JP2019026476A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a recording device configured to have a placing part and a receiving part, capable of increasing loading amount of media in the receiving part.SOLUTION: A recording device 11 comprises: a supply tray 23 for placing a medium M before recording; a recording part for recording on the medium M supplied from the supply tray 23; a housing 12 which is arranged above the supply tray 23 and has a discharge port 28 for discharging the recorded medium M1; and a stacker 24 for receiving the medium M1 discharged from the discharge port 28. The supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 overlap each other in a vertical direction Z. The stacker 24 moves so as to change a distance from the discharge port 28 to the stacker 24 in the vertical direction Z, and moves to a position where a second distance being the distance when the loading height of the received medium M1 is at a second loading height higher than a first loading height is made longer than a first distance being the distance when the loading height is at the first loading height. The stacker 24 has a relief part where a part of the supply tray 23 enters while lowering to a lower limit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus including a receiving unit such as a stacker that receives a recording medium that has been recorded on a medium such as paper and then discharged from a discharge port.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a recording apparatus such as a multifunction machine including a stacker (an example of a receiving unit) that receives a medium (recording medium) discharged from a discharge port after recording (printing) on a medium such as paper. Yes. A stacker provided in a recording device such as a multifunction machine that assumes large-scale printing has a configuration in which the vertical distance from the discharge port to the receiving surface of the stacker is set long so that a large amount of recording media can be stacked. It is common. In this case, it takes a long time to be affected by the air resistance after the recording medium is discharged until it contacts the receiving surface of the stacker or the upper surface of the recording medium on the receiving surface. When the recording medium that is falling is affected by the air resistance, the recording medium moves randomly, and as a result, the alignment of the recording medium bundle (for example, a sheet bundle) stacked on the stacker deteriorates. In this case, the user has to arrange the bundle of recording media with deteriorated alignment by hand, and the appearance of the printed matter is also deteriorated.

  In the recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the stacker is provided so as to be movable up and down. The stacker is in a state where it extends outward from the housing and is biased upward by a compression spring. For this reason, the stacker descends by its own weight as the amount of loaded media increases. For this reason, since the falling distance when the paper drops from the discharge port to the receiving surface of the stacker or the upper surface of the recording medium on the receiving surface can be set relatively short, good alignment of the recording medium bundle on the stacker is ensured. It is easy to be done.

  Further, the recording apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 is provided with a supply tray (an example of a placement unit) on which a medium before recording can be placed. The supply tray is openable and closable with respect to the housing of the recording apparatus. The user can store the storage tray when it is not in use, and the supply state can be opened to place (set) the medium. And can be operated.

JP-A-5-155500

  However, although the recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 can secure a large stacking capacity of recording media that can be stacked by lowering the stacker, the lower limit position is lower than the supply tray because the supply tray is positioned below the stacker. Limited to the upper position. For this reason, in order to increase the loading capacity of the discharged recording medium, further ingenuity has been demanded.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of increasing the amount of medium loaded in a receiving portion in a configuration including a placing portion and a receiving portion.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
A recording apparatus that solves the above problems includes a mounting unit that mounts a medium before recording, a recording unit that records the medium supplied from the mounting unit, and a discharge port that discharges the recorded medium. A housing having a receiving portion disposed above the placement portion and receiving the medium discharged from the discharge port, wherein the placement portion and the receiving portion overlap in a vertical direction, The receiving portion moves by changing a vertical distance from the discharge port to the receiving portion, and is more than the first distance which is the distance when the loaded height of the received medium is at the first loaded height. The mounting portion is moved to a position where the second distance, which is the distance when the second loading height is higher than the first loading height, is increased and the receiving portion is lowered to the lower limit. Has a relief part into which a part of When the lower limit of the receiving portion changes, it is sufficient that at least one lower limit that allows a part of the placement portion to enter the escape portion is present in the changing lower limit.

  According to this configuration, the placement portion and the receiving portion overlap in the vertical direction. The receiving portion moves by changing a vertical distance from the discharge port to the receiving portion. At this time, the receiving portion has a second distance when the received medium is at a second loading height higher than the first loading height than the first distance when the loading height of the received medium is at the first loading height. Move to a position to make the direction longer. Moreover, while a receiving part descend | falls to a minimum, a receiving part and a mounting part overlap in a horizontal direction because a part of mounting part enters into an escape part. Therefore, in the configuration including the placement unit and the receiving unit, it is possible to increase the loading amount of the medium in the receiving unit.

  A recording apparatus that solves the above problems includes a mounting unit that mounts a medium before recording, a recording unit that records the medium supplied from the mounting unit, and a discharge port that discharges the recorded medium. A housing having a receiving portion disposed above the placement portion and receiving the medium discharged from the discharge port, wherein the placement portion and the receiving portion overlap in a vertical direction, The receiving part moves while maintaining a falling distance of the medium falling from the discharge port toward the receiving part within a predetermined range shorter than a moving range in the vertical direction of the receiving part. While descending to the lower limit, it has an escape portion into which a part of the mounting portion enters. Note that maintaining the fall distance of the medium falling from the discharge port toward the receiving portion within a predetermined range may be a configuration in which the fall distance is kept constant, or the fall distance is within a predetermined range while the drop distance is changed. The configuration may be such that it is maintained within the range.

  According to this configuration, the placement portion and the receiving portion overlap in the vertical direction. The receiving portion moves while maintaining a falling distance within a predetermined range until the medium discharged from the discharge port is received by the receiving portion. While the receiving part descends to the lower limit, a part of the placing part enters the escape part, so that the receiving part and the placing part overlap in the horizontal direction. Therefore, in the configuration including the placement unit and the receiving unit, it is possible to increase the loading amount of the medium in the receiving unit.

  In the recording apparatus, the placing portion includes an edge guide capable of positioning the placed medium in the width direction, and at least one of the edge guides is provided on the escape portion while the receiving portion is lowered to a lower limit. It is preferable that the part enters.

  According to this configuration, the receiving unit and the mounting unit (edge guide) are formed by at least a part of the edge guide provided in the mounting unit entering the escape portion of the receiving unit while the receiving unit moves to the lower limit. And overlap in the horizontal direction. For this reason, it is possible to lower the receiving part to a position where the receiving part and the edge guide overlap in the horizontal direction. Therefore, it is possible to increase the amount of medium loaded in the receiving unit.

Preferably, the recording apparatus further includes a medium storage unit that stores a medium before being supplied to the recording unit, and the medium storage unit, the placement unit, and the receiving unit overlap in the vertical direction. .
According to this configuration, since the medium accommodating portion, the placement portion, and the receiving portion overlap in the vertical direction, the size in the direction intersecting the vertical direction of the recording device can be reduced, and the installation space for the recording device can be reduced. It can be suppressed.

  The recording apparatus further includes a moving mechanism that moves the receiving unit up and down, and a control unit that drives the moving mechanism to control the moving position of the receiving unit, and the control unit is provided on the receiving unit. It is preferable to control the position where the receiving portion is lowered based on the loading amount of the medium.

  According to this configuration, since the movement position of the receiving unit is controlled according to the medium loading amount on the receiving unit, the receiving unit can be lowered to an appropriate position according to the medium loading amount thereon. . Therefore, the medium drop distance from the discharge port can be kept small within a predetermined range, and the medium bundle can be stacked on the receiving portion with better alignment.

  The recording apparatus further includes a detection unit that detects a loading amount of the medium on the receiving unit, and the control unit is configured to reach the upper surface of the medium on the receiving unit according to a detection result of the detection unit. It is preferable to control the movement position of the receiving part while maintaining the falling distance of the sheet below a set value.

  According to this configuration, the drop distance from the discharge port to the upper surface of the medium on the receiving unit is maintained below the set value according to the detection result of the detection unit, so that the medium has a sufficiently long drop distance that exceeds the set value. Compared to the falling configuration, it is possible to reduce the positional deviation of the medium when it falls on the receiving portion. Therefore, the medium bundle can be stacked on the receiving portion with better alignment.

  In the recording apparatus, when the detection unit is the first detection unit, a second lower limit position of the receiving unit determined from a positional relationship between the receiving unit and the mounting unit or the medium on the mounting unit is detected. It is preferable that a detection unit is further provided, and the control unit moves the receiving unit within a range equal to or higher than a lower limit position detected by the second detection unit.

  According to this configuration, the lower limit position of the receiving portion determined from the positional relationship between the receiving portion and the placement portion or the medium on the placement portion is detected by the second detection portion. The control unit causes the receiving unit to move within a range equal to or higher than the lower limit position detected by the second detection unit. That is, the lower limit when the receiving unit moves is limited to the lower limit position detected by the second detection unit. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the lowered receiving portion from interfering with the placement portion or the medium on the placement portion.

  In the recording apparatus, the second detection unit detects a loading amount of the medium on the placement unit, and the control unit loads the medium on the placement unit detected by the second detection unit. It is preferable to move the receiving part in a range equal to or higher than the lower limit position according to the amount.

  According to this configuration, the receiving unit moves within a range equal to or higher than the lower limit position corresponding to the stacking amount of the medium on the mounting unit detected by the second detection unit. Therefore, the receiving portion can be lowered as much as possible while avoiding interference between the receiving portion and the medium on the placement portion. For this reason, it is possible to secure a large amount of medium loaded on the receiving portion.

  The recording apparatus further includes a display unit, and the control unit is configured so that a load amount of the medium detected by the detection unit is determined when the receiving unit reaches a lower limit position. Preferably, the display unit displays instruction information for prompting removal of the medium on the receiving unit when the stacking amount is prohibited from being discharged.

  According to this configuration, when the receiving unit reaches the lower limit position and the load amount of the medium on the receiving unit becomes a load amount that prohibits the discharge of the medium from the discharge port, the receiving unit receives the load. Instruction information for prompting removal of the medium on the department is displayed. For this reason, it is possible to prompt the user to remove the medium from the receiving portion. As a result, it can be avoided that the recording apparatus is left unattended.

  The recording apparatus further includes a third detection unit that detects the receiving unit at the lower limit position, and the control unit is configured such that when the medium is not present on the mounting unit, the third detection unit is the receiving unit. It is preferable to set the lower limit position of the receiving part by lowering the receiving part until it is detected.

  According to this configuration, the receiving unit is lowered when there is no medium on the mounting unit, and the lower limit position of the receiving unit is detected by causing the third detecting unit to detect the lowering limit position of the receiving unit. The position can be set. For example, when the movement position of the receiving portion is measured using the detected lower limit position as the origin, the accurate movement position of the receiving portion can be measured. For this reason, the precision of position control of a receiving part can be raised.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a recording apparatus including a multifunction machine according to an embodiment. The model perspective view which shows the peripheral part of a supply tray. FIG. 3 is a schematic side sectional view showing a recording apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic side sectional view showing a stacker moving mechanism in the recording apparatus. FIG. 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing a moving mechanism different from that of FIG. 4 of the stacker in the recording apparatus. The perspective view which shows a supply tray and a stacker. The schematic diagram explaining the calculation method of the lower limit position of a stacker. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the recording apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print control program. The schematic perspective view which shows the mode at the time of medium loading in the stacker of a comparative example. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state when the stacker of the present embodiment starts medium loading. The model perspective view which shows a mode that a stacker similarly moves. FIG. 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view illustrating a state at the start of medium stacking of a stacker in a recording apparatus. FIG. 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view illustrating a medium stacking state of a stacker near the end of printing in a recording apparatus. FIG. 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view illustrating a lower limit position of a stacker when a medium is present in a supply tray. FIG. 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing a lower limit position of a stacker when there is no medium in a supply tray. FIG. 6 is a schematic side cross-sectional view illustrating a stacker moving mechanism in a recording apparatus according to a modification. FIG. 9 is a schematic side cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration for detecting a medium on a supply tray in a modified example. FIG. 10 is a schematic side view illustrating a lower limit position of a stacker when there is no medium on a supply tray in a recording apparatus according to a modification. FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view illustrating a stacker and a supply tray in a recording apparatus according to a modification. The schematic side view which shows the lower limit position of a stacker when there is no medium in the supply tray in the recording apparatus of the modified example different from FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a recording apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. A recording apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is a multifunction machine that includes a scan function, a copy function, and the like in addition to a print function. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording device 11 includes a printing device 20 that performs recording (printing) on a medium M, and an image reading device 30 (scanner) that reads (scans) a document or the like. The recording device 11 is configured by stacking a printing device 20 and an image reading device 30 in the vertical direction Z. That is, the image reading device 30 is disposed on the upper portion of the printing device 20. The recording device 11 includes a housing 12 having a main body 31 of the image reading device 30 at an upper portion.

