JP6690260B2 - Image recorder - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus in which a sub unit is attached to a frame and a guide rail, and an image is formed by a recording head mounted on a carriage that moves along the guide rail.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image recording apparatus that records an image using a recording head mounted on a carriage that moves along a guide rail. Some image recording apparatuses are provided with a sub-unit such as a maintenance unit for performing maintenance of the recording head such as purging. Further, there is also known an image recording apparatus having a switching mechanism for switching and transmitting a driving force from a driving source such as a motor to a plurality of driving portions such as a conveyance roller and a pump. The switching mechanism has a lever that protrudes from the surface of the guide rail through a through hole formed in the guide rail, and the position of the switching gear moves in conjunction with the movement of the lever position due to the contact of the carriage. By doing so, the transmission gear that meshes with the switching gear is determined, and the driving force is transmitted to the desired drive unit (Patent Document 1).

JP, 2009-34832, A

  The maintenance unit and the switching mechanism are configured as subunits and may be attached to the frame and the guide rail. For example, in the maintenance unit, the sub unit is removed from the frame and the guide rail in order to replace the ink absorber holding the waste ink and to eliminate the malfunction of the switching mechanism. If you try to remove the subunit from the frame without removing the frame from the device housing, the space for moving the subunit to remove it is limited due to the relationship with the device housing and other members. There are many. In addition, the direction in which the lever of the switching mechanism is pulled out from the through hole of the guide rail may not necessarily match the direction in which the subunit is moved to be removed.

  On the other hand, when the guide rail is removed from the frame, the lever of the switching mechanism and the guide rail do not interfere with each other, and because the guide rail is removed, the space for moving the subunit expands. It becomes easy to remove from. However, when the guide rail is removed from the frame, the positional relationship between the guide rail and the frame is different from the positional relationship before the removal when the guide rail and the frame are assembled again. There are many. Since the frame is a member that serves as a reference for arranging the platen, the transport roller, etc., if the positional relationship between the guide rail and the frame is different, the positional relationship between the platen, the transport roller, etc. and the carriage that moves based on the guide rail is also different. As a result, for example, the positional relationship between the recording head and the sheet, that is, the head gap is different. Then, it becomes necessary to readjust the timing of ejecting ink droplets from the recording head to the sheet.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide means for easily removing a subunit from a guide rail and a frame without removing the guide rail from the frame. is there.

  (1) An image recording apparatus according to the present invention has a frame and a supporting surface, and is supported by a guide rail assembled to the frame and a supporting surface of the guide rail, and the guide rail extends. A carriage movable along the first direction, a recording head mounted on the carriage, a sub-frame, and a sub-unit assembled at least on the guide rail are provided. The subunit has a lever whose position can be switched by contact with the carriage, and is attached to the guide rail in a state where the lever is inserted into a through hole formed in the guide rail. . The posture of the lever can be changed by coming into contact with the peripheral edge portion defining the through hole in the detaching operation in which the subunit is detached from the guide rail.

  Since the attitude of the lever changes when the subunit is removed from the guide rail, the direction in which the subunit is removed is not limited to the direction in which the lever is pulled out from the through hole of the guide rail. As a result, the subunit can be removed while the guide rail remains assembled to the frame.

  (2) Preferably, the subunit has a support shaft that movably supports the lever in the axial direction, and a slide gear that is supported by the support shaft so as to be movable in the axial direction, The lever rotates around the support shaft in the detaching operation.

  According to the above configuration, the lever can change its posture while the pivotal center of the lever and the support shaft are held coaxially, so that the change of the posture of the lever hinders the rotation of the lever and the movement along the support shaft. Hardly affected.

  (3) Preferably, the subunit is a holding member extending along the support shaft and having a slit through which the lever is inserted, and an abutting portion capable of abutting the tip of the lever. The lever guide has a fitting portion that fits with the holding member, and the holding member has the fitting portion fitted with the fitting portion. It does not rotate about the support shaft, but can rotate about the support shaft in a state where the fitting with the fitting portion is released.

  In the state where the fitting portion of the lever guide is fitted to the holding member, the movement of the lever is limited to the slit of the holding member, so that the posture change of the lever is suppressed to a range not necessary for drive switching. .

  (4) Preferably, the frame has a support plate portion that intersects with a support surface of the guide rail, and the support plate portion has a long hole that is long in a second direction orthogonal to the support surface of the guide rail. The support shaft is inserted into the elongated hole of the support plate portion.

  Since the support shaft can move in the second direction within the range of the elongated hole, the sub unit can be removed from the guide rail while changing the posture of the sub unit within the range where the support shaft can move.

  (5) Preferably, the frame supports a first conveyance roller that conveys a sheet, and the first conveyance roller has a transmission gear that meshes with the slide gear and rotates coaxially.

  According to the above configuration, the positional relationship between the transmission gear and the slide gear is maintained.

  (6) Preferably, the sub unit has a sub frame that is assembled to at least the guide rail, and the image recording device includes a feeding roller, a first bearing supported by the sub frame, and And a feeding drive shaft that transmits a driving force to the feeding roller and is expandable / contractible in the axial direction and supported by the first bearing.

  According to the above configuration, the feeding drive shaft is contracted before the subunit is removed from the guide rail, so that the feeding drive shaft is removed from the first bearing.

  (7) Preferably, the image recording apparatus is supported by the second bearing supported by the sub-frame and the second bearing that transmits a driving force to the second transport roller and is expandable and contractable in the axial direction. And a linking member for linking the expansion and contraction of the feeding drive shaft with the expansion and contraction of the transfer drive shaft.

  According to the above configuration, the transport drive shaft is contracted before the subunit is removed from the guide rail, so that the transport drive shaft is removed from the second bearing. Further, by operating the interlocking member, both the feeding drive shaft and the transport drive shaft are expanded and contracted.

  (8) Preferably, the image recording apparatus includes a motor supported by the sub-frame, a first drive transmission mechanism supported by the sub-frame, for transmitting drive from the motor to the slide gear, A second drive transmission mechanism that is supported by the sub-frame and that transmits drive from the slide gear to the feeding drive shaft is further provided.

  According to the above configuration, when the subunit is removed from the guide rail, the motor, the first drive transmission mechanism, and the second drive transmission mechanism are integrally removed, so that the drive state from the motor to the feeding drive shaft is inspected. Easy to do. Further, since the motor, the first drive transmission mechanism, and the second drive transmission mechanism are supported by the sub-frame, the precision of the gear pitch is increased, and the noise is reduced.

  (9) Preferably, the guide rail has a first positioning hole that is long in the first direction, and a circular second positioning hole that is arranged apart from the first positioning hole in the first direction. The sub-frame has a first convex portion inserted in the first positioning hole and a second convex portion inserted in the second positioning hole, and the first positioning hole is It is closer to the support plate portion than the second positioning hole.

  According to the above configuration, the second positioning hole, which is more distant from the support plate and easily disengages the second protrusion, is formed into a circular shape, and the first direction and the third direction orthogonal to the first direction and along the surface of the flat plate part The sub-frame is positioned relative to the guide plate, and the first positioning hole close to the support plate portion is elongated in the first direction to position the sub-frame only in the third direction. And the second protrusion is disengaged from the second positioning hole when the subunit is removed from the guide rail while being positioned in the third direction, the first protrusion can move in the first direction in the first positioning hole. Becomes

  (10) Preferably, the subunit has at least a first gear and a second gear, and the slide gear is moved in conjunction with the lever to move the first gear or the second gear. Selectively engage with gear.

  (11) Preferably, the subunit includes a cap capable of covering the nozzle surface of the recording head, and a suction pressure for sucking liquid from the recording head in a state where the cap covers the nozzle surface. And a pump for generating.

  (12) Preferably, the image recording apparatus further includes a platen supported by the frame and facing the recording head.

  (13) Preferably, the image recording device further includes a housing that supports the frame.

