[Title of Invention] MEDIUM LOADING DEVICE AND RECORDING
APPARATUS
[Technical Field]
[ 0 0 0 11
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus
such as an ink jet type printer and a medium loading device
provided =n the record,ing apparatus.
[Background Ar,t]
[0002]
In general, as one type of a recording apparatus, an
ink,jet type printer has been widely known; These kinds of
printers perform printing by supplying ink to a recording
," '.: head and ejecting the supplied ink onto a recording medium
' - from nozzles of the recording head. In these kinds of
printers, a printer using a roll paper as a recording medium
has been proposed (PTL 1, for example).
[0003]
In the printer according to PTL 1, a roll paper holder
in,cludes a fixed flange bearer,.a movable flange bearer and
a guide rail installed between both flange bearers. When a
user carries out the work of setting a roll paper to the
roll paper holder, the roll paper of which both ends are
fitted into flanges is placed on the guide rail along the
guide rail..
.- 1 -
[0004]
Subsequently, when the movable flange bearer is
slidably moved to the fixed flange bearer side along the
guide rail, each of the flanges-in both ends of the roll
paper is fitted into the movable flange bearer and the fixed
flange bearer, and is supported. Thereby, the work of
setting a roll paper is completed.
[Citation List]
[Patent Literature]
[0005]
[PTL 11 JP-A-2007-261086
[Summary of Invention]
[Technical Problem]
[0006]
However, in the printer according to PTL 1, if the
movable flange bearer is provided with a motor (rotary
driving portion) to rotate a roll paper, the weight of the
movable flange bearer is increased. Therefore, it is
difficult to slidably move the movable flange bearer along
the guide rail. As a result, there is a problem in that
work efficiency of the work of setting a roll paper is
deteriorated.
Furthermore, this problem is not limited to the ink jet
.type.printer described above, and the same kind of problem
can occur in recording apparatuses using a roll paper.
The .invention is made focusing on such a problem of the
related 'art. An object of the invention is to provide a
medium loading device and.a recording apparatus capable of
improving work efficiency for enabling torque of a.rotary
driving portion to be transmitted to a roll medium loaded
into a loading portion.
[Solution to Problem]
[0008]
In order to achieve the object described above, a
medium loading device of the invention includes: a support
unit that has medium holding portions which are mounted on
both end portions of a roll medium formed by winding a
lengthy medium into a roll shape so as to be inte.grally
rotatable with khe roll medium, and a medium support portion
which rotatably supports the medium holding portion; and a
loading portion in which the roll medium mounted with the
support unit loaded, which the loading portion
includes: a rotary driving portion as a driving source to
rotate .the roll medium; a torque trans'mission portion to
transmit torque the rotary driving portion the roll
medium via the medium holding portion;' and an ope,ration
portion that moves the torque transmission portion between a
transmission position to transmit the torque to the roll
medium via the medium holding portion and a non-transmission
position not to transmit the torque to the roll medium via
the medium holding portion, and in.which, in an axial
', direction of the roll medium when the roll medium is loaded .
. into the loading portion, the operation portion is disp-osed
between. and the rotary driving portion.
According to the invention, the operation portion is
disposed at the position near the medium holding portion.
Therefore, it is possible to rapidly perform an operation to
move the torque transmission portion to the transmission
positipn where -the torque of the rotary driving portion is
transmittez to the roll medium loaded into the loading
portion via the medium.holding portion. Consequently, it is
possible to improve work efficiency for enabling the torque
of the rotary driving portion to be transmitted -to the roll
medium loaded into the loading portion.
[OOlO]
In the medium loading device of the invention, an
access space to access the medium holding portion in the
axial direction of the roll medium is formed between the
medium holding portion and the rotary driving portion.
Also, the operation portion includes: an operation
lever to perform the operation; and a shikld portion that is
.moved between a shielding position.to shield -the access
space and a non-shielding position not -to shield the access
space corresponding to the.operation of the operation lever,
in which, when the shield portion is moved to the shielding
position, the torque,transmission portion is moved to the
transmission position, and when the shield portion is moved
to the non-shielding position, the torque transmission
portion is moved to the non-transmission pos'ition..
[ OOll]
According to the invention, when the torque
transmission portion transmits the. torque of the rotary
driving portion to the roll medium via the medium holding
portion, the access space is shielded by the shield portion.
Therefore, it is possible to regulate the access of a user
to the medium holding portion when rotating. On the other
-hand, when the torque transmission portion does not transmit
the torque of.the rotary driving port.ion to the roll medium
via the medium holding portion, -the access space is not
shielded by the shield portion. Therefore, it is possible
to allow the.access of a user to the medium holding portion
when stopping.
[0012]
In the:medium loading device of the invention, the
operation portion is configured such that, when.the
operation lever is moved to a .lower side, -the shield portion
is moved .to the shielding position, and when the operation
lever is moved to an upper side, the shield portion is moved
- 5 -
to the non-shielding position.