  The housing 12 has a recess 13 that opens on two sides of the front side and the right side surface in FIG. The recess 13 has a first opening 131 that opens to the front side of the housing 12 and a second opening 132 that opens on the side of one side of the housing 12 (right side in the example of FIG. 1). The concave portion 13 is closed at the back portion facing the first opening 131 on the front side, and the portion facing the second opening 132 on the right side surface is closed by the square columnar printing function portion 21. Further, the upper inner wall surface of the recess 13 is formed by a part of the bottom surface of the substantially square plate-shaped main body 31 constituting the image reading device 30. That is, the upper part of the recess 13 is covered with a part of the main body 31. Hereinafter, the main body 31 is also referred to as a “scanner main body 31”.

  Furthermore, the portion of the inner bottom surface of the recess 13 is a supply tray 23 as an example of a mounting portion on which the medium M before printing to be supplied can be mounted. Further, in the concave portion 13, as an example of a receiving portion that receives the medium (hereinafter also referred to as “recording medium M <b> 1”) that has been recorded (printed) and then discharged from the discharge port 28 of the housing 12 in the concave portion 13. The stacker 24 (discharge stacker) is provided. The stacker 24 is disposed above the supply tray 23. By inserting a hand into the concave portion 13 through at least one of the openings 131 and 132, the user can access the placement (setting) of the medium M and the removal of the recording medium M1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading device 30 includes an automatic feeding device 32 that automatically feeds a document on the upper side of the scanner body 31. In addition, the image reading device 30 includes a reading unit (not shown) that reads an image such as characters and photographs recorded on a document fed by the automatic feeding device 32. The automatic feeding device 32 includes a tray 33 on which documents can be placed in a stacked state, and feeds the documents placed on the tray 33 one by one. The image reading device 30 reads a document fed from the tray 33 by a reading unit, and the read document is discharged to a discharged portion 34 provided on the lower side of the tray 33. The automatic feeding device 32 is rotatable with respect to the scanner main body 31, and the lower part also serves as a document table cover of the image reading device 30. When the automatic feeder 32 is rotated from the closed state shown in FIG. 1 to the open state, a document placement surface (glass surface) (not shown) forming the upper surface of the main body 31 is exposed. The main body 31 has, for example, a reading unit that reads a document and a component that includes a moving mechanism that moves the reading unit in the scanning direction, and a glass plate that houses these components and on which the document is placed is assembled at the top. Thus, the upper surface portion is constituted by the housing portion forming the document table.

  An operation panel 14 used for various operations for giving instructions to the recording apparatus 11 is provided on the front side of the image reading apparatus 30 in the recording apparatus 11. The operation panel 14 includes an operation unit 15 and a display unit 16. In this example, the display unit 16 is configured by a touch panel, for example, and the operation unit 15 is configured by a touch operation input function of the touch panel. The operation unit 15 may be configured by an operation switch or the like.

  The printing apparatus 20 includes a quadrangular columnar printing function unit 21 at a portion adjacent to the recess 13 (left adjacent) in the housing 12. A cassette 22 as an example of a medium storage unit that can store a plurality of sheets of media M such as a plurality of sheets in a stacked state is inserted into the lower part (lower part) of the printing function unit 21 and the recess 13 in the housing 12. Has been. The recess 13 is located above the vertical direction Z of the cassette 22. The cassette 22 has a gripping portion 22A on the front surface thereof. The user can attach and detach the cassette 22 to and from the housing 12 using the grip portion 22A. A cover 21A that is opened and closed when an ink storage unit 59 (see FIG. 3) described later is attached or detached is provided below the operation panel 14 in the print function unit 21. In the recording apparatus 11, one or a plurality of cassettes 22 can be added below the cassette 22.

  In the recording apparatus 11, one side surface on the side where the operation panel 14 is arranged is the front surface among the four side surfaces. Further, in the recording apparatus 11, one side surface on the side where a part including the grip portion 22 </ b> A of the cassette 22 accommodated in the housing 12 is exposed is the front surface among the four side surfaces. In FIG. 1, the front surface of the recording apparatus 11 is the front surface.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the portion corresponding to the bottom of the recess 13 in the housing 12 is a supply tray 23 (tray unit) on which the medium M before printing can be placed (set) in the recess 13. It has become. The supply tray 23 has a placement surface 23A on which a plurality of media M to be supplied can be placed in a stacked state, and a direction (depth direction) intersecting (for example, orthogonal to) the supply direction of the medium M on the placement surface 23A. ) Is opened by the first opening 131, and the upstream side in the supply direction of the medium M on the placement surface 23 </ b> A is opened by the second opening 132. Therefore, the user can place the medium M on the placement surface 23 </ b> A of the supply tray 23 located on the bottom surface of the recess 13 through the openings 131 and 132. The supply tray 23 is fixed to the upper portion of the cassette 22 in the housing 12 in an oblique posture. That is, in the supply tray 23, the placement surface 23A on which the medium M before printing is set has a leading end side (downstream end side) in the feeding direction Y of the medium M placed on the placement surface 23A (FIG. 1). The left side is inclined so that the position in the vertical direction Z becomes lower. In the following, the supply direction in which the medium M on the placement surface 23A is supplied is referred to as a feeding direction Y (left direction in FIGS. 1 and 2), and a direction intersecting (for example, orthogonal) with the feeding direction Y. It is called the width direction X.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a stacker 24 that receives a recording medium M <b> 1 that is a medium M after printing (after recording) is disposed in the recess 13 at a position above the supply tray 23. The stacker 24 of this example is provided so as to be movable (movable up and down) in the vertical direction Z in the recess 13 along the side surface (right side surface in FIG. 1) of the printing function unit 21. As shown in FIG. 3, an electric moving mechanism 60 that moves the stacker 24 in the vertical direction Z is provided in the housing 12. The stacker 24 is driven by the moving mechanism 60 to move up and down. The recess 13 is partitioned into a first space 133 and a second space 134 in the vertical direction Z by a stacker 24 that can move up and down. The first space 133 is used as a loading space where the supplied medium M is loaded on the supply tray 23, and the second space 134 is loaded with the recording medium M 1 discharged from the discharge port 28 on the stacker 24. Used as loading space.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 overlap in the vertical direction Z. In this example, the supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 are located at least partially overlapping in the vertical direction Z within the recess 13. Further, the cassette 22, the supply tray 23, and the stacker 24 overlap in the vertical direction Z. Further, the supply tray 23, the stacker 24, and the main body 31 of the image reading device 30 overlap in the vertical direction Z.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the recording apparatus 11 is viewed from the front, the supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 project the receiving surface 24 </ b> A of the stacker 24 in the vertical direction Z with respect to the placement surface 23 </ b> A of the supply tray 23. In this case, the projection area PA1 of the receiving surface 24A is in a positional relationship included in the placement surface 23A of the supply tray 23 (that is, the placement area TA of the placement surface 23A). That is, when the recording apparatus 11 is viewed from the front, the supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 overlap in the vertical direction Z in a positional relationship in which the projection area PA1 of the receiving surface 24A is included in the arrangement area TA of the placement surface 23A. doing.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bottom surface 31 </ b> A of the scanner body 31 forms the top surface (upper inner wall surface) of the recess 13. The main body 31, the supply tray 23, and the stacker 24 overlap in the vertical direction Z. As shown in FIG. 3, the projection area of the placement surface 23 </ b> A when the placement surface 23 </ b> A of the supply tray 23 is projected in the vertical direction Z with respect to the bottom surface 31 </ b> A of the scanner main body 31 (virtual plane including the bottom surface 31 </ b> A). Let it be PA2. When the recording apparatus 11 is viewed horizontally from the front, the supply tray 23 and the scanner main body 31 are positions where the projection area PA2 of the placement surface 23A is included in the bottom surface 31A of the scanner main body 31 (that is, the arrangement area SA of the bottom surface 31A). There is a relationship. That is, when the recording apparatus 11 is viewed from the front, the supply tray 23 and the scanner main body 31 have a positional relationship in which the projection area PA2 of the placement surface 23A is included in the bottom surface 31A of the scanner main body 31 (that is, the arrangement area SA). , Overlapping in the vertical direction Z. When the recording apparatus 11 is viewed horizontally from the front, the projection area of the receiving surface 24A when the receiving surface 24A of the stacker 24 is projected in the vertical direction Z with respect to the bottom surface 31A of the scanner body 31 is PA3. When the recording apparatus 11 is viewed from the front, the supply tray 23, the stacker 24, and the scanner body 31 include both the projection area PA2 of the placement surface 23A and the projection area PA3 of the receiving surface 24A. It overlaps in the vertical direction Z due to the positional relationship. Further, when the recording apparatus 11 is viewed from the front, the cassette 22 and the scanner main body 31 are projected on the cassette 22 when the cassette 22 is projected in the vertical direction Z on the bottom surface 31A of the scanner main body 31 (not shown). Are overlapped in the vertical direction Z due to the positional relationship included in the bottom surface 31A (that is, the arrangement area SA of the bottom surface 31A).

  In this example shown in FIG. 1, both the supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 are all disposed in the recess 13, and the ratio of the overlapping amount in which one side overlaps the vertical direction Z with respect to the other is 80% or more. Specifically, when projected in the vertical direction Z from one of the supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 to the other, the length ratio in the feeding direction Y, and the dimensional ratio occupied by one projection portion with respect to the other is, for example, 80% or more. It has become.

  Further, the supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 do not protrude outward (right side in FIG. 1) from the first opening 131 on the front side or the second opening 132 on the right side with respect to the housing 12. That is, the supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 are accommodated in the recess 13 regardless of use or non-use, and do not protrude outward from the front and side surfaces of the housing 12. For this reason, the installation space of the recording apparatus 11 is kept relatively small.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the supply tray 23 is inclined so that the downstream end side in the feeding direction Y of the medium M on the placement surface 23A is below the gravity direction (vertical direction Z) from the upstream end side. It is placed in a tilted posture. Therefore, when the medium M is placed on the supply tray 23, the medium M moves to the feeding direction Y side by its own weight, and the front end of the medium M hits the wall surface of the printing function unit 21 so that the front end is aligned. For this reason, the rear end edge guide for guiding the rear end of the feeding direction Y of the medium M becomes unnecessary. Further, when the supply tray 23 is tilted, the supply tray 23 is placed on the supply tray 23 so that a medium M having a predetermined length can be placed on the placement surface 23A as compared with a case where the supply tray 23 is not inclined (for example, a horizontal posture). The required length dimension in the feeding direction Y can be made relatively short. That is, the length dimension of the supply tray 23 in the feeding direction Y can be shortened relative to the length of the medium M to be placed. Further, since the posture of the supply tray 23 is inclined, the rear end portion of the medium M does not protrude from the concave portion 13 when the relatively long medium M is placed on the supply tray 23. For this reason, even if the medium M is left on the supply tray 23, dust hardly accumulates on the medium M.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the stacker 24 has an upper surface serving as a receiving surface 24A for receiving the recorded medium M1, and the upstream end side in the discharge direction -Y of the medium M1 on the receiving surface 24A is the downstream end. It is arranged in a posture that is inclined obliquely below the gravitational direction (vertical direction Z). That is, the supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 are inclined in the same direction. When the medium M1 is discharged onto the stacker 24, the medium M1 moves to the side opposite to the discharge direction −Y by its own weight, and the rear end of the medium M1 hits the wall surface of the printing function unit 21 so that the rear end is aligned on the receiving surface 24A. Align with. For this reason, a front end edge guide for guiding the front end in the discharge direction −Y of the medium M1 becomes unnecessary. Further, the stacker 24 is required to be able to place a medium M1 having a predetermined length on the receiving surface 24A as compared with the case where the stacker 24 is not inclined (for example, when the stacker 24 is not horizontally inclined). The length dimension in the discharge direction -Y can be relatively shortened. For this reason, the length dimension of the discharge direction -Y of the stacker 24 can be shortened for the length of the medium M1 that the stacker 24 can receive. The discharge direction -Y is a direction opposite to the feeding direction Y.