  According to the present invention, the subunit can be easily removed from the guide rail without removing the guide rail from the frame.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the carriage 23, the frame 45, the guide rails 43 and 44, the subunit 50, the lower cover 33, and the like. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the frame 45, the sub-frame 46, the lower cover 33 and the like. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the frame 45, the side portions 49A and 49B, the transport roller 60, the discharge roller 62, and the reversing roller 64. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the subunit 50. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the first transmission unit 181, the third transmission unit 183, the fourth transmission unit 184, and the switching mechanism 170. 8A is a schematic diagram of the second transmission unit 182, the fifth transmission unit 185, and the switching mechanism 170, and FIG. 8B is the second transmission unit 182, the sixth transmission unit 186, and the switching mechanism. FIG. 8C is a schematic diagram of the mechanism 170, and FIG. 8C is a schematic diagram of the second transmission unit 182, the seventh transmission unit 187, and the switching mechanism 170. FIG. 9 is a perspective view around the switching mechanism 170 and the transport roller 60. FIG. 10 is a right side view of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the periphery of the switching mechanism 170 when the slide gear 160 is located at the left position LP. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the periphery of the switching mechanism 170 when the slide gear 160 is located at the central position MP. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the periphery of the switching mechanism 170 when the slide gear 160 is located at the right position RP. FIG. 14 is a perspective view around the subunit 50, the holding member 173, and the lever guide 176. FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of FIG. 14 with the feeding frame 108 removed. FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view around the feeding drive shaft 94 and the transport drive shaft 95. FIG. 17 is a perspective view around the frame 45, the guide rails 43 and 44, and the subunit 50. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lever guide 176 is removed around the frame 45, the guide rails 43 and 44, and the subunit 50. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a process in which the subunit 50 is tilted and removed around the frame 45, the guide rails 43 and 44, and the subunit 50.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention. Further, in the following description, the progress from the starting point of the arrow toward the ending point is expressed as “direction”, and the traffic on the line connecting the starting point and the ending point of the arrow is expressed as “direction”. Further, in the following description, the up-down direction 7 is defined with reference to the state where the multi-function device 10 is installed so as to be usable (state of FIG. 1), and the front-rear direction 8 is defined with the surface having the opening 13 as the front surface. Then, the left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction peripheral 10 is viewed from the front.

[Overall Configuration of Multifunction Device 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-function device 10 (an example of an image recording device) is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The multi-function device 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. The multi-function device 10 has a printer unit 11 at the bottom for recording an image on one side of a paper 12 (see FIG. 2) by an inkjet recording method. The printer unit 11 may record images on both sides of the paper 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 11 includes a first feeding unit 15, a second feeding unit 34, a feeding tray 20, and a multipurpose (abbreviation of Multi Purpose, hereinafter referred to as “MP”). A tray 31 is provided, a recording unit 24 that records an image on the paper 12, and a platen 42 that supports the paper 12. The printer unit 11 also includes a feed motor 101 (see FIG. 4, an example of a motor), a carry motor 102 (see FIG. 9), and a subunit 50 (see FIG. 3).

[Feed tray 20, discharge tray 21, MP tray 31]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the feeding tray 20 is inserted and removed in the front-rear direction 8 through an opening 13 formed in the front surface of the printer unit 11. The feeding tray 20 supports a plurality of stacked sheets 12. The discharge tray 21 is located above the feed tray 20. The discharge tray 21 supports the paper 12 discharged by the discharge roller unit 55 through the opening 13. The MP tray 31 is configured to incline obliquely upward from the back surface of the printer unit 11 toward the rear. The MP tray 31 supports the plurality of stacked sheets 12.

[First Feeding Unit 15, Second Feeding Unit 34]
As shown in FIG. 2, the first feeding unit 15 includes a first feeding roller 25 (an example of a feeding roller), a feeding arm 26, and a shaft 27. The first feeding roller 25 is rotatably supported on the leading end side of the feeding arm 26. The first feeding roller 25 rotates in the reverse direction of the feeding motor 101 (see FIG. 4) to convey the sheet 12 supported by the feeding tray 20 in a conveyance direction 16 toward a conveyance path 65 described later (that is, , Forward rotation). The transmission of the driving force from the feeding motor 101 to the first feeding roller 25 will be described later in detail. The feeding arm 26 is rotatably supported by a shaft 27 supported by the frame of the printer unit 11.

  The second feeding unit 34 feeds the uppermost sheet 12 stacked on the MP tray 31 toward the transport path 65. The second feeding roller 35, the feeding arm 36, and the shaft 37 that configure the second feeding unit 34 are substantially common to the respective constituent elements of the first feeding unit 15. The second feeding unit 34 also includes a lifter 38 rotatably supported by a shaft 35A of the second feeding roller 35. The lifter 38 is indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2, and is in a non-feeding position in contact with the MP tray 31 (the sheet when the MP tray 31 supports the sheet), and is indicated by a solid line in FIG. It rotates between the MP tray 31 (the sheet when the sheet is supported by the MP tray 31) and the feeding position separated from it. Further, the rotating tip of the lifter 38 is located outside the outer peripheral surface of the second feeding roller 35. As a result, the lifter 38 at the non-feeding position separates the second feeding roller 35 from the paper 12 on the MP tray 31. On the other hand, the lifter 38 at the feeding position brings the second feeding roller 35 into contact with the paper 12 on the MP tray 31.

  The lifter 38 is rotated from the feeding position to the non-feeding position by the forward rotation of the feeding motor 101 (see FIG. 9). On the other hand, the lifter 38 is rotated from the non-feeding position to the feeding position by the reverse rotation of the feeding motor 101. The second feeding roller 35 rotates in a direction in which the sheet 12 supported by the MP tray 31 is conveyed in the first conveying direction 16A (that is, forward rotation) by the reverse rotation of the feeding motor 101. The transmission of the driving force from the feeding motor 101 to the lifter 38 and the second feeding roller 35 will be described in detail later.

[First Transport Path 65, Second Transport Path 66]
As shown in FIG. 2, a first transport path 65 and a second transport path 66 through which the paper 12 passes are formed inside the printer unit 11. The first transport path 65 refers to a space defined by the guide members 18 and 19 facing each other inside the printer unit 11 with a predetermined gap. The first transport direction 16A of the paper 12 in the first transport path 65 is shown by the dashed-dotted arrow in FIG.

  The first transport path 65 according to the present embodiment includes a curved transport path that is curved and a linear transport path that extends linearly. The curved conveyance path is a path that makes a U-turn while extending upward from below on the rear side of the printer unit 11. The straight transport path is a path from the transport roller section 54 to the discharge tray 21 via the recording section 24. Further, the discharge roller portion 55 and the reversing roller portion 56 according to the present embodiment are arranged in the straight conveyance path of the first conveyance path 65.

  The second conveyance path 66 refers to a space defined by the guide members 29 and 30 facing each other with a predetermined distance inside the printer unit 11. The second conveyance path 66 is a path for reversing the front and back of the sheet 12 on which the image is recorded by the recording section 24 and reaching the conveyance roller section 54 again. The second transport path 66 according to the present embodiment branches from the first transport path 65 at the first position 66A and merges with the first transport path 65 at the second position 66B. The first position 66A is located between the discharge roller unit 55 and the reversing roller unit 56 in the first transport direction 16A. The second position 66B is located upstream of the transport roller unit 54 in the first transport direction 16A in the first transport direction 16A. The second conveyance direction 16B of the paper 12 in the second conveyance path 66 is indicated by a two-dot chain line arrow in FIG.

[Conveying roller unit 54]
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport roller unit 54 is arranged upstream of the recording unit 24 in the first transport direction 16A. The transport roller unit 54 includes a transport roller 60 (an example of a first transport roller) and a pinch roller 61 that face each other. The carry roller 60 is driven by the carry motor 102. The pinch roller 61 follows along with the rotation of the transport roller 60. The transport roller unit 54 rotates in the normal direction when the forward rotation driving force of the transport motor 102 is transmitted. The forward rotation is a rotation in the direction in which the nipped paper 12 is conveyed in the first conveyance direction 16A. That is, the transport roller 60 transports the paper 12 by rotating in contact with the paper 12 on the transport path 65. Further, the conveyance roller unit 54 is capable of reverse rotation in the opposite direction to the normal rotation by transmitting the reverse rotation driving force of the conveyance motor 102.

