direction  9  with respect to the positions  52  where the pair of side frames  84  support the flat portion  51  of the guide rail  57 . 
     [Lever Unit  90 ] 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the printer section  11  includes the lever unit  90 . The lever unit  90  is supported by the upper surfaces  67  of the bent portions of the pair of side frames  84  in such a manner as to be movable in the anteroposterior direction  8 . The lever unit  90  is movable between the rear position illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 8  and a front position illustrated in  FIG. 9  that is on the front side with respect to the rear position. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the lever unit  90  includes a handle  93  to be gripped by the user, a pair of connecting portions  94  extending rearward from the right and left ends, respectively, of the handle  93 , and a pair of guiding portions  95  extending rearward from the rear ends of the respective connecting portions  94 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the handle  93  resides in the recessed portion  80  and near the opening  13 , more specifically, near the upper end of the opening  13 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the handle  93  extends in the lateral direction  9  and has an opening  96  in a central portion thereof in the lateral direction  9 . The user puts his or her fingers into the opening  96  and grips the handle  93 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the pair of connecting portions  94  are each a long, flat-plate-like member whose long-side direction corresponds to the anteroposterior direction  8 . One of the pair of connecting portions  94  resides near the upper right corner of the recessed portion  80  and extends in the anteroposterior direction  8 . The other connecting portion  94  resides near the upper left corner of the recessed portion  80  and extends in the anteroposterior direction  8 . The housing  14  of the printer section  11  has grooves (not illustrated) provided in inner walls  81  (see  FIG. 1 ) thereof and extending in the anteroposterior direction  8 . The pair of connecting portions  94  have respective projections (not illustrated) projecting toward the grooves. The projections are fitted into the respective grooves. Hence, when the user grips and moves the handle  93 , the connecting portions  94  and the guiding portions  95  to be described separately below move in the anteroposterior direction  8 . The configuration of supporting the connecting portions  94  by using the housing  14  is not limited to the one described above. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the guiding portions  95  extend in the anteroposterior direction  8  over a range from the second pair of rollers  44  to the rear side of the first pair of rollers  59 . The guiding portions  95  are provided in a pair, with one of them residing on the right side with respect to the right end of the transport path  65  and the other residing on the left side with respect to the left end of the transport path  65 . The guiding portions  95  are supported by the respective upper surfaces  67 . 
     The guiding portions  95  each have a guiding surface  91  and the guiding surface  89 . The guiding surface  91  includes a sloping surface  92  whose front end is at a higher position than the rear end thereof. The guiding surface  89  includes a sloping surface  98  whose front end is at a higher position than the rear end thereof, a horizontal surface  99  that is continuous with the front end of the sloping surface  98  and extends in the anteroposterior direction  8 , and a horizontal surface  100  that is continuous with the rear end of the sloping surface  98  and extends in the anteroposterior direction  8 . 
     [Movements of Second Roller  62  and Platen  42 ] 
     A vertical movement of the second pair of rollers  44  that occurs along with the movement of the lever unit  90 , will now be described. When the lever unit  90  is at the rear position as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the shaft  64  of the second roller  62  is supported by the supporting members  74 . Hence, the shaft  64  is urged upward by the coil springs  72 . Consequently, the shaft  64  is in contact with the upper ends of the openings  106  of the bearings  70  from below. Furthermore, the shaft  64  is in contact with the upper projections  76  of the platen  42  from below (see  FIG. 3A ). 
     When the user grips the handle  93  and pulls the lever unit  90  frontward, the lever unit  90  moves frontward from the rear position. Hence, the supporting members  74  move frontward and away from the shaft  64 . Consequently, the shaft  64  that is under its own weight is supported by the sloping surfaces  92 . With the frontward movement of the lever unit  90 , the shaft  64  slides on the sloping surfaces  92 . Since the shaft  64  slides on the sloping surfaces  92 , the shaft  64  moves downward away from the upper ends of the openings  106  of the bearings  70 . The shaft  64  also moves away from the upper projections  76  of the platen  42 . Subsequently, when the lever unit  90  reaches the front position as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the shaft  64  is supported at the lower ends of the openings  106  of the bearings  70 . 
     A vertical movement of the platen  42  that occurs along with the movement of the lever unit  90  will now be described. As described above, when the lever unit  90  is at the rear position, the shaft  64  of the second roller  62  is in contact with the upper projections  76  of the platen  42  from below as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
     Furthermore, the supporting members  82  connected to the platen  42  via the respective coil springs  78  are supported by the respective horizontal surfaces  99  of the lever unit  90 . In this state, the platen  42  is urged upward by the coil springs  78 . Consequently, the upper surface of the platen  42  is in contact with the projecting portions  85  of the pair of side frames  84  from below. 