  When the maximum size of the medium M assumed by the recording apparatus 11 is, for example, A4 size, the A4 size medium M is stacked on the supply tray 23 without protruding from the side surface of the housing 12, and the A4 size is stacked on the stacker 24. The recording medium M1 is loaded without protruding from the side surface of the housing 12. Further, when the maximum size of the medium M assumed by the recording apparatus 11 is, for example, A3 size, the A3 size medium M is stacked on the supply tray 23 without protruding from the side surface of the housing 12, and the A3 size is stacked on the stacker 24. A medium-sized medium M is loaded without protruding from the side surface of the housing 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the supply tray 23 has a pair of edge guides 25 that guide the medium M on the placement surface 23 </ b> A in the width direction X. The pair of edge guides 25 are operated by the user when positioning the medium M placed on the placement surface 23A in the width direction X. The pair of edge guides 25 protrude upward from the placement surface 23 </ b> A and are configured to be movable in conjunction with the width direction X of the medium M. The pair of edge guides 25 according to the present embodiment move in conjunction with a position symmetrical to the width direction X with respect to the width center line of the medium M on the supply tray 23, and the medium M has its width center at the feeding port 26. A center feeding system that can be positioned by guiding to a position that coincides with the center of the width is adopted. The pair of edge guides 25 is replaced with a center feeding system, and one edge guide is fixed and the other edge guide is movable, and the other edge guide is moved with reference to the fixed edge guide. Thus, a configuration in which the medium M is positioned close to one end in the width direction X may be employed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a feeding port 26 for supplying the medium M on the supply tray 23 is opened on the side surface (right side surface) facing the recess 13 of the printing function unit 21. The supply tray 23 is disposed at a position below the feeding port 26. The supply tray 23 has a plate-like hopper 27 capable of pushing up the medium M set on the placement surface 23A. The hopper 27 has a substantially H-shaped plate material as shown in FIG. 1, and is downstream on the basis of a rotation shaft 27A (see FIGS. 15 and 16) located at one upstream end in the feeding direction Y. The part can be moved up and down. The hopper 27 is urged upward by an urging force (elastic force) of a spring 29 (see FIG. 15), and a lifting mechanism (not shown) is driven by the power of a feeding motor 84 (see FIG. 8) or a dedicated electric motor. Thus, it moves up and down between the standby position shown in FIG. 2 and the supply position (upward position) shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first feed for feeding the medium M on the supply tray 23 from the feed port 26 into the printing function unit 21 is positioned near the feed port 26 in the housing 12. A sending unit 40 is provided. The first feeding unit 40 is adjacent to the hopper 27, the pickup roller 41 located above the downstream end in the feeding direction Y of the hopper 27, and the downstream side in the feeding direction Y with respect to the pickup roller 41. And a separation mechanism 42 located there. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the separation mechanism 42 includes a feeding roller 43 and a separation roller 44 (retard roller). As shown in FIG. 3, in the feeding direction Y, the pickup roller 41 that feeds the medium M on the supply tray 23 is positioned downstream of the discharge port 28. That is, when the recording apparatus 11 is viewed vertically, the pickup roller 41 is closer to the recording unit 54 at the pickup roller 41 and the discharge port 28. The separation mechanism is replaced with the roller separation method described above, and includes a separation portion (bank portion) standing at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the feeding direction and having an oblique friction surface. A bank separation system in which one medium M to be fed is separated from another medium by feeding the medium M along the line may be used.

  When the holding mechanism is released by the power of the power source, the hopper 27 shown in FIGS. 2 and 15 rises from the standby position by the urging force of the spring 29 (FIG. 15), and the medium M on the supply tray 23 is picked up by the pickup roller. 15 and FIG. 16 pressed against 41, and descends from the supply position against the urging force of the spring 29 by the power of the power source, and returns to the standby position shown in FIG. At the start of printing, the hopper 27 is raised, and the medium M on the supply tray 23 is pressed against the pickup roller 41 from below. A sheet of medium M is fed. Even if a plurality of media M sent out by the pickup roller 41 are fed (multiple feed), they are separated into one using the difference in frictional force between the two rollers 43 and 44 constituting the separation mechanism 42. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pickup roller 41 and the feed roller 43 are fed by a feed motor 84 (FIG. 15, described later) via a power transmission mechanism 400 including gears 401 provided on the respective rotation shafts 41 </ b> A and 43 </ b> A. (See FIG. 16). An operation unit 25A is provided at the upper end of the edge guide 25. When the operation unit 25A is pushed, the edge guide 25 can be moved in the width direction X, and the operation unit 25A is not pushed. Then, the edge guide 25 is locked at that position.

  As shown in FIG. 1, printing is performed on the side surface (right side surface) facing the concave portion 13 of the printing function unit 21 at a position different from the feeding port 26 in the vertical direction Z (upper position in the example of FIG. 1). A discharge port 28 for discharging the subsequent recording medium M1 is opened. The stacker 24 has an uppermost upper limit position among positions where the recording medium M1 discharged from the discharge port 28 can be received, and a lower limit that does not interfere with the supply tray 23 disposed below or the medium M on the supply tray 23. Move up and down within the range of the position. The stacker 24 sets the upper limit position to a position set below the ascending limit position by a predetermined margin distance. The upper limit position of the stacker 24 in this example is lower than the position of the discharge port 28 (specifically, the nip position of the discharge roller 57 in FIG. 3 described later) by a little distance (for example, a predetermined value within a range of 1 to 50 mm). Position.

  Then, the stacker 24 falls in a vertical distance Z from the discharge port 28 (nip position of the discharge roller 57) to the receiving surface 24A or the uppermost surface of the recording medium M1 on the receiving surface 24A (see FIG. 7). ) Moves in the vertical direction Z while maintaining that it falls within a predetermined range that satisfies the condition that is equal to or less than the set distance Zf. For example, the stacker 24 descends according to the loading amount of the recording medium M1 on the receiving surface 24A. In addition, the lower limit position of the stacker 24 changes in accordance with the supply tray 23 positioned below the stacker 24 or the loading amount of the medium M on the supply tray 23. Specifically, when the medium M on the supply tray 23 is equal to or larger than the specified stacking amount, the stacker 24 sets the position above the position corresponding to the top surface of the medium M on the supply tray 23 by a predetermined margin distance to the lower limit position (FIG. 15). ). Further, when there is no medium M on the supply tray 23 and when the medium M on the supply tray 23 is less than the specified stacking amount, the stacker 24 has a predetermined margin distance (for example, 0 to 10 mm) from the position where it hits the edge guide 25. The upper position by a predetermined value within the range is set as the lower limit position (FIG. 16).

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of media M accommodated in the cassette 22 are fed one by one in order from the top to a position near the upper end of the downstream end in the feeding direction Y of the cassette 22. A second feeding unit 45 is arranged. Similar to the first feeding unit 40, the second feeding unit 45 includes a pickup roller 46 that feeds the medium M, and a separation mechanism 47 that is located next to the pickup roller 46 in the feeding direction Y side. ing. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the separation mechanism 47 is a roller separation method and includes a feeding roller 48 and a separation roller 49 (retard roller). The separation mechanism 47 may be a bank separation method.

  The medium M in the cassette 22 accommodated in the housing 12 is urged upward in the vertical direction Z and pressed against the pickup roller 46. At the start of printing, when the pickup roller 46 and the feeding roller 48 are rotationally driven by the power of the power source of the second feeding unit 45, the medium M in the cassette 22 is fed one by one in order from the highest one. . The medium M sent out by the pickup roller 46 is separated into one sheet by using the frictional force by the two rollers 48 and 49 constituting the separation mechanism 47, and is fed into the printing function unit 21. The power source of the two feeding units 40 and 45 is a feeding motor 84 dedicated to feeding (see FIG. 8), but instead of this, a conveyance motor 85 that is a power source of the conveyance unit 51 described later. (Refer FIG. 8) and the structure which makes the conveyance part 51 and the feeding parts 40 and 45 share a power source may be sufficient.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the printing function unit 21 accommodates a printing mechanism 50 that performs conveyance of the supplied medium M and printing on the medium M. A transport unit 51 that transports the medium M fed from the cassette 22 and the supply tray 23 from the feed port 26 to the discharge port 28 located at the downstream end of the path along the transport path 52 shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. I have. The transport unit 51 has a plurality of roller pairs 53.

  At a position in the middle of the conveyance path 52, a recording unit 54 facing the conveyance path 52 is provided. The recording unit 54 has a line head capable of ejecting ink over the width direction X of the medium M. The recording unit 54 is not limited to the line recording method in which the line head performs the recording of the width of one line at a time, and the recording head is provided in a carriage that can move in the width direction X, and the recording of the width of one line is performed. Alternatively, a serial recording method may be used in which ink is ejected from the recording head during the carriage movement process. Further, the position and the arrangement angle of the recording unit 54 are not limited to the example of FIG. 3 and may be changed as appropriate.

  A support base 55 that supports the medium M is disposed at a position opposite to the recording unit 54 with the conveyance path 52 interposed therebetween. The support base 55 holds the medium M at a position spaced apart from the recording unit 54 by a predetermined interval (gap). The plurality of roller pairs 53 constituting the transport unit 51 are positioned on both sides (upstream side and downstream side) sandwiching the recording unit 54 in the transport direction Y, and transport the medium M being recorded held on the support base 55. A set of transport roller pairs 56 is included. Further, the plurality of roller pairs 53 include a discharge roller pair 57 that discharges the recording medium M1 from the discharge port 28. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the feeding direction Y of the medium M by each of the feeding units 40 and 45 and the transport direction of the portion of the medium M transported on the support base 55 that faces the recording unit 54. It is the same. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the conveyance direction of the medium M in the recording process by the recording unit 54 may be referred to as “conveyance direction Y”.

  The conveyance path 52 feeds the medium M from the supply tray 23 to the recording position facing the recording unit 54, and the supply path 522 feeds the medium M from the cassette 22 to the recording position facing the recording unit 54. And have. Further, the transport path 52 has a reverse transport path 523 that is an example of a reverse transport path that reverses the recording medium M <b> 1 after recording by the recording unit 54 and transports the recording medium M <b> 1 toward the discharge port 28. Further, in the case of double-sided recording, the conveyance path 52 is provided with a reversing path 524 that is a path for reversing the medium M that has been subjected to single-sided recording while being reversely conveyed and returning it to the upstream side of the recording unit 54 again. Including. The transport unit 51 may include a transport belt that transports the medium M being printed, for example. In this case, it is preferable that the conveyor belt is configured to circulate in a state where the medium M is held on the outer peripheral surface thereof by electrostatic adsorption.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first feeding unit 40 for the supply tray 23 and the second feeding unit 45 for the cassette 22 are arranged with their positions shifted in the feeding direction Y. And the 1st feeding part 40 and the 2nd feeding part 45 are mutually arranged in the same height in the perpendicular direction Z, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 3, a part of the separation roller 44 that configures the first feeding unit 40 and the feeding roller 48 that configures the second feeding unit 45 are located at the same height in the vertical direction Z. Are arranged as follows. For this reason, the arrangement position of the cassette 22 and the supply tray 23 can be brought close to the vertical direction Z, and the height of the recording apparatus 11 is kept relatively low.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an ink storage unit 58 is provided at a position between the reverse conveyance path 523 and the image reading device 30 in the housing 12. A plurality (four in the example of FIG. 3) of ink containing portions 59 (for example, ink cartridges or ink tanks) containing ink are attached to the ink containing unit 58 in a detachable state. The plurality of ink storage portions 59 store different colors of ink. The ink storage unit 59 stores a plurality of colors of ink including, for example, black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). In the example of FIG. 3, four ink storage portions 59 corresponding to four colors (KCMY) are illustrated, but for example, corresponding to other colors such as light cyan, light magenta, light yellow, gray, green, and violet. An ink storage unit 59 may be added.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the inside of the path for transporting the recording medium M <b> 1 after recording (printing) on the medium M supplied from the feeding port 26 in the transport path 52 in the housing 12 to the discharge port 28 while inverting it. In the region, the ink supply unit 35 and the maintenance device 36 are arranged in the vertical direction Z. The ink supply unit 35 is interposed in the middle of an ink tube (not shown) that connects each ink storage unit 59 and the recording unit 54, and supplies ink from each ink storage unit 59 to the recording unit 54. The recording unit 54 records on the medium M by discharging the ink of each color supplied from the ink storage unit 59 through the ink tube (not shown) by the ink supply unit 35. The maintenance device 36 performs maintenance such as cleaning of the nozzle for the purpose of preventing clogging of the nozzle that the recording unit 54 has for discharging ink.