[Discharge roller unit 55]
As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge roller unit 55 is arranged downstream of the recording unit 24 in the first transport direction 16A. The discharge roller unit 55 includes a discharge roller 62 and a spur 63 that face each other. The discharge roller 62 is driven by the carry motor 102. The spur 63 follows along with the rotation of the discharge roller 62. The discharge roller unit 55 is capable of normal rotation for conveying the nipped paper 12 in the first conveyance direction 16A by transmitting the normal rotation driving force of the conveyance motor 102. Further, the discharge roller portion 55 is capable of reverse rotation in the opposite direction to the forward rotation by transmitting the reverse rotation driving force of the transport motor 102.

[Reversing roller unit 56]
As shown in FIG. 2, the reversing roller unit 56 is arranged downstream of the first position 66A in the first transport direction 16A. The reversing roller unit 56 includes a reversing roller 64 and a spur 67 that face each other. The reversing roller 64 is driven by the carry motor 102. The spur 67 follows along with the rotation of the reversing roller 64. The reversing roller 64 is rotated in a direction in which the paper 12 sandwiched between the reversing roller 64 and the spur 67 is conveyed in the first conveyance direction 16A by the transmission of the normal rotation driving force of the conveyance motor 102. Further, the reversing roller 64 is rotated in the rotational direction in which the paper 12 sandwiched between the reversing roller 64 and the spur 67 is conveyed in the second conveying direction 16B by the transmission of the reverse driving force of the conveying motor 102.

[Re-conveying roller unit 57]
As shown in FIG. 2, the re-conveyance roller unit 57 is arranged in the second conveyance path 66 between the first position 66A and the second position 66B. The re-conveyance roller unit 57 includes a re-conveyance roller 68 (an example of a second conveyance roller) and a driven roller 69 that face each other. The re-conveying roller 68 is rotatably supported by the arm 28. The re-conveying roller 68 is driven by the feeding motor 101. The driven roller 69 is rotated along with the rotation of the re-conveyance roller 68. The re-conveyance roller 68 receives the one of the forward rotation driving force and the reverse rotation driving force of the feeding motor 101, so that the sheet 12 sandwiched between the re-conveying roller 68 and the driven roller 69 is conveyed in the second conveying direction 16B. Rotate.

[flame]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the multi-function device 10 includes a lower cover 33 that constitutes a lower portion of a housing 51 (see FIG. 1), a frame 45, guide rails 43 and 44, and a subunit 50. With. The lower cover 33 is a molded product made of synthetic resin that forms the bottom surface of the housing 51, the opening 13, and the like. The frame 45 is formed by punching and bending a flat metal plate, and is supported at a predetermined position on the lower cover 33.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the frame 45 includes a base portion 47 having front and back surfaces that extend in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9, and side portions 48A and 48B that stand up from both ends of the base portion 47 in the left-right direction 9, respectively. (An example of a support plate portion). Also, side portions 49A and 49B extending forward from the side portions 48A and 48B are connected to the frame 45. The side portions 49A and 49B are stamped and bent flat metal plates. The frame 45 and the side portions 49A and 49B are connected by screws.

  Each of the side portions 48A, 48B, 49A, 49B is formed with a U-shaped notch into which a bearing 58A, 58B, 58C can be fitted at a predetermined position. Bearings 58A, 58B and 58C are fitted into the notches of the side portions 48A, 48B, 49A and 49B, and a conveying roller 60, a discharge roller 62 and a reversing roller 64 are rotatably supported by the bearings 58A, 58B and 58C. ing. The transport roller 60, the discharge roller 62, and the reversing roller 64, which are supported by the side portions 48A, 48B, 49A, and 49B, are held with their axes parallel to each other. In addition, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the side portions 49A and 49B are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the guide rails 43 and 44 are supported on the upper ends of the side portions 48A and 48B. Each of the guide rails 43 and 44 is formed by bending a flat metal plate that is long in the left-right direction 9. Although not shown in detail in each drawing, a plurality of protruding pieces protruding upward are formed at the upper ends of the side portions 48A, 48B, and the protruding pieces can be inserted into the guide rails 43, 44. A through hole is formed. By supporting the guide rails 43 and 44 on the upper end surfaces of the side portions 48A and 48B, the guide rails 43 and 44 are positioned in the up-down direction 7, and the projecting pieces of the side portions 48A and 48B are fixed to the guide rails 43 and 44. By being inserted into the through hole of 44, the guide rails 43 and 44 are positioned in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The upper surfaces 43A and 44A of the guide rails 43 and 44 are supporting surfaces that support the carriage 23. The direction in which the upper surfaces 43A, 44B and the side portions 48A, 48B stand upright, that is, the vertical direction 7 (an example of the second direction) is orthogonal.

[Recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 24 is located between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the first transport direction 16A. The recording unit 24 is arranged so as to face the platen 42 in the vertical direction 7. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 23 and a recording head 39.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 23 is supported by the upper surfaces 43A and 44A of the guide rails 43 and 44 that extend in the left-right direction 9 at positions spaced apart in the front-rear direction 8. The carriage 23 is connected to the belt mechanism 22 provided on the guide rail 44. The belt mechanism 22 is driven by the carriage motor 103. That is, the carriage 23 connected to the belt mechanism 22 that makes a circumferential movement by the drive of the carriage motor 103 reciprocates in the main scanning direction along the left-right direction 9 (an example of the first direction).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording head 39 is mounted on the carriage 23. A plurality of nozzles 40 are formed on the lower surface of the recording head 39. The recording head 39 ejects ink as minute ink droplets from the nozzle 40. In the process of moving the carriage 23, the recording head 39 ejects ink droplets onto the paper 12 which is conveyed by the conveying roller portion 54 and is supported by the platen 42. As a result, the image is recorded on the paper 12.

  Although not shown in each drawing, an ink tube and a flexible flat cable extend from the carriage 23. The ink tube supplies the ink in the ink cartridge to the recording head 39. The flexible flat cable electrically connects the control board and the recording head 39.

  The carriage 23 reciprocates in a range in which the recording head 39 can eject ink droplets on the paper 12 in the left-right direction 9 when recording an image on the paper 12. Specifically, the carriage 23 reciprocates in a range in which at least a part of the recording head 39 is directly above the first transport path 65 and the platen 42. Hereinafter, the range in which the carriage 23 reciprocates during image recording will be referred to as the print area.

  Further, the carriage 23 can move to the right of the print area. In other words, the carriage 23 can move outside the printing area. Hereinafter, the position of the carriage 23 that has moved to the right of the print area is referred to as a basic position. That is, the carriage 23 can move to the print area and the basic position. The basic position may be on the left side of the print area. The subunit 50 is located below the carriage 23 at the basic position.

[Platen 42]
The platen 42 is supported by the frame 45 and is located between the transport roller portion 54 and the discharge roller portion 55 in the first transport direction 16A as shown in FIG. The platen 42 faces the recording unit 24 in the up-down direction 7, and supports the sheet 12 conveyed by the conveying roller unit 54 from below.

[Maintenance mechanism 110 and cap 114]
The maintenance mechanism 110 shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 performs maintenance of the recording head 39. In the present embodiment, the maintenance mechanism 110 sucks ink from the nozzle 40 of the recording head 39 and sends the sucked ink to a waste ink tank (not shown) through a tube.

  The maintenance mechanism 110 is arranged below the movement path of the carriage 23 and to the right of the right end of the platen 42. That is, the maintenance mechanism 110 is arranged at a position deviated from the first transport path 65 in the left-right direction 9 and to the right of the printing area. The maintenance mechanism 110 is arranged directly below the carriage 23 at the basic position.

  The maintenance mechanism 110 includes a cap 111 (see FIG. 6) and a pump 113 (see FIG. 3) that sucks ink. Drive is transmitted from the feeding motor 101 to the cap 111, and the cap 111 can move in the up-down direction 7. The cap 111 covers the nozzles 40 on the lower surface of the recording head 39 by moving upward. When the cap 114 is moved upward, it comes into contact with the lower surface of the recording head 39 mounted on the carriage 23 at the basic position. At that time, the cap 114 covers the nozzle 40.

  The pump 113 is a rotary tube pump in this embodiment. Although not shown in the drawings, the pump 113 has a casing having an inner wall surface and a rolling roller that rolls along the inner wall surface. The pump 113 is driven by the carry motor 102.

