JP2010083041A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide, in an image recording device configured to transmit drive power to each of a plurality of drive parts, a switching means of drive transmission which never causes increase in size of the device or increase in load of a carriage. <P>SOLUTION: A printer part 11 includes a drive transmission mechanism 70 which switches transmission of drive power from a motor. The drive transmission mechanism 70 includes an input lever 74 slidably supported by a support shaft 73, and a coil spring 65. An upper lever guide 83 is provided on the upper side of the support shaft 73, and a support guide 110 is provided further on the upper side. A lever 77 of the input lever 74 is inserted to a guide hole 86 of the lever guide 83 and to a guide hole 111 of the support guide 110. The guide hole 86 guides the lever 77 from a first guide position 88 to a third guide position 90 through a second guide position 89, and the guide hole 111 guides the lever 77 from the third guide position 90 to the first guide position 88 without through the second guide position 89. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that transmits a driving force from a driving source to each of a plurality of driving units. Specifically, the driving force is transmitted to each driving unit by receiving a force from a reciprocating carriage. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus configured so that a drive transmission position of a drive output gear can be switched.

  An ink jet printer is known as an image recording apparatus that discharges ink based on an input signal and records an image on a recording medium. Inkjet printers guide ink to the actuator of the recording head, and pressurize and eject the ink by using the bending of the actuator such as a piezoelectric element and electrostrictive element according to the input signal and the local boiling of the ink by the heating element. .

  Ink jet printers perform image recording by selectively ejecting ink from a recording head to a recording medium in a process in which recording paper is conveyed from a paper feed tray to a paper discharge tray. The feeding of the recording paper from the paper feed tray to the paper transport path and the transport of the recording paper in the paper transport path are performed by a roller called a paper feed roller or a transport roller being rotated in pressure contact with the recording paper. Done. A motor is used as a drive source of these rollers, and drive transmission from the motor to each roller is realized by a drive transmission mechanism in which a pinion gear, a timing belt, and the like are combined.

  In a recording head used in an ink jet printer, ink ejection defects may occur due to bubbles or foreign matter clogging in nozzles that eject ink. In order to prevent or recover from ink ejection failure, a technique of sucking and removing bubbles and foreign matters from the nozzles of the recording head is known, and is generally called purge. A maintenance unit for purging includes a cap that covers the nozzles of the recording head, a pump for decompressing the cap, and the like. A motor is also used as a drive source for driving the pump in the maintenance unit and the cam for switching the exhaust valve, and the drive transmission from the motor to each drive unit is realized by the drive transmission mechanism described above.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image recording apparatus having a power transmission switching unit that switches driving transmission from a motor as a driving source to each driving unit is known. This power transmission switching means selectively transmits power to each drive unit according to the carriage movement position (see Patent Document 1). Accordingly, it is possible to transmit drive from one drive source to, for example, a conveyance roller during image recording and to transmit to a maintenance unit during purge.

  According to Patent Document 1, driving of one LF motor (42) is transmitted to a plurality of operating parts by a power transmission switching means (100). The power transmission switching means (100) includes one switching gear (102), an intermittent sheet feeding transmission gear (113), a continuous sheet feeding transmission gear (114), a lower stage sheet feeding transmission gear (121), and a maintenance transmission. There are four kinds of transmission gears of the gear (115). The switching gear (102) includes a lever portion (104a) at position 1 (position engaged with the first set portion (111)), position 2 (position engaged with the second set portion (112)), position 3 ( Positions engaged with the third set portion (108)), positions 4, and positions 5 are selectively engaged with a transmission gear of a type corresponding to the position to transmit power. Each position 1 to 5 is defined by a guide block (107) having a guide groove (109) that passes through the distal end portion of the lever portion (104a) and can slide the distal end portion. The guide block (107) is formed with a connecting inclined surface (109c) inclined from the position 3 toward the positions 4 and 5, and the lever portion (104a) is slidably contacted with the connecting inclined surface (109c) at the position 3. To positions 4 and 5. The guide block (107) is provided with a restriction piece (110) extending downward from above the guide block (107). The position of the lever portion (104a) is sequentially changed (moved) from position 1 through position 2, 3, 4 to position 5 by movement of the carriage (13) corresponding to the operation mode in the main scanning direction. It returns cyclically to position 1 again. When the lever portion (104a) is returned from position 5 to position 1, the lever portion (104a) moves by receiving the elastic force of the first urging spring (106a) that urges toward the position 1 side. At this time, since the lever portion (104a) is regulated by the regulating piece (110) and passes through the annular groove portion (109b), the lever portion (104a) does not enter the connecting inclined surface (109c) and slides on the regulating piece (110). It is possible to shift to position 1 while touching. Reference numerals in parentheses are those shown in Patent Document 1.

JP 2007-90761 A

  However, in the mechanism that cyclically shifts the lever portion (104a) from position 1 to position 5 again as in Patent Document 1, the lever portion from above the lever portion (104a) is caused by the restriction piece (110). Since the transition of (104a) (shift from position 5 to position 1) is regulated, the power transmission means (100) is increased in size in the height direction. Further, since the restricting piece (110) is provided so as to protrude toward the guide groove (109) in which the lever portion (104a) moves, the guide groove (109) has an arrangement space for the restricting piece (110). The movement space of the lever part (104a) must be secured. Therefore, the guide block (107) is enlarged. Increasing the size of the power transmission means (100) and the guide block (107) results in the problem of increasing the size of the printer.

  Further, since the movement path of the lever portion (104a) is set so as to bypass the arrangement space of the restriction piece (110), the path length from the position 1 to the position 5 becomes long. Therefore, the expansion / contraction stroke of the first urging spring (106a) applied when the lever portion (104a) is returned from the position 5 to the position 1 becomes long. In this case, a sufficient moving force that can move the lever portion (104a) from position 1 to position 5 against the first biasing spring (106a) must be applied to the carriage (13). The load on 24) increases. As a result, the CR motor (24) must be increased in size, which may cause problems such as an increase in the size of the printer and an increase in power consumption.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent an increase in the size of an image recording apparatus that transmits a driving force to each of a plurality of driving units and a load on a carriage. It is to provide a drive transmission switching means that does not increase.

(1) The present invention is configured as an image recording apparatus including a carriage, a drive output gear, a lever member, an elastic member, an urging member, a holding member, and a guide member. The carriage is reciprocated in a predetermined direction with the recording head mounted thereon. The drive output gear is provided so as to be movable along the support shaft extending in the predetermined direction, and is disposed at at least three drive transmission positions capable of transmitting power to each of the plurality of drive units. The lever member extends from the support shaft to the carriage side, and moves in a first direction along the predetermined direction by contact of the carriage, thereby moving the position of the drive output gear to the three drive transmission positions. It changes to either. The elastic member elastically biases the lever member in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The urging member urges the lever member in the circumferential direction of the support shaft in cooperation with the elastic member. The holding member is provided corresponding to each of the three drive transmission positions, and is provided with a first holding portion capable of holding the lever member, provided on the first direction side with respect to the first holding portion, and the first holding portion. A second holding portion that is located in a position deviating from the extension line extending in the predetermined direction from the portion in the circumferential direction of the support shaft and restricts the movement of the lever member in the second direction, and the second holding portion. It has the 3rd holding part located in the 1st direction side. The guide member is supported so as to be driven by receiving a force from the side surface of the lever member as the lever member moves. The guide member guides the lever member from the third holding portion to the first holding portion without passing through the second holding portion.

  When the carriage comes into contact with the lever member during the movement of the carriage, the lever member moves in the first direction against the elastic biasing force of the elastic member. At this time, the lever member moves from the first holding part to the third holding part via the second holding part or the second holding part according to the movement position of the carriage. The lever member receives the pressing force of the carriage and the urging force of the urging member and moves from the first holding unit to the second holding unit. In each holding part, a lever member is held. In the third holding portion, the lever member is held by the third holding portion by continuing the state where the carriage is in contact with the lever member. When the holding of the lever member is released in the third holding portion, the lever member is guided to a predetermined position while the side surface portion of the lever member is in contact with the guide member. Specifically, the lever member that has received the elastic urging force of the elastic member is guided by the guide member from the third holding portion to the first holding portion without passing through the second holding portion.