  Next, with reference to FIG.4 and FIG.5, the moving mechanism (elevating mechanism) which moves the stacker 24 up and down is demonstrated. 4 and 5, some configurations of the printing mechanism 50 and the cassette 22 in the printing function unit 21 are omitted. Examples of the moving mechanism 60 that moves the stacker 24 up and down include a belt drive system shown in FIG. 4 and a gear drive system shown in FIG. The moving mechanism 60 shown in FIG. 4 includes a belt-type drive mechanism 61 and an electric motor 62 serving as a power source. The belt-type drive mechanism 61 includes a pair of pulleys 63 and 64 that face each other at a predetermined distance in the vertical direction Z, and a timing belt 65 that is wound around the pulleys 63 and 64. A base portion of the stacker 24 is connected to a part of the timing belt 65. The stacker 24 moves up and down via the belt-type drive mechanism 61 when the electric motor 62 is driven forward and backward.

  Further, the moving mechanism 60 shown in FIG. 5 includes a gear drive mechanism 71 and an electric motor 62 as a power source. The gear drive mechanism 71 includes a rack and pinion 72 as an example. The rack 73 constituting the rack and pinion 72 is arranged in a direction in which the longitudinal direction is parallel to the vertical direction Z, and the base of the stacker 24 is fixed at a position in the middle of the longitudinal direction. A pinion 74 that can be rotated by rotation of the output shaft of the electric motor 62 meshes with the rack 73. As the pinion 74 rotates forward and backward by driving the electric motor 62, the stacker 24 moves up and down together with the rack 73. A control unit 80 (see FIG. 8), which will be described later, controls the movement position of the stacker 24 by driving the movement mechanism 60 based on the loading amount of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24.

  As shown in FIG. 6, an escape portion 24 </ b> B for allowing the edge guide 25 to escape is formed at the bottom of the stacker 24. The escape portion 24 </ b> B is formed of a recess that is recessed at a position facing the pair of edge guides 25 at the bottom of the stacker 24 over the range in which the edge guide 25 can move in the width direction X. The pair of edge guides 25 are provided so as to be slidable in the width direction X in conjunction with each other via a linkage mechanism (both not shown) with respect to a square plate-like substrate constituting the supply tray 23. That is, when one of the pair of edge guides 25 is operated in a direction in which the distance between the two is increased, the other moves in conjunction with the direction in which the distance is increased. Moves in the direction of narrowing the interval. The moving range of the pair of edge guides 25 is set to a range in which the medium M from the assumed minimum width to the assumed maximum width (for example, A4 size or A3 size width) can be guided. Regardless of the position of the pair of edge guides 25 in the width direction X, when the stacker 24 is lowered to the height position shown in FIG. 6, a part of the pair of edge guides 25 enters the escape portion 24B.

  The stacker 24 descends to the lower limit position ZL shown in FIG. 15 that does not come into contact with the medium M on the supply tray 23 when the load amount of the medium M loaded on the supply tray 23 is equal to or greater than a specified load amount Zm1 described later. be able to. Further, the stacker 24 descends to the lower limit position ZL shown in FIG. 16 that does not contact the medium M on the supply tray 23 when the load amount of the medium M loaded on the supply tray 23 is less than the specified load amount Zm1. be able to. While the stacker 24 is lowered to the lower limit position ZL shown in FIG. 16, the upper end portion of the edge guide 25 which is a part of the supply tray 23 enters the concave relief portion 24 </ b> B of the stacker 24. Overlap in the horizontal direction (see FIG. 16). Therefore, in particular, the lower limit position ZL shown in FIG. 16 of the stacker 24 when the load amount of the medium M on the supply tray 23 is less than the specified load amount Zm1 is set relatively low.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, position control (lifting control) for moving the stacker 24 up and down will be described. The control unit 80 to be described later controls the position of the stacker 24 within the range up to the lower limit position ZL according to the loading amount (loading height) of the recording medium M1 loaded on the receiving surface 24A. However, the lower limit position ZL is a position that has the physical lower limit position ZLo of the stacker 24 as the lowest position and changes above the lower limit position ZLo in accordance with the loading amount of the medium M on the supply tray 23. When the upper limit position of the stacker 24 is used as a reference, the descent possible distance ZD, which is the distance from the upper limit position to the lower limit position ZL, changes according to the loading amount of the medium M on the supply tray 23, and the following equation (1) Is calculated by
ZD = Zo− (Zhmax−Zh) (1)
Here, Zo is the lower limit distance from the upper limit position of the stacker 24 to the physical lower limit position ZLo, Zhmax is the upper limit distance (maximum ascent amount) of the hopper 27, and Zh is the ascent distance (ascent amount) of the hopper 27. is there. The lower limit position ZLo of the stacker 24 is, for example, the higher position of the position where the lower surface (bottom surface) of the stacker 24 contacts the rotating shaft 43A and the position where the stacker 24 contacts the upper end portion of the edge guide 25 entering the escape portion 24B. On the other hand, it is set at an upper position by a predetermined margin distance (for example, a predetermined value within a range of 1 to 10 mm). The rising limit distance Zhmax corresponds to the distance when the hopper 27 rises from the standby position to the supply position where it hits the pickup roller 41 when there is no medium M. The ascent distance Zh corresponds to the amount of ascent from the standby position during printing of the hopper 27, and varies according to the medium stacking amount on the hopper 27.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the recording device 11 is provided with a detection unit that detects the load amount of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 and a first sensor 91 as an example of a first detection unit. The first sensor 91 of this example is attached at a position below the position of the discharge port 28 in the casing 12 (that is, the nip position of the discharge roller 57), and the stack height of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 is the set height. Detects that it has been reached. The first sensor 91 is composed of an optical sensor such as a photocoupler having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion on both sides sandwiching a region where the medium M1 is discharged from the discharge port 28 in the width direction X. When the light between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit constituting the first sensor 91 is blocked for a predetermined time or more, the control unit 80 discharges the loading amount of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 from the discharge port 28. It is determined that the recording medium M1 has reached a set height that is slightly lower than the limit height that can be smoothly received by the receiving surface 24A. Specifically, the control unit 80 monitors the detection state of the first sensor 91 for a certain period of time every time the medium M1 is completely discharged, and if the detection state continues for the certain period of time, the control unit 80 records on the stacker 24. It is determined that the medium M1 has reached the set height. The control unit 80 controls the moving position Zst (the position in the vertical direction Z) of the stacker 24 by lowering the stacker 24 by a predetermined amount every time the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 reaches the set height. .

Further, the recording apparatus 11 includes a second sensor 92 (see FIGS. 8, 15 and the like) that constitutes an example of a second detection unit that can detect the amount of increase Zh from the standby position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. See). The recording apparatus 11 includes a third sensor 93 as an example of a third detection unit that can detect the stacker 24 when the descent limit position ZLo shown in FIG. 16 is reached. Here, the lower limit position ZLo is predetermined with respect to the higher position of the position where the lower surface of the base of the stacker 24 hits the rotating shaft 43A and the position where the stacker 24 hits the upper end of the edge guide 25 entering the escape portion 24B. It is set at a position above the margin distance. The control unit 80 of the present example measures (counts) the position of the stacker 24 in the direction from the origin to the upper side in the vertical direction Z with the lower limit position ZLo shown in FIG. 7 of the stacker 24 detected by the third sensor 93 as the origin. Then, the movement position Zst shown in FIG. 7 of the stacker 24 is acquired based on the measured value (count value). In the measurement scale having the lower limit position ZLo as the origin, the lower limit position ZL of the stacker 24 that changes in accordance with the loading amount of the medium M on the supply tray 23 is expressed by the following equation (2).
ZL = Zhmax−Zh−Zm1 (2)
Here, Zm1 is when the position when the stacker 24 hits the upper end of the edge guide 25 that has entered the escape portion 24B and the position when the lower surface of the stacker 24 hits the medium M on the supply tray 23 are the same. This is a specified load amount (specified load distance) corresponding to the load amount of the medium M. The term (Zhmax−Zh) in the above equation (2) corresponds to the loading amount Zm of the medium M on the supply tray 23 (hereinafter also referred to as “medium loading amount Zm”). When the medium loading amount Zm (= Zhmax−Zh) on the supply tray 23 is less than the prescribed loading amount Zm1, the edge guide 25 enters the escape portion 24B of the stacker 24 to a predetermined depth from the calculation result of the above equation (2). A lower limit position ZL shown in FIG. 16 is determined. The lower limit position ZL at this time corresponds to, for example, the lower limit position ZLo, and ZL = 0. On the other hand, when the medium loading amount Zm on the supply tray 23 is equal to or larger than the specified loading amount Zm1, the lower limit shown in FIG. 15 changes according to the medium loading amount Zm of the supply tray 23 from the calculation result of the above equation (2). A position ZL is determined.

  The stacker 24 moves in the vertical direction Z in a range until reaching the lower limit position ZL (see FIGS. 15 and 16). 11 and 12, the stacker 24 extends from the discharge position of the discharge port 28 (nip position of the discharge roller pair 57) to the receiving surface 24A of the stacker 24 or the top surface of the recording medium M1 on the receiving surface 24A. The position is controlled so that the fall distance Zd, which is the height of, falls within the set distance Zf or less.

  The stacker 24 moves by changing the distance in the vertical direction Z from the discharge port 28 to the stacker 24. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the stacker 24 has a first stacking height that is greater than the first distance L1 when the stacking height of the received recording medium M1 is the first stacking height H1. The position is controlled so that the second distance L2 is longer when the second loading height H2 is higher than H1. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the first distance L1 is L1 = 0 when the recording medium M1 is not loaded, but the first medium L1 is loaded on the stacker 24 and satisfies 0 <H1 <H2. The position of the stacker 24 is controlled so that the second distance L2 at the second loading height H2 is longer than the first distance L1 at the loading height H1.

  In other words, the stacker 24 moves while maintaining the falling distance Zd of the recording medium M1 falling from the discharge port 28 toward the stacker 24 within a predetermined range shorter than the moving range of the stacker 24 in the vertical direction Z. Position control is performed. Here, the movement range of the stacker 24 in the vertical direction Z is a range in which the stacker 24 can move from the upper limit position to the lower limit position ZL. The fall distance Zd is shorter than the movement range of the stacker 24. Therefore, the position of the stacker 24 is controlled so that the fall distance Zd falls within a predetermined range that is less than the set distance Zf that is shorter than the movement range. In the example of FIG. 7, the lower reference position that determines the drop distance Zd is the lowest base position of the receiving surface 24 </ b> A of the stacker 24. For example, the discharge direction (−Y direction) from the base end of the stacker 24. The fall distance Zd may be determined with a position on the receiving surface 24A that is a predetermined distance (for example, a predetermined value within a range of 1 to 20 cm) as a reference position.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the recording apparatus 11 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 80 that comprehensively controls the recording apparatus 11 includes a computer 81 made of, for example, an LSI or the like. The computer 81 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and an ASIC (Application Specific IC). The computer 81 includes a counter 82 and a memory 83. The counter 82 is used for counting processing for measuring the movement position Zst of the stacker 24. The memory 83 includes, for example, a RAM and a nonvolatile memory, and stores a program executed by the computer 81 and the like.