[Driving force transmission mechanism 70]
The driving force transmission mechanism 70 is configured by combining all or part of a gear, a pulley, an endless annular belt, and the like. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the driving force transmission mechanism 70 includes a first transmission portion 181, a second transmission portion 182, a third transmission portion 183, a fourth transmission portion 184, a fifth transmission portion 185, and a sixth transmission portion 184. The transmission unit 186, the seventh transmission unit 187, and the switching mechanism 170 are provided. Note that the specific configuration (for example, the number of gears) of the driving force transmission mechanism 70 is not limited to that described below.

  The first transmission unit 181 transmits the driving force of the carry motor 102 to the carry roller 60 and the switching mechanism 170. The second transmission unit 182 transmits the driving force of the feeding motor 101 to the switching mechanism 170. The third transmission unit 183 transmits the driving force of the carry motor 102 from the carry roller 60 to the discharge roller 62 and the reversing roller 64. The fourth transmission unit 184 transmits the driving force of the carry motor 102 from the switching mechanism 170 to the pump 113. The fifth transmission unit 185 transmits the driving force of the feeding motor 101 from the switching mechanism 170 to the cap 111. The sixth transmission unit 186 transmits the driving force of the feeding motor 101 from the switching mechanism 170 to the first feeding roller 25 or the re-conveying roller 68. The seventh transmission unit 187 transmits the driving force of the feeding motor 101 from the switching mechanism 170 to the second feeding roller 35. The switching mechanism 170 switches the transmission destination of the driving force of the feeding motor 101 and the conveyance motor 102.

[First transmission section 181]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the first transmission unit 181 includes a pulley 71 that rotates integrally with the shaft of the conveyance motor 102, a pulley 72 that rotates integrally with the shaft 60A of the conveyance roller 60, and pulleys 71 and 72. And an endless annular belt 73 that is bridged. As a result, the forward rotation driving force of the transportation motor 102 is transmitted to the transportation roller 60, and the transportation roller 60 rotates normally, and the backward rotation driving force of the transportation motor 102 is transmitted to rotate the transportation roller 60 in the reverse direction. When the transport roller 60 rotates, the roller gear 180 (an example of a transmission gear) of the switching mechanism 170 that rotates integrally with the shaft 60A of the transport roller 60 rotates. As described above, the first transmission unit 181 transmits the driving force of the carry motor 102 to the carry roller 60 and the switching mechanism 170.

[Second Transmission Unit 182 (Example of First Drive Transmission Mechanism)]
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the second transmission portion 182 includes a pulley 79 that rotates integrally with the shaft of the feeding motor 101, a pulley 80, and an endless annular belt 82 that is bridged between the pulleys 79 and 80. And a gear 83 that rotates integrally with the shaft of the pulley 80, and a gear 84 that meshes with the gear 83. The gear 84 meshes with the second gear 192B of the second clutch gear 192 of the switching mechanism 170. As a result, the feeding motor 101 applies a driving force to the second clutch gear 192. Specifically, the second clutch gear 192 rotates in the forward direction by transmitting the forward drive force of the feed motor 101, and rotates in the reverse direction by transmitting the reverse drive force of the feed motor 101. As described above, the second transmission unit 182 transmits the driving force of the feeding motor 101 to the switching mechanism 170.

[Third transmission portion 183]
As shown in FIG. 7, the third transmission portion 183 includes gears 75 and 76 meshing with each other, pulleys 77 and 78, and an endless annular belt 81. The gear 75 meshes with the gear 76 and rotates integrally with the shaft 60A of the transport roller 60. The gear 76 and the pulley 77 rotate coaxially and integrally. The pulley 78 is attached to the shaft 62A of the discharge roller 62 and rotates integrally. The belt 81 is stretched around the pulleys 77 and 78. As a result, the discharge roller 62 is rotated in the normal direction by transmitting the forward drive force of the carry motor 102, and is rotated in the reverse direction by transmitting the reverse drive force of the carry motor 102.

  The third transmission portion 183 also includes pulleys 105 and 106 and an endless annular belt 107. The pulley 105 rotates integrally with the shaft 62A of the discharge roller 62. The pulley 106 is attached to the shaft 64A of the reversing roller 64 and integrally rotates. The belt 107 is stretched around the pulleys 105 and 106. As a result, the reversing roller 64 is normally rotated by the forward rotation driving force of the carry motor 102 being transmitted, and is reversely rotated by the reverse rotation driving force of the carry motor 102 being transmitted. As described above, the third transmission unit 183 transmits the driving force of the carry motor 102 from the carry roller 60 to the discharge roller 62 and the reversing roller 64.

[Fourth transmission portion 184]
As shown in FIG. 7, the fourth transmission portion 184 includes a gear 85 that meshes with the second gear 191B of the first clutch gear 191 of the switching mechanism 170, a gear 85 that meshes with the gear 85, and a rolling roller of the pump 113. And a gear 86 that rotates integrally with the shaft of the. As a result, the pump 113 is driven by the driving force transmitted from the second gear 191B of the first clutch gear 191. Further, the second gear 191B is transmitted with the driving force from the transport motor 102 via the roller gear 180, the first slide gear 160A, and the first gear 191A of the first clutch gear 191. More specifically, the roller gear 180 meshes with the first slide gear 160A. The first slide gear 160A can mesh with the first gear 191A. The second gear 191B can rotate integrally with the first gear 191A. The details of the first slide gear 160A and the first clutch gear 191 will be described later. As described above, the fourth transmission unit 184 transmits the driving force of the carry motor 102 from the switching mechanism 170 to the pump 113.

[Fifth transmission portion 185]
As shown in FIG. 8A, the fifth transmission portion 185 is provided on a gear 87 that meshes with the receiving gear 165 of the switching mechanism 170 and a cam mechanism (not shown) that is connected to the cap 111. It has a gear 87 and a gear 88 that meshes with the gear 87. The receiving gear 165 receives the driving force from the feeding motor 101 via the second clutch gear 192 and the second slide gear 160B. More specifically, the first gear 192A of the second clutch gear 192 can rotate integrally with the second gear 192B to which the driving force of the feeding motor 101 is transmitted by the second transmission portion 182. The first gear 192A meshes with the second slide gear 160B. The second slide gear 160B can mesh with the receiving gear 165. The details of the second slide gear 160B and the second clutch gear 192 will be described later. The rotation of the gear 88 drives the cam mechanism, and the cap 111 connected to the cam mechanism moves up and down. As described above, the fifth transmission unit 185 transmits the driving force of the feeding motor 101 (reverse driving force in this embodiment) from the switching mechanism 170 to the cam mechanism that drives the cap 111.

[Sixth transmission portion 186 (an example of a second drive transmission mechanism)]
As shown in FIG. 8B, the sixth transmission portion 186 is composed of gears 89 to 92, a sun gear 98, a pendulum gear 99, and an arm 100.

  The gear 89 meshes with the receiving gear 167 of the switching mechanism 170. Note that the receiving gear 167 receives a driving force from the feeding motor 101 via the second clutch gear 192 and the second slide gear 160B, similarly to the above-described receiving gear 165. The sun gear 98 rotates integrally with the gear 89 coaxially. The pendulum gear 99 meshes with the sun gear 98 and contacts and separates from the gear 90 or the gear 92. The arm 100 has one end rotatably supported by the sun gear 98 and the other end rotatably and revolvably supporting the pendulum gear 99. The gear 90 meshes with the gear 91. The gear 91 is a part of the bearing 96 (an example of a first bearing), and rotates integrally with the feed drive shaft 94 supported by the bearing 96. The gear 92 is a part of the bearing 97 (an example of a second bearing), and rotates integrally with the transport drive shaft 95 supported by the bearing 97 coaxially.

  The pendulum gear 99 revolves around the sun gear 98 while rotating about its own axis when the sun gear 98 rotates. Then, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 8B, the pendulum gear 99 is separated from the gear 90 and meshes with the gear 92 by transmitting the forward rotation driving force of the feeding motor 101 to the sun gear 98. To do. As a result, the sixth transmission unit 186 transmits the normal rotation driving force of the feeding motor 101 to the re-conveyance roller 68 via the conveyance drive shaft 95.