  In the image recording apparatus configured as described above, the guide member does not cover the extended end of the lever member from above, unlike the guide block of the conventional patent document 1, and the movement of the lever member from the third holding portion is the same. Since it regulates toward 1 holding | maintenance part, the dimension (height) of the up-down direction of a guide member can be suppressed. Further, since the movement of the lever member in the holding member is not hindered by the guide member, the movement path of the lever member can be shortened, and the holding member can be downsized.

  In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, the “direction” is represented by a straight line having opposite directions such as + and −, for example. For example, it is represented by an arrow having one arrow head such as + or-.

(2) The holding member has the third holding part on an extension line extending in the predetermined direction from the first holding part, and an inclined guide is provided from the second holding part to the third holding part. Yes. In this case, the following configuration is conceivable as a specific configuration of the guide member. That is, the guide member is a plate-like member provided to be movable in the predetermined direction, the guide hole through which the lever member is inserted, and the movement of the lever member in the predetermined direction. The first pressed portion and the second pressed portion pressed by the side surface portion, and the lever from the first holding portion to the second holding portion in a first posture in which the guide member is disposed on the second facing side. There is a guide guide that guides a member and has a guide regulation guide that regulates movement from the third holding unit to the second holding unit in a second posture in which the guide member is arranged on the first facing side. It is done.

  With this configuration, the lever member is guided while being in contact with the edge portion of the guide hole while the lever member is inserted into the guide hole. When the lever member moves in the predetermined direction, the side surface portion of the lever member presses the first pressed portion or the second pressed portion, and the guide member is moved in any direction of the predetermined direction. When the lever member is in the first holding portion, the guide member is in a state of the first posture arranged on the second facing side. When the guide member is in the first posture and the lever member is pressed by the carriage in the first direction, the lever member is guided from the first holding portion to the second holding portion by the guide restriction guide of the guide member. Is done. When further pressed, the lever member moves in the first direction along the inclined guide of the holding member and is guided to the third holding portion. At this time, the side surface portion of the lever member presses the first pressed portion, and the guide member is in the second posture arranged on the first facing side. In a state where the guide member is in the second posture arranged on the first facing side, the movement of the lever member from the third holding portion to the second holding portion is restricted by the guide restriction guide of the guide member. . When the holding of the lever member is released in the third holding portion, the lever member that has received the elastic biasing force of the elastic member moves to the second direction side. At this time, since the movement of the guide member to the second holding portion is restricted by the guide restriction guide, the lever member does not move to the second holding portion. When the lever member comes into contact with the second pressed portion, the side surface portion of the lever member presses the second pressed portion and moves the guide member to the second direction side. Thereafter, the lever member is guided to the first holding portion.

  Since it is comprised in this way, the inclination stroke of an inclination guide can be shortened. In addition, since the load when the lever member moves the tilt guide is reduced, the motor for driving the carriage can be reduced in size.

(3) A long hole extending in the predetermined direction is formed between the first pressed portion on the first direction side and the second pressed portion on the second direction side. This long hole guides the lever member from the third holding portion to the first holding portion.

(4) The following configuration may be employed as a specific configuration of the guide member. That is, the guide member is supported so as to be rotatable from the third posture to the fourth posture around a rotation shaft extending in the extending direction of the lever member, and the first plate and the first plate forming a predetermined angle with the rotation shaft as a boundary. A rotating plate that is bent by two plates; and an elastic member that elastically biases the rotating plate in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft from the fourth position toward the third position. In the third posture, the first holding part and the second holding part are opened, the first holding part and the third holding part are closed with the first plate, and the second holding part The third holding portion is closed by the second plate. In the fourth posture, the first holding part and the second holding part are closed with the first plate, the first holding part and the third holding part are closed with the second plate, and The posture is to open between the second holding part and the third holding part.

  When the lever member moves from the third holding part to the first holding part, the lever member that has received the elastic biasing force of the elastic member in the third holding part moves to the second holding part. Moves in the second direction while being regulated by the second plate, and presses the first plate by contacting the first plate to change the posture of the rotating plate from the third posture to the fourth posture. In this fourth posture, the movement to the second holding portion is guided to the first holding portion while being restricted by the second plate.

  Since it is configured in this manner, when the lever member moves from the first holding unit to the third holding unit, first, the lever member moves to the second holding unit. Then, in the process of moving from the second holding unit to the third holding unit, the second plate is pressed to rotate the rotating plate to the fourth posture side. At this time, the path from the second holding unit to the third holding unit is opened, and the lever member moves to the third holding unit. When the lever member moves to the third holding portion, the rotating plate returns to the third posture in response to the elastic biasing force of the elastic member. When the lever member moves from the third holding part to the first holding part, the lever member that has received the elastic biasing force of the elastic member in the third holding part moves to the second holding part. Moves in the second direction while being regulated by the second plate. Then, by contacting the first plate, the first plate is pressed to change the posture of the rotating plate from the third posture to the fourth posture. At this time, the lever member moves from the rotation shaft to the second direction side. In the fourth posture, the movement to the second holding portion is restricted by the second plate. Thereafter, the lever member is guided to the first holding portion.

  Even in such a configuration, the movement of the lever member in the holding member is not hindered by the guide member, so the movement path of the lever member can be shortened and the holding member can be downsized.

  According to the present invention, the guide member, the holding member, and these peripheral members can be reduced in size, and as a result, the image recording apparatus can be reduced in size.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In addition, this embodiment is only an example of this invention, and it cannot be overemphasized that embodiment can be changed suitably in the range which does not change the summary of this invention.

[Figure Description]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a multifunction machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an outline of the internal configuration of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the main configuration of the printer unit 11. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the configuration near the drive switching mechanism 70. FIG. 5 is a front view showing the configuration of the drive switching mechanism 70 at the first drive transmission position. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing configurations of the input lever 74 and the contact member 75. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the configuration of the drive switching mechanism 70 at the second drive transmission position. FIG. 8 is a front view showing the configuration of the drive switching mechanism 70 at the third drive transmission position. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the movement of the lever 77 and the support guide 110. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the movement of the lever 77 and the support guide 120. Each gear shown in each figure is a spur gear unless otherwise specified, and the teeth of each gear are omitted in each figure. In FIGS. 5, 7, and 8, the carriage 62, the recording head 61, the ink tube 59, the platen 63, the belt driving mechanism 46, the purge mechanism 55, and the like are omitted.

[Schematic configuration of MFP 10]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multifunction machine 10 is a multi-function device (MFD) having a printer unit 11 at the bottom and a scanner unit 12 at the top. It has a scan function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. Of the multifunction machine 10, the printer unit 11 corresponds to the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. Accordingly, in the present invention, functions other than the printer function are arbitrary. For example, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention is implemented as a single-function printer that does not have the scanner unit 12 and does not have a scan function or a copy function. Also good.

  The printer unit 11 is mainly connected to an external information device such as a computer, and records images and documents on a recording medium based on print data including image data and document data transmitted from the external information device. The multifunction machine 10 can also record various types of storage media such as a memory card and record image data recorded on the storage medium on a recording sheet. Examples of the recording medium used in the printer unit 11 include paper and a resin sheet.

  The multifunction machine 10 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and an opening 13 is formed on the front surface thereof. Inside the opening 13, a paper feed tray 20 and a paper discharge tray 21 are provided in two upper and lower stages. The paper feed tray 20 accommodates recording paper that is a recording medium. The size of the recording paper that can be accommodated in the paper feed tray 20 is, for example, various standard sizes such as A4 size, B5 size, and postcard size that are smaller than the legal size. The recording paper stored in the paper feed tray 20 is fed into the printer unit 11 to record a desired image and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 21.

  A paper feed cassette 14 is disposed below the opening 13. The paper feed cassette 14 can accommodate, for example, legal size, A4 size, B5 size recording paper. The paper feed cassette 14 can accommodate recording papers of a number about several times the number of recording papers that can be accommodated in the paper feed tray 20. Therefore, a large amount of frequently used recording paper such as A4 size is stored in the paper feed cassette 14.