  The control unit 80 is electrically connected to the operation panel 14, the printing device 20, and the image reading device 30 through an interface (not shown). The printing apparatus 20 includes a feeding motor 84, a transport motor 85, a recording unit 54, an electric motor 62, and an encoder 86 as electrical components, and these components are electrically connected to the control unit 80. Yes.

  The control unit 80 controls the feeding motor 84, the conveyance motor 85, and the recording unit 54 based on print data received by the recording device 11 from a host device (not shown) such as a host computer, so that an image or the like is displayed on the medium M. Print. When the control unit 80 receives a print instruction instructed by the user operating the operation unit 15, the control unit 80 generates the motors 84, 85, and 85 based on the print data generated based on the instructed image data and print condition information. The recording unit 54 is controlled to print an image or the like on the medium M.

  The control unit 80 drives the selected one of the first feeding unit 40 and the second feeding unit 45 by driving the feeding motor 84 to feed the medium M from the cassette 22 or the supply tray 23. Further, the control unit 80 rotates the roller pair 53 by driving the transport motor 85 to transport the fed medium M along the transport path 52. The control unit 80 drives and controls the recording unit 54 based on the print data, and prints an image or the like based on the print data on the medium M at a printing position in the middle of the conveyance path 52.

  The control unit 80 moves the stacker 24 up and down by driving the electric motor 62 forward and backward. The control unit 80 inputs a pulse signal including a number of pulses proportional to the amount of movement of the stacker 24 from the encoder 86, causes the counter 82 to count the number of pulse edges of the input pulse signal, and determines the stacker 24's count from the counted value. The movement position Zst is acquired. The encoder 86 is a rotary encoder that can detect the rotation of the electric motor 62 or the rotation of the rotating body such as the pulley 63 or the pinion 74 constituting the moving mechanism 60, or the displacement in the vertical direction Z of the stacker 24 directly or indirectly. A linear encoder that can be detected is used. Alternatively, the electric motor 62 may be a stepping motor, and instead of the encoder 86, the control unit 80 may cause the counter 82 to count the number of steps used to control the electric motor 62, and obtain the movement position Zst of the stacker 24 from the counted value. Good.

  The memory 83 stores a print control program shown as a flowchart in FIG. 9 as one of the programs. The computer 81 of the control unit 80 executes the print control program shown in FIG. 9, thereby performing the position control in the vertical direction Z of the stacker 24 together with the print control. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the control unit 80 includes the first sensor 91, the second sensor 92, and the third sensor 93 that acquire various detection values necessary for controlling the position of the stacker 24. Electrically connected.

  The first sensor 91 includes an optical sensor such as a photocoupler shown in FIG. 7, and detects that the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 has reached a set height corresponding to the position of the discharge port 28. When the input from the first sensor 91 is switched from the non-detection signal (off signal) to the detection signal (on signal), the control unit 80 drives the electric motor 62 to lower the stacker 24 by a set amount. In this way, the control unit 80 controls the position of the movement position Zst of the stacker 24 according to the detection result of the first sensor 91, thereby setting the drop distance Zd from the discharge port 28 to the upper surface of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24. The distance is maintained below Zf. As an example, the set amount is set to a predetermined value within a range of 1 to 10 mm. At this time, the descending speed of the stacker 24 may be fast or slow, but the movement of the stacker 24 is not conspicuous and the speed at which the recording medium M1 can land smoothly after dropping (for example, 2 cm / second or less). Is preferred. Further, if the predetermined amount is, for example, 5 mm or less, even if the lowering of the stacker 24 is intermittently controlled, the user can easily recognize that the stacker 24 is continuously lowered.

  Here, even if the stacker 24 is lowered by this predetermined amount, the predetermined distance is such that the drop distance Zd is moved randomly by the air resistance during the fall, and the alignment of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 is improved. It is set to a value that satisfies a condition that falls within the range of the set distance Zf that is not impaired. For this reason, even if the stacker 24 is lowered by a predetermined amount, the falling distance Zd immediately after the completion of the lowering satisfies the condition that the set distance Zf or less. The set distance Zf, which is the maximum allowable value of the drop distance Zd, is set to a predetermined value within a range of 5 to 30 mm as an example. For this reason, since the recording medium M1 discharged from the discharge port 28 can be dropped with a relatively small drop distance Zd that is equal to or less than the set distance Zf, the amount of random movement of the recording medium M1 when subjected to air resistance at the time of dropping is sufficient. Is kept relatively small, and the alignment of the stack of recording media stacked on the stacker 24 is improved.

  The second sensor 92 detects the amount of increase Zh of the hopper 27 from the standby position (origin position). When there is no medium M on the supply tray 23, the hopper 27 rises to the supply position where it hits the pickup roller 41 (FIG. 16), and then the second sensor 92 detects the maximum increase amount Zhmax as the increase amount Zh (FIG. 7). . Further, when the medium M is present on the supply tray 23, the second sensor 92 raises the hopper 27 when the uppermost surface of the medium M on the hopper 27 rises to the supply position where it hits the pickup roller 41 (FIG. 15). Zh is detected. In the present embodiment, the second detection is performed by the second sensor 92 and the computer 81 that calculates the lower limit position ZL based on the equation (2) using the rising amount Zh of the hopper 27 that is the detection value of the second sensor 92. An example of a unit is configured. And the control part 80 restrict | limits the range which lowers the stacker 24 located above the supply tray 23 to the minimum position ZL. That is, the control unit 80 moves the stacker 24 within a range equal to or higher than the lower limit position ZL.

  The third sensor 93 detects the physical lower limit position ZLo of the stacker 24. Here, the lower limit position ZLo is determined to be a slightly upper position where the stacker 24 does not come into contact with one of the rotation shaft 43A and the edge guide 25 in accordance with the position that comes first in the lowering process. The control unit 80 acquires the lower limit position ZLo when the third sensor 93 detects the stacker 24 at the lower limit position ZLo. When the third sensor 93 detects the stacker 24 at the lower limit position ZLo, the upper end portion of the edge guide 25 is in a state of entering the escape portion 24B of the stacker 24. The third sensor 93 may be either a contact sensor or a non-contact sensor as long as it can detect that the stacker 24 has reached the physical lower limit position ZLo.

  Next, the operation of the recording apparatus 11 will be described. The recording apparatus 11 lowers the stacker 24 in a state where it can be confirmed that there is no medium M on the supply tray 23 and causes the third sensor 93 to detect the lowering limit position ZLo. When the third sensor 93 detects the stacker 24 that has reached the lower limit position ZLo, the control unit 80 sets the movement position Zst of the stacker 24 at that time as the origin position, and resets the counter 82. That is, the control unit 80 sets the position of the stacker 24 when the third sensor 93 detects the stacker 24 as the descent limit position ZLo by this origin finding operation. This origin finding operation is performed regularly or irregularly under the condition that it can be confirmed that there is no medium M on the supply tray 23. When the origination operation is performed, when it is detected or confirmed that there is no medium on the supply tray 23 during the pre-shipment inspection of the recording apparatus 11, when the recording apparatus 11 is turned on, or during a non-printing period after startup. Is mentioned. As a case where it can be detected that there is no medium M on the supply tray 23, for example, a medium presence / absence sensor capable of detecting the presence / absence of the medium M on the supply tray 23 is provided. 23 when the absence of the medium M is detected. When it can be confirmed that there is no medium M on the supply tray 23, a message is displayed on the display unit 16 to prompt the user to remove all the medium M on the supply tray 23, and the user can read the medium on the supply tray 23. A case where the controller 80 can confirm that the medium has been removed by notifying the recording device 11 by a predetermined operation of the operation unit 15 after all M has been removed.

  The control unit 80 detects the load of the first sensor 91 that detects the load amount of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 after completing the home-origin operation or when completing the initial operation before omitting the home-origin operation. Based on the result, the position of the stacker 24 is adjusted in the vertical direction Z so as to satisfy the condition for maintaining the fall distance Zd to be equal to or less than the set distance Zf. The stacker 24 is adjusted to the initial position shown in FIG. 13, for example, that satisfies the condition that the fall distance Zd is equal to or less than the set distance Zf.

  The recording device 11 receives print data from, for example, a host computer. The print data includes information designating one of the cassette 22 and the supply tray 23. For example, it is assumed that the supply tray 23 is designated as the supply source. When receiving an instruction to start printing by receiving print data, the control unit 80 drives the feed motor 84 to raise the hopper 27 via a lifting mechanism (not shown), and picks up the medium M on the supply tray 23 from the pickup roller. Press 41. Thereafter, the control unit 80 starts the print control shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  Here, since the stacker 120 of the comparative example shown in FIG. 10 is fixed at a predetermined height in the vertical direction Z, the drop distance Za of the recording medium M1 from the discharge port 28 to the receiving surface 120A is relatively long. . In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the recording medium M <b> 1 that is falling randomly moves due to the influence of air resistance, and as the drop distance Za is longer, the positional deviation amount of the recording medium M <b> 1 when dropped on the stacker 120 is larger. Since the size is increased, the alignment of the recording medium bundle on the stacker 120 is deteriorated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 80 performs the print control shown in the flowchart in FIG. 9, and as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, according to the loading amount of the recording medium M1 on the receiving surface 24 </ b> A, The moving position Zst of the stacker 24 is controlled so as to satisfy the condition that the falling distance Zd of the recording medium M1 from 28 is maintained within a predetermined range equal to or less than the set distance Zf.

  First, in step S <b> 11, the control unit 80 detects the medium stacking amount of the supply tray 23 by the second sensor 92. Here, since the hopper 27 rises from the standby position to the supply position where the medium M on the supply tray 23 hits the pickup roller 41 (see FIGS. 7 and 15), the amount of increase Zh is equal to the medium loading amount of the supply tray 23. Dependent. Therefore, when the printing is started, the second sensor 92 detects the rising amount Zh of the hopper 27 that rises, and the medium loading amount (medium loading height) of the supply tray 23 is acquired based on the detected rising amount Zh. .

  In step S12, the control unit 80 sets the lower limit position of the stacker 24 according to the medium loading amount. That is, the computer 81 calculates a descendable distance ZD from the upper limit position of the stacker 24 to the lower limit position ZL based on the above formula (1) using the ascent amount Zh of the hopper 27. Then, the computer 81 calculates the lower limit position ZL with the lower limit position ZLo as the origin based on the above equation (2). Thus, the computer 81 sets the calculated lower limit position ZL (= Zhmax−Zh−Zm1) by writing it in a predetermined storage area of the memory 83.

  In step S <b> 13, the control unit 80 performs an upper surface height detection process in which the first sensor 91 detects the upper surface height of the medium M <b> 1 on the stacker 24. In this example, as the upper surface height detection process, the control unit 80 has already reached the set height corresponding to the position of the discharge port 28 and the first sensor 91 is in the detection state. The process which determines whether it exists in is performed. For example, when the upper surface of the recording medium M1 has already reached the set height as indicated by a two-dot chain line on the stacker 24 shown in FIG. 7, the first sensor 91 is in a detection state. On the other hand, when the upper surface of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 has not yet reached the set height, the first sensor 91 is not detected. The first sensor 91 is configured by a non-contact type sensor that can detect the upper surface height of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 in a non-contact manner, and the upper surface height is detected based on the detection value of the first sensor 91. May be.

  In step S14, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the medium M1 can be discharged. For example, as long as the upper surface height (loading amount) of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 is less than the set height corresponding to the loading amount in which the discharge of the recording medium M1 to the stacker 24 is prohibited, the control unit 80 It is determined that the recording medium M1 can be discharged. On the other hand, when the upper surface height of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 has already reached a set height corresponding to the stacking amount at which the discharge of the recording medium M1 to the stacker 24 is prohibited, the control unit 80 records the recording medium M1. Is determined to be impossible to discharge. If the medium M1 cannot be discharged, the process proceeds to the next step S15, and if the medium M1 can be discharged, the process proceeds to step S19. Note that the set height is not limited to the set height corresponding to the stacking amount for which the discharge of the recording medium M1 to the stacker 24 is prohibited, and a predetermined margin height higher than the prohibited stacking amount (loading height). It may be set to a lower setting height.