  On the other hand, the pendulum gear 99 is separated from the gear 92 and meshes with the gear 90 by transmitting the reverse driving force of the feeding motor 101 to the sun gear 98, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 8B. . As a result, the sixth transmission unit 186 transmits the reverse driving force of the feeding motor 101 to the first feeding roller 25 via the feeding driving shaft 94. As described above, the sixth transmission unit 186 transmits the driving force of the feeding motor 101 from the switching mechanism 170 to the first feeding roller 25 or the re-conveying roller 68.

[Seventh transmission portion 187]
As shown in FIG. 8C, the seventh transmission portion 187 includes a gear 156 and a gear train 157. The gear train 157 includes a plurality of gears 157A to 157C in which adjacent gears mesh with each other.

  The gear 156 meshes with the receiving gear 166 of the switching mechanism 170. Note that the receiving gear 166 receives a driving force from the feeding motor 101 via the second clutch gear 192 and the second slide gear 160B, similarly to the above-described receiving gear 165. The gears 156 and 157A rotate integrally with the shaft 37. The gear 157C rotates integrally with the shaft 35A of the second feeding roller 35. A torque limiter is arranged between the shaft 35A of the second feeding roller 35 and the lifter 38. As a result, the lifter 38 does not rotate clockwise beyond the non-feeding position shown by the broken line in FIG. 8C, and moves counterclockwise beyond the feeding position shown by the solid line in FIG. 8C. Does not rotate around. In other words, the lifter 38 rotates between the feeding position and the non-feeding position.

  The seventh transmission unit 187 having the above configuration causes the second feed roller 35 to rotate in the reverse direction by the forward rotation driving force of the feed motor 101, and rotates the lifter 38 toward the non-feed position. As a result, the sheet 12 supported by the MP tray 31 is not fed to the transport path 65 by the forward rotation drive of the feeding motor 101. On the other hand, the seventh transmission portion 187 rotates the second feeding roller 35 in the forward direction by the reverse rotation driving force of the feeding motor 101 and rotates the lifter 38 toward the feeding position. As a result, the paper 12 supported on the MP tray 31 is fed to the transport path 65 by the reverse rotation of the feeding motor 101. As described above, the seventh transmission unit 187 transmits the driving force of the feeding motor 101 from the switching mechanism 170 to the second feeding roller 35.

[Switching mechanism 170]
The switching mechanism 170 can switch the driving force transmission state of the carry motor 102 and the feeding motor 101 to the first state, the second state, and the third state. The first state is a state in which the driving force of the carry motor 102 is transmitted to the pump 113 and the driving force of the feeding motor 101 is transmitted to the cap 111 via the cam mechanism. The second state is a state in which the driving force of the carry motor 102 is not transmitted to the pump 113, and the driving force of the feeding motor 101 is transmitted to the second feeding roller 35 and the lifter 38. The third state is a state in which the driving force of the carry motor 102 is not transmitted to the pump 113 and the driving force of the feeding motor 101 is transmitted to the first feeding roller 25.

  The switching mechanism 170 is provided on the right side of the platen 42. As shown in FIG. 9, the switching mechanism 170 includes a slide gear 160, a roller gear 180, three receiving gears 165, 166, 167 (an example of a first gear and a second gear), a slide mechanism 150, and a clutch. And a gear 190.

[Slide gear 160, roller gear 180, and receiving gears 165, 166, 167]
The slide gear 160 is supported by a support shaft 174 extending in the left-right direction 9, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIGS. 11 to 13. The slide gear 160 can rotate around a support shaft 174. Further, the slide gear 160 is located at the right position RP shown in FIG. 13, the left position of the right position RP shown in FIG. 13 along the left-right direction 9 which is the axial direction of the support shaft 174, and the central position MP shown in FIG. It is on the left side of the position MP and can move (slide) to the left position LP shown in FIG.

  The slide gear 160 includes a first slide gear 160A and a second slide gear 160B. Each of the slide gears 160A and 160B is rotatable about the support shaft 174 and is movable along the axial direction of the support shaft 174 (left-right direction 9).

  The second slide gear 160B is arranged to the left of the first slide gear 160A. The first slide gear 160A and the second slide gear 160B are arranged in contact with each other.

  The second slide gear 160B includes a gear main body 161 having teeth formed on the outer periphery thereof, and a convex portion 162 extending rightward from the gear main body 161 toward the first slide gear 160A. The diameter of the convex portion 162 is smaller than the diameter of the gear body 161. The protruding tip of the convex portion 162 and the first slide gear 160A are in contact with each other by the urging force of the first coil spring 168 and the second coil spring 169 described later. As a result, the tooth portion of the first slide gear 160A and the tooth portion of the second slide gear 160B (gear body 161) are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction 9.

  The first slide gear 160A meshes with the roller gear 180 regardless of whether the slide gear 160 is in the right position RP, the center position MP, or the left position LP. The roller gear 180 is fixed to the shaft 60A of the transport roller 60 at the right end of the transport roller 60. As a result, the roller gear 180 rotates integrally with the transport roller 60. As described above, the driving force of the carry motor 102 is transmitted to the first slide gear 160A via the roller gear 180.

  The first slide gear 160A meshes with or separates from the first gear 191A of the first clutch gear 191 of the clutch gear 190, depending on the position of the slide gear 160.

  The second slide gear 160B meshes with the first gear 192A of the second clutch gear 192 of the clutch gear 190 regardless of the position of the slide gear 160. That is, the second slide gear 160B meshes with the first gear 192A regardless of whether the slide gear 160 is in the right position RP, the center position MP, or the left position LP.

  The second slide gear 160B meshes with any of the three receiving gears 165, 166, 167 depending on the position of the slide gear 160. That is, each of the three receiving gears 165, 166, and 167 can mesh with the second slide gear 160B.

  The receiving gears 165, 166, 167 are arranged side by side along the left-right direction 9 at intervals. The receiving gear 166 is arranged to the left of the receiving gear 165. The receiving gear 167 is arranged on the left side of the receiving gear 166.

  The distance between the receiving gears 165 and 166 in the left-right direction 9 and the distance between the receiving gears 166 and 167 in the left-right direction 9 are longer than the axial length (the left-right direction 9) of the gear body 161 of the second slide gear 160B.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when the slide gear 160 is located at the right position RP, the first slide gear 160A meshes with the roller gear 180 and the first gear 191A of the first clutch gear 191. As a result, the driving force of the carry motor 102 is transmitted to the pump 113 via the first slide gear 160A and the first clutch gear 191 (see FIG. 7).

  When the slide gear 160 is located at the right position RP, the second slide gear 160B meshes with the first gear 192A of the second clutch gear 192 and the receiving gear 165. As a result, the driving force of the feeding motor 101 is transmitted to the cam mechanism that moves the cap 114 up and down via the second slide gear 160B and the receiving gear 165 (see FIG. 8A).

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the slide gear 160 is located at the left position LP or the central position MP, the first slide gear 160A meshes with the roller gear 180, but the first clutch gear 191 has It is separated from the 1st gear 191A. As a result, the driving force of the carry motor 102 is not transmitted to the first clutch gear 191.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the slide gear 160 is located at the center position MP, the second slide gear 160B meshes with the first gear 192A of the second clutch gear 192 and the receiving gear 166. As a result, the driving force of the feeding motor 101 is transmitted to the second feeding roller 35 and the lifter 38 via the second slide gear 160B and the receiving gear 166 (see FIG. 8C).

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the slide gear 160 is located at the left position LP, the second slide gear 160B meshes with the first gear 192A of the second clutch gear 192 and the receiving gear 167. As a result, the driving force of the feeding motor 101 is transmitted to the first feeding roller 25 via the second slide gear 160B and the receiving gear 167 (see FIG. 8B).

