JP5874902B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and more particularly to a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium.
The recording apparatus includes apparatuses such as an ink jet printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile.

  In a printer that performs printing by reciprocating the print head (recording head) in the paper width direction, the signal line to the ink head, or the ink supply tube in an off-carriage type inkjet printer, is connected to the carriage on which the print head is mounted ing. The position and shape of the signal line to the ink head and the ink supply tube are changed by the reciprocation of the carriage.

  Conventionally, printers use a gap adjustment motor to move the carriage away from the paper when a jam is detected, and then the main scanning motor moves the carriage in the direction opposite to the carriage movement direction before the jam occurs. There is something that requests to handle jam. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-166370 A

However, when the paper jam is cleared, the ink supply tube remains in the area where the paper jam occurs, and the ink supply tube may be in the way.
In other words, depending on the position where the carriage stops due to an error such as a jam (paper jam), there may be a signal line or ink supply tube at a position that hinders the user's error recovery operation. Become.

  Further, in this case, the user needs to touch the signal line or the ink supply tube directly by hand and retract it from the area where the paper jam has occurred. As a result, the signal line and the supply tube may be loosened, or in the worst case, disconnected or damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and signal lines connected to the carriage, ink supply tubes, and the like hinder the user work when removing the recording medium from the path. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus that takes this into consideration.

  A recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a path forming member that forms a path through which a recording medium is sent, a transport unit that transports the recording medium in the feeding direction of the path, and a path in the feeding direction. Of the portion of the recording medium being conveyed, a recording head is provided for recording by discharging ink to an exposed portion that is exposed from the path forming member, and intersects the feeding direction of the recording medium. A carriage that moves in a moving direction, a flexible member that extends from the carriage and deforms following the movement of the carriage, and a direction in which the flexible member retracts from a space occupied by the flexible member And a retracting means for moving the flexible member.

  According to this aspect, the retracting means for moving the flexible member in the retracting direction from the space occupied by the flexible member is provided. Therefore, when the user needs to insert a hand into the apparatus and perform work By retracting the flexible member, the flexible member does not hinder the user's work, and the user's hand can be prevented from touching the flexible member.

  Therefore, when ink adheres to the flexible member, there is no possibility that the hand or clothes are stained by the adhered ink. Further, there is no possibility that the ink supply tube or the signal line as the flexible member is damaged. Furthermore, there is no possibility that the ink supply tube or the signal line is disconnected from the connection portion of the carriage. The space occupied by the flexible member means a space occupied by the flexible member before the flexible member is retracted.

  In addition, the direction in which the flexible member is retracted is a matter that can be set as appropriate based on the contents of the user work and the device configuration. Examples of the flexible member include signal lines such as an ink supply tube and a flat cable (also referred to as a flat electric wire).

  A recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a path forming member that forms a path through which a recording medium is sent, a transport unit that transports the recording medium in the feeding direction of the path, and the path in the feeding direction. Of the portion of the recording medium being conveyed, a recording head is provided for recording by discharging ink to an exposed portion that is exposed from the path forming member, and intersects the feeding direction of the recording medium. A carriage that moves in a moving direction, a flexible member that extends from the carriage and deforms following the movement of the carriage, and a user work area when a user inserts a hand into the inside of the recording apparatus And retracting means for deforming or moving the flexible member in a direction in which the flexible member retracts.

  According to this aspect, when the user needs to put a hand into the inside of the recording apparatus, for example, when a so-called jam occurs in which a recording medium is jammed in the path, the flexible member is used by the retracting unit. Therefore, the flexible member does not hinder the user work and the user's hand can be prevented from touching the flexible member.