     When the lever unit  90  is moved frontward from the rear position, the shaft  64  moves downward as described above. Hence, the shaft  64  moves away from the upper projections  76  and presses the lower projections  77  from above. Consequently, the front side of the platen  42  moves downward. 
     Furthermore, when the lever unit  90  is moved frontward from the rear position, the supporting members  82  leave the respective horizontal surfaces  99  and come to be supported by the respective sloping surfaces  98 . When the lever unit  90  is further moved frontward, the supporting members  82  move downward by sliding on and moving relative to the respective sloping surfaces  98 . Thus, the coil springs  78  and the rear side of the platen  42  move downward, whereby the rear side of the platen  42  moves away from the projecting portions  85 . Ultimately, when the lever unit  90  reaches the front position, the supporting members  82  are supported by the respective horizontal surfaces  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 3B . In this manner, the platen  42  moves downward. 
     When the lever unit  90  is at the rear position, the second roller  62  and the spurs  63  are in contact with each other and are capable of transporting the recording sheet  12  while nipping the recording sheet  12  therebetween. When the lever unit  90  is at the front position, the second roller  62  and the spurs  63  are spaced apart from each other. When the lever unit  90  is at the rear position, the position of the platen  42  in the vertical direction  7  is determined such that the distance between the recording head  38  and the recording sheet  12  that is supported by the platen  42  is suitable for image recording. 
     When the lever unit  90  is moved from the front position to the rear position, the movement described above is realized in the reverse order. That is, the shaft  64  moves away from the sloping surfaces  92  and comes to be supported by the supporting members  74 , whereby the shaft  64  moves upward. Furthermore, the upper projections  76  are pushed upward by the shaft  64  that moves as described above, whereby the front side of the platen  42  moves upward. Furthermore, the supporting members  82  leave the respective horizontal surfaces  100 , move along the respective sloping surfaces  98 , and come to be supported by the respective horizontal surfaces  99 , whereby the rear side of the platen  42  moves upward. 
     [Effects Produced by Embodiment] 
     According to some example embodiments contemplated herein, the upper surfaces  79  of the bearings  70  are in contact with the guide rail  57  from below. Furthermore, the guide rail  57  supports the carriage  40  that carries the recording head  38 . Hence, the recording head  38  and the second roller  62  are positioned with reference to the guide rail  57 . Therefore, the accuracy in the relative positions of the recording head  38  and the second roller  62  is improved. Consequently, the accuracy in the relative positions of the carriage  40  carrying the recording head  38  and the second roller  62  supported by the bearings  70  is improved. 
     According to some example embodiments, the coil springs  72  urge the second roller  62  upward, whereby the accuracy in the position of the second roller  62  with respect to the recording head  38  is further improved. 
     According to some example embodiments, the openings  106  each extend obliquely with respect to the vertical direction  7  with the upper end thereof residing on the rear side with respect to the lower end thereof. Hence, the second roller  62  is movable in the vertical direction  7 . Even in such a case, the second roller  62  is positioned by the coil springs  72  and at ends of the respective openings  106  that are nearer to the guide rail  57 . 
     According to some example embodiments, the upper projections  76  of the platen  42  are in contact with the shaft  64  of the second roller  62  from above. Therefore, a portion of the platen  42  near the upper projections  76 , i.e., the front side of the platen  42 , is positioned with reference to the guide rail  57 . Hence, the accuracy in the relative positions of the platen  42 , the recording head  38 , and the second roller  62  is improved. 
     According to some example embodiments, the bearings  70  are each fitted into a corresponding one of the pair of side frames  84  from above with the groove  87  between the first projecting portion  102  and the second projecting portion  103  being fitted onto the fitting portion  71 . That is, there is no need to fit the bearings  70  into the respective side frames  84  in the lateral direction  9 . Therefore, the bearings  70  are attachable to the respective side frames  84  even if there are no spaces for moving the bearings  70  in the lateral direction  9 . Hence, the increase in the size of the multifunction machine  10  in the lateral direction  9  is suppressed. 
     According to some example embodiments, the spurs  63  are supported by the guide rail  57 . Therefore, as with the recording head  38  and the second roller  62 , the spurs  63  are positioned with reference to the guide rail  57 . Hence, the accuracy in the relative positions of the spurs  63 , the recording head  38 , and the second roller  62  is improved. 
     According to some example embodiments, the guide rail  57  is supported at two positions that are different in the anteroposterior direction  8 . Therefore, the position of the guide rail  57  is stabilized. 