  Although three receiving gears are provided in the present embodiment, the number of receiving gears is not limited to three. The receiving gear includes at least a gear that transmits the driving force to the cam mechanism that moves the cap 111 up and down and a gear that transmits the driving force to the feeding roller (the first feeding roller 25 or the second feeding roller 35). Two or four or more may be provided, provided that they are provided. For example, when the multifunction machine 10 does not include the MP tray 31 and the second feeding roller 35, two receiving gears are provided. Further, for example, the multi-function device 10 includes two upper and lower feeding trays that are inserted and removed in the front-rear direction 8 through the opening 13, and feeding rollers are provided corresponding to the upper and lower feeding trays, respectively. In this case, four receiving gears are provided.

  Further, the slide gear 160 may be movable to a position other than the above-mentioned positions in addition to the above-mentioned positions (right position RP, center position MP, left position LP) depending on the number of receiving gears. .

[Slide mechanism 150]
As shown in FIG. 6, the slide mechanism 150 is a mechanism that moves the slide gear 160 in the left-right direction 9. The slide mechanism 150 includes a carriage 23 (see FIG. 3), a lever member 175 (see FIG. 6), a first coil spring 168 (see FIG. 6), a second coil spring 169 (see FIG. 6), and a holding member 173 (see FIG. 13) and a lever guide 176.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the lever member 175 is disposed on the right side of the first slide gear 160A, in contact with the first slide gear 160A.

  The lever member 175 includes a main body 175A that abuts on the first slide gear 160A, and a protrusion 175B that protrudes upward from the main body 175A. The support shaft 174 is inserted through the main body 175A. As a result, the main body 175A is supported by the support shaft 174 so as to be movable in the left-right direction 9 and rotatable. The protruding portion 175B extends to a moving area outside the printing area in the moving area of the carriage 23. As a result, the protruding portion 175B can be brought into contact with the carriage 23 moving to the right and pushed to the right.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the first coil spring 168 is arranged to the right of the lever member 175. The support shaft 174 is inserted through the first coil spring 168. One end of the first coil spring 168 is in contact with the lever member 175. The other end of the first coil spring 168 is in contact with the holding member 173. Thereby, the first coil spring 168 can bias the lever member 175 to the left.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the second coil spring 169 is arranged to the left of the second slide gear 160B. The support shaft 174 is inserted through the second coil spring 169. One end of the second coil spring 169 is in contact with the gear body 161 of the second slide gear 160B. The other end of the second coil spring 169 is in contact with the holding member 173. As a result, the second coil spring 169 can bias the second slide gear 160B rightward.

  The biasing force of the second coil spring 169 is smaller than the biasing force of the first coil spring 168. As a result, the slide gear 160 (the first slide gear 160A and the second slide gear 160B) and the lever member 175 are biased to the left.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the holding member 173 is arranged above the main body portion 175A of the lever member 175. The holding member 173 has a flat plate-shaped guide portion 173A in which an opening 177 (an example of a slit) is formed, and side walls 173B extending downward from both ends of the guide portion 173A in the left-right direction 9. A through hole is formed in each side wall 173B, and a support shaft 174 is inserted into the through hole of the side wall 173B. Therefore, the holding member 173 is rotatable around the support shaft 174.

  The opening 177 of the guide portion 173A is located inside the opening 43B (see FIG. 18) formed in the upper surface 43A of the guide rail 43. The protrusion 175B of the lever member 175 is inserted into the opening 177 from below to above. A first stopper 178, a second stopper 179 provided to the right of the first stopper 178, and an inclined surface 172 provided to the right of the second stopper 179 are formed at the edge of the opening 177. Has been done.

  The guide portion 173A is formed with a screw hole 135 into which the screw 139 can be screwed. Further, the guide portion 173A is formed with a pair of through holes 136 to the left and right of the opening 177. The screw hole 135 and the through hole 136 are used for connection with a lever guide 176 described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 14, the lever guide 176 is located above the guide rail 43. As shown in FIG. 18, the lever guide 176 has a through hole 132 through which the screw 139 is inserted. Further, the lever guide 176 has a pair of pins 133 (an example of a fitting portion) that are separated in the left-right direction 9 and project from the lower surface. Each pin 133 is inserted into a through hole 134 formed around the opening 43B of the guide rail 43, and further fitted into a through hole 136 (see FIG. 6) of the holding member 173 located below the guide rail 43. . Further, the screw 139 inserted into the through hole 132 of the lever guide 176 is inserted into the through hole 137 formed around the opening 43B of the guide rail 43, and the screw hole 135 of the holding member 173 (see FIG. 6). Is screwed onto. As a result, the lever guide 176 is positioned in the left-right direction 9 and the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the guide rail 43, and the lever guide 176 and the holding member 173 are connected to each other with the guide rail 43 interposed therebetween. By connecting the lever guide 176 to the holding member 173, the holding member 173 rotatable around the support shaft 174 is held at a predetermined position. In other words, the rotation of the holding member 173 is restricted by connecting the lever guide 176. Note that the holding member 173 is omitted in FIG. 3, and the guide rail 43 is omitted in FIG. 14.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the lever guide 176 guides the tip of the protruding portion 175B of the lever member 175 above the opening 177 of the holding member 173. The lever guide 176 has a guide wall 176A extending downward between the first stopper 178 of the holding member 173 and the inclined surface 172. The guide wall 176A holds the protrusion 175B that moves from the right end of the inclined surface 172 to the left behind the first stopper 178 and the second stopper 179.

  Although not shown in detail in each figure, the first stopper 178 contacts the protrusion 175B in a state where the slide gear 160 is located at the left position LP. As a result, the lever member 175 is restricted from moving leftward from the left position LP by the biasing force of the first coil spring 168. On the other hand, the first stopper 178 does not regulate the movement of the lever member 175 to the right.

  The second stopper 179 engages with the protrusion 175B in a state where the slide gear 160 is located at the central position MP. This restricts the lever member 175 from moving leftward from the central position MP by the biasing force of the first coil spring 168. On the other hand, the second stopper 179 does not regulate the movement of the lever member 175 to the right.

  While the slide gear 160 is held at the left position LP (the protruding portion 175B is engaged with the first stopper 178), the protruding portion 175B is brought into contact with and pushed by the carriage 23 moving to the right. Then, the lever member 175 moves rightward against the biasing force of the first coil spring 168. At this time, the second slide gear 160B biased rightward by the second coil spring 169 moves rightward as the lever member 175 moves. The first slide gear 160A is pushed by the moving second slide gear 160B and moves to the right. The slide gear 160 is held at the center position MP by the protrusion 175B engaging with the second stopper 179.

  While the slide gear 160 is held at the center position MP (the protruding portion 175B is engaged with the second stopper 179), the protruding portion 175B is brought into contact with and pushed by the carriage 23 moving to the right. Then, the lever member 175 moves rightward against the biasing force of the first coil spring 168. At this time, the second slide gear 160B biased rightward by the second coil spring 169 moves rightward as the lever member 175 moves. The first slide gear 160A is pushed by the moving second slide gear 160B and moves to the right.

  At this time, the protrusion 175B moves rightward and rearward along the inclined surface 172. As a result, the lever member 175 rotates so that the protrusion 175B moves rearward, and the upper end of the protrusion 175B is positioned rearward of the guide wall 176A of the lever guide 176.

  When the protrusion 175B is located to the right of the second stopper 179, the slide gear 160 is held at the right position RP by the carriage 23 maintaining contact with the protrusion 175B. The position of the carriage 23 at this time is the basic position. That is, the slide gear 160 is held at the right position RP against the biasing force of the first coil spring 168 by the carriage 23 at the basic position coming into contact with the protrusion 175B.

  When the carriage 23 moves leftward and separates from the protruding portion 175B while the slide gear 160 is held at the right position RP, the lever member 175 moves leftward by the biasing force of the first coil spring 168. At this time, as described above, since the protruding portion 175B has moved rearward from the guide wall 176A of the lever guide 176, it is engaged with the second stopper 179 and the first stopper 178 by being guided by the guide wall 176A. Without adjusting, it moves to the left from the first stopper 178. At this time, the slide gear 160 is pushed by the lever member 175 and moves from the right position RP to the left position LP. That is, the slide gear 160 is moved to the left position LP by the biasing force of the first coil spring 168 as the carriage 23 is separated from the protrusion 175B.

  The protrusion 175B moves along the inclined surface 171 formed at the left end of the edge portion of the opening 177 when the lever member 175 moves leftward. As a result, the lever member 175 rotates so that the protruding portion 175B moves forward.