  The scanner unit 12 is configured as a so-called flat bed scanner. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a document cover 15 is provided on the upper surface of the multifunction machine 10 so as to be freely opened and closed. When the document cover 15 is opened, the platen glass 16 is exposed. An image sensor 17 is provided below the platen glass 16. The image reading is performed on the document placed on the platen glass 16 while the image sensor 17 moves. Further, the document cover 15 is provided with an auto document feeder (ADF) 18 that is an automatic document feeder. Since such a scanner unit 12 has an arbitrary configuration, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  An operation panel 19 is provided on the front upper portion of the multifunction machine 10. The operation panel 19 includes a plurality of operation buttons and a liquid crystal display unit. The multifunction machine 10 operates based on an operation instruction from the operation panel 19. When the multifunction device 10 is connected to an external computer, the multifunction device 10 also operates based on an instruction transmitted from the computer via a printer driver or a scanner driver.

[Printer 11]
As shown in FIG. 2, a separation inclined plate 22 is provided on the back side of the paper feed tray 20. The separation inclined plate 22 separates the recording sheets fed from the sheet feeding tray 20 one by one and guides only the uppermost recording sheet upward. A first paper feed roller 25 that feeds the recording paper stored in the paper feed tray 20 toward the separation inclined plate 22 is provided above the paper feed tray 20. The first paper feed roller 25 is pivotally supported at the tip of the first arm 26. The first paper feed roller 25 is rotated by the driving force of an ASF (Auto Sheet Feed) motor transmitted by a drive transmission mechanism in which a plurality of gears are engaged. The first paper feed roller 25 corresponds to one of the drive units in the present invention.

  The first arm 26 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 26 </ b> A and moves up and down so as to be able to contact and separate from the paper feed tray 20. The first arm 26 is rotated downward so as to come into contact with the paper feed tray 20 by its own weight or biased by a spring or the like, and is configured to be retractable upward when the paper feed tray 20 is inserted or removed. ing. As the first arm 26 is rotated downward, the first paper feed roller 25 pivotally supported at the tip of the first arm 26 comes into pressure contact with the recording paper on the paper feed tray 20. In this state, when the first paper feeding roller 25 is rotated, the uppermost recording paper is fed to the separation inclined plate 22 by the frictional force between the roller surface of the first paper feeding roller 25 and the recording paper. Is done.

  A first transport path 23 is formed so as to extend upward from the separation inclined plate 22. The first conveyance path 23 is directed upward from the separation inclined plate 22, then bends to the front side of the multifunction machine 10, and communicates with the paper discharge tray 21 through the image recording unit 24. Accordingly, the recording paper stored in the paper feed tray 20 is guided by the first transport path 23 so as to make a U-turn from the lower side to the upper side, reaches the image recording unit 24, and image recording is performed by the image recording unit 24. Thereafter, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 21.

  The first transport path 23 is composed of a pair of guide surfaces that face each other at a predetermined interval except for a place where the image recording unit 24 and the like are disposed. For example, the curved portion of the first conveyance path 23 on the back side of the multifunction machine 10 is configured by fixing a first guide member 27 and a second guide member 28 to the apparatus frame. In the first conveyance path 23, particularly in a place where the first conveyance path 23 is bent, the rotation roller exposes the roller surface to the outer guide surface, and the width direction of the first conveyance path 23 is set in the axial direction. May be provided so as to be freely rotatable. The recording paper that is slidably in contact with the guide surface is smoothly transported at the portion where the first transport path 23 is bent by each rotatable roller.

  An image recording unit 24 is provided downstream of the curved portion of the first conveyance path 23 in the conveyance direction. The image recording unit 24 includes a carriage 62 (an example of the carriage of the present invention) that reciprocates with the recording head 61 mounted thereon. The recording head 61 includes cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (ink) through an ink tube 59 (see FIG. 3) from an ink cartridge that is disposed independently of the recording head 61 in the multifunction machine 10. Each color ink of Bk) is supplied. While the carriage 62 is reciprocated, each color ink is selectively ejected as fine ink droplets from the recording head 61, thereby recording an image on a recording sheet conveyed on the platen 63. The detailed configuration of the image recording unit 24 will be described later.

  A pair of conveying rollers 29 and a pinch roller 30 are provided on the upstream side of the image recording unit 24. The transport roller 29 and the pinch roller 30 sandwich the recording paper transported through the first transport path 23 and transport it onto the platen 63. A driving force of an LF (Line Feed) motor is transmitted to the transport roller 29 and is intermittently driven with a predetermined line feed width. The pinch roller 30 is provided so as to be movable in a direction in which the pinch roller 30 contacts and separates from the conveyance roller 29, and is elastically biased by a coil spring and is pressed against the conveyance roller 29. When the recording paper enters between the conveying roller 29 and the pinch roller 30, the pinch roller 30 is retracted against the elastic biasing force by the thickness of the recording paper, and presses the recording paper against the conveying roller 29. Hold on to. Thereby, the rotational force of the conveyance roller 29 is reliably transmitted to the recording paper.

  A pair of paper discharge rollers 31 and a spur roller 32 are provided on the downstream side of the image recording unit 24. The paper discharge roller 31 and the spur roller 32 pinch the recorded recording paper and convey it to the paper discharge tray 21. The transport roller 29 and the paper discharge roller 31 are intermittently driven with a predetermined line feed width by driving and transmitting the output of the LF motor as the first drive source. The rotations of the transport roller 29 and the paper discharge roller 31 are synchronized. A rotary encoder (not shown) provided on the conveyance roller 29 detects an encoder disk pattern that rotates together with the conveyance roller 29 with an optical sensor. Based on this detection signal, the rotation of the LF motor as the first drive source is controlled. In FIG. 2, the rotary encoder is omitted.

  Since the spur roller 32 is in pressure contact with the recorded recording paper, the roller surface is uneven in a spur shape so as not to deteriorate the image recorded on the recording paper. The spur roller 32 is provided so as to be movable in a direction in which the spur roller 32 is brought into contact with and separated from the paper discharge roller 31, and is elastically biased by a coil spring and pressed against the paper discharge roller 31. When the recording paper enters between the paper discharge roller 31 and the spur roller 32, the spur roller 32 retreats against the urging force by the thickness of the recording paper and presses the recording paper against the paper discharge roller 31. Hold it. Thereby, the rotational force of the paper discharge roller 31 is reliably transmitted to the recording paper.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the second transport path 33 connects the part of the first transport path 23 downstream of the image recording unit 24 and the part of the paper feed tray 20 upstream of the paper feed roller 25. Is formed. The second conveyance path 33 is a path that descends while being inclined from the downstream side of the image recording unit 23 toward the paper feed roller 25. By this second transport path 33, the recording paper on which an image is recorded on one side by the image recording unit 24 is guided onto the paper feed tray 20. Similarly to the first transport path 23, the second transport path 33 is also formed by a pair of guide surfaces facing each other at a predetermined interval.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a path switching unit 34 corresponding to the second transport path 33 is provided in a portion of the first transport path 23 on the downstream side of the image recording unit 24. The path switching unit 34 feeds the recording sheet conveyed through the first conveyance path 23 to either the paper discharge tray 21 or the second conveyance path 23. The path switching unit 34 includes a switchback roller 35, a spur roller 36, a frame 37, and a spur roller 38.

  A switchback roller 35 and a spur roller 36 are provided on the downstream side of the first conveyance path 23 where the second conveyance path 33 is connected. When single-sided recording is performed on the recording paper, the image recording unit 24 performs image recording, and the recording paper transported through the first transport path 23 is discharged from the paper discharge tray 21 by the switchback roller 35 and the spur roller 36. Is discharged. When double-sided recording is performed on the recording paper, the image recording unit 24 performs image recording on one side, and the recording paper conveyed through the first conveyance path 23 is switched by the switchback roller 35 and the spur roller 36. Switchback transported.