[0013]
According to the invention, when the torque
transmission portion transmits the torque to the.rol1 medium
via the medium holding portion, the shield portion is moved
to the shielding position by moving the operation lever to
the lower side. Therefore, it is possible for the operation
lever not to hinder the medium holding portion when rotating.
[0014]
The medium loading device of the invention further
includes 'a cover member that is displaceable between a.
covering position where the roll medium loaded into the
loading portion is covered and a non-covering position where
the roll medium loaded into the loading portion is not
covered, in which, when the cover member is positioned at
the covering position, the operation portion is accommodated
in the cover member.
[0015]
According to the invention, since. the operation .portion
is accommodated in the cover member by displacing the cover
member to the covering position, it is possible to suppress
the erroneous contact of a user to the operation portion.
A recording apparatus according to the invention
includes the medium loading device configured as above and a
recording portion to perform a recording process onto the
roll medium fed from the medium loading device.
[00161.
According to the invention, it is possible to achieve
I the same action effect with the case of the medium loading
device described above.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
1 [0017] I
[Fig. 11 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet type
printer according to an embodiment.
[Fig. 21 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a main portion
of the printer.
[Fig. 31 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a roll paper
mounted with a support unit.
[Fig. 41 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the support unit.
[Fig. 51 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the support unit.
[Fig. 61 Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a main
portion in Fig. 2.
[.Fig. 71 Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a
connection state between a rotary driving portion and a
rotation shaft.
[Fig. 81 Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing a
state'where a shaft cover covers the.rotation shaft.
[Fig. 91 Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a state
where an operation portion is installed on the shaft cover
in Fig. 8..
[Fig. 101 Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a cam
groove formed of a cam groove forming member and a cam
groove forming wall.
[Fig. 111 Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a state
when a convex portion of a ring member slidably moves in the
cam groove.
[Fig. 121 Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a
positional relationship between the cam groove and the
convex portion of the ring member when the rotation shaft is
located at a transmission position.
[Fig. 131 Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a
main portion in a state where the operation 1ever.im~o ved
downward in Fig. 6.
[Fig. 141 'Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a state
where the roll paper is placed at a temporal placing portion
in Fig. 2.
[Fig. 151 Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a state
where the support'unit is mounted on the roll paper in Fig.
14.
[Fig. 161 Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing a state
where the roll paper mounted with the support unit is loaded
into the loading portion in Fig. 6.
[Fig. 171 Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a state
where the operation lever is moved downward in Fig. 16.
[Fig. 181 Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing a state
where an opening and closing cover is closed in Fig. 17.
[Description of Embodiments]
[0018]
Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying a recording
apparatus of the invention in an ink jet type printer will
be described with reference to drawings.
As shown in Fig. 1, an ink jet type printer 11 as a
recording apparatus is supported by a leg base 12. The ink
' jet type printer 11 includes a main body 14 having a
substantially rectangular shape and a loading portion '15
that is provided so as to obliquely protrude from a rear
portion of the main body 14 to a rear upper side, and loads
a roll paper RP which is formed by winding a paper P as a
lengthy medium into a roll shape and used as a roll medium
therein.
[0019]
In an upper end portion of the .loading portion 15, an
opening and closing cover 16. as a cover member is provided
so as to be freely opened and closed. In other words, the
opening and closing cover 16 is provided so as to be
pivotable (displaceable) between a covering pos.ition ,
(position s.h o..w n in Fig. 18) where the roll.paper RP loaded
into the loading portion 15 is covered and a non-covering
position (position shown in Fig. 17) where the 'roll paper RP
loaded into the loading portion 15 is not covered.
[0020]
In a boundary position between the lower end portion of
the loading portion 15 and ,the main body 14, s paper feeding
port 17 to feed the paper P which is.unwound and fed from
the'roll paper RP loaded into the loading portion 15 to the
inside of the main body 14 is formed. In the main body 14,
a transport mechanism (not shown) which transports, along.
the transport path thereof, the paper P fed from the paper
feeding port 17 to a paper discharge port 18 formed on the
front portion of the main body 14 is provided.
[0021]
In the main body 14, a carriage 19 is provided at a
position opposing to the transport path of the paper P so as
to be ,reciprocatable in a width direction perpendicular to
the transport direction of the paper P. In the carriage 19,
a recording head 20 as a recording portion which performs
printing as a recording process by reciprocating with the
carriage 19 in a scanning direction X perpendicular to the
transport direction of the paper P and ejecting ink from
nozzles (not shown) onto the paper P transported along the
transport path is supported against a position opposing .to
/
the transport path of the paper P.
[0022]
The scannkng direction X is a direction parallel to an
axial direction (width direction of the roll paper RP) of
. .
the roll paper RP and a longitudinal direction of the main
body 14. Furthermore, on, for example, an upper portion of
a right end of the main body 14, an operation panel 21 for a
user to perform various kinds of setting operations or an
input operation of various information is provided.
. [0023]
On the front' side in an upper portion of the main body
14, a maintenance cover 22 to perform the maintenance inside
the main body 14 is provided in a center portion in the
scanning direction X so as to be freely'opened and closed.
On the other hand, a top plate 23 having a rectangular shape
is provided on the half of' an upper end portion of the main
body 14 in the loading portion 15 side (rea.r side opposing
to the front side).