[Subunit 50]
As shown in FIG. 6, the driving force transmission mechanism 70, the feeding motor 101, the maintenance mechanism 110, the slide mechanism 150, and the switching mechanism 170 described above are configured as a sub-unit 50 that is integrally assembled. The subunit 50 is attachable to and detachable from the frame 45.

  The subunit 50 has a resin frame 41 and a subunit frame 46. The resin frame 41 supports the maintenance mechanism 110, the slide mechanism 150, and the switching mechanism 170, respectively. Pins 121 and 122 protruding leftward from the side surface of the resin frame 41 are inserted into the through holes 126A and 126B of the sub frame 46, and a plurality of screws 123 inserted into the through holes of the sub frame 46 are attached to the resin frame 41. The resin frame 41 is positioned and connected to the sub-frame 46 by being screwed. Further, the support shaft 174 of the switching mechanism 170 is positioned in the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8 by being inserted into the through hole 125 formed in the sub-frame 46.

  On the upper surface 41A of the resin frame 41, four pins 117 to 120 (an example of a first convex portion and a second convex portion) protruding upward and four screw holes 126 to 129 concave downward are formed. The pins 117 to 120 are arranged so as to be separated from each other in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The screw holes 126 to 129 are arranged so as to be separated in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The pins 117 to 120 and the screw holes 126 to 129 are for assembling the subunits to the guide rails 43 and 44.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 10, the sub-frame 46 is formed by punching and bending a single flat metal plate. The sub-frame 46 supports at least the shafts of the gears forming the second transmission portion 182 and the sixth transmission portion 186 of the driving force transmission mechanism 70 and the bearings 96, 97. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the shafts of the gear 83, the gear 84, and the second clutch gear 192 that form the second transmission portion 182 are supported by the subframe 46. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the respective axes of the gears 89 to 92, the sun gear 98, and the pendulum gear 99 which form the sixth transmission portion 186 are supported by the subframe 46. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, bearings 96 and 97 are supported by the subframe 46.

[Feeding drive shaft 94 and transport drive shaft 95]
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the bearing 96 supports a feeding drive shaft 94. Although not shown in the figure, the bearing 97 supports the transport drive shaft 95. The feeding drive shaft 94 extends leftward from the bearing 96 and reaches the feeding arm 26. The feeding arm 26 is provided with a gear train 32 that transmits the drive of the feeding drive shaft 94 to the first feeding roller 25. The transport drive shaft 95 extends to the left from the bearing 97 and reaches the arm 28 that supports the re-transport roller 68. The transport drive shaft 95 is provided with a gear that rotates integrally, and the gear meshes with a gear that rotates integrally with the re-transport roller 68. The feeding arm 26, the feeding drive shaft 94, and the transport driving shaft 95 are supported by the feeding frame 108, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the feeding drive shaft 94 has a first shaft 141 which is a shaft of one gear of the gear train 32, and a second shaft 142 which is supported by a bearing 96. The second shaft 142 is inserted in the first shaft 141 and is slidable in the axial direction. Therefore, the second shaft 142 slides in the axial direction with respect to the first shaft 141 so that the feeding drive shaft 94 expands and contracts in a state of being supported by the bearing 96 and in a state of being removed from the bearing 96. To do. Although not shown in detail in each drawing, the transport drive shaft 95 is also configured such that the first shaft 143 and the second shaft 144 are slidable in the axial direction similarly to the feed drive shaft 94. The transport drive shaft 95 expands and contracts in a state in which the bearing 143 is supported by the bearing 97 and a state in which it is removed from the bearing 97.

  As shown in FIG. 15, an interlocking member 140 connected to the first shaft 141 of the feeding drive shaft 94 and the first shaft 143 of the transport drive shaft 95 is provided. The interlocking member 140 is in contact with the first shaft 141 and the first shaft 143 in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction. When the sub-unit 50 is assembled or removed, the operator operates the interlocking member 140 so that the first shaft 141 of the feeding drive shaft 94 and the first shaft 143 of the transport drive shaft 95 are aligned with each other. It operates integrally in the direction along the direction (left-right direction 9).

[Assembling the frame 45 and the subunit 50]
As shown in FIG. 19, the side portion 48A of the frame 45 is provided with a long hole 138 below the guide rail 43 and having a dimension along the up-down direction 7 longer than a dimension along the front-rear direction 8. As shown in FIG. 17, a part of the support shaft 174 protruding leftward from the sub-frame 46 in the subunit 50 is inserted into the elongated hole 138. By inserting a part of the support shaft 174 into the elongated hole 138 of the side portion 48A, the support shaft 174 is positioned in the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the frame 45, and the vertical direction 7 corresponds to the length of the elongated hole 138. Movement is allowed. As a result, the subunit 50 is positioned in the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the side portion 48A of the frame 45.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the guide rail 43 has a positioning hole 145 (an example of a first positioning hole) formed at a position close to the side portion 48A, and a right side of the positioning hole 145 from the side portion 48A. Positioning holes 146 formed at distant positions are formed. The positioning hole 145 is an elongated hole whose dimension along the left-right direction 9 is longer than the dimension along the front-rear direction 8 (an example of the third direction). The positioning hole 146 has a circular shape. Among the pins 117 to 120 formed on the resin frame 41 of the subunit 50, the pin 117 located rearward and leftward (closer to the subframe 46) is inserted into the positioning hole 145. Of the pins 117 to 120 formed on the resin frame 41 of the subunit 50, the pin 118 located rearward and to the right (away from the subframe 46) is inserted into the positioning hole 146.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the guide rail 44 has a positioning hole 147 formed in a position close to the side portion 48A, and a positioning hole formed in a position on the right side of the positioning hole 147 and far from the side portion 48A. And 148 are formed. The positioning hole 147 is an elongated hole whose dimension along the front-rear direction 8 is longer than the dimension along the left-right direction 9. The positioning hole 148 is a long hole whose dimension along the left-right direction 9 is longer than the dimension along the front-rear direction 8. Among the pins 117 to 120 formed on the resin frame 41 of the subunit 50, the pin 119 located on the front and left side (closer to the sub frame 46) is inserted into the positioning hole 147. Among the pins 117 to 120 formed on the resin frame 41 of the subunit 50, the pin 120 located on the front side and on the right side (away from the sub frame 46) is inserted into the positioning hole 148.

  By inserting the pins 117 to 120 of the resin frame 41 into the corresponding positioning holes 145 to 148, respectively, the subunit 50 is positioned in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 with respect to the guide rails 43 and 44. Further, the upper surface 41A of the resin frame 41 is brought into contact with the lower surfaces of the guide rails 43 and 44, and the four screws 130 are inserted into the through holes 149 formed in the guide rails 43 and 44, respectively. The subunit 50 is positioned in the vertical direction 7 with respect to the guide rails 43 and 44 by being screwed into the screw holes 126 to 129. In this way, the subunit 50 is assembled to the frame 45.

[Removal of Sub-unit 50 from Frame 45]
In the subunit 50, the driving force transmission mechanism 70, the feeding motor 101, the maintenance mechanism 110, the slide mechanism 150, and the switching mechanism 170 are integrally assembled. Therefore, when the maintenance mechanism 110 is damaged or consumed, or the drive force transmission mechanism 70, the slide mechanism 150, and the switching mechanism 170 are damaged or consumed, only the subunit 50 can be detached from the multifunction machine 10. It is convenient.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the subunit 50 is assembled below the guide rails 43 and 44, and the lower cover 33 is located at a relatively close position below the subunit 50, the frame 45 is attached to the lower cover 33. The direction in which the subunit 50 is detached is limited in a state where is fixed, and in this embodiment, the subunit 50 is detached diagonally downward to the right and rear. Since the subunit 50 is positioned in the up-down direction 7, the front-rear direction 8, and the left-right direction 9 with respect to the frame 45, it is necessary to release the respective positioning sequentially.