  In step S15, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the stacker 24 can be lowered. Specifically, the stacker 24 can be lowered until reaching the lower limit position ZL, but cannot be lowered to a position beyond the lower limit position ZL. Therefore, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the stacker 24 can be lowered by determining whether or not the stacker 24 has reached the lower limit position ZL. If the stacker 24 has already reached the lower limit position ZL and cannot be further lowered, the process proceeds to step S16, and if the stacker 24 has not yet reached the lower limit position ZL and can be lowered from the current position, step S16 is performed. Proceed to S18.

  In step S <b> 16, the control unit 80 displays an instruction to remove the printed matter on the stacker 24 on the screen of the display unit 16. That is, the control unit 80 displays on the display unit 16 instruction information such as a message that prompts the user to remove the printed matter on the stacker 24. The user who has viewed the screen of the display unit 16 removes the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 in accordance with instruction information such as a message. Subsequently, the user operates the operation unit 15 to notify the recording apparatus 11 that the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 has been removed. Upon receiving this notification, the control unit 80 proceeds to the process of step S17.

  In step S17, the control unit 80 moves the stacker 24 up and down, and adjusts the position so that the fall distance Zd falls within the set distance Zf or less. The user may remove all the recording medium bundles on the stacker 24 or remove a part of the recording medium bundles on the stacker 24. The control unit 80 raises the stacker 24 toward the upper limit position while monitoring the measured value indicating the movement position Zst of the stacker 24 with the lower limit position ZLo as the origin, and the first sensor 91 detects nothing during the rise. If not, the stacker 24 is stopped at the upper limit position. On the other hand, if the first sensor 91 detects the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 while the stacker 24 is moving up, the stacker 24 is lowered by a predetermined amount from the moving position Zst at the time of detection and stopped. Thereby, when there is no recording medium M1 on the stacker 24, the falling distance Zd from the discharge port 28 to the upper surface of the stacker 24 can be maintained below the set distance Zf, and when there is the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24, The drop distance Zd from the outlet 28 to the upper surface of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 can be maintained below the set distance Zf. After adjusting the drop distance Zd, the control unit 80 proceeds to the process of step S19.

  On the other hand, in step S18, the control unit 80 lowers the stacker 24. That is, when it is determined in step S15 that the stacker 24 can be lowered and the process proceeds to step S18, the control unit 80 lowers the stacker 24 by a predetermined amount (predetermined distance). This predetermined amount is set to a value that results in a fall distance Zd that is equal to or less than the set distance Zf so that the amount of positional deviation on the receiving surface 24A of the recording medium M1 can fall within the maximum allowable value due to the influence of air resistance during the fall. . As an example, the predetermined amount is a value within a range of 1 to 10 mm (≦ Zf). For this reason, the drop distance Zd is maintained at a value equal to or less than the set distance Zf by lowering the stacker 24 by a predetermined amount from the position when the upper surface height of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 reaches the set height. . At this time, the stacker 24 may be lowered by a predetermined amount at a high speed (for example, 10 cm / second or more) or slowly at a low speed (for example, 2 cm / second or less). For example, when the operation is performed at a low speed, the movement of the stacker 24 is not easily recognized by the user, and the impact during the lowering operation of the stacker 24 is suppressed to a small level.

  In the next step S19, the control unit 80 executes printing. That is, the control unit 80 performs drive control of the feeding motor 84, the transport motor 85, and the recording unit 54 based on the print data, thereby recording and recording on the transported medium M. The unit 54 is caused to print an image based on the print data. When the recording unit 54 is a line recording method, the medium M is conveyed at a constant speed, and line printing is performed in which the recording unit 54 prints the width of one line at a time on the medium M being conveyed at the constant speed. Done. On the other hand, when the recording unit 54 is a serial recording method, the carriage (not shown) that constitutes the recording unit 54 is in the main scanning direction (width direction X) between the conveyance operation for intermittently conveying the medium M and the conveyance operation. In the moving process, serial printing is performed in which the recording head constituting the recording unit 54 substantially alternately performs a recording operation of ejecting ink and recording the width of one line.

  In step S20, the control unit 80 discharges the medium M1. That is, when the recording unit 54 finishes printing an image based on the print data on the medium M, the control unit 80 drives the transport motor 85 by a predetermined amount of rotation, and sets each roller pair 53 (including the discharge roller pair 57). The recording medium M1 after printing is discharged from the discharge port 28 by rotation. The recording medium M1 discharged from the discharge port 28 is stacked on the receiving surface 24A of the stacker 24 or the upper surface of the recording medium M1 on the receiving surface 24A. For example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the stacker 24 receives the first recording medium M <b> 1 discharged from the discharge port 28. Since the fall distance Zd at this time satisfies the condition of a value within the range of the set distance Zf or less, random movement due to the influence of air resistance can be kept small during the fall process. As a result, the displacement of the stack position of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 can be suppressed to a small value.

  In step S21, the control unit 80 determines whether printing based on the print data is finished. If it is before the end of printing (No in S21), the process returns to step S11. And the control part 80 repeats the process of step S11-S21. In this way, the control unit 80 sets the lower limit position ZL of the stacker 24 according to the medium stacking amount on the supply tray 23 determined from the detection value of the second sensor 92 until printing (print job) based on the print data is completed. (S11, S12).

  Then, the recording media M1 discharged one by one from the discharge port 28 are sequentially stacked on the stacker 24. Since the drop distance Zd of the recording medium M1 at this time is within the set distance Zf or less, random movement due to the influence of the air resistance of the recording medium M1 being dropped is suppressed, and the recording medium M1 is loaded on the receiving surface 24A. The amount of positional deviation of the recorded recording medium M1 can be kept small. After that, as shown in FIG. 14, when the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 reaches a set height indicated by a two-dot chain line in the drawing, the first sensor 91 detects this, and the recording medium M1 from the discharge port 28 is detected. Cannot be discharged (prohibited state) (No in S14). At this time, if the stacker 24 has not yet reached the lower limit position ZL and the stacker 24 can be lowered (Yes in S15), the stacker 24 is lowered by a predetermined amount (S18). When the first sensor 91 is in a non-detection state due to the lowering of the stacker 24 and the medium M1 can be discharged from the discharge port 28, the printing onto the medium M (S19) and the discharge of the recording medium M1 (S20) continue. Done. When the discharge of the recording medium M1 from the discharge port 28 onto the stacker 24 proceeds, the first sensor 91 detects the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 again. If it is impossible to discharge the recording medium M1 from the discharge port 28 again by the detection of the first sensor 91 (No in S14), if the stacker 24 can be lowered at this time (Yes in S15), the stacker 24 is lowered by a predetermined amount (S18). In this way, the stacker 24 repeatedly descends during printing while satisfying the condition that the fall distance Zd is equal to or less than the set distance Zf, and descends to a moving position Zst indicated by a solid line in FIGS. Further, during printing, as the printing progresses, the medium stacking amount on the supply tray 23 decreases as shown in FIG. 14. Accordingly, the lower limit position ZL of the stacker 24 to be set gradually lowers as this decrease occurs. (S12).

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, when the medium M is supplied to the supply tray 23 in the middle of printing and the medium M on the supply tray 23 is equal to or larger than the specified stacking amount Zm1, the lower limit position ZL is set to the stacker 24. Is set to a position immediately before it hits the top surface of the medium M on the supply tray 23. That is, the lower limit position ZL changes upward as the medium M is replenished. In this case, the stacker 24 can be lowered to the lower limit position ZL shown in FIG. 15 immediately before the bottom of the stacker 24 hits the uppermost surface of the medium M on the supply tray 23.

  As shown in FIG. 16, when the medium M1 on the supply tray 23 is less than the specified stacking amount Zm1, the lower limit position ZL is set to a position immediately before the stacker 24 hits the edge guide 25. In particular, in the present embodiment, since there is a concave relief portion 24B into which at least a part of the edge guide 25 can be inserted at the bottom portion of the stacker 24, the stacker 24 has the upper end portion of the edge guide 25 entering the relief portion 24B of the bottom portion. It can be lowered to the lower limit position ZL shown in FIG. At this time, the stacker 24 and the supply tray 23 are in a positional relationship overlapping in the horizontal direction. In this way, by setting the lower limit position ZL of the stacker 24 as low as possible according to the load amount of the medium M on the supply tray 23, the maximum stacking amount of the recording medium M1 in the stacker 24 is relatively large. Can be secured.

According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The recording apparatus 11 includes a supply tray 23 for placing the medium M before recording, a recording unit 54 for recording on the medium M supplied from the supply tray 23, and a discharge port 28 for discharging the recorded medium M1. And a stacker 24 (an example of a receiving portion) that is disposed above the supply tray 23 and receives the recording medium M1 discharged from the discharge port 28. The supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 overlap in the vertical direction Z. The stacker 24 moves by changing the distance in the vertical direction Z from the discharge port 28 to the stacker 24. At this time, the stacker 24 has a second loading height that is higher than the first loading height H1 than the first distance L1 that is the distance when the loading height of the received medium M1 is at the first loading height H1. It moves to a position where the second distance L2, which is the distance when it is at H2, is longer. Further, the stacker 24 has an escape portion 24B into which a part of the supply tray 23 enters while descending to the lower limit position ZL. For this reason, while the stacker 24 descends to the lower limit position ZL, a part of the supply tray 23 enters the escape portion 24B, so that the stacker 24 and the supply tray 23 overlap in the horizontal direction. For this reason, the lower limit position ZL of the stacker 24 can be set relatively low, and a relatively large stacking amount of the recording medium M1 that can be stacked on the stacker 24 can be secured. Therefore, in the configuration including the supply tray 23 and the stacker 24, the loading amount of the medium M1 in the stacker 24 can be increased. In addition, the second distance L2 when the received medium M1 is at the second stacking height H2 (> H1) is longer than the first distance L1 when the received medium M1 is at the first stacking height H1, so that The falling distance Zd of the medium M1 from the outlet 28 can be maintained below the set distance Zf, and the medium bundle can be stacked on the stacker 24 with good alignment.

  (2) The recording apparatus 11 includes a supply tray 23 for placing the medium M before recording, a recording unit 54 for recording on the medium M supplied from the supply tray 23, and a discharge port 28 for discharging the recorded medium M1. And a stacker 24 (an example of a receiving portion) that is disposed above the supply tray 23 and receives the recording medium M1 discharged from the discharge port 28. The supply tray 23 and the stacker 24 overlap in the vertical direction Z. The stacker 24 moves while maintaining the fall distance Zd of the medium falling from the discharge port 28 to the stacker 24 within a predetermined range that is shorter than the set distance Zf of the stacker 24 in the vertical direction Z. . Further, the stacker 24 has an escape portion 24B into which a part of the supply tray 23 enters while descending to the lower limit position ZL. For this reason, while the stacker 24 descends to the lower limit position ZL, a part of the supply tray 23 enters the escape portion 24B, so that the stacker 24 and the supply tray 23 overlap in the horizontal direction. For this reason, the lower limit position ZL of the stacker 24 can be set relatively low, and a relatively large stacking amount of the recording medium M1 that can be stacked on the stacker 24 can be secured. Therefore, in the configuration including the supply tray 23 and the stacker 24, the loading amount of the medium M1 in the stacker 24 can be increased. Further, since the stacker 24 is moved while maintaining the falling distance Zd within a predetermined range, the medium bundle can be stacked on the stacker 24 with good alignment.

  (3) The supply tray 23 includes an edge guide capable of positioning the loaded medium M in the width direction X. While the stacker 24 is lowered to the lower limit position, at least a part of the edge guide 25 is placed on the escape portion 24B. Get in. Therefore, while the stacker 24 is lowered to the lower limit position, at least a part of the edge guide 25 enters the escape portion 24B, and the stacker 24 can be lowered to a position overlapping with the edge guide 25 in the horizontal direction. For this reason, the load amount of the medium M1 in the stacker 24 can be increased.