[0024]
As shown in Fig. 2, the top plate 23 includes a
horizontal temporal placing portion 24 to temporally place
the roll paper RP (see Fig. 14) prior to loading it into the
loading portion 15, and an inclined portion 25 inclined so
as to descend from the temporal placing portion 24 toward
the loading portion 15. In the temporal placing portion 24,
a positioning recess portion 24a which is used to position
the roll paper RP while suppressing the rolling movement at
the -time of temporally placing the rol.1 paper RP (see Fig.
14) is .formed so as to extend in the scanning direction X.
[0025]
On the lower end portion of the loading portion 15, a
bottom plate 26 which has a rectangular shape and is
parallel to the inclined portion 25 is formed. In this case,
the paper feeding port 17 is positioned between the bottom
plate 26 and the inclined portion 25. On an end portion on
the opposite side to the paper feeding port 17 side in the
bottom plate 26, a rear plate 27 having a rectangular shape
is installed in a standing manner so as to be perpendicular
to the bottom plate 26. Also, an area on the bottom plate
26 is a placing portion 28 where the roll.paper RP is placed
at the time of loading the roll paper RP (see Fig. 15) into
the loading portion 15. Therefore, the placing portion 28
is positioned at a position lower than the temporal placing
portion 24.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, when the roll paper RP is
loaded into the loading portion 15, support units 30 to
rotatably support the roll paper RP are mounted on the both
end portions of the roll paper RP. In other words, .the
support unit.30 includes a shaft member 31 as a medium
holding portion which holds the roll paper RP'so as ,to be
,integrally rotatable with the roll paper RP, and a flange
. .
member 32 as a medium support portion which rotatably
support.s the shaft member 3.1..
[0027]
As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the upper half of the flange
member 32 of the support unit 30 is formed in a semicircular
shape and the lower'half thereof is formed in a
substantially rectangular shape. In other words, the
overall .shape of the flange member 32 is formed in a
substantially D shape. A supporting hole 33 having a
circular shape so as to be along an 'outer edge of the
semicircular-shaped portion is formed on the flange member
32 in a penetrating manner. The lower surface of the flange
member 32 is a flat surface 34 which is flat and has a
substantially rectangular shape.
[0028]
The shaft member 31 includes a rotating portion 36
having a substantially circular-plate shape, a shaft portion
37 having a cylindrical shape which protrudes on the center
portion of a side surface on one side of the rotating
portion 36 and is fitted into a center hole H (see Fig. 14)
of the roll paper RP, and a shaft hole 38 having a circular
shape which is formed on a center portion of a side surface
(surface on the opposite side to a shaft portion 37 side) on
the other side of the rotating portion 36. A plurality of
.engaging pieces 39 .is formed on an inner circumferential
surface of the shaft hole 38 at the same interval in a
circumferential direction..
An out'er diameter of the rotating portion 36 is
designed so as to be slightly longer than an outer diameter
of the roll paper RP of a maximum diameter. Half of the
rotating portion 36 on the shaft portion 37 side is
rotatably inserted in the supporting hole 33 of the flange.
member 32, and half of the rotating portion 36 on the
opposite side to the shaft portion 37 is exposed. In the
rotating portion 36, a plurality of ribs 40 functioning as
slip stoppers when a user manually rotates the shaft member
31 ,are formed on a circumferential surface of the exposed
part from the supporting hole 33 at the same interval in the
circumferential direction.
[0030]
As shown in Fig. 6, a first guide member 50 extending
in a direction (front-rear direction in Fig. 6)
perpendicular to the scanning direction X is provided on one
end portion (right end portion in Fig. 6) in the top plate
23 of the main body 14 in the scanning direction X.
Furthermore, a second guide member 51 extending in a
direction (front-rear direction in Fig. 6) perpendicular to
the scanning direction X is provided on one end portion
(right end portion in Fig. 6) in the bottom plate 26 of the
loading portion 15 in the scanning direction X.
One end side (front end side in Fig. 6) of the second
guide member 51 is in contact with the first guide member 50,
and 'the other end side (rear end side ir-1 Fig. 6) is .
perpendicularly bent upward and extends along the rear plate
27. In this case, the second guide member 51 is in contact
with the first guide member 50 such that the surface of the
firs.t guide member 50 is appr~ximat'eli~n the same plane as
the surface of the second guide member 51 correspondin.g
thereto. In addition, the tip end of the bent -portion of
the second guide member'51 extends to about half the height
of the rear plate 27.
[0032]
Still further, a third guide member'52 extending
parallel to the second guide member 51 is provided on the
bottom plate 26. As s'imilar to the second guide member 51,
an end portion of the third guide member 52 on the opposite
side to the top plate 23 side is perpendicularly' bent upward
and extends along the rear plate 2.7.. In this case, an
interval between the second guide member .51 and the third
guide member 52 is designed so as to be slightly wider -than
the thickness of the flange member 32 (see Fig. 4).
Therefore, when the. roll pa'per RP (see Fig.. 3) mounted
with the support unit 30 is 'loaded into the loading portion
15, the flange .member 32 of the support unit 30 is
insertable between the second guide member 51 and the third
guide member 52. Also, an end portion of the third guide
member 52 on the top plate 23 side is bent at an angle of
about 30 degrees on the opposite side to the second guide
member 51 side in order to easily insert the flange member
32 between the second guide member 51 and the third guide
member 52 from the top .plate 23 side.
In the loading portion 15, a torque imparting unit 54
to impart torque to the roll paper RP via the shaft member
31 (see Fig. 3) at the time of placing the roll paper RP
(see Fig. 3) mounted with the support unit 30 on the placing
portion 28- is provided at a position (right end portion of
the loading portion 15 in Fig. 6) opposing to the third
guide member 52 interposing the second guide member 51
therebetween.
The torque imparting unit 54 includes a rotation shaft
55 as a torque transmission portion capable of moving along
the scanning direction X retractably with respect to the
placing portion 28, a shaft cover 56.covering the rotation
shaft 55, an operation portion 57 to operate the rotation
shaft 55 so as to be retracted with respect to the placing
portion .28, and a rotary driving portion 59 to rotationally
drive the'rotation shaft 55 disposed tn a case 58.
[0036]
As shown in Fig. 7, the rotary driving portion 59
includes a support member 60 which has a'cylindrical shape
and' supports the rotation shaft 55 slide-movably in an axla1
direction (scanning direction X) thereof, a motor 61
disposed in parallel with the support member 60,. and a gear
train 62 constituted of a plurality of gears which transmit
rotation of the motor 61 to the support member 60.
100371
In the support member 60, an. insertion hole 63 in which
a base end side'of the rotation shaft 55 is slide-movably
inserted is formed in a center portion of a surface on the
opposite side to the gear train 62 side so as to extend in
the axial direction of the support member 60.
On both sides of the support member 60 which face each
other interposing the insertion. hole 63, a.pair of angular
grooves 63a are formed so as to communicate with the
insertion hole 63 and extend parallel to the insertion hole
63. On a base end portion of the rotation shaft 55,
protrusions (not shown) which are slide-movably inserted in
each of the angular grooves 63a at the time of inserting the
base end portion of the rotation shaft 55 in the insertion
hole 63 are formed.
Therefore, the rotation shaft 55 integrally rotates
with the support member 60 by respectively engaging the
protrusions (not shown) in a rotation direction .centering on
an axis thereof with the angular grooves 63a. In other
words, if the motor 61 is driven and the rotation thereof is
transmitted to the support member 60 via the gear train'62,
the support member 60 integrally rotates with the rotation
shaft 55.
[0040]
On a circumferential surface of a tip end portion of
the rotation shaft 55, a plurality of engagement ribs 55a
are formed at the same interval in the circumferential
direction. The tip end 'portion of the rotation shaft 55 is
insertable in the shaft hole 38 (see Fig. 5) of the shaft
member 31 of the support unit 30. Also, when the tip end
portion of the rotation shaft 55 is inserted in the shaft
hole 38, the engagement ribs 55a are respectively engaged
with the engaging pieces 39 (see Fig. 5) in the
circumferential direction.
[0041]
Therefore, if the rotation shaft 55 is rotationally
driven in a state where the tip end portion of the rotation
shaft 55 :is inserted in the shaft hole 38 (see .Fig. 5) of
'the shaft member 31, the engagement ribs 55a are
respectively engaged with the engaging pieces 39 (see Fig.
5) in the rotation direction. Thereby, the torque is
transmitted from the rotation shaft 55 to the shaft'member
31. . In the rotation shaft 55, a ring member 64 having a
cylindrical shape is rotatably provided at a position near
the base end rather than the'tip end portion.
[0042]
In the rotation shaft 55, E-rings 65 are respectively
provided on both sides of the ring members 64 in the axial
direction in order to regulate the movement of the ring
member 64 in the axial direction. On a circumferential
surface of the ring member 64, three convex portions 64a
protruding in a radial direction a,re provided at the same
interval in the circumferential direction.
COO431
As shown in Fig. 8, an accommodation portion 66 which
has a cylindrical shape and accommodates the rotation shaft
55 therein is formed on a center portion of the shaft cover
56. On a.periphera1 wall of .the accommodation portion 66,
three through holes 67 which have a rectangular shape and
extend in the axial direction are formed at the same
interval in the circumferential direction. In addition,
each of convex portions 64a of the ring member 64 is slidemovably
inserted in each of the through holes 67.
shown in Fig. the operation portion 57 includes a
rotation shaft portion 57a having a cylindrical shape, a
shield portion 57b which has a substantially semicircularring
shape ,and is formed on a circumferential surface of the
rotation shaft portion 57a, and an operation lever 57c which
has a substantially rectangular-plate shape and is formed on
the circumferential surface of the rotation shaft portion
57a so as to be adjacent to the shield portion 57b. In
addition, the operation portion 57 is installed rotatably
with respect to the shaft cover 56 such that the
I accommodation portion 66 is accommodated in the rotation
I
shaft portion 57a.