Therefore, when ink adheres to the flexible member, there is no possibility that the hand or clothes are stained by the adhered ink. Further, there is no possibility that the ink supply tube or the signal line as the flexible member is damaged. Furthermore, there is no possibility that the ink supply tube or the signal line is disconnected from the connection portion of the carriage.
In the present specification, the “user” is not limited to the end user, but means all persons who handle the recording apparatus, such as a person who performs assembly work or after-maintenance of the recording apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the retracting means deforms the flexible member in conjunction with an opening operation of an openable / closable cover for accessing the inside of the recording apparatus. Or it is made to move.
According to this aspect, in addition to the same effects as those of the first or second aspect, when the cover is opened, the flexible member is deformed or moved, so that the recording medium is not required to be troublesome. It can be removed, and the user's hand can be more reliably prevented from touching the flexible member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the retracting means is connected to the cover at one end side, supports the flexible member at the other end side, and supports the flexible member at the other end. It is characterized by comprising a support member that can be displaced according to the deformation of the member.
According to this aspect, in addition to the same effect as the second aspect, the portion supporting the flexible member can be displaced, so that the stress applied to the flexible member can be further reduced. Thus, the possibility that the ink supply tube and the signal line are damaged can be further reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the flexible member is an ink supply tube for supplying ink to the recording head. To do.
According to this aspect, in addition to the same effects as the first aspect to the fourth aspect, it is possible to prevent ink from scattering due to breakage of the ink supply tube.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the flexible member is an electric wire for transmitting an electrical signal for ejecting ink. It is characterized by that.
According to this aspect, in addition to the same effects as the first aspect to the fourth aspect, it is possible to prevent the recording due to the breakage of the electric wire from being disabled.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view illustrating an appearance of the printer multifunction peripheral. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an outline of the inside of the printer multifunction peripheral. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of the inside of the printer multifunction peripheral. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an outline of the inside of the printer multifunction machine in which a front cover is closed. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an outline of the inside of the printer multifunction machine in which a front cover is opened. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state of a front cover, an ink supply tube, a head signal line, a rod, a clip, and a holder of a printer multifunction peripheral in which the front cover is closed. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state of a front cover, an ink supply tube, a head signal line, a rod, a clip, and a holder of a multifunction printer having a front cover opened. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a rod, a clip, and a holder of a multifunction printer in which a carriage is located on the left side of a main body and a front cover is closed. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a rod, a clip, and a holder of a multifunction printer in which a carriage is located on the left side of a main body and a front cover is closed. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a rod, a clip, and a holder of a multifunction printer in which a carriage is located on the left side of a main body and a front cover is opened. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a rod, a clip, and a holder of a multifunction printer in which a carriage is located on the left side of a main body and a front cover is opened.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printer multifunction peripheral 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing an outline of the inside of the multifunction printer 1 of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an outline of the inside of the printer multifunction device 1.

  The printer multifunction device 1 is an example of a recording device, has functions of a printing device, a copying machine, and a facsimile device, and records on a sheet P (described later) that is an example of a recording medium. The printer multifunction device 1 includes a main body 11 and a medium transport unit 12. The main body 11 has recording and reading functions. The medium transport unit 12 transports the paper S on which information such as photographs and documents are recorded so that the information recorded on the paper S can be read by the main body 11.

The main body 11 includes a case 21, a front cover 22, a scanner 23, an operation unit 24, a placement unit 25, a conveyance unit 26, a feed path formation unit 27, a reverse path formation unit 28, a recording unit 29, a discharge unit 30, a frame 31, And a stacker 32. Of the side surfaces of the printer multifunction device 1, the side on which the front cover 22, the operation unit 24, and the stacker 32 are provided is the front side of the printer multifunction device 1, that is, the front surface. Of the side surfaces of the printer multifunction device 1, the side on which the medium transport unit 12 is provided is the upper side, that is, the upper surface of the printer multifunction device 1.
The medium transport unit 12 includes a placement unit 33 and a stacker 34.

  Note that the front-rear direction with respect to the printer multifunction machine 1 is illustrated by the Y axis, the up-down direction is illustrated by the Z-axis, and the left-right direction is illustrated by the X-axis. Hereinafter, the left side in FIG. 1 in the X-axis direction is simply referred to as the left side, and the right side in FIG. 1 in the X-axis direction is simply referred to as the right side. Further, hereinafter, the near side in FIG. 1 in the Y-axis direction is simply referred to as a front side, and the back side in FIG. 1 in the Y-axis direction is simply referred to as a rear side. Furthermore, hereinafter, the upper side in FIG. 1 in the Z-axis direction is simply referred to as the upper side, and the lower side in FIG. 1 in the Z-axis direction is simply referred to as the lower side.

  The case 21 is a housing of the main body 11, and stores the scanner 23, the transport unit 26, the feed path forming unit 27, the reverse path forming unit 28, the recording unit 29, the discharge unit 30, the stacker 32, and the like. The front cover 22 is provided on the front side (front side) of the main body 11. The front cover 22 is attached to the case 21 so as to be openable and closable by being rotatably supported by the case 21 by a pair of hinges 51.

  In other words, the front cover 22 is configured to open when the upper end portion of the front cover 22 falls forward about the pair of hinges 51. By opening the front cover 22, an opening is formed in the front surface of the main body 11, and the user can operate the inside of the main body 11. For example, in the case of a paper jam, the user can open the front cover 22 and take out the jammed paper from the inside of the main body 11.

  The scanner 23 is provided on the upper side of the main body 11 and reads information such as photographs and documents recorded on the paper S. For example, when the sheet S is sent by the medium transport unit 12, the scanner 23 reads information recorded on the sheet S.

  The operation unit 24 displays information related to the status of the multifunction printer 1 and acquires an instruction from the user. The operation unit 24 includes a display unit 52 and a button 53. The display unit 52 includes a lamp such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display panel, or an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and displays information related to the state of the printer MFP 1.

  When the button 53 is pressed by the user, the button 53 outputs a predetermined signal to a control unit (not shown), thereby acquiring the user's instruction. That is, the user can confirm the state of the printer multifunction device 1 using the display unit 52 and change the setting conditions of the printer multifunction device 1 or give various execution instructions by applying an operation of pressing the desired button 53. it can.

  The placement unit 25 is configured to be able to place a sheet P that is an example of a recording medium. The placement unit 25 includes a paper support 54 and a hopper 55. The paper support 54 supports the loaded paper P. The lower side of the hopper 55 is separated from the conveyance unit 26 or close to the conveyance unit 26, so that the paper P placed on the loading unit 25 can be held without being supplied to the conveyance unit 26, P is supplied to the transport unit 26.

  Note that the paper P, which is an example of a recording medium, is also stored in a cassette 56 that is detachably provided below the main body 11, and the printer multifunction peripheral 1 can use the paper P of the loading unit 25 or the paper P of the cassette 56. You can select and record either.

  The transport unit 26 is an example of a transport unit, and records the paper P placed on the placement unit 25 or the paper P stored in the cassette 56 via the feed path formed by the feed path forming unit 27. Then, it is conveyed to the recording unit 29 in the feeding direction that is the direction in which the recording is performed. The feed path forming unit 27 is an example of a path forming member, and is configured by various plastic materials, metal guide members, and the like. The feed path forming unit 27 is a feed path through which the paper P is fed, and forms a feed path from the placement unit 25 or the cassette 56 to the stacker 32 via the recording unit 29. In FIG. 2, a black arrow indicates a feed path.

  The transport unit 26 includes a roller 57, a roller 58, a roller 59, an arm 60, and a roller pair 61. The roller 57, the roller 58, the roller 59, the arm 60, and the roller pair 61 are driven by a driving unit including a motor, a gear, or a belt (not shown).

The roller 57 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 by the drive unit, and when the lower part of the hopper 55 approaches, the sheet placed on the uppermost side among the sheets P placed on the placement unit 25. The sheet P is brought into contact with the lower end portion of P, and thereby the sheet P is conveyed to the lower side via the feeding path, thereby being sent to the roller 58 on the downstream side of the feeding path.
The roller 58 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 by the driving unit, and feeds the paper P conveyed from the roller 57 via the feed path to the roller pair 61.

  The roller 59 is provided at the free end of the arm 60 that can move toward and away from the paper P stored in the cassette 56, and is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. When the arm 60 moves to the side in contact with the paper P, the roller 59 comes into contact with the back end of the paper P stored in the uppermost side among the paper P stored in the cassette 56, and the feed path is changed. Then, the sheet P is conveyed to the upper side, and is fed to the roller 58 on the downstream side of the feeding path. In this case, the roller 58 sends the paper P conveyed by the roller 59 via the feed path to the roller pair 61.

  The roller pair 61 is composed of a pair of opposed rollers, and the upper roller is rotated clockwise in FIG. 2 and the lower roller is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. Thus, the sheet P conveyed from the roller 58 via the feeding path is sent to the recording unit 29 and the discharge unit 30.

  The recording unit 29 discharges and records ink on the paper P conveyed by the roller pair 61 via the feed path. That is, the recording unit 29 discharges and records ink on a portion exposed from the feed path forming unit 27 in the portion of the sheet P conveyed through the feed path. More specifically, the recording unit 29 reciprocates with the paper width of the paper P to perform printing or drawing.

  The reversing path forming unit 28 is composed of various plastic materials, metal guide members, and the like, and forms a reversing path that is a path for reversing the front and back of the paper P. In FIG. 2, a white arrow indicates a reverse path. In the double-sided recording mode, after recording on one surface (front surface) of the paper P, a roller pair 61 and a roller pair 62 (described later) are rotated in reverse by the drive unit, and the paper P is in the reverse path. To the two rollers below the roller 58. In other words, the paper P turns from the lower side to the upper side of the roller 58 and is sent to the roller pair 61 again.

  As a result, among the surfaces of the paper P, the surface (front surface) of the paper P that has already been recorded becomes the medium support portion 65 side, and the other surface (back surface) of the paper P becomes the recording head 64 side. Then, on the back side of the paper P sent from the roller 58 and sent to the feed path by the roller pair 61 rotated forward by the drive unit (at this time, not yet recorded on the back side), the recording unit 29 is Ink is discharged and recorded.

  The recording unit 29 includes a carriage 63, a recording head 64, and a medium support unit 65. When the recording unit 29 executes recording, the carriage 63 moves while being guided by a guide member (not shown) that extends in the X-axis direction, that is, the width direction of the paper P, by the power of a motor (not shown) as an example. The recording head 64 is provided on the side of the carriage 63 that faces the paper P. A nozzle (not shown) for ejecting ink is formed on the surface of the recording head 64 facing the paper P. The medium support portion 65 is provided at a position facing the recording head 64, and keeps the distance between the paper P and the recording head 64 at a predetermined length.

  In other words, the recording head that discharges and records ink on the carriage 63 on the exposed portion, which is the portion exposed from the feed path forming portion 27, of the portion of the sheet P that is transported in the feed direction along the feed path. 64 is provided, and the carriage 63 moves in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the paper P.

  Further, an ink supply tube 67 for supplying ink from the ink cartridge 66 for storing ink to the carriage 63 is provided. By providing the ink cartridge 66 separately from the carriage 63, more ink can be stored in the ink cartridge 66.

  The ink supply tube 67 is an example of a flexible member, and is formed of a resin tube or the like. The ink supply tube 67 extends from the carriage 63 and deforms following the movement of the carriage 63. Further, a head signal line 68 for transmitting an electrical signal for ejecting ink is provided. The head signal line 68 is an example of a flexible member, and is a wiring cable or a wire harness made of one or a plurality of electric wires. The head signal line 68 extends from the carriage 63 and deforms following the movement of the carriage 63.

  One end of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 is connected to the carriage 63 by a connector 69 provided on the front side of the carriage 63. The other end of the ink supply tube 67 is connected to a connector 70 to which ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 66. The connector 70 is provided inside the main body 11 and on the left side of the ink cartridge 66.

  That is, the arrangement of the ink supply tube 67 from the connector 70 to the connector 69 will be described. Since the connector 70 is provided at the back left side of the main body 11, the ink supply tube 67 extending from the connector 70 is provided on the left side of the main body 11. It extends to the front surface of the main body 11 along the inside of the side surface of the main body 11. Further, the ink supply tube 67 extends so as to cross the whole or a part of the front surface of the case 21 laterally from the left side to the right side. Further, the ink supply tube 67 draws an arc (an arc whose string is on the left side) so as to curve from the right side to the left side, and is connected to the connector 69 from the right side.

  The other end of the head signal line 68 is connected to a connector 71 that is electrically connected to a control unit (not shown). The connector 71 is provided on the left side of the ink cartridge 66 and on the front side of the connector 70.

  That is, the arrangement of the head signal lines 68 from the connector 71 to the connector 69 will be described. Since the connector 71 is provided at the approximate center of the left side of the main body 11, the head signal line 68 extending from the connector 71 is connected to the ink supply tube. 67 and extends to the front surface of the main body 11 along the inside of the left side surface of the main body 11. Further, the head signal line 68 extends along with the ink supply tube 67 so as to traverse the whole or a part of the front surface of the case 21 from the left side to the right side. The head signal line 68 forms an arc so as to curve from the right side to the left side together with the ink supply tube 67 and is connected to the connector 69 from the right side.

  The discharge unit 30 discharges the paper P recorded by the recording unit 29 to the stacker 32. The discharge unit 30 has a roller pair 62. The roller pair 62 is composed of a pair of opposite rollers. The upper roller is rotated clockwise in FIG. 2 and the lower roller is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. Then, the sheet P conveyed from the roller pair 61 via the feeding path and recorded by the recording unit 29 is sent to the stacker 32.

The frame 31 is a frame that supports the upper roller of the pair of rollers 62 in the figure, and the sheet conveyance path is exposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the frame 31.
The stacker 32 is provided so as to be freely extendable and mounts the recorded paper P.

  Next, the loading unit 33 of the medium conveying unit 12 holds the sheet S on which the sheet S on which information such as a photograph or a document is recorded is loaded. A conveyance unit (not shown) of the medium conveyance unit 12 conveys the sheet S so that the information recorded on the sheet S can be read by the scanner 23 of the main body 11, and the sheet S on which the information is read is placed on the stacker 34. Placed. The stacker 34 holds the sheet S after reading.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 4 to 11, when the paper P is jammed in the feeding path, the jammed paper P is removed from the feeding path by taking out the paper P from the exposed portion exposed from the feeding path forming unit 27. Deformation or movement of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 in the direction of retreating from the user work area where the work for removal is performed will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an outline of the inside of the multifunction printer 1 in which the front cover 22 is closed. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an outline of the inside of the multifunction printer 1 with the front cover 22 opened.

  4 and 5, when a sheet P is jammed in the feeding path, an area A is an operation for removing the jammed sheet P from the feeding path by taking out from the exposed portion exposed from the feeding path forming unit 27. (Hereinafter referred to as “removal operation”) indicates a user work area where the user performs.

  4 and 5, the carriage 63, the recording head 64, the connector 69, the ink supply tube 67, and the head signal line 68 when the carriage 63 is located on the left side of the main body 11 are indicated by solid lines. The carriage 63, the recording head 64, the connector 69, the ink supply tube 67, and the head signal line 68 when the carriage 63 is positioned on the right side of the main body 11 are indicated by dotted lines.

  When the carriage 63 is located on the left side of the main body 11, the portion of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 that is disposed on the front side inside the case 21 is approximately at the center on the front side inside the case 21. It bends like an arc and is bent into a substantially U shape. In this case, among the portions of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 that form the U-shape, the straight portion and the curved portion that are half the U-shape on the connector 69 side hang over the region A.

  On the other hand, when the carriage 63 is positioned on the right side of the main body 11, the portion of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 that is disposed on the front side inside the case 21 is on the inner side on the front side of the case 21. The case 21 is bent so that an arc is drawn on the right side of the front side inside the case 21 and bent into a substantially J shape. In this case, the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 do not hang on the region A.

  The ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 are connected to the front cover 22 by a rod 72, a clip 73, and a holder 74, which are an example of a retracting unit. The rod 72 is formed in a rod shape from metal or resin. One end of the rod 72 is fixed to the clip 73. The other end of the rod 72 is fixed to the holder 74.

  The clip 73 is formed of resin or metal and supports the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68. When the carriage 63 moves, the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 are deformed. Correspondingly, the clip 73 follows the movement of the carriage 63 and supports the support positions of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 so as to be displaceable.

  The holder 74 is made of resin or metal and is fixed to the upper side inside the front cover 22. The holder 74 has a structure that freely swings its head left and right (in the X-axis direction) in accordance with the operation of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 so as not to hinder the reciprocation of the carriage 63.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the carriage 63 is located on the left side of the main body 11, when the front cover 22 is opened, the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 are moved by the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74. Since the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 are pulled forward, the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 are deformed or moved in a direction of retreating from the region A where the removal operation is performed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of the front cover 22, the ink supply tube 67, the head signal line 68, the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 of the multifunction printer 1 with the front cover 22 closed. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state of the front cover 22, the ink supply tube 67, the head signal line 68, the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 of the multifunction printer 1 with the front cover 22 opened.

  As shown in FIG. 6, since the support position of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 by the clip 73 can be displaced, the ink supply by the movement of the carriage 63 when the front cover 22 is closed. The deformation of the tube 67 and the head signal line 68 is not hindered. Therefore, recording is performed reliably without affecting the movement of the carriage 63 during recording.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the front cover 22 that is rotatably supported by the case 21 by a pair of hinges 51 is opened as indicated by an arrow B, the front cover 22 is stopped on the upper side inside the front cover 22. By the holder 74, the rod 72 is moved in the forward direction of the printer multifunction device 1. As a result, as indicated by an arrow C, the clip 73 that supports the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 moves in the forward direction of the printer multifunction machine 1, so that the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 are moved forward. Move out of the area A.

  In this manner, in the configuration in which the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 extends from the carriage 63 and deforms following the movement of the carriage 63, the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 remove the sheet from the feed path. The ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 is deformed or moved in the direction of retreating from the area A where the removal operation is performed.

  When the carriage stops near the left side due to an error or the like, the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 enters the area where the removal operation is performed. At this time, conventionally, the user has to perform error processing by retracting the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line. When the carriage is retracted, the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 may interfere with error processing, and the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line may be damaged.

  On the other hand, in the printer multifunction device 1, even when the carriage 63 stops near the left side, the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 is drawn by linking to the front cover 22 and opening the front cover 22. The ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 does not get in the way, so that the area where the user can perform the removal work can be widened.

  Further, the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 deform or move the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 in conjunction with the opening operation of the front cover 22.

  Further, one end of the rod 72 is connected to the front cover 22, and the other end supports the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 according to the movement of the carriage 63 (deformation of the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68). The portion to be moved can be displaced.

An ink supply tube 67 for supplying ink to the recording head 64 is an example of a flexible member.
The head signal line 68 for transmitting an electrical signal for ejecting ink is an example of a flexible member.

  Note that the holder 74 may be attached to the front cover 22 so that the holder 74 can move left and right inside the front cover 22 in accordance with the movement of the carriage 63. As a result, even if the length of the rod 72 is not a length that can follow the deformation / movement of the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 (when the length is insufficient), the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line. The support position can be appropriately displaced following the deformation and movement of 68.

  Next, functions and actions of the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 of the multifunction printer 1 in which the carriage 63 is located on the left side of the main body 11 and the front cover 22 is closed. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 of the multifunction printer 1 in which the carriage 63 is located on the left side of the main body 11 and the front cover 22 is closed.

  FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 of the multifunction printer 1 in which the carriage 63 is located on the left side of the main body 11 and the front cover 22 is opened. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 of the multifunction printer 1 in which the carriage 63 is located on the left side of the main body 11 and the front cover 22 is opened.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the holder 74 is mounted on the upper side of the closed front cover 22 and holds one end of the rod 72. That is, the distance from the line connecting the pair of hinges 51 to the holder 74 is long enough to retract the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 from the region A (at least the carriage 63 is positioned on the left side of the main body 11). And a length longer than the distance in the Y-axis direction from the position of the clip 73 to the front side of the area A).

  Moreover, the rod 72 is formed in a dogleg shape. More specifically, in a state in which the front cover 22 is closed, the linear portion of the rod 72 on the end side held by the holder 74 is directed obliquely downward toward the inside of the main body 11. Be placed.

  Further, the linear portion of the rod 72 on the end side connected to the clip 73 is substantially upward from the clip 73 (that is, the support position of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68) inside the main body 11. It is arranged to go to.

  The clip 73 preferably holds the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 securely so that the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 do not move with respect to the clip 73. In the present embodiment, such a configuration is adopted. However, in some cases, the clip 73 is moved to the clip 73 to some extent, and the clip 73 is moved to the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line. 68 can be held gently.

  In this case, by forming the rod 72 in a U-shape, the clip 73 is suspended from above, and the frictional force between the clip 73 and the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 is reduced. The clip 73 can be slid with less force with respect to the supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68. Accordingly, the deformation of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 is not hindered, and the movement of the carriage 63 at the time of recording is not affected, and the recording is surely performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the region A is a region having a three-dimensional extent. When the carriage 63 is positioned on the left side of the main body 11, the connector 69 side of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68, which is held by the clip 73, in the state where the front cover 22 is closed. The part enters the area A together with the clip 73.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, when the front cover 22 is opened, the holder 74 moves forward by a distance from the line connecting the pair of hinges 51 to the holder 74. In accordance with the movement of the holder 74, the rod 72 moves to the front side together with the clip 73, and the clip 73 goes out of the area A.

  Therefore, the portion of the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 on the side of the connector 69 held by the clip 73 goes out of the region A. That is, the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 deform or move the ink supply tube 67 and the head signal line 68 in the direction of retreating from the region A.

  In this way, the feed path forming unit 27 forms a feed path through which the paper P is sent, and the transport unit 26 transports the paper P in the feed direction of the feed path, and the paper is transported through the feed path in the feed direction. A carriage 63 provided with a recording head 64 that discharges and records ink on an exposed portion, which is a portion exposed from the feed path forming portion 27 among the portions of P, is a direction orthogonal to the feed direction of the paper P The ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 extends from the carriage 63 and deforms following the movement of the carriage 63, and the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 are jammed with the paper P in the feed path. In this case, the ink supply channel is moved in the direction of retreating from the area A where the operation for removing the jammed paper P from the feeding path is performed by taking it out from the exposed portion. Deforming or moving over Bed 67 or head signal line 68.

  Therefore, when the carriage 63 stops near the left side due to an error such as a paper jam, the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 is prevented from blocking the area A where the removal operation is performed, and a wide operation area is secured. Therefore, the operability is improved.

  Further, when the user opens the front cover 22 and puts the hand into the main body 11 to access the area A, the user's hand or clothes can be prevented from touching the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68. As a result, there is no possibility that the user's hand or clothes are stained by, for example, ink mist adhering to the ink supply tube 67. Further, there is no possibility that the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 is damaged or the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 is pulled out from the carriage 63.

  As described above, since the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 is deformed or moved in the direction in which the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 is retracted from the area A, the user is not disturbed by the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68, Work can be performed, and the jammed paper P can be easily removed.

  It has been described that the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 are effective when the carriage 63 is stopped on the left side, but the stopped position is not limited to the left side. Even when the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 is stopped at any position within a range in which the carriage 63 can move such that the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 is related to the region A, the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 are The ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 can be deformed or moved in the direction of retreating from the region A.

  In addition, the clip 73 provided at one end of the rod 72 holds the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68, and the holder 74 at the other end of the rod 72 is fixed. It can also have a function to prevent sagging.

  Although the rod 72 has been described as being formed in a rod shape from metal or resin, it may be a string or band, or may be formed from an elastic body such as a spring or rubber string.

  Further, as an example of the flexible member, the ink supply tube 67 formed of a resin tube or the like, or the head signal line 68 such as a wiring cable or a wire harness made of an electric wire has been described. For example, a metal flexible cable, a power line for transmitting power, or an optical fiber may be used.

  Further, the rod 72, the clip 73, and the holder 74 have been described as deforming or moving the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 in conjunction with the opening operation of the front cover 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When pulled out from the main body 11, the ink supply tube 67 or the head signal line 68 may be deformed or moved in conjunction with the pulling operation.

  The printer multifunction device 1 has been described as having the functions of a printing device, a copying machine, and a facsimile device, but may be a recording device that is a printing device, a copying machine, a facsimile device, or other devices.

It should be noted that the area A (user work area) is not necessarily defined clearly, and changes depending on the arrangement of the components of the recording apparatus, and stays inside the apparatus exclusively for some reason. This is an area in which a user's hand may enter when performing an operation to remove the paper that is being used. The region A in the above-described embodiment shows an example.
In addition, the area A is not limited to the area above the portion where the path is exposed, as in the upstream side or the downstream side of the frame 31, but the area where the paper may stay inside the apparatus, or Such a region is also included.

  In addition, the area A is an area in which a user's hand may be inserted when performing the operation of removing the paper staying inside the apparatus in the above embodiment. However, the area A is an operation performed by inserting a hand into the apparatus. In addition to the sheet removal operation, there are various operations such as an ink cartridge replacement operation, a lubricant supply operation to the movable part, and a wear part replacement operation. Accordingly, the area A is set according to the contents of the user work and the device configuration, and is not limited to the above embodiment.

  Then, a retracting means for moving the ink supply tube 67 in a direction in which the ink supply tube 67 is retracted from a space occupied by the ink supply tube 67 (a space occupied by the ink supply tube 67 indicated by a solid line in FIG. 4) is provided. Thus, the ink supply tube 67 does not hinder the user's work, and the user's hand can be prevented from touching the ink supply tube 67. The retracting direction of the ink supply tube 67 at that time is not limited to the front side of the apparatus as in the above-described embodiment, and may be set as the back side of the apparatus, or may be set upward or downward. .

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer multifunction device, 11 Main body, 12 Medium conveyance part, 21 Case, 22 Front cover, 23 Scanner, 24 Operation part, 25 Loading part, 26 Conveyance part, 27 Feed path formation part, 28 Reverse path formation part, 29 Recording Part, 30 discharge part, 31 frame, 32 stacker, 33 stacking part, 34 stacker, 51 hinge, 52 display part, 53 button, 54 paper support, 55 hopper, 56 cassette, 57 roller, 58 roller, 59 roller, 60 Arm, 61 Roller pair, 62 Roller pair, 63 Carriage, 64 Recording head, 65 Medium support, 66 Ink cartridge, 67 Ink supply tube, 68 Head signal line, 69 connector, 70 connector, 71 connector, 72 rod, 73 clip 74 e Ruda

Claims (7)

A path forming member that forms a path through which the recording medium is sent; and
Conveying means for conveying the recording medium in the feeding direction of the path;
Of the portion of the recording medium that is transported along the path in the feeding direction, ink is exposed to an exposed part that is exposed from the path forming member.

A recording head that discharges and records, and a carriage that moves in a direction crossing the feeding direction of the recording medium;
A flexible member having a deforming portion extending from the carriage and deforming following the movement of the carriage;
And means for causing the different movement and movement of the deformable portion with the operation of the carriage, from the space where the deformable portion is occupied, the retracting means for moving the flexible portion in a direction in which the deformable portion is retracted,
A recording apparatus comprising: A path forming member that forms a path through which the recording medium is sent; and
Conveying means for conveying the recording medium in the feeding direction of the path;
A recording head that discharges and records ink on an exposed portion of the portion of the recording medium that is transported along the path in the feeding direction and that is exposed from the path forming member is provided, and the recording target A carriage that moves in a direction that intersects the media feed direction;
A flexible member having a deforming portion extending from the carriage and deforming following the movement of the carriage;
A means for performing a deformation or movement different from the deformation or movement of the deformation portion in accordance with the operation of the carriage, and from the user work area when a user inserts a hand into the apparatus to perform the work, the deformation portion Retreating means for deforming or moving the deforming portion in the retreating direction;
A recording apparatus comprising: 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the retracting means retracts the deforming portion in conjunction with an opening operation of an openable / closable cover for accessing the inside of the recording apparatus. Recording device.   4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one end side of the retracting means is connected to the cover, and the other end side supports the flexible member and the other end responds to deformation of the flexible member. A recording apparatus comprising a support member that is displaceable. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is an ink supply tube for supplying the ink to the recording head. 6. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is an electric wire for transmitting an electrical signal for ejecting the ink. 6. Recording device. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the deformable portion is located above the exposed portion of the recording medium.
A recording apparatus.

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