     According to some example embodiments, since the flat portion  51  of the guide rail  57  extends in the lateral direction  9 , the carriage  40  is easily supported in such a manner as to be movable in the lateral direction  9 . 
     According to some example embodiments, since the upright portions  83  are provided, the rigidity of the guide rail  57  is increased. Hence, the guide rail  57  does not tend to bend easily. Consequently, the positional shift of the carriage  40 , which is supported by the guide rail  57 , due to the bending of the guide rail  57  is reduced. 
     [Modifications] 
     While the above embodiments describe examples where the respective openings  106  of the bearings  70  extend in the vertical direction  7 , the openings  106  may each have a circular shape instead of extending in the vertical direction  7 . In that case, the shaft  64  of the second roller  62  extending through the openings  106  is not vertically movable, unlike the case according to the above embodiment. 
     If the second roller  62  is not vertically movable as described above, the coil springs  72  may urge the respective bearings  70  instead of the second roller  62 . In that case, the coil springs  72  urge the second roller  62  via the respective bearings  70 . 
     While the above embodiments concern instances where the second roller  62  corresponds to the transporting roller according to the present invention, the first roller  60  may correspond to the transporting roller according to the present invention and may be supported by bearings each having the same shape as the bearing  70 . Moreover, if any other roller is provided in the multifunction machine  10 , that roller may correspond to the transporting roller according to the present invention and may be supported by bearings each having the same shape as the bearing  70 . 
     While the above embodiments concern instances where the guide rail  57  corresponds to the first support member according to the present invention, the guide rail  56  may correspond to an exemplary first support member according to the present disclosure. In that case, the first roller  60  provided below the guide rail  56  corresponds to the transporting roller according to the present invention, and the first roller  60  is supported by bearings each having the same shape as the bearing  70  such that the upper surfaces of the bearings are in contact with the guide rail  56  from below. 
     While the above embodiments concern instances where the upper surface of the platen  42  that is urged upward by the coil springs  78  comes into contact with the projecting portions  85  of the pair of side frames  84  from below, the upper surface may come into contact with either of the guide rails  56  and  57  from below. In that case, portions of the guide rail  56  or  57  to which the upper surface comes into contact correspond to exemplary platen contact portion according to the present invention. 
     If, in some embodiments, the upper surface of the platen  42  comes into contact with either of the guide rails  56  and  57  from below as described above, the rear side of the platen  42  is positioned with reference to the guide rail  56  or  57 . In this case, the front side of the platen  42  is also positioned with reference to the guide rail  56  or  57  as described in the above embodiment. That is, the entirety of the platen  42  is positioned with reference to the guide rail  56  or  57 . Consequently, the accuracy in the relative positions of the platen  42 , the recording head  38 , and the second roller  62  is improved. 
     While the above embodiments concern instances where the second roller  62  is vertically movable, the first roller  60  may also be vertically movable. In that case, the first roller  60  may be vertically moved by a known mechanism or by a mechanism that is the same as the mechanism that vertically moves the second roller  62 . 
     If, in such embodiments, the first roller  60 , the second roller  62 , and the platen  42  are vertically movable, the multifunction machine  10  is capable of transporting, along the linear portion  34 , not only the recording sheet  12  but also a recording medium that is thicker than the recording sheet  12 , such as a compact-disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or a digital-versatile-disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM), or a medium tray supporting such a recording medium. Furthermore, if the first roller  60 , the second roller  62 , and the platen  42  are vertically movable, any recording sheet  12  that may be stuck in the linear portion  34  is easily removable. 
     Although in the example embodiments discussed herein, various relative directions are disclosed, including but not limited to up, down, left, right, rear, front, and vertical or horizontal directions, it is noted that these terms are intended to represent relative positions of elements of the embodiments described herein, and not intended to describe absolute relative positions of the components, members, or machine disclosed. Rather, other orientations of the various components discussed herein are contemplated, and as such the present disclosure is not limited to the directional arrangement described above in connection with some embodiments. 
     The description and illustration of one or more embodiments provided in this application are not intended to limit or restrict the scope of the invention as claimed in any way. The embodiments, examples, and details provided in this application are considered sufficient to convey possession and enable others to make and use the best mode of claimed invention. The claimed invention should not be construed as being limited to any embodiment, example, or detail provided in this application. Regardless of whether shown and described in combination or separately, the various features (both structural and methodological) are intended to be selectively included or omitted to produce an embodiment with a particular set of features. Having been provided with the description and illustration of the present application, one skilled in the art may envision variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments falling within the spirit of the broader aspects of the general inventive concept embodied in this application that do not depart from the broader scope of the claimed invention.