  As the recording paper is switched back, the frame 37 is rotated toward the second conveyance path 33 and the spur roller 38 is lowered. The recording paper transported switchback is guided to the second transport path 33 by the spur roller 38 and sent to the paper feed tray 20. When the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the paper feed roller 25, the recording paper is again transported to the image recording unit 24 through the first transport path 23 by the paper feed roller 25. At that time, the other side of the recording sheet on which no image is recorded is opposed to the recording head 61. Then, the recording sheet on which both sides of the image are recorded is discharged to the discharge tray 21 by the path switching unit 34.

  The switchback roller 35 in the path switching unit 34 is rotated by the driving force of the LF motor being transmitted, and is synchronized with the transport roller 29. Further, the frame 37 in the path switching unit 34 is rotated by driving transmission of the output of the ASF motor. That is, each of the switchback roller 35 and the frame 37 corresponds to one of a plurality of driving units in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a paper feed cassette 14 is loaded below the paper feed tray 20. The paper feed cassette 14 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape whose upper surface is open, and recording paper is stored in a stacked state therein. A separation inclined plate 39 is provided on the back side of the sheet feeding cassette 14. The separation inclined plate 39 separates the recording paper fed from the paper feed cassette 14 and guides only the uppermost recording paper upward.

  A third transport path 40 is formed upward from the separation inclined plate 39. The third conveyance path 40 is directed upward from the separation inclined plate 39, then bends to the front side, and communicates with the first conveyance path 23 on the upstream side of the conveyance roller 29 in the conveyance direction. The third conveyance path 40 has a back side of the second guide member 28 that forms the outer guide surface of the first conveyance path 23 as an inner guide surface, and is disposed further outside at a predetermined interval from the second guide member 28. The third guide member 41 is formed. The recording paper stored in the paper feed cassette 14 is guided to make a U-turn from the lower side to the upper side by the third conveyance path 40 and enters the first conveyance path 23, and image recording is performed by the image recording unit 24. Thereafter, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 21.

  On the upper side of the paper feed cassette 14, a second paper feed roller 42 that supplies the recording paper loaded in the paper feed cassette 14 to the third transport path 40 is provided. The second paper feed roller 42 is pivotally supported at the tip of the second arm 43. The second paper feed roller 42 rotates when the driving force of the ASF motor is transmitted by a drive transmission mechanism in which a plurality of gears are engaged. The second paper feed roller 42 corresponds to one of the drive units in the present invention.

  The second arm 43 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 43 </ b> A and moves up and down so as to be able to contact and separate from the bottom surface inside the sheet feeding cassette 14. The second arm 43 is rotated downward so as to come into contact with the paper feed cassette 14 by its own weight or biased by a spring or the like, and is configured to be retractable upward when the paper feed cassette 14 is inserted or removed. ing. When the second arm 43 is rotated downward, the second paper feed roller 42 pivotally supported at the tip of the second arm 43 comes into pressure contact with the recording paper in the paper feed cassette 14. In this state, when the second paper feeding roller 42 is rotated, the uppermost recording paper is fed to the separation inclined plate 39 by the frictional force between the roller surface of the second paper feeding roller 42 and the recording paper. Is done. The leading edge of the recording sheet abuts on the separation inclined plate 39 and is guided upward, and is sent out to the third conveyance path 40.

[Image recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of guide rails 44 and 45 are provided on the upper side of the first conveyance path 23 with a predetermined distance in the recording sheet conveyance direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3). The guide rails 44 and 45 extend in a direction (left and right direction in FIG. 3) perpendicular to the recording sheet conveyance direction. The guide rails 44 and 45 are provided in the housing of the printer unit 11 and constitute a part of a frame that supports each member constituting the printer unit 11. The carriage 62 is placed so as to straddle the guide rails 44 and 45, and is slidable on the guide rails 44 and 45 in a direction (left and right direction in FIG. 3) perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper.

  The guide rail 44 disposed on the upstream side of the recording paper conveyance direction is a flat plate whose length in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 3) of the first conveyance path 23 is longer than the reciprocating range of the carriage 62. . The guide rail 45 disposed on the downstream side of the recording paper in the conveyance direction is a flat plate whose length in the width direction of the first conveyance path 23 is substantially the same as that of the guide rail 44. The upstream end of the carriage 62 in the transport direction is placed on the guide rail 44, and the downstream end is placed on the guide rail 45, and the carriage 62 is moved along the longitudinal direction of the guide rails 44, 45. To be slid. An edge 45A on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the guide rail 45 is bent at a substantially right angle upward. The carriage 62 carried on the guide rails 44 and 45 has the edge 45A slidably held by a holding member such as a roller pair. As a result, the carriage 62 is positioned with respect to the recording paper conveyance direction and is slidable in a direction perpendicular to the recording paper conveyance direction.

  A belt driving mechanism 46 is disposed on the upper surface of the guide rail 45. In the belt driving mechanism 46, an endless annular belt 49 having teeth provided inside is stretched between a driving pulley 47 and a driven pulley 48 that are respectively provided near both ends in the width direction of the first conveying path 23. It will be. A driving force is input to a shaft of the driving pulley 47 from a CR motor (not shown), and the belt 49 rotates in a circumferential motion by the rotation of the driving pulley 47. In addition to the endless annular belt 49, a belt 49 that fixes both ends of the endless belt to the carriage 62 may be used.

  The carriage 62 is fixed to the belt 49 on the bottom surface side. Therefore, based on the circumferential movement of the belt 49 by the CR motor, the carriage 62 reciprocates on the guide rails 44 and 45 with the edge 45 as a reference. The recording head 61 is mounted on such a carriage 62, and the recording head 61 is reciprocated with the width direction of the first transport path 23 as a predetermined direction.

  The guide rail 44 is provided with an encoder strip 50 of a linear encoder (not shown). The encoder strip 50 is in the form of a strip made of a transparent resin. A pair of support portions 51 and 52 are formed at both ends of the guide rail 44 in the width direction (reciprocating direction of the carriage 62) so as to stand up from the upper surface thereof. Both ends of the encoder strip 50 are engaged with the support portions 51 and 52, and are erected along the edge 45.

  The encoder strip 50 has a pattern in which translucent portions that transmit light and light-shielding portions that block light are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction at equal pitches. An optical sensor 53 that is a transmission type sensor is provided at a position corresponding to the encoder strip 50 on the upper surface of the carriage 62. The optical sensor 53 reciprocates along the longitudinal direction of the encoder strip 50 together with the carriage 62, and detects the pattern of the encoder strip 50 during the reciprocation. The recording head 61 is provided with a head control board that controls ink ejection. The head control board outputs a pulse signal based on the detection signal of the optical sensor 53, the position of the carriage 62 is determined based on this pulse signal, and the rotational drive of the CR motor is controlled. In FIG. 3, the head control board mounted on the carriage 62 is covered with a cover and does not appear in the figure.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a platen 63 is disposed below the first conveyance path 23 so as to face the recording head 61. The platen 63 is disposed over the central portion of the reciprocating range of the carriage 62 through which the recording paper passes. Since the width of the platen 63 is sufficiently larger than the maximum width of the recording paper that can be transported, both ends in the width direction of the recording paper transported through the first transport path 23 always pass over the platen 63.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a purge mechanism 55 is disposed on one side of the platen 63 in the width direction, and a waste ink tray 56 is disposed on the other side. The purge mechanism 55 sucks and removes bubbles and foreign matters from the nozzles of the recording head 61. The purge mechanism 55 includes a nozzle cap 57 that covers the nozzles of the recording head 61 and an exhaust cap 58 that covers the exhaust port of the recording head 61. The nozzle cap 57 and the exhaust cap 58 are moved up and down by a known lift-up mechanism to come in contact with and away from the recording head 61. Although not appearing in FIG. 3, the purge mechanism 55 further includes a suction pump. The suction pump is connected to the nozzle cap 57 and the exhaust cap 58, and when the suction pump is operated, the inside of the nozzle cap 57 and the exhaust cap 58 is set to a negative pressure. When the suction pump is operated in a state where the nozzle cap 57 and the exhaust cap 58 are in contact with the recording head 61 and cover the nozzle and the exhaust port, bubbles and foreign matters are sucked and removed from the recording head 61. The suction pump in the purge mechanism 55 is operated by drivingly transmitting the output of the LF motor that is the first drive source. Further, the lift-up mechanism in the purge mechanism 55 is operated by the drive transmission of the output of the ASF motor that is the second drive source. That is, the suction pump and the lift-up mechanism in the purge mechanism 55 correspond to one of the plurality of drive units in the present invention, respectively.