  (4) The recording apparatus 11 includes a cassette 22 (an example of a medium storage unit) that stores a medium before being supplied to the recording unit 54, and the cassette 22, the supply tray 23, and the stacker 24 overlap in the vertical direction Z. To do. Therefore, since the cassette 22, the supply tray 23, and the stacker 24 overlap in the vertical direction Z, the size of the recording apparatus 11 in the direction intersecting the vertical direction Z can be reduced, and the installation space of the recording apparatus 11 can be reduced. It is done.

  (5) The recording apparatus 11 further includes a moving mechanism 60 that moves the stacker 24 up and down, and a control unit 80 that drives the moving mechanism 60 to control the moving position Zst of the stacker 24. The control unit 80 controls the position where the stacker 24 is lowered based on the loading amount of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24. For this reason, the stacker 24 can be lowered to an appropriate position according to the loading amount of the recording medium M1, and can be maintained at a relatively small drop distance Zd (≦ Zf). Therefore, the recording medium M1 can be stacked on the stacker 24 with better alignment.

  (6) The recording apparatus 11 further includes a first sensor 91 as an example of a detection unit that detects the load amount of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24. The control unit 80 maintains the drop distance Zd from the discharge port 28 to the upper surface of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 below the set distance Zf according to the detection result of the first sensor 91. Thereby, the control unit 80 controls the movement position Zst of the stacker 24. Therefore, since the fall distance Zd is maintained below the set distance Zf, the positional deviation amount of the recording medium M1 when the medium M1 falls on the stacker 24 as compared with the configuration in which the medium M1 falls a sufficiently long drop distance exceeding the set distance Zf. Can be kept small. Therefore, the recording medium bundle can be stacked on the stacker 24 with better alignment.

  (7) A second sensor 92 for detecting a lower limit position ZL of the stacker 24 determined from the positional relationship between the stacker 24 and the supply tray 23 or the medium M on the supply tray 23 is further provided. The control unit 80 moves the stacker 24 within a range equal to or higher than the lower limit position ZL detected by the second sensor 92. That is, the lower limit when the stacker 24 moves is limited to the lower limit position ZL detected by the second sensor 92. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the lowered stacker 24 from interfering with the supply tray 23 or the medium M on the supply tray 23.

  (8) The second sensor 92 detects the loading amount of the medium M on the supply tray 23, and the control unit 80 is within a range equal to or higher than the lower limit position ZL according to the loading amount of the medium M detected by the second sensor 92. The stacker 24 is moved. Therefore, while avoiding interference between the stacker 24 and the medium M on the supply tray 23, the stacker 24 can be lowered as much as possible to load more recording media M1 on the stacker 24.

  (9) The recording device 11 further includes a display unit 16. Under the state where the stacker 24 has reached the lower limit position ZL, the control unit 80 detects that the loading amount of the recording medium M1 detected by the first sensor 91 (an example of the detection unit) discharges the recording medium M1 from the discharge port 28. If the load is prohibited, the display unit 16 displays instruction information for prompting the removal of the recording medium M1 discharged to the stacker 24. Therefore, it is possible to prompt the user who has viewed the instruction information displayed on the display unit 16 to remove the recording medium M1 from the stacker 24. For this reason, it can be avoided that the recording apparatus 11 is left with the printing suspended.

  (10) A third sensor 93 (an example of a third detection unit) that detects the stacker 24 at the lower limit position ZLo is further provided. The controller 80 lowers the stacker 24 until the third sensor 93 detects the stacker 24 when there is no medium M on the supply tray 23, and sets the lower limit position ZLo of the stacker 24. For this reason, for example, when the movement position Zst of the stacker 24 is measured using the lower limit position ZLo detected by the third sensor 93 as an origin, the movement position Zst of the stacker 24 can be accurately measured. For this reason, the precision of the position control of the stacker 24 can be improved. Further, since the stacker 24 can be reliably stopped at the lower limit position ZLo based on the detection result of the third sensor 93, interference with other components (the rotating shaft 43A or the edge guide 25) of the stacker 24 is reliably avoided. it can.

In addition, the said embodiment can also be changed into the following forms.
-The moving mechanism of the stacker 24 is not limited to an electric type. The spring type moving mechanism 100 shown in FIG. 17 may be used. The moving mechanism 100 shown in FIG. 17 includes a tension spring 101 that biases the stacker 24 upward. The tension spring 101 is attached in a suspended state by fixing one end (upper end) thereof to the upper wall (top plate) of the housing 12, and the other end (lower end) is fixed to the base of the stacker 24. The guide member 102 is fixed to the upper end. The guide member 102 is guided between the plurality of guide roller pairs 103 so as to be movable in the vertical direction Z. When there is no recording medium M1 on the receiving surface 24A, the stacker 24 is disposed at a position within a range that satisfies the condition that the drop distance Zd from the discharge port 28 to the receiving surface 24A is equal to or less than the set distance Zf. The stacker 24 descends against the upward biasing force of the tension spring 101 due to the weight of the stacker 24 and the loaded recording medium M1 as the medium loading amount increases. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the drop distance Zd that satisfies the condition of the set distance Zf or less while securing a large amount of medium that can be loaded on the stacker 24. Further, a recess 24 </ b> B into which at least a part of the edge guide 25 can be inserted when moving in a direction approaching the supply tray 23 is recessed in the lower surface of the stacker 24. When the edge guide 25 enters the escape portion 24B while the stacker 24 is lowered to the lower limit position, the stacker 24 and the edge guide 25 of the supply tray 23 overlap in the horizontal direction. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the stacker 24 is urged upward by the urging force of the tension spring 101. However, the stacker 24 is urged upward by the urging force of the compression spring, and the stacker 24 is responsive to the medium loading amount. It is good also as a structure which descend | falls with dead weight. Further, the urging portion that urges the stacker 24 upward may be a damper.

  The second detection unit replaces the second sensor 92 that detects the rising amount Zh of the hopper 27, and can detect the upper surface height of the medium M loaded on the supply tray 23 (see FIG. 18). It may be an example of a second detection unit. The second sensor 94 shown in FIG. 18 is assembled in a state where the second sensor 94 is disposed in a recess at the bottom of the stacker 24. The second sensor 94 is a non-contact sensor, and its detection area is directed to the upper surface of the medium M on the supply tray 23. The second sensor 94 includes a wave transmission unit (e.g., a light emitting unit) that emits a detection wave (e.g., detection light or sound wave including electromagnetic waves such as visible light or infrared rays) toward the upper surface of the medium M on the supply tray 23. And a wave receiving unit (for example, a light receiving unit) that detects a reflected wave (for example, reflected light) reflected by the upper surface of the medium M. The second sensor 94 detects a distance Zs from the bottom of the stacker 24 whose position is known by measurement to the upper surface of the medium M on the supply tray 23, and supplies the second sensor 94 based on the position of the stacker 24 and the detected distance Zs. The upper surface height of the medium M on the tray 23 is detected. A recess 24B into which at least a part of the edge guide 25 can be inserted when the stacker 24 moves in a direction approaching the supply tray 23 is also provided in the lower surface of the stacker 24 shown in FIG. When the edge guide 25 enters the escape portion 24B while the stacker 24 is lowered to the lower limit position, the stacker 24 and the edge guide 25 of the supply tray 23 overlap in the horizontal direction. The second sensor 94 is not limited to an optical sensor that detects light as a detection wave, but can acquire a detection value corresponding to the distance Zs to the upper surface of the medium M on the supply tray 23 except for sound waves, radio waves, and light. A non-contact sensor that uses the electromagnetic wave or the like as a detection wave may be used. Further, the second sensor 94 may be fixed to a position where the detection area can be set by directing the upper surface of the medium M on the supply tray 23 in the housing 12 instead of the bottom of the stacker 24.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the edge guide 25 may protrude through the stacker 24. That is, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the stacker 24 is formed with a through hole 24 </ b> C at a portion corresponding to the edge guide 25. As shown in FIG. 20, the through hole 24 </ b> C opens over a range in which the pair of edge guides 25 can move in the width direction X. As shown in FIG. 19, when the stacker 24 is lowered to the lower limit position, the pair of edge guides 25 penetrates the through hole 24 </ b> C and protrudes above the stacker 24. Here, as shown in FIG. 20, the upper portions of the pair of edge guides 25 are formed on slopes 25 </ b> B that expand outward in the width direction toward the upper side, and are portions of the pair of edge guides 25 that protrude upward from the stacker 24. The interval in the width direction X is slightly wider than the width of the recording medium M1 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Here, the width of the medium M on the supply tray 23 and the width of the recording medium M1 discharged onto the stacker 24 are basically the same. For this reason, it is unlikely that the alignment of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 is impaired by the protruding portions of the pair of edge guides 25. In addition, as long as the stacking amount on the stacker 24 is small, the recording medium M1 is guided in the width direction X by the protruding portions of the pair of edge guides 25, which contributes to improving the alignment of the recording medium M1 in the width direction X. According to this configuration, the lower limit position ZLo of the stacker 24 can be set further below the above-described embodiment, and more recording media M1 can be loaded on the stacker 24.

  -The relief part recessed in the part facing the supply tray 23 in the stacker 24 is not restricted to the structure which escapes the edge guide 25. FIG. For example, a configuration in which a part other than the edge guide 25 of the supply tray 23 is inserted or penetrated into the escape portion of the stacker 24 may be employed. For example, as shown in FIG. 21, when the inclination angle of the supply tray 23 is larger than that of the stacker 24, the stacker 24 is at the lower limit position, and the upstream end 23 </ b> B in the feeding direction Y of the supply tray 23 is ahead of the edge guide 25. It hits. A concave relief portion 24B into which the upstream end portion 23B of the supply tray 23 enters is formed at the bottom of the stacker 24. While the stacker 24 descends to the lower limit position in the direction approaching the supply tray 23, the upstream end portion 23B of the supply tray 23 enters the recessed relief portion 24B as shown in FIG. Overlapping horizontally. Even in this configuration, at least a part of the supply tray 23 other than the edge guide 25 enters the escape portion 24B, so that the stacker 24 can be lowered to a position overlapping with the supply tray 23 in the horizontal direction. 24 can secure a large load capacity of the recording medium M1. In FIG. 21, the escape portion 24B may be a through hole. In this case, at the lower limit position of the stacker 24, the upstream end portion 23B of the supply tray 23 that has entered the escape portion 24B may or may not protrude upward from the receiving surface 24A.

  The stacker 24 may be lowered at a constant speed during printing. Further, the descending speed of the stacker 24 may be changed according to the medium size or the printing mode. For example, when the first medium size is used, the stacker 24 is lowered at the first speed, and when the second medium size is larger than the first medium size, the stacker 24 is lowered at the second speed that is slower than the first speed. Let Further, for example, the stacker 24 is lowered at the first speed in the first printing mode, and the stacker 24 is moved from the first speed in the second printing mode in which the printing speed is lower than that in the first printing mode. Lower at a slow second speed. Note that the first print mode is a high-speed print mode such as a draft print mode, for example, and the second print mode is a high-definition print mode, for example. The high-definition print mode is a mode in which printing is performed at a higher resolution and lower speed than the high-speed print mode. Further, even when the medium size is the same, when the time interval discharged from the discharge port 28 differs according to the printing area, the lowering speed of the stacker 24 may be changed faster as the printing area is smaller.

  -The stacker 24 may be periodically lowered. For example, the stacker 24 may be lowered by a predetermined distance every time a predetermined time has elapsed. For example, every time a predetermined time within a range of 1 to 30 seconds elapses, the distance is lowered by a predetermined distance within a range of 0.1 to 3.0 mm.

  The stacker 24 may be lowered according to the recording amount. For example, the number of the recording medium M1 discharged from the discharge port 28 may be counted, and the stacker 24 may be lowered according to the number. In addition, the stacker 24 may not be lowered while the recording medium M1 is being discharged, and the lowering operation of the stacker 24 may be started when the recording medium M1 has been stacked on the stacker 24.