[0045]
As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, on an inner circumferential
surface of the rotation shaft portion 57a, a cam groove
forming member 68 having a substantially cylindrical shape
is installed so 'as to be integrally rotatable with the
rotation shaft portion 57a. The internal diameter of the
cam groove forming member 68 is greater than the external
diameter of the accommodation portion 66, and the external
diameter thereof is smaller than the internal diameter of
the rotation shaft portion 57a. In addition, on the inner
circumferential surface of the rotation shaft portion 57a, a
cam groove forming wall 69 is provided so as to face the cam
groove forming member 68 in the axial direction.
LO0461
. .
In this case, upon comparison with the position of the . .
cam groove formlng wall 69, the position of the cam groove
forming member 68 is closer to the tip end side of the
accommodation portion 66. In addition, by the cam groove
forming member. 68 and the cam groove forming wall 69, three
cam grooves 70 are formed tit the same interval in the
circumferential direction of the rotation shaft portion 57a.
In the cam groove 70, a surface on the cam groove forming
wall 69 side is a first cam face 70a and a surface on .the
cam groove forming member 68 side is a second cam face 70b.
[0047]
In each of the cam grooves 70, a tip end portion of
each of the convex portions 64a of the ring member 64 is
slidably inserted. From a position corresponding to a base
end portion of the accommodation portion 66 to a position
corresponding to a tip,end portion of the accommodation
portion 66, each of the cam grooves 70 extends obliquely
with respect to the circumferential direction of the
accommodation portion.66 so as to be alo.ng a circumferential
surface of the accommodation portion 66.'
[0048]
-
As shown in Figs. 6 and 10, in a state where the
operation lever 57c of -the operation portion 57 is
posi-tioned higher .than the rotation the tip end
port-ion of the rotation shaft 55 is accommodated in the
accommodation portion 66, and also each of the convex
portions 64a of the ring member 64 is positioned at an end
portion on the rotary driving portion 59 side in each of the
through holes 67 of the accommodation portion 66.
In this' case, when .the roll paper RP (see Fig. 3)
mounted with the support unit 30 is placed at the placing
portion 28, a position of the rotation shaft 55 is
designatedeas a non-transmission position (position shown in
Figs. 6 and 10) where.the torque of the rotary driving
portion 59 is not transmitted to the roll paper RP via the
shaft member 31 of the support unit 30.
[0050]
Subsequently, in this state, when the operation lever
57c is operated such that the operation lever 57c of the
operation portion 57 is moved (pivoted) toward a position
where the operation lever 57c is positioned lower than the
rotation shaft 55, as shown in Fig. 13, the rotation shaft
55 is moved while each of the convex portions 64a of the
ring member 64 slides on each of the first cam faces 70a, as
shown in Fig. 11. Thereby, as shown in Figs. .11 andl13,
each of the convex portions 64a of the r5ng member 64 is
pressed to the placing po.rtion 28 side by each of the .first
cam faces 70a and is slidably moved in each of the through
holes 67 of the accommodation portion 66 toward an end
portion thereof on the placing portion 28 side.
[0051]
Corresponding to the slide-movement of each of the.
convex.portions 64a. of the ring member 64, the rotation
shaft 55 is moved to the placing portion 28 side along the
axial direction.. Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13,
in a state where the operation'lever 57c of the operation
portion 57 is moved to the position where the operation
lever 57c is positioned lower than the rotation shaft 55,
the tip end portion of the rotation shaft 55 protrudes
outward the accommodation portion 66, and also each of the
convex portions 64a of the ring member 64 is positioned at
an end portion on the placing portion 28 side in each of the
through holes 67 of the accommodation portion 66.
[ 0 0 5'2 ]
In this case, when the roll paper RP (see Fig. 3)
mounted with the support unit 30 is placed at the placing
portion 28, a position of the rotation shaft 55 is
designated as a transmission position (position shown in
Figs., 12 and.13) where the torque of the rotary driving
portion 59 is transmitted to the roll paper RP via the shaft
member 31 of the support unit 30.
[0053]
Furthermore, in the case of moving the rotation shaft
55 from the transmission position to the non-transmission
position, when the operation lever 57c is operated such,-that
the operation lever 57c of the operation portion 57 1s moved
(pivoted) to the position where the .operation lever 5'7c is
positioned higher than the rotation shaft 55, as shown in
Fig. 6, the rotation shaft 55 is moved while each of the
convex portions 64a 'of the ring member 64 slides on each of
the second cam faces 70b, as shown in Fig. 11.
[0054]
Thereby, as'shown in Figs. 6 and 11, each of the convex
portions 64a of the ring member 64 is pressed to the rotary
driving portion 59 side by each of the second'cam faces 70b
and is slidably moved in each of the through holes 67 of the
accommodation portion 66 toward an end portion thereof on
the rotary driving portion 59 side. Corresponding to the
slide-movement of each of the convex portions 64a of the
ring member 64, the rotation shaft.55 is moved to the rotary
driving portion 59 side along the axial direction.
[0055]
Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 6 and 10, in a state
where the operation .lever 57c of the operation portion 57 is
moved to the position where the operation lever 57c is
positioned higher than the rotation shaft 55, the tip end
portion of the rotation shaft 55 is accommodated in the
accommodation portion 66, and also each of the convex
portions 64a of the ring member 64 is positioned at an end
portion on the rotary driving portion 59 side in each of the
through holes 67 of the accommodation portion 66. In this
manner, the rotation shaft 55 is moved from the transmission
pos'ition to the non-transmission position'.
[0056]
Subsequently, the rotation shaft 55 is moved between
the transmission position and' the non-transmission position.
by operating the operation portion 57. Furthermore, in the
embodiment, the loading portion 15, the support unit 30, the
rotary driving portion 59, the rotation shaft 55, and the
' operation portion 57 constitute a medium loading device.
[0057]
Next, the operation of the ink jet type printer 11 will
be described.
When performing printing onto the roll paper RP, first,
the.opening and closing cover 16 i,s opened (displaced to the
non-covering position), and a user places the roll paper RP
on the positioning recess portion 24a of 'the temporal
placing portion 24 in a state where. the rotation shaft 55 is
placed at the non-transmission position by moving the
operation lever 57c upward, as shown.in Fig. 14. Thereupon,
the roll paper RP is stable on the positioning recess
.portion 24a, whereby the rolling of the roll paper RP is
suppressed..
Subsequently, as shown in Fig. 15, a user fits the
shaft portion 37 (see Fig. 4) of the shaft member 31 of each
of the support units 30 into the center hole H (see Fig. 14)
of the roll paper RP from both sides thereof, whereby the
support units 30 are respectively mounted on both end
portions of the roll paper RP. Also, in a state where the
support units 30 are respectively mounted on both end
portions of the roll paper RP, the roll paper RP is'
supported by each of the support units 30 in a state where
the.roll paper RP is lifted from the temporal placing'
portion 24.
[0059]
Next, a user presses the roll paper RP of which both
end portions are mounted with the support units 30, namely
each of the support units 30 supporting the roll paper RP,
from the temporal placing portion 24 toward the placing
portion'28.
[0060]
Thereupon, each of the support units 30 supporting the
roll paper RP is slidably moved on the top plate 23. In
other words, each of the support units .30 supporting 'the
roll paper RP is slidably moved downward on the inclined
portion 25 toward the placing portion 28 while the roll
paper RP does not rotate. In this case, the support unit 30
on the first guide member 50 side is introduced between the
second guide member 51 and the'third guide member 52 in the
placing portion 28 while being guided by the first guide
member 50.
[0061] . /
Subsequently, when a user .presses each of the support
.units 30 to the portion 28 side, the roll paper RP
is placed at the placing portion 28 in a state of ,being
supported by each of the support units 30, as shown.in Fig.
'7
In this case, the support unit 30 on the first guide
member 50 side is inserted between the second guide member
51 and the third guide member .52 in the placing portion 28 . ,
while being guided by the second guide member 51 (see Fig:.
15) and the third guide member 52. Therefore, the
positioning of the support unit 30 on the first gu2de member
50 side in the scanning direction is performed by the
second guide member 51 and the third guide member 52, and
consequently the positioning of the roll paper RP in the
scanning direction X is performed.
I
Furthermore, in a state where the roll paper RP mounted
with the support unit 30 is placed at the placing portion 28,
the shaft hole 38 of the shaft member 31 in .the support unit
C.
30 on the first.guide member 50 side faces the rotation
shaft 55 in the scanning direction X. In other words, the
rotational axis of the rotation shaft 55 coincides with the
rotational axis of the roll paper RP (shaft member 31).
[0064]
In this case, an access space AS for a user to access
(touch) the shaft member 31 in the axial direction (scanning
direction X) of the roll paper RP is formed between the
shaft member 31 of the support unit 30 on the first guide
member 50 side and the rotary driving portion 59 (case 58),
namely on the rotary driving portion 59 (case 58) side in
the shaft member 31 of the support unit 30 on the,first
guide member 50 side.
[0065]
In addition, the operation portion 57 is disposed in
the access space AS. In other words, in the axial direction
of the roll paper RP when the roll paper RP is loaded into
the loading portion 15, the operation portion 57 is disposed
between the shaft member 31 and the rotary driving portion
59.
Here, when the'operation lever 57c of the operation
portion 57 is positioned at the upper side, the shield
portion 57b of the operation portion 57 is positioned . at the
non-shielding position (position shown in Fig. 16) where the
access space AS is not .shielded, as shown in Fig. 16. On
the other hand, when the operation lever 57c of the
operation portion 57 is positioned at the lower side, the
shield portion 57b of the operation portion 57 is positioned
at the shielding position (position shown in Fig. 17) where
the access space AS.is shielded, as shown in Fig. 17.
[0067]
In other words, when the operation lever 57c is moved
to the upper side, the shield portion 57b is moved to the
non-shielding position where the access space AS is opened.
However, when the operation lever 57c is moved to the lower
side, the shield portion 57b is moved to the .shielding
position where the access space AS is closed. That is,
corresponding to the upward or downward movement (pivot) of
the operation lever 57cr the shield portion 57b is moved
between the non-shielding position and the shielding
position.
[0068]
heref fore, when the shield portion 57b is moved to the
shielding position, the rotation shaft 55 is moved -to the
-transmission position, and when the shield portion 57b is
moved to the non-shielding position, the rotation shaft 55
is moved to the non-transmission position, by operating the
operation lever 57c.
[0069]
Subsequently, as shown in Fig. 17, the operation lever
57c is moved to the lower side in a state where the roll
paper RP mounted with the support unit 30 is placed at the
placing portion 28. Thereupon, the rotation shaft 55 is
moved to the transmission position, whereby being inserted
in the shaft hole 38 of the shaft member 31 in the support
unit 30 on the first guide member 50 side. Also, the shield
portion 57b is moved to the shielding position, whereby
shielding the access space AS.
[0070]
In this case, the operation portion 57'is disposed
between the shaft member 31 of the support unit 30 on the
first guide member 50 side and the rotary driving portion 59
(case 58), namely at the position adjacent to the rotary
driving portion 59 (case 58) side in the shaft member 31 of
the support unit 30 on the first guide member 50 side. In
other words, the operation portion 57 is positioned near the
support unit 30 on the first guide member 50 side.
Therefore, the operation of the operation portion 57 is
rapidly and easily carried out by a user.
[0071]
Next, the paper P which is unwound and fed from the
roll paper RP loaded into the loading portion 15 is inserted
from the paper feeding port 17 in the main body 14 along the
transport path, and then the opening and closing cover 16 is
closed (displaced to the covering position), as shown in Fig.
18. In this case, the operation portion 57 is accommodated
in the opening and closing cover 16. Subsequently, when the
operation panel 21 is operated to start the printing process,
the rotation shaft 55 is rotationally driven by the driving
of the motor 61, whereby the torque of the rotation shaft 55
is transmitted to the roll paper RP via the shaft member 31.
Therefore, the motor 61 of the rotary driving portion 59
functions as a driving source to rotate the roll paper RP.
[0072]
Thereupon, each of the shaft members 31 integrally
rotates with the roll paper RP in a direction .where the
paper P is fed from the roll paper RP. Then, printing is
performed.onto the paper P fed from the roll paper RP by
ejecting ink using the recording head 20 while the paper P
is transported along the transport path in the main body 14.
After that, the paper P is discharged from the paper
discharge port 18.
[0073]
According to the embodiment described in detail
hereinbefore, it is possible to achieve the effects
described below.
(1) In the axial direction of the roll paper RP when
the roll paper' RP is loaded into the loading portion 15, the
operation portion 57 is disposed between the shaft member 31
of the support unit 30 on the first'guide member 50 side and
the rotary driving portion 59 (case 58). namely at the
position adjacent to the rotary driving portion 59 (case 58)
side in the shaft member 31 of the support unit 30 on the
first guide member 50 side. In other words, the.operation
portion 57 is disposed at the position near the shaft member
31 of the support unit 30 on the first guide member 50 side.
Therefore, it is possible for a user to rapidly perform the
operation to move the rotation shaft 55 to the transmission
position. Consequently, it is possible to improve work
efficiency for enabling the torque of the rotary driving
portion 59 to be transmitted to .the roll paper RP loaded
into the loading portion 15.
[0074]
(2) When the shield portion 57b is moved to the
shielding position, the rotation shaft 55 is moved to the
transmission position, and when the shield portion 57b is
moved to the non-shielding position, the rotation shaft.55
is moved to the non-transmission position, by operating the
operation lever 57c. Therefore, when the rotation shaft 55
transmits the torque of the rotary driving portion 59 to the
roll paper RP via the shaft member 31, the access space AS
is shielded by the shield portion 57b. Thereby, it is
possible to regulate the access of a user to the shaft
member 31 when rotating. On the other hand, when the
rotation shaft 55 does not transmit the torque of the rotary
n.,. + .? .
driving portion 59 to the rol1,paper RP via the shaft member
31, the access space AS is not shielded by the shield
portion 57b. 'Thereby, it is possible to allow the access of
a user to the.shaft member 31 when stopping.
[0075]
(3).The operation portion 57 is configured such that,
when the operation lever 57c is moved to the lower side, the
shield portion 57b is moved to the shielding position, and
when the operation lever 57c is moved to the upper side, the
shield portion 57b is moved .to the.non-shielding position.
Therefore, when the rotation shaft 55 transmits the torque
to the roll paper RP via the shaft member 31, the shield
portion 57b is moved to the shielding position by moving the
operation lever 57c to the lower side. consequently; since,
when the shaft member 31 rotates, the operation lever 57c is
positioned at the lower side, it is possible for the
operation lever 57c not to hinder the shaft member 31.
[0076]
(4) When the opening and. closing cover 16 'is positioned
. .
at the covering position, the operation portion 57 is
accommodated in the opening and closing cover 16. Therefore,
by closing (displacing to.the covering position) the opening
and closing cover 16 when the shaft member 31 rotates,. it is
possible to suppress the erroneous contact of a.user to the
operation portion 57 when the shaft member. 31 rotates..
(Modification Example)
Furthermore, the embodiment described above may be
modified as follows.
.When the opening and closing .cover '16 is positioned at
the covering position, it is not necessary for the operation
portion 57 always to be accommodated in the opening and
closing cover 16.
-The opening and closing cover 16 may be omitted.
[0078]
.The operation portion 57 may be configured such that,
when the operation lever 57c is moved to the lower side, the
shield portion 57b is moved to the non-shielding position,
and when the operation lever 57c is moved to the upper side,
the shield portion 57b is moved to the shielding position.
[0079]
-In the.operation portion 57, the shield portion 57b
may be omitted.
.Instead of the roll paper RP, plastic film, cloth,
foil or the like may be used as a rol1,medium.
[0080]
.In the embodiment described- above, the recording
apparatus may be a fluid ejecting apparatus which performs
recording by ejecting or discharging a fluid (including a
liquld, liquid body which is composed by dispersing or
mixing particles of a functional material in a liquid, a
fluid body such as.gel, and solid matter capable of being
ejected as a fluid) aside from ink. For example, a liquid
body e j ecting apparatus which performs recording by e j ecting
a liquid body including a material such as an electrode
material or a colorant material (pixel material) used for
manufacturing a liquid-crystal display, an EL (electronic
luminescence) display and a surface-emission display by a
manner of dispersion or dissolution may be employed.
Furthermore, a fluid body ejecting apparatus which ejects a
fluid body such as gel (for example, physical gel) may be
employed. Also, the invention can be'applied to any one of
the fluid ejecting apparatuses described above. In addition,
"fluidV.in the specification does not include a fluid
composed of a gaseous body only, and includes a liquid (such
as inorganic solvents, organic solvents, liquid solutions,
liquid resins, and liquid metals (metallic melts)), a liquid
body, a fluid body or the like, for example.
[Reference Signs List]
[0081]
11: Ink jet type printer as a recording apparatus, 15:
Loading portion constituting a medium.loading device, 16:
Opening and closing cover as a cover member, -20: Recording
head as a recording portion, 30: Support unit constituting
the medium loading device, 31.: Shaft member as a medium
holding portion, 32: Flange member as a medium support
portion, 55: Rotation shaft as a torque transmission portion
constituting the medium loading device, 57: Operation
portion constituting the medium loading, device, 57b: Shield
portion, 57c: Operation lever, 59: Rotary driving portion
constituting the medium loading device, AS: Access space, P:
Paper as a medium, RP: Roll 'paper as a roll medium
[Name of Document] CLAIMS
[Claim 11
A medium loading device comprising: .
a support unit that' has medium holding portions which
are mounted on both end portions of a roll medium formed by
winding a lengthy medium into a roll shape so as to be
integrally rotatable with the roll medium, and a medium
support portion which rotatably supports the medium holding
portion; and
a loading portion in which the roll medium mounted with
the support unit is loaded,
wherein the 1oading.portion includes:
a rotary driving portion as a driving source to rotate
the roll medium;
a torque transmission portion to transmit a torque of
the rotary driving portion to the roll medium via the medium
holding portion; and
an operation portion that moves the torque transmission
portion between a transmission position to transmit the
torque to the roll medium via the medium holding portion and
a non-transmission position not to transmit the torque to
the roll medium via -the medium holding portion, and
wherein, in an axial direction of the roll medium
loaded into the loading portion, the operation portion is
disposed between the medium holding portion and the rotary
driving portion.
[Claim 21
The mediurrl loading 'device according to Claim 1,
wherein an access space to access the medium holding
portion in the axial direction of the roll medium is formed
between the medium holding portion and the rotary driving
portion, .
wherein the operation portion includes:
an operation lever to perform operation; and
a shield portion that.is moved between a shielding
position to shikld the access space and a non-shielding
position not to shield the access space corresponding to the
operation of the operation lever, and
wherein, when the shield portion is moved to the
shielding position, the torque transmission portion is moved
to the transmission position, and when .the shield portion is
moved to the non-shielding position, the torque transmission
portion is moved to the non-transmission position.
[claim 31
The medium loading device according to Claim 2,
wherein, in the operation portion, when the operation
lever is moved to a lower side, the shield portion is moved
to the shielding posi-tion, and when the operation lever is
moved to an upper side, the shield portion is moved to .the
non-shielding position.
[Claim 41
The medium loading device according to any one of
Claims. 1 to 3, further comprising,
a cover member that is displaceable between. a covering
position where the roll medium loaded into the loading
portion 'is covered'and a non-covering position where the
roll medium loaded into the loading portion is not covered,
wherein, when the cover member is positioned at the
covering position, the operation portion is accommodated in
the cover member.
[Claim 51
A recording apparatus comprising:
the medium loading device .according to any one.of
Claims 1 to 4; and
a recording portion to perform a recording process onto
. the roll medium fed from the medium loading device.