  The waste ink tray 56 is for receiving idle ink discharge from the recording head 61 called flushing. An ink absorbing material such as felt or sponge is laid in the waste ink tray 56, and the flushed ink is absorbed and held by the ink absorbing material. Thus, the purge mechanism 55 and the waste ink tray 56 are used to perform maintenance such as removal of bubbles and mixed color ink in the recording head 61 and prevention of drying.

  Although not shown in each figure, the printer unit 11 is provided with a cartridge mounting unit, and an ink cartridge for storing various inks is mounted. A plurality of ink tubes 59 corresponding to the respective color inks are routed from the cartridge mounting portion to the carriage 62. The recording head 61 mounted on the carriage 62 is supplied with ink of each color from the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion through each ink tube 59. The ink tube 59 is a tube made of synthetic resin, and has flexibility to bend following the reciprocation of the carriage 62.

  A recording signal or the like is transmitted through the flat cable 60 from the main board constituting the control unit (not shown) to the head control board of the recording head 61. The main board is disposed on the front side of the apparatus (front side in FIG. 3) and does not appear in FIG. The flat cable 60 is in the form of a thin strip in which a plurality of conductive wires for transmitting electrical signals are covered with a synthetic resin film such as a polyester film and insulated, and electrically connects the main board and the head control board. . The flat cable 60 has the flexibility to bend following the reciprocation of the carriage 62.

[Drive switching mechanism 70]
Hereinafter, the drive switching mechanism 70 from the two motors (LF motor and ASF motor) to the first paper feed roller 25, the purge mechanism 55, and the second paper feed roller 42 will be described. The drive switching mechanism 70 is arranged on the right side (right side in FIG. 2) of the frame constituted by the guide rails 44, 45, etc., and is a two-system drive that is independently output from two motors (LF motor and ASF motor). Are selectively transmitted to each drive unit.

  Although two motors (LF motor and ASF motor) do not appear in each figure, the output of one LF motor is input to one end (left side in FIG. 3) of the transport roller 29. A first drive gear (not shown) is provided at the other end (right side in FIG. 3) of the transport roller 29 so as to rotate coaxially and integrally with the transport roller 29. The first switching gear 71 (see FIG. 5, an example of the driving output gear of the present invention) is engaged with the first driving gear, and the first switching gear 71 is rotationally driven based on the output of the LF motor. Since the thickness of the first drive gear is sufficiently thicker than the sliding range of the first switching gear 71, the first switching gear 71 and the first driving gear are always meshed within the sliding range of the first switching gear 71. The axis of the first switching gear 71 is parallel to the axis of the first drive gear, and the first switching gear 71 can be translated with respect to the first drive gear. The thickness of the first drive gear in the axial direction corresponds to the moving range of the first switching gear 71, and the meshing of the first driving gear and the first switching gear 71 is maintained in the moving range of the first switching gear 71. The

  The other ASF motor is disposed in the vicinity of the drive switching mechanism 70, and the second switching gear 72 (see FIG. 5, an example of the drive output gear of the present invention) is connected to the output shaft of the other ASF motor via a second drive gear (not shown). The driving force is transmitted to the second switching gear 72 to rotate. Since the thickness of the second drive gear is sufficiently thicker than the slide range of the second switching gear 72, the second switch gear 72 and the second drive gear are always meshed with each other in the slide range of the second switch gear 72. . The axis of the second switching gear 72 is parallel to the axis of the second driving gear, and the second switching gear 72 is movable in parallel with the second driving gear. The thickness of the second drive gear in the axial direction corresponds to the moving range of the second switching gear 72, and the meshing of the second driving gear and the second switching gear 72 is maintained in the moving range of the second switching gear 72. The

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 are pivotally supported on one supporting shaft 73 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. The first switching gear 71 is disposed outside the apparatus (right side in FIG. 5), and the second switching gear 72 is disposed inside the apparatus (left side in FIG. 5). The support shaft 73 is supported in the horizontal direction by the frame. The axial direction of the support shaft 73 (the left-right direction in FIG. 5) coincides with the direction in which the carriage 62 reciprocates. When the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 are slid along the support shaft 73, the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 and first to third transmission gears 101, 102, 103, which will be described later. Is selected.

  An input lever 74 (an example of a lever member of the present invention) and a contact member 75 are slidably movable on the support shaft 73 on the outer side of the carriage 62 in the reciprocating direction of the carriage 62 (right side in FIG. 5). Is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the input lever 74 includes a cylindrical shaft 76 that is externally fitted to the support shaft 73, and a lever 77 that projects from the cylindrical shaft 76 in the radial direction. The lever 77 is a thin rod member that extends toward the carriage 62 so as to intersect the movement range of the carriage 62. The inclined surface 93 of the guide piece 92 provided on the carriage 62 is brought into contact with the side surface portion 77 </ b> A of the lever 77. The cylindrical shaft 76 is fitted on the support shaft 73 and is slidable and rotatable in the axial direction. That is, the lever 77 can be slid in the axial direction of the support shaft 73 and can be rotated around the support shaft 73. Near the base end of the lever 77, a rib 78 extends in the axial direction of the cylindrical shaft 76.

  The contact member 75 includes a cylindrical shaft 79 that is fitted on the cylindrical shaft 76 of the input lever 74, and a slide guide 80 that protrudes from the cylindrical shaft 79 in a Y shape in the radial direction. The cylindrical shaft 79 is fitted on the cylindrical shaft 76 of the input lever 74, is slidable in the axial direction, and is rotatable about the axis. At the end of the cylindrical shaft 79 on the input lever 74 side, a guide surface 81 that spirals around the axis from the end surface is formed so that a part of the cylindrical shaft 79 is cut away. The guide surface 81 is formed in a range corresponding to the Y-shaped slide guide 80.

  The end 82 on the opposite side of the cylindrical shaft 79 is reduced in diameter in a tapered shape. The end 82 is reduced in diameter so that its inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical shaft 76 of the input lever 74. Thereby, the external fitting position of the cylindrical shaft 79 with respect to the cylindrical shaft 76 is regulated.

  The slide guide 80 has a Y shape straddling a lever guide 83 (an example of the holding member of the present invention) described later. When the slide guide 80 comes into contact with the lever guide 83, the contact member 75 is restricted from rotating around the cylindrical shaft 76 of the input lever 74. Accordingly, the contact member 75 is slid in the axial direction while maintaining a predetermined rotational attitude with respect to the cylindrical shaft 76 of the input lever 74.

  The guide surface 81 of the contact member 75 is in contact with the rib 78 of the input lever 74. The contact member 75 is urged toward the input lever 74 side (arrow 84 in FIG. 5) by a coil spring 65 (see FIG. 5, an example of the elastic member of the present invention) that expands and contracts in the axial direction of the support shaft 73. The second switching gear 72 is urged toward the input lever 74 side (arrow 85 in FIG. 5) by another coil spring 66 (see FIG. 5, an example of the elastic member of the present invention) that expands and contracts in the axial direction of the support shaft 73. Yes. The first switching gear 71 is also urged toward the input lever 74 by the coil spring 66 with the second switching gear 72 interposed. That is, the second switching gear 72 and the abutting member 75 are urged in a direction approaching each other via the first switching gear 71 and the input lever 74 by the two coil springs 65 and 66 urging in opposite directions. ing. As a result, the second switching gear 72, the first switching gear 71, the input lever 74, and the contact member 75 are brought into contact with each other on the support shaft 73 and are integrated. The first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 that are in contact with each other by the two coil springs 65 and 66 can rotate independently in an integrated state.