  The first sensor 91, which is an example of the first detection unit, is a distance sensor that can detect the distance to the receiving surface 24A of the stacker 24 or the upper surface of the recording medium M1, and the control unit 80 detects the distance of the distance sensor. Accordingly, the stacking amount of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24 may be acquired. In this case, the control unit 80 determines whether the loading height of the medium M1 on the stacker 24 has reached the set height based on the detection distance of the distance sensor. When the user removes a part or all of the recording medium bundle on the stacker 24, the control unit 80 detects that the recording medium M1 has been removed from the detection distance of the first sensor 91 including the distance sensor, and detects the detection distance. The stacker 24 is raised to the moving position Zst at which the fall distance Zd acquired from the above can be maintained below the set distance Zf. The first detection unit also detects the presence or absence of the recording medium M1 on the stacker 24, and the thickness and number of media according to the medium type discharged onto the stacker 24 after the sensor detects the absence of the medium. The load height may be estimated by calculation from the thickness and the number of sheets, and it may be determined whether or not the load height has reached a set height. Further, the first detection unit may be a contact sensor instead of a non-contact sensor such as an optical sensor or a distance sensor.

  In the above embodiment, the escape portion 24B of the stacker 24 may be replaced with a concave portion to form a through hole. In this case, as shown in FIG. 19, the edge guide 25 may not protrude above the receiving surface 24A.

  In the above embodiment, when the lower limit position ZL of the stacker 24 always coincides with the physical lower limit position ZLo, the third sensor 93 that detects the lower limit position ZLo includes the second detection unit and the third detection unit. It may also serve as.

  In the embodiment, the supply tray 23 (mounting unit) and the stacker 24 (receiving unit) are overlapped by 80% or more in the vertical direction Z in the recess 13, but all may be overlapped or less than 80%. The overlapping ratio of. In short, if the placement unit and the receiving unit overlap in the vertical direction Z, the installation space of the recording apparatus 11 can be relatively small in accordance with the amount of overlap between both.

  The set distance Zf that is the maximum value of the drop distance Zd may be changed according to the type of medium (medium type, medium size). For example, the first set distance Zf1 in the case of a first medium having a first thickness that is thin and has a first thickness that is easily affected by air resistance during dropping is a second thickness that is thicker than the first thickness. That is, it is set to be smaller than the second set distance Zf2 for the second medium which is not easily affected by the air resistance. In addition, for example, the first set distance Zf1 in the case of a first medium having a large medium size and a first medium size that is easily affected by air resistance during dropping is smaller than the first medium size and is not easily affected by air resistance. It is set smaller than the second set distance Zf2 for the second medium having the second medium size. Further, it is preferable to change the predetermined amount per time the stacker 24 is lowered according to the change of the set distance Zf. For example, the smaller the set distance Zf is, the smaller the predetermined amount per time the stacker 24 is lowered. Is preferred.

  -At least one of the mounting portion (supply tray 23) and the receiving portion (stacker 24) may partially protrude outwardly from at least one of the openings 131 and 132. For example, even if at least one of the placing portion and the receiving portion partially protrudes from the opening 131 on the front side, it is necessary to originally secure a space for the user to stand on the front side. Will not lead to an increase in the installation space. Further, for example, even if at least one of the placement portion and the receiving portion partially protrudes from the opening 132 on the side surface side, compared with a configuration in which at least one of the placement portion and the receiving portion protrudes almost entirely, the recording apparatus 11. The installation space can be kept relatively small.

  The opening of the recess 13 may be only one surface of the housing 12. For example, only the opening 131 on the front side of the housing 12, only the opening 132 on the side surface of the housing 12, or only the opening on the back side of the housing 12 may be used. Moreover, in the said embodiment, you may provide three opening by also opening the part of the back | inner side of the recessed part 13, and opening the three side surfaces of the housing | casing 12 at least partially for every surface. Furthermore, when the number of openings in the recesses is two, two openings are provided on the two sides of the housing 12, or two openings are provided on the front and back surfaces of the housing 12. Also good.

The moving mechanism of the stacker 24 is not limited to the belt driving method or the gear driving method, and may be a ball screw driving method, for example.
The direction in which the moving mechanism moves the stacker 24 up and down is not limited to the vertical direction Z, and may be any movement in a direction having a vertical direction component. That is, as long as the stacker 24 can be displaced up and down, the stacker 24 may move in an oblique direction intersecting with the vertical direction at an acute angle.

  The loading unit may be a manual feed unit (manual feed tray) that does not include a hopper and can feed the stacked media M one by one. Even if the placing portion is a manual feed portion, if the receiving portion and the placing portion overlap in the horizontal direction while the receiving portion is lowered to the lower limit, a large amount of medium can be secured in the receiving portion.

  A recording apparatus including a feeding unit that feeds a long medium from a roll body such as roll paper may be used. In this case, the long medium after printing is cut by the cutter unit for each predetermined length, then discharged from the discharge port 28, and stacked on the stacker 24. Since the stacker 24 can be lowered to the lower limit position that overlaps the supply tray 23 in the horizontal direction, a large amount of the recording medium M1 that can be stacked on the stacker 24 can be secured.

  The control unit 80 may be realized by the cooperation of software by a computer that executes a program and hardware such as an electronic circuit, may be realized by software alone, or may be realized by an ASIC (Application Specific IC) or the like The electronic circuit may be realized only by hardware.

The recording apparatus is not limited to an ink jet printer, and may be, for example, a dot impact printer, a thermal transfer printer, or an electrophotographic printer.
The recording apparatus is not limited to the serial recording method or the line recording method, but may be a lateral scanning method in which the recording head (carriage) can move in two directions, the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

  The recording apparatus is not limited to a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions including a printing function, and may be a recording apparatus having only a printing function. In this case, instead of the main body 31 of the image reading device 30, it is preferable to provide an extending portion that covers the upper portion of the stacker 24.

  The recording apparatus is not limited to a recording apparatus that prints an image or the like on a medium such as paper or film, but may be an industrial recording apparatus that is used for manufacturing electronic components or the like using a printing technique (inkjet technique). For example, an industrial recording apparatus that discharges a liquid material in which particles of a functional material are dispersed or mixed in a liquid or a fluid such as a gel may be used. As this type of industrial recording apparatus, for example, a material such as an electrode material or a color material (pixel material) used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display and a surface emitting display is dispersed or dissolved. And a liquid discharge apparatus for discharging a liquid material contained in the above. Further, the recording apparatus may be a three-dimensional ink jet printer that produces a three-dimensional structure by discharging a liquid such as a resin liquid. If a modeled object (an example of a recording medium) formed on a base sheet (an example of a medium) for modeling a three-dimensional modeled object is flat, the flat modeled object is stacked on a receiving part (stacker) You may receive it.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Recording device (multifunction machine), 12 ... Housing | casing, 13 ... Recessed part, 131 ... 1st opening, 132 ... 2nd opening, 16 ... Display part, 21 ... Printing function part, 22 ... Cassette, 23 ... Mounting part As an example, a supply tray, 23A... Placement surface, 24... Stacker (discharge stacker) as an example of a receiving portion, 24A... Receiving surface, 24B .. Escape portion, 25. Hopper, 28 ... discharge port, 30 ... image reading device, 40 ... first feeding unit, 41 ... pickup roller, 42 ... separation mechanism, 43 ... feeding roller, 44 ... retard roller, 45 ... second feeding unit, 46 ... pickup roller, 47 ... separation mechanism, 48 ... feeding roller, 49 ... retard roller, 50 ... printing mechanism, 51 ... transport section, 52 ... transport path, 53 ... roller pair, 54 ... recording section, 55 ... support base 5 ... transport roller pair (roller pair), 57 ... discharge roller pair, 60 ... moving mechanism, 61 ... belt type drive mechanism, 62 ... electric motor, 65 ... timing belt, 71 ... gear type drive mechanism, 72 ... rack and pinion, 73 ... Rack, 74 ... Pinion, 80 ... Control part, 81 ... Computer constituting an example of the second detection part, 82 ... Counter, 83 ... Memory, 84 ... Feeding motor, 85 ... Conveyance motor, 86 ... Encoder, 91 ... a first sensor as an example of the first detector, 92 ... a second sensor constituting an example of the second detector, 93 ... a third sensor as an example of the third detector, 94 ... an example of the second detector As a fourth sensor, 100... Moving mechanism, PA1... Projection area of the receiving surface as an example of the projection area of the receiving portion with respect to the placement unit, PA2. Projection area of the placement surface as an example of the projection area of the placement section, PA3... Projection area of the reception surface as an example of the projection area of the reception section with respect to the scanner, TA ... Arrangement area of the supply tray, SA ... Arrangement of the scanner body Area, Zst ... moving position, Zd ... falling distance, Zf ... set distance as an example of setting value, ZL ... lower limit position, ZLo ... lower limit position, H1 ... first loading height, H2 ... second loading height, L1 ... first distance, L2 ... second distance, M ... medium, M1 ... recording medium as recorded medium, X ... width direction, Y ... feed direction (conveyance direction), -Y ... discharge direction, Z ... Vertical direction.

Claims (10)

A placement unit for placing the medium before recording;
A recording unit for recording on the medium supplied from the mounting unit;
A housing having a discharge port for discharging the recorded medium;
A receiving portion that is disposed above the placement portion and that receives the medium discharged from the discharge port;
The mounting portion and the receiving portion overlap in the vertical direction,
The receiving portion moves by changing a vertical distance from the discharge port to the receiving portion, and from the first distance that is the distance when the loaded height of the received medium is at the first loaded height. Also, when the second distance, which is the distance when the second loading height is higher than the first loading height, is moved to a position where the distance is longer and the receiving portion is lowered to the lower limit, A recording apparatus comprising a relief portion into which a part of the portion enters. A placement unit for placing the medium before recording;
A recording unit for recording on the medium supplied from the mounting unit;
A housing having a discharge port for discharging the recorded medium;
A receiving portion that is disposed above the placement portion and that receives the medium discharged from the discharge port;
The mounting portion and the receiving portion overlap in the vertical direction,
The receiving portion moves while maintaining a falling distance of the medium falling from the discharge port toward the receiving portion within a predetermined range shorter than a moving range in the vertical direction of the receiving portion, and the receiving portion A recording apparatus comprising: a relief portion into which a part of the placement portion enters while the lowering portion is lowered to a lower limit. The placement unit includes an edge guide capable of positioning the placed medium in the width direction,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the edge guide enters the escape portion while the receiving portion is lowered to a lower limit. A medium storage unit for storing a medium before being supplied to the recording unit;
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium storage unit, the placement unit, and the receiving unit overlap in a vertical direction. A moving mechanism for moving the receiving portion up and down;
A control unit that drives the moving mechanism to control the moving position of the receiving unit;
The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls a movement position of the receiving unit based on a loading amount of the medium on the receiving unit. A detection unit for detecting a load amount of the medium on the receiving unit;
The control unit controls a moving position of the receiving unit while maintaining a fall distance to the upper surface of the medium on the receiving unit below a set value according to a detection result of the detecting unit. The recording apparatus according to claim 5. In the case where the detection unit is a first detection unit, a second detection unit that detects a lower limit position of the receiving unit determined from a positional relationship between the receiving unit and the mounting unit or the medium on the mounting unit is further provided. ,
The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit moves the receiving unit within a range equal to or higher than a lower limit position detected by the second detection unit. The second detection unit detects a load amount of the medium on the placement unit,
The said control part moves the said receiving part in the range beyond the lower limit position according to the loading amount of the said medium on the said mounting part detected by the said 2nd detection part. Recording device. A display unit;
The control unit, when the receiving unit has reached a lower limit position, the loading amount of the medium detected by the detection unit is a loading amount that prohibits the discharge of the medium from the discharge port, 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein instruction information for prompting removal of the medium on the receiving unit is displayed on the display unit. A third detector for detecting the receiving portion at the lower limit position;
The control unit lowers the receiving unit until the third detecting unit detects the receiving unit when there is no medium on the mounting unit, and sets the lower limit position of the receiving unit. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein: