Patent Publication Number: US-8992005-B2

Title: Recording apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a recording apparatus capable of performing recording on a recording medium mounted on a tray. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There has been a type of recording apparatus capable of performing recording on a recording medium of larger thickness and higher rigidity than a recording sheet, such as a compact disc. Regarding this type of recording apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-036516 discusses a recording mode in which the recording medium is inserted into an apparatus main body while mounted on a tray. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a tray base discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-036516.  FIG. 9  is a sectional view illustrating the tray base illustrated in  FIG. 8  in the closed state.  FIG. 10  is a sectional view illustrating the tray base illustrated in  FIG. 8  in the open state. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , release members  105  are connected to the tray base  102 . The release members  105  are supported at the front surface of the main body so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft  106 . When the tray base  102  is rotates from the state illustrated in  FIG. 9  to the state illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the release members  105  enters a gap between a spur holder  43  and a platen  34  to raise the spur holder  43 . Since inclined portions  1051  are formed at the distal end portions of the release members  105 , the release member  105  can smoothly enter the gap between the spur holder  43  and the platen  34 . 
     In a recording apparatus, an inner cover to be opened and closed at the time of replacement of a recording head and an ink tank may be provided not on the upper surface of the main body but on the front surface of the main body for a design-related reason. When, in the recording apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-036516, if the tray base  102  is arranged on the front side of the inner cover with respect to the main body, the tray base  102  also opens as the inner cover opens. When the tray base  102  is opened, the spur holder  43  is raised by the release members  105 . When the spur holder  43  is raised, a carriage situated above the spur holder  43  and carrying the recording head and the ink tank is raised by an elevating mechanism. When the carriage is raised, the gap between the carriage and the main body upper portion is reduced. As a result, the requisite space for the operation of replacing the recording head and the ink tank is not sufficiently secured, and there is a fear of deterioration in convenience for replacing operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a recording apparatus capable of performing recording on a recording medium mounted on a tray, wherein it is possible to achieve an improvement in terms of convenience in recording component replacing operation even when the tray base moves in conjunction with the inner cover. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a recording apparatus includes a recording unit configured to record an image on a recording medium, a roller pair for conveying the recording medium or a tray with the recording medium mounted thereon, a cover covering an opening for replacing a component of the recording unit, a guide member supported by the cover and overlapping at least a part of the cover when in a closed state and capable of guiding the tray to an insertion port of the tray when in an open state, and a release member configured to, in conjunction with the opening of the guide member, to cause the roller pair, to be separated, wherein if the cover is opened along with the tray, the release member does not cause the roller pair to be separated. 
     Further features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a tray base and an inner case. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating the interior of a main body when the tray base and the inner cover are closed. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating the interior of the main body when the tray base is open and the inner cover is closed. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view illustrating the interior of the main body when the inner cover is open. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a tray base discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-036516. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view illustrating the tray base illustrated in  FIG. 8  in the closed state. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view illustrating the tray base illustrated in  FIG. 8  in the open state. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 through 3  are perspective views illustrating a recording apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The recording apparatus according to the present invention can record an image not only on a recording sheet but also on a recording medium which is thick and of high rigidity like a compact disc.  FIG. 1  illustrates a recording apparatus  10  in a state in which it performs recording on a recording medium which is thin and of low rigidity like a recording sheet. In this state, a tray base  1  rotatable with respect to the main body and an inner cover  2  configured to be opened and closed are closed. The tray base  1  is arranged on the front side of the inner cover  2  with respect to a main body  30 , and overlaps at least a part of the inner cover  2 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates how the recording apparatus  10  performs recording on a recording medium  4  (which is a compact disc in the present exemplary embodiment) mounted on a tray  50 . In this state, the tray base  1 , which is a guide member for guiding the tray  50  is open, and the inner cover  2  is closed. As a result of opening the tray base  1  (i.e., rotating it to the front with respect to the main body  30 ), an insertion port  13  is exposed. The tray  50  with the recording medium  4  mounted thereon is inserted into the insertion port  13  while guided by the tray base  1 . On the front side of the tray base  1  with respect to the insertion port  13 , a front cover  31  is supported by the main body  30  so as to be capable of being opened and closed. In addition to the function of a cover covering the tray base, the front cover  31  also has the function of a discharge tray on which recording mediums can be stacked. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates how a component of the recording unit of the recording apparatus  10  is replaced. In this state, the inner cover  2  is open. The inner cover  2  is rotatably supported by the main body  30  such that an ink tank  65 , which is a replaceable recording component, and a recording head  66  are exposed from the side of an insertion port  22  which is an opening formed in the main body  30 . The ink tank  65  and the recording head  66  are accommodated in the main body while mounted on a carriage  60 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the tray base  1  and the inner case  2 . 
     On both sides in the longitudinal direction of the tray base  1 , end surface members  112  each having a rotation shaft  111  and a boss portion  113  are provided. Further, the end surface members  112  extend downwards from a tray guide portion which is a portion for guiding the tray of the tray base  1 . The rotation shafts  111  protrude from the outer surfaces of the end surface members  112 . The boss portions  113  protrude from the inner surfaces of the end surface members  112 . In the end surface members  112 , the boss portions  113  are arranged below the rotation shafts  111 . The tray base  1  is supported by the inner cover  2  so as to be rotatable around the rotation shafts  111 . A hole portion  6  formed at one end of each release member  5  is fit-engaged with the boss portion  113 . As a result, the release members  5  are connected to the boss portions  113 . That is, the release members  5  are rotatably connected to the boss portions  113  serving as connecting portions. 
     The inner cover  2  has a bottom surface  20   a  facing the tray base  1 , and a pair of side surfaces  20   b  respectively protruding from both sides in the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface  20   a . An end surface member is provided under each side surface  20   b . Each end surface member  21  has a rotation shaft  211  and a hole portion  212  situated above the rotation shaft  211 . The rotation shaft  111  is rotatably fit-engaged with the hole portion  212 . The inner cover  2  is supported by the main body  30  so as to be rotatable around the rotation shafts  211 . Thus, the rotation center of the inner cover  2  is situated below the rotation center of the tray base  1 . The release members  5  are connected to the connecting portions between the rotation center of the inner cover  2  and the rotation center of the tray base  1 . 
     In the following, the operation of the tray base  1  and the operation of the inner cover  2  will be described. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating the interior of the main body when tray base  1  and the inner cover  2  are closed.  FIG. 5  illustrates the interior of the main body of the recording apparatus  10  illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     Inside the main body  30 , there is provided a platen  9 , which is a sheet guide serving as a sheet guide guiding and supporting a recording medium. A conveyance mechanism  8  for the recording medium faces the platen  9  from above. The conveyance mechanism  8  is formed by a spur  81 , and a spur holder  82  which is a support member retaining the spur  81 . The spur holder  82  is downwardly urged by a spring (not illustrated) with a predetermined elastic force. The spur  81  is held in press contact by the elastic force with a discharge roller  83  arranged below. The spur  81  and the discharge roller constitute a roller pair. The spur holder  82  supports one roller of the roller pair. The carriage  60  is arranged above the conveyance mechanism  8 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the distal end portions of the release members  5  are situated on the front side of a gap  12  formed between the platen  9  and the spur holder  82 . The distal end portions have inclined portions  51  inclined so as to be tapered off to a point. Also the platen  9  has a second inclined portion  91  held in slide contact with the inclined portions  51  of the release members  5 . 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating the interior of the main body when the tray base  1  is open and the inner cover  2  is closed.  FIG. 6  illustrates the interior of the main body of the recording apparatus  10  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     When the tray base  1  rotates from the closed position illustrated in  FIG. 5  to the open position illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the boss portions  113  arranged below the rotation shafts  111  move with a circular arc locus to approach the main body side. The release members  5  connected to the boss portions  113  enters the above-described gap  12  to abut on the spur holder  82 , raising the spur holder  82  to the carriage  60  side (the recording component side). At this time, owing to the inclined portions  51  formed at the distal end portions of the release members  5 , the release members  5  can smoothly enter the gap  12 . As a result of the ascent of the spur holder  82 , a space allowing passage of the tray  50  is formed between the platen  9  and the spur  81 . At the same time, the spur  81  constituting one roller of the roller pair is separated from the discharge roller  83  constituting the other roller. 
     When the spur holder  82  ascends, and the tray  50  with the recording medium mounted thereon is inserted up to the platen  9  from the insertion port  13 , an elevating mechanism (not illustrated) raises the carriage  60 . With the ascent of the carriage  60 , the gap S between the main body upper portion and the carriage becomes narrower. The elevating mechanism is formed, for example, by a shaft supporting the carriage  60  so as to allow it to move in the scanning direction, a cam member capable of elevating the shaft based on the detection of the tray  50  by a sensor (not illustrated) previously provided on the carriage  60 , etc. 
     When the tray base  1  rotates from the open position illustrated in  FIG. 6  to the closed position illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the release members  5  are separated from the spur holder  82 . The spur holder  82  is lowered to the initial position illustrated in  FIG. 5  by the above-described elastic force of the spring. 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view illustrating the interior of the main body when the inner cover  2  is open.  FIG. 6  illustrates the interior of the main body of the recording apparatus  10  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     When, in the state in which the tray base  1  is in the open state illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the inner cover  2  rotate in the same direction as the tray base  1 , the rotational force is transmitted to the rotation shafts  111  of the tray base  1  inserted into the end surface members  21  of the inner cover  2 . The rotation shafts  211  of the inner cover  2  are arranged below the rotation shafts  111  of the tray base  1  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , so that the tray base is moved away from the main body  30  by the rotational force transmitted from the inner cover  2 . As a result of the movement of the tray base  1 , the release members  5  are separated from the spur holder  82  (i.e., drawn out of the gap  12 ). The spur holder  82  is lowered to the initial position illustrated in  FIG. 5  by the elastic force of the spring described above. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , at the time of completion of the rotation of the inner cover  2 , the tray base  1  is accommodated in the inner cover  2 . More specifically, the tray base  1  is accommodated in the recess formed by the above-described bottom surface  20   a  and a pair of side surfaces  20   b  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , when the inner cover  2  rotates, the above-described elevating mechanism (not illustrated) lowers the carriage  60 . The elevating mechanism lowers the carriage  60  based, for example, on the detection result of a sensor (not illustrated) for detecting the rotation of the inner cover  2 . As a result of the descent of the carriage  60 , the gap S between the main body upper portion and the carriage is enlarged. Thus, the requisite space for the operation of replacing the ink tank  65  or the recording head  66  is sufficiently secured. As a result, an improvement is achieved in terms of convenience in replacing operation. 
     Also when the tray base  1  and the inner cover  2  are opened at the same time, the release members  5  are separated from the spur holder  82  with the movement of the tray member  1 . Thus, the spur holder  82  does not ascend, so that the gap S between the main body upper portion and the carriage  60  is not reduced as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . That is, the roller pair is not separated. 
     In the recording apparatus  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment, the rotation shafts  211  of the inner cover  2  are arranged below the rotation shafts  111  of the tray base  1 , and the release members  5  are connected to the tray base  1  between the rotation shafts  211  and the rotation shafts  111 . Thus, when the inner cover  2  is rotated, the tray base  1  moves away from the main body  30 . In conjunction with this movement, the release members  5  are separated from the spur holder  82 . As a result, the spur holder  82  is not raised by the release members  5 , so that there is no need to raise the carriage  60  (the ink tank  65  and the recording head  66 ). Thus, the requisite space for the operation of replacing the ink tank  65  or the recording head  66  is secured to a sufficient degree, so that it is possible to achieve an improvement in terms of convenience in replacing operation. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-191697 filed Aug. 31, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.