  The biasing force (arrow 84) of the coil spring 65 that biases the contact member 75 is larger than the biasing force (arrow 85) of the coil spring 66 that biases the second switching gear 72. Therefore, the second switching gear 72, the first switching gear 71, the input lever 74, and the contact member 75 slide the support shaft 73 toward the arrow 84 unless an external force is applied. Note that the elastic bias toward the arrow 84 is the elastic bias toward the second direction opposite to the first direction in the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a lever guide 83 is provided on the upper side of the support shaft 73. The lever guide 83 is fixed to the guide rail 44 by being fitted into a hole 68 (see FIG. 4) formed on the purge mechanism 55 side of the guide rail 44. The lever guide 83 is a substantially flat member having a guide hole 86 having a predetermined shape formed therein. The lever 77 of the input lever 74 is inserted into the guide hole 86 and protrudes upward of the guide rail 44. As described above, the contact member 75 maintains a predetermined rotation posture with respect to the cylindrical shaft 76 of the input lever 74, and the guide surface 81 is substantially at the same rotation position as the slide guide 80 in the rotation posture. .

  When the input lever 74 and the contact member 75 are biased toward each other by the coil springs 65 and 66, the rib 78 of the input lever 74 slides on the guide surface 81 while being in contact with the guide surface 81. The rib 78 receives a force in the direction of an arrow 87 (see FIG. 6). The input lever 74 receives a force in the direction around the axis from the contact member 75 when the biasing force in the axis direction by the coil springs 65 and 66 is applied. Therefore, the lever 77 inserted into the guide hole 86 is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the external force is not applied, the first guide position 88 that is a corner between the downstream side in the transport direction in the guide hole 86 and the inside of the apparatus. (Corresponding to the first holding portion of the present invention). The first guide position 88 corresponds to the first drive transmission position (position shown in FIG. 5). Note that the biasing member of the present invention is realized by the rib 78 of the lever member 74 and the contact member 75.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the second guide position 89 (the second holding position of the present invention) is provided at the edge of the guide hole 86 on the downstream side in the transport direction from the first guide position 88 toward the outside of the apparatus (arrow 85 side). And a third guide position 90 (corresponding to a third holding portion of the present invention) are sequentially formed. The portions corresponding to the guide positions 88, 89, 90 in the guide hole 86 are formed so that the lever 77 of the input lever 74 can be held.

  The second guide position 89 is recessed from the first guide position 88 to the downstream side in the transport direction. More specifically, it is arranged at a position that deviates from the extension line extending to the arrow 84 side through the first guide position 88 to the downstream side in the transport direction (corresponding to the circumferential direction of the support shaft 73). The second guide position 89 can lock the lever 77 against the arrow 84 side on which the input lever 74 is elastically biased by the recess. That is, the concave portion restricts the input lever 74 from moving toward the arrow 84 side.

  The lever guide 83 is formed with an inclined surface 98 (see FIG. 4, an example of the inclined guide of the present invention) that protrudes from the second guide position 89 to the third guide position 90 toward the upstream side in the transport direction. The lever 77 can be smoothly moved from the second guide position 89 to the third guide position 90 by being guided by the inclined surface 98. The third guide position 90 is disposed on an extension line that extends to the arrow 84 side through the first guide position 88. The second guide position 89 corresponds to the second drive transmission position (position shown in FIG. 7), and the third guide position 90 corresponds to the third drive transmission position (position shown in FIG. 8).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a support guide 110 (an example of the guide member of the present invention) is provided above the lever guide 80. The support guide 110 assists the movement of the lever 77 by the lever guide 83. Specifically, the support guide 110 guides the lever 77 when the lever 77 returns from the third guide position 90 to the first guide position 88 without passing through the second guide position 89. The support guide 110 is a substantially flat plate-like member like the lever guide 83. Therefore, since the lever guide 83 and the support guide 110 are both flat, they are not bulky in the vertical direction even if they are arranged in the vertical direction.

  The support guide 110 is supported so as to be slidable in the same direction as the reciprocating direction of the carriage 62. As the slide mechanism of the support guide 110, a well-known support mechanism such as a support mechanism using rails can be applied.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the guide hole 111 (an example of the guide hole of the present invention) is formed in a substantially L shape. Specifically, the guide hole 111 extends from the bent portion 113 of the guide hole 111 in the direction of the arrow 96 (an example of a long hole of the present invention), and extends from the bent portion 113 to the downstream side in the transport direction. And a second hole 115 (an example of a guide regulation guide according to the present invention). When the lever 77 is at the first guide position 88 of the lever guide 83, the lever 77 is inserted into the first hole 114, and when the lever 77 is at the second guide position 88 of the lever guide 83, the lever 77 is The support guide 110 is disposed with respect to the lever guide 83 so as to be inserted through the two holes 115. As will be described later, when the input lever 74 moves as the carriage 62 moves, the support guide 110 receives force from the side surface 77A of the lever 77 and is driven. The operations of the support guide 110 and the lever 77 will be described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a guide piece 92 is provided at the upstream end in the transport direction of the carriage 62 so as to protrude in the horizontal direction upstream in the transport direction. The guide piece 92 is reciprocated together with the carriage 62. An inclined surface 93 is formed on the proximal end side of the carriage 62 and an engagement portion 94 is formed on the distal end side of the end portion of the guide piece 92 on the side in contact with the lever 77 (right side in FIGS. 3 and 5). Yes. The inclined surface 93 can contact the lever 77 at the first guide position 88 or the second guide position 89, and the contact surface is inclined toward the downstream side in the transport direction. When the guide piece 92 is moved together with the carriage 62, the inclined surface 93 comes into contact with the lever 77 located at the first guide position 88 or the second guide position 89, and the lever 77 is moved downstream in the transport direction by the inclined surface 93. The second guide position 89 or the third guide position 90 is moved while being pushed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, below the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72, the first transmission gear 101, the second transmission gear 102, and the third transmission gear are connected to the support shaft 100 parallel to the support shaft 73. 103 are arranged in parallel. The first transmission gear 101 can be separated from the first switching gear 71. The second transmission gear 102 and the third transmission gear 103 can be separated from the second switching gear 72. The first transmission gear 101, the second transmission gear 102, and the third transmission gear 103 have the same outer diameter, although the thickness and presence / absence of the bevel gear 104 are different. The first transmission gear 101, the second transmission gear 102, and the third transmission gear 103 are arranged on the support shaft 100 in order from the outside of the apparatus (the right side in FIG. 5), and the first transmission gear 101 and the second transmission gear 103 are arranged. A spacer 106 corresponding to the thickness of the second transmission gear 102 is provided between the transmission gear 102 and the space therebetween.

  The first transmission gear 101 and the third transmission gear 103 are equivalent to or slightly thicker than the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72. In the present embodiment, the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 have the same thickness and correspond to one drive transmission position. Further, in the present embodiment, when simply referred to as “thickness”, it means the thickness in the axial direction of the gear (the left-right direction in FIG. 5). On the other hand, the thickness of the second transmission gear 102 is about twice the thickness of the first transmission gear 101 or the third transmission gear 103, and corresponds to two drive transmission positions.

  A bevel gear 104 is provided outside the first transmission gear 101. The outer diameter of the bevel gear 104 is larger than that of the first transmission gear 101, thereby forming a regulating surface 105 projecting radially outward therebetween. The first switching gear 71 abuts against the restriction surface 105, thereby further preventing the sliding movement from the position meshed with the first transmission gear 101 to the arrow 85. Accordingly, the meshing between the first switching gear 71 and the first transmission gear 101 is maintained, and the input lever 74 and the contact member 75 are separated from the first switching gear 71.

  The 1st transmission gear 101, the 2nd transmission gear 102, and the 3rd transmission gear 103 are for transmitting a driving force to each drive part, respectively. Specifically, the first transmission gear 101 transmits drive to a suction pump or the like in the purge mechanism 55 together with the bevel gear 104 provided on one end side thereof. The second transmission gear 102 selectively transmits a drive to the lift-up mechanism of the nozzle cap 57 in the path switching unit 34 or the purge mechanism 55 depending on whether the rotation direction is normal or reverse. The third transmission gear 103 selectively transmits drive to the first paper feed roller 25 or the second paper feed roller 42 depending on whether the rotation direction is normal or reverse. As described above, the first transmission gear 101, the second transmission gear 102, and the third transmission gear 103 are assigned to transmit the driving force to each of the plurality of driving units. As the drive transmission mechanism from the first transmission gear 101, the second transmission gear 102, and the third transmission gear 103 to each drive unit, a known drive transmission mechanism using a gear train or a belt can be adopted. Since it does not directly affect the gist of the present invention, detailed description is omitted here.

[Drive switching in drive transmission mechanism 70]
Hereinafter, the operation of the support guide 110 and the lever 77 will be described, and the meshing switching between the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 and the first transmission gear 101, the second transmission gear 102, and the third transmission gear 103 will be described. explain.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the lever 77 inserted into the guide hole 86 and the guide hole 111 is in the first guide position 88, the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 are moved to the first drive. Located in the transmission position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9A, the support guide 110 is in a posture (corresponding to the first posture of the present invention) arranged on the arrow 96 side, and in the guide hole 111, the lever 77 is in the first hole. Located in section 114.

  In the first drive transmission position, the first switching gear 71 is located on the second transmission gear 102 side in the space formed by the spacer 106. At this time, the driving force is not transmitted from the first switching gear 71 to any drive unit, but the first driving gear meshing with the first switching gear 71 is rotated by the driving force of the LF motor together with the conveying roller 29, and the conveying roller 29. The paper discharge roller 31 and the switchback roller 35 that are synchronized with each other are also rotated. The second switching gear 72 meshes with the third transmission gear 103 to transmit the drive recording of the ASF motor to the first paper feed roller 25 or the second paper feed roller 42. Since the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 are rotated by receiving the outputs of two independent motors (LF motor and ASF motor), at the first drive transmission position, the paper feed tray 20 or the feeding gear 72 is fed. Paper feeding from the paper cassette 14 and paper conveyance in the first conveyance path 23 can be controlled independently.

  As shown in FIG. 7, as the carriage 62 moves, the guide piece 92 comes into contact with the lever 77, and when the lever 77 is moved in the direction of the arrow 95, the lever 77 moves to the second guide position 89 (see FIG. 4). ). At this time, as shown in FIG. 9B, the lever 77 enters the second hole 115 in the guide hole 111. Note that the support guide 110 does not move. The first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 are urged to the arrow 85 by the elastic urging force of the coil spring 66 and slide to the second drive transmission position. In the second drive transmission position, the first switching gear 71 is located on the first transmission gear 101 side in the space formed by the spacer 106. At this time, the driving force is not transmitted from the first switching gear 71 to any drive unit, but the transport roller 29, the discharge roller 31 and the switchback roller 35 are driven by the LF motor (first drive source) as described above. Rotated by force.

  As the second switching gear 72 moves from the first drive transmission position to the second drive transmission position, the second switching gear 72 is disengaged from the third transmission gear 103 by sliding movement and meshes with the second transmission gear 102. When the second switching gear 72 is disengaged from the third transmission gear 103 and meshes with the second transmission gear 102, the second drive gear is rotated slightly in reverse with respect to the rotation direction so far. The surface pressure between the second switching gear 72 and the third transmission gear 103 is released. Then, in order to match the phases of the second switching gear 72 and the second transmission gear 102, minute forward rotation and reverse rotation are alternately and repeatedly performed on the second drive gear. As a result, the phases of the second switching gear 72 and the second transmission gear 102 coincide with each other, and the second switching gear 72 slides on the support shaft 73 by the elastic biasing force of the coil spring 66 and is detached from the third transmission gear 103. And meshes with the second transmission gear 102. The forward / reverse rotation of the second switching gear 72 and the rotation of the first switching gear 71 for releasing the surface pressure and adjusting the phase can be controlled independently. That is, when the second switching gear 72 is rotated forward and backward, the first switching gear 71 can be rotated stationary or in one direction. Further, when changing from the first drive transmission position to the second drive transmission position, the first switching gear 71 does not mesh with any of the first transmission gear 101, the second transmission gear 102, and the third transmission gear 103. For the one switching gear 71, it is not necessary to perform rotation control for releasing the surface pressure or adjusting the phase.

  The second transmission gear 102 transmits the driving force of the ASF motor to the path switching unit 34 or the nozzle cap 57. Since the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 are rotated by the driving force of two independent motors (LF motor and ASF motor), the path switching unit 34 is in the second drive transmission position. The path switching or capping and the sheet conveyance in the first conveyance path 23 can be controlled independently.

  As shown in FIG. 8, as the carriage 62 moves right above the nozzle cap 57, the guide piece 92 comes into contact with the lever 77 and moves the lever 77 to the third guide position 90 (see FIG. 4). . At this time, the lever 77 moves toward the third guide position 90 while sliding on the inclined surface 98. In the process in which the lever 77 moves on the inclined surface 98, as shown in FIG. 9C, the side surface portion 77A of the lever 77 has a first end portion 113A on the arrow 95 side of the bent portion 113 (the first cover of the present invention). An example of a pressing part abuts. When the carriage 62 further moves in the direction of the arrow 95 in a state where the side surface portion 77A is in contact with the first end portion 113A, the side surface portion 77A presses the first end portion 113A. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9D, the support guide 110 slides in the direction of the arrow 95 and assumes a posture (corresponding to the second posture of the present invention) arranged on the arrow 95 side. Note that the lever 77 is positioned at the bent portion 113 in the guide hole 111 in a state where the lever 77 is positioned at the third guide position 90.

  Thus, the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 are urged toward the arrow 85 by the elastic urging force of the coil spring 66 and slide to the third drive transmission position. As the lever 77 is moved to the third guide position 90, the first switching gear 71 comes into contact with the restriction surface 105 of the first transmission gear 101, and further moves to the third drive without moving to the arrow 85. Stopped at the transmission position. The second switching gear 72 is also restrained at the third drive transmission position together with the first switching gear 71. The input lever 74 and the contact member 75 are further moved to the arrow 85 together with the carriage 62, the contact member 75 is moved away from the first switching gear 71, and the lever 77 is moved to the third guide position 90.

  In the third drive transmission position, the first switching gear 71 meshes with the first transmission gear 101. When the first switching gear 71 meshes with the first transmission gear 101, in order to match the phases of the first switching gear 71 and the first transmission gear 101, a slight forward rotation and reverse rotation with respect to the first drive gear are performed. It is repeated alternately. As a result, the phases of the first switching gear 71 and the first transmission gear 101 are matched, and the first switching gear 71 slides on the support shaft 73 by the elastic biasing force of the coil spring, and meshes with the first transmission gear 101. . The forward / reverse rotation of the first switching gear 71 and the rotation of the second switching gear 72 for phase matching can be controlled independently. That is, when the first switching gear 71 is rotated forward and backward, the second switching gear 72 can be rotated stationary or in one direction.

  Further, at the third drive transmission position, the second switching gear 72 maintains meshing with the second transmission gear 102 while sliding the support shaft 73. That is, when changing from the second drive transmission position to the third drive transmission position, the second switching gear 72 slides while meshing with the second transmission gear 102, so that the second switching gear 72 is phase-adjusted. There is no need to perform rotation control.

  As shown in FIG. 9E, when the carriage 62 moves in the direction of the arrow 96 from the state where the lever 77 is at the third guide position 90, the lever 77 receives the elastic force of the coil spring 65 and moves to the arrow 84. Be energized. As a result, the lever 77 starts to move to the arrow 96. Further, since the lever 77 is urged to the arrow 87 (see FIG. 6), the lever 77 tends to move along the inclined surface 98 toward the second guide position 89. However, in the support guide 110, the movement of the lever 77 in the direction along the inclined surface 98 is restricted by the first hole 114 due to the movement of the lever 77 from the bent portion 113 to the first hole 114. That is, the movement from the third guide position 90 to the second guide position 89 is restricted. Therefore, the lever 77 is guided straight from the third guide position 90 to the first guide position 88 by the support guide 110. In the process in which the lever 77 moves from the third guide position 90 to the first guide position 88, as shown in FIG. 9F, the side surface portion 77A of the lever 77 is the second side of the first hole 114 on the arrow 96 side. It abuts on the end 114A (an example of the second pressed portion of the present invention). When the carriage 62 further moves in the direction of the arrow 96 with the side surface portion 77A in contact with the second end portion 114A, the side surface portion 77A presses the second end portion 114A. As a result, the support guide 110 slides in the direction of the arrow 96 and assumes a posture (corresponding to the first posture of the present invention) arranged on the arrow 96 side as shown in FIG. As the lever 77 moves from the third guide position 90 to the first guide position 88, the first switching gear 71 and the second switching gear 72 are changed from the third drive transmission position to the first drive transmission position. .

[Operational effects of this embodiment]

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, by being guided by the support guide 110, the lever 77 moves from the state at the third guide position 90 to the first guide position 89 without passing through the second guide position 89. Such a support guide 110 is smaller in the vertical direction than a conventional guide mechanism that guides the lever 77 so as to cover the lever 77 from above. Therefore, the drive switching mechanism 70 can be reduced in size. Further, since both the lever guide 83 and the support guide 110 are made of plate members, the length of the lever 77 itself can be shortened. Further, since there is nothing to prevent the movement of the lever 77 in the guide hole 86, the movement path of the lever 77, particularly the path from the second guide position 89 to the third guide position 90 is shortened, and the inclined surface 98 is moved to the lever 77. The load at the time of sliding contact can be reduced. As a result, the width of the drive switching mechanism 70 can be reduced. Further, since the path length is shortened, the elastic force of the coil springs 65 and 66 can be reduced, so that the CR motor can be reduced in size.

[Modification of Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 10, the support guide 120 which is a modification of the guide member of this invention is demonstrated. In FIG. 10, the guide piece 94 is omitted.

  The support guide 120 has a rotating shaft 121 supported in the same direction as the extending direction of the lever 77. As a support mechanism for the rotating shaft 121, for example, a mechanism for supporting the rotary shaft 121 by suspending it from above the lever guide is conceivable.

  Two guide plates 122 and 123 are provided on the rotating shaft 121. The rotating body including the rotating shaft 121 and the guide plates 122 and 123 is the rotating plate of the present invention. The guide plates 122 and 123 are provided on the rotating shaft 121 at a predetermined angle (approximately 120 ° in the present embodiment) with the rotating shaft 121 as a bending point. The angle formed by the guide plates 122 and 123 can be appropriately changed depending on the shape of the guide hole 86.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, in the state where the lever 77 is in the first guide position 88, the support guide 120 opens the path between the first guide position 88 and the second guide position 89, and the first guide An initial posture in which the path between the position 88 and the third guide position 90 is closed by the guide plate 122, and the path between the second guide position 89 and the third guide position 90 is closed by the guide plate 123 (third embodiment of the present invention). Equivalent to the posture). The support guide 120 is held in the initial posture by an elastic member 125 such as a torsion coil spring wound around the rotating shaft 121, for example. In this embodiment, the support guide 120 is configured not to rotate clockwise from the initial posture shown in FIG. 10A by a stopper or the like.

  When the carriage 62 moves in the direction of the arrow 95 and the lever 77 advances from the first guide position 88 to the third guide position 90 via the second guide position 89, the lever 77 moves from the second guide position 89 to the third guide position 90. In the process of moving, the lever 77 presses the guide plate 123 and rotates the support guide 120 counterclockwise. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10C, the support guide 120 has a guide posture (corresponding to the fourth posture of the present invention) in which the path between the second guide position 89 and the third guide position 90 is opened. Become. The path between the first guide position 88 and the second guide position 89 is closed by the guide plate 122, and the path between the first guide position 88 and the third guide position 90 is closed by the guide plate 123. When the lever 77 is guided to the third guide position 90, the support guide 120 returns to the initial posture again by the elastic member 125.

  Further, when the lever 77 moves from the third guide position 90 to the first guide position 88, the lever 77 moves toward the second guide position 89 along the inclined surface 98, but the lever 77 contacts the guide plate 123. Then, the movement of the lever 77 to the second guide position 89 is blocked by the plate 123. The lever 77 is guided to the plate 122 side while being in sliding contact with the plate 123. When the lever 77 reaches the plate 122, the lever 77 presses the guide plate 122 and rotates the support guide 120 counterclockwise. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10 (F), the support guide 120 is again in the above-mentioned guiding posture. As a result, the lever 77 is guided to the first guide position 88 while being restricted from moving to the second guide position 89 by the support guide 120.

  Even when the support guide 120 configured as described above is applied, the drive switching mechanism 70 can be reduced in size.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a multifunction machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an outline of the internal configuration of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the main configuration of the printer unit 11. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the configuration near the drive switching mechanism 70. FIG. 5 is a front view showing the configuration of the drive switching mechanism 70 at the first drive transmission position. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing configurations of the input lever 74 and the contact member 75. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the configuration of the drive switching mechanism 70 at the second drive transmission position. FIG. 8 is a front view showing the configuration of the drive switching mechanism 70 at the third drive transmission position. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the movement of the lever 77 and the support guide 110. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the movement of the lever 77 and the support guide 120.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Multifunction device 61 ... Recording head 62 ... Carriage 71 ... 1st switching gear 72 ... 2nd switching gear 73 ... Support shaft 74 ... Input lever 77 ... Lever 75 ... Contact member 83 ... Lever guide 110 ... Support guide 111 ... Guide hole 113 ... First hole 114 ... Second hole 120 ... Support guide 121 ... .Rotating shafts 122, 123 ... guide plates

Claims (4)

A carriage mounted with a recording head and reciprocated in a predetermined direction;
A drive output gear which is provided so as to be movable along the support shaft extending in the predetermined direction and is disposed at at least three drive transmission positions capable of transmitting power to each of the plurality of drive units;
The position of the drive output gear is changed to one of the three drive transmission positions by extending from the support shaft toward the carriage and moving in the first direction along the predetermined direction by contact of the carriage. A lever member to
An elastic member that elastically biases the lever member in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
An urging member for urging the lever member in the circumferential direction of the support shaft in cooperation with the elastic member;
A first holding portion provided corresponding to each of the three drive transmission positions and capable of holding the lever member, provided on the first direction side relative to the first holding portion, and from the first holding portion to the predetermined position A second holding portion that is located on an extension line extending in a direction and deviates in the circumferential direction of the support shaft and restricts movement of the lever member in the second direction, and a first direction side from the second holding portion A holding member having a third holding part located at
As the lever member moves, the lever member is supported so as to be driven and driven by a side surface portion of the lever member, and guides the lever member from the third holding portion to the first holding portion without passing through the second holding portion. An image recording apparatus. The holding member has the third holding part on an extension line extending in the predetermined direction from the first holding part, and an inclined guide is provided from the second holding part to the third holding part,
The guide member is a plate-like member provided so as to be movable in the predetermined direction, a guide hole through which the lever member is inserted, and a side surface portion of the lever member as the lever member moves in the predetermined direction. The lever member is moved from the first holding portion to the second holding portion in the first posture in which the first pressed portion and the second pressed portion pressed by the second pressing portion and the guide member are arranged on the second facing side. The guide regulating guide for guiding and regulating the movement from the third holding unit to the second holding unit in a second posture in which the guide member is arranged on the first facing side. Image recording device.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a long hole extending in the predetermined direction is formed between the first pressed portion on the first direction side and the second pressed portion on the second direction side. The guide member is
The lever member is supported so as to be rotatable from a third posture to a fourth posture around a rotation shaft extending in the extending direction of the lever member, and is bent by a first plate and a second plate that form a predetermined angle with the rotation shaft as a boundary. A rotating plate;
An elastic member that elastically biases the rotating plate in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft from the fourth posture toward the third posture;
In the third posture, the first holding part and the second holding part are opened, the first holding part and the third holding part are closed with the first plate, and the second holding part And a position of closing the third holding portion with the second plate,
In the fourth posture, the first holding part and the second holding part are closed with the first plate, the first holding part and the third holding part are closed with the second plate, and The posture is to open between the second holding part and the third holding part,
When the lever member moves from the third holding part to the first holding part, the lever member that has received the elastic biasing force of the elastic member in the third holding part moves to the second holding part. Moves in the second direction while being regulated by the second plate, and presses the first plate by contacting the first plate to change the posture of the rotating plate from the third posture to the fourth posture. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the fourth posture, the movement to the second holding unit is guided to the first holding unit while being restricted by the second plate.

Images