  Specifically, first, as described above, the interlocking member 140 is operated to move the first shaft 141 of the feeding drive shaft 94 and the first shaft 143 of the transport drive shaft 95 from the bearings 96 and 97. Extract each. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 17, when the subunit 50 is assembled below the guide rails 43 and 44, as shown in FIG. 18, the lever guide 176 and the holding member 173 are connected. Remove the screw 139. As a result, the lever guide 176 can be removed upward from the guide rail 43. By disconnecting the lever guide 176 and the holding member 173 from each other, the holding member 173 becomes rotatable around the support shaft 174.

  Further, the four screws 130 connecting the guide rails 43 and 44 and the resin frame 41 are removed. As a result, the pins 117 to 120 of the resin frame 41 can be moved downward, but the support shaft 174 is in a state of being inserted into the elongated hole 138 of the side portion 48A of the frame 45. Therefore, the sub-frame 50 can move in the vertical direction 7 within a range in which the support shaft 174 can move with respect to the elongated hole 138. The subunit 50 is moved downward with respect to the frame 45 until the support shaft 174 comes into contact with the lower end of the elongated hole 138. In the subunit 50, the right side far from the side portion 48A of the frame 45 is set to the side portion 48A. Tilt the subunit 50 so that it is lowered from the near left side. The support shaft 174 cannot move downward from the lower end of the elongated hole 138, but the support shaft 174 can be rotated around the elongated hole 138 as a fulcrum so that the distal end far from the side portion 48A is lowered from the proximal end. Is possible. Due to such inclination of the subunit 50, the pins 118 and 120 of the resin frame 41 located far from the side portion 48A come out from the positioning holes 146 and 148 of the guide rails 43 and 44, respectively.

  By the removal work described above, the support shaft 174 of the frame 45 and the subunit 50 is inserted into the elongated hole 138 of the side portion 48A, and the pins 117 and 119 of the resin frame 41 are positioned into the positioning holes 147 of the guide rails 43 and 44. , 149. Further, the protruding portion 175B of the lever member 175 of the subunit 50 is in a state of being inserted into the opening 43B of the guide rail 43.

  Since the positioning holes 147 and 149 of the guide rails 43 and 44 are long holes in the left-right direction 9, as shown in FIG. 18, the subunit 174 is further tilted about the long hole 138 as described above as a fulcrum. By inclining 50, the pins 117 and 119 of the resin frame 41 located relatively close to the side portion 48A move downward while moving the positioning holes 147 and 148 in the left-right direction 9, and the positioning holes 147 and 147. Exit from each 148.

  As a result of the removal work described above, the support shaft 174 of the frame 45 and the subunit 50 is inserted into the elongated hole 138 of the side portion 48A, and the protruding portion 175B of the lever member 175 is inserted into the opening 43B of the guide rail 43. It will be inserted. From this state, as shown in FIG. 19, when the subunit 50 is moved rightward and rearward and obliquely downward, the support shaft 174 is pulled out from the elongated hole 138 of the side portion 48A.

  On the other hand, the protruding portion 175B of the lever member 175 protrudes upward from the upper surface 44A of the guide rail 43 to the extent that it can sufficiently come into contact with the carriage 23, so that the space between the subunit 50 and the lower cover 33 can move in the vertical direction 7. If the length along the length is shorter than the length of the protrusion 175B protruding from the upper surface 43A of the guide rail 43, the movement of the subunit 50 causes the protrusion 175B to contact the peripheral edge of the opening 43B of the guide rail 43. As described above, since the holding member 173 can be rotated around the support shaft 174 by removing the lever guide 176, as shown in FIG. 19, the projecting portion 175B has the protruding portion 175B at the peripheral portion of the opening 43B of the guide rail 43. When it comes into contact with, the lever member 175 and the holding member 173 rotate with respect to the support shaft 174 so as to fall forward. As a result, while rotating the lever member 175 and the holding member 173 around the support shaft 174, the subunit 50 can be removed from the frame 45 to the right and the rear, and obliquely downward.

[Operation and effect of this embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, when the subunit 50 is removed from the guide rails 43 and 44, the lever member 175 changes its posture. Therefore, the direction in which the subunit 50 is removed is from the opening 43B of the guide rail 43 to the lever member 175. Is not limited to the extraction direction. As a result, the subunit 50 can be removed with the guide rails 43 and 44 still attached to the frame 45.

  Further, since the lever member 175 is rotatable around the support shaft 174, the subunit 50 is removed while the rotation center of the lever member 175 and the support shaft 174 are held coaxially. Therefore, the posture change of the lever member 175 due to the removal of the subunit 50 is unlikely to affect the normal movement of the lever member 175 and the movement along the support shaft 174.

  Further, the holding member 173 does not rotate around the support shaft 174 when fitted with the pins 121 and 122 of the lever guide 176, and around the support shaft 174 when the fitting with the pins 121 and 122 is released. Since the movement of the lever member 175 is limited to the inside of the opening 177 of the holding member 173 when the lever guide 176 and the holding member 173 are connected to each other, the lever can be rotated to a range not necessary for drive switching. The change in posture of the member 175 is suppressed.

  Further, the support shaft 174 is inserted into the elongated hole 138 of the side portion 48A of the frame 45, and the support shaft 174 can move in the up-down direction 7 within the range of the elongated hole 138, so that the support shaft 174 can move. The subunit 50 can be removed from the guide rails 43 and 44 while changing the posture of the subunit 50.

  Further, since the transport roller 60 is supported by the frame 45 and the roller gear 180 meshing with the slide gear 160 is coaxially provided, the positional relationship between the roller gear 180 and the slide gear 160 is maintained.

  Further, since the feeding drive shaft 94 and the conveyance drive shaft 95 can expand and contract in the axial direction, the feeding drive shaft 94 and the conveyance drive shaft 95 are contracted before the subunit 50 is removed from the guide rails 43 and 44. , The bearings 96, 97 are removed. Further, by operating the interlocking member 140, the feeding drive shaft 94 and the transport drive shaft 95 are both expanded and contracted.

  Further, by removing the subunit 50 from the guide rails 43 and 44, the feeding motor 101, the second transmission portion 182, and the sixth transmission portion 186 can be integrally removed from the frame 45, so that the feeding motor 101 is fed. It is easy to inspect the drive state up to the drive shaft 94. Further, the feed motor 101, the second transmission portion 182, and the sixth transmission portion 186 are supported by the sub-frame 46, so that the accuracy of the gear pitch is increased and the noise is reduced.

  Further, the positioning hole 146, which is easily removed from the side portion 48A of the frame 45, has a circular positioning hole 146, and the subunit 50 is positioned in the left-right direction 9 and the front-rear direction 8, and the positioning hole 145 close to the side portion 48A is formed. Since it is elongated in the left-right direction 9 and positioned only in the front-rear direction 8, the sub-unit 50 is positioned in the left-right direction 9 and the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the guide rails 43 and 44, and the sub-unit 50 is guided. When the pin 118 is disengaged from the circular positioning hole 146 when being removed from the rails 43 and 44, the pin 117 becomes movable in the left-right direction 9 in the elongated positioning hole 145.

[Modification]
In the above-described embodiment, the maintenance mechanism 110, the feeding motor 101, the second transmission portion 182, and the sixth transmission portion 186 are integrally assembled to the subunit 50, but the subunit 50 is assembled integrally. It is not limited to the ones given. Further, the drive switching realized by the switching mechanism 170 is not limited to the driven part described in the present embodiment. Further, the slide gear 160 is not necessarily limited to one having two slide gears, that is, the first slide gear 160A and the second slide gear 160B, and may have only one slide gear.

10: Multifunction device (image recording device)
23 ... Carriage 25 ... First feeding roller (feeding roller)
33 ... Lower cover (case)
39 ... Recording head 42 ... Platen 43, 44 ... Guide rail 43B ... Opening (through hole)
43A, 44A ... Top surface (support surface)
45 ... Frame 46 ... Subframes 48A, 48B ... Side portion (supporting plate portion)
50 ... Sub-unit 60 ... Conveying roller (first conveying roller)
68 ... Re-conveying roller (second conveying roller)
94 ... Feed drive shaft 95 ... Transport drive shaft 96 ... Bearing (first bearing)
97 ... Bearing (second bearing)
101 ... Feeding motor (motor)
111 ... Cap 113 ... Pump 117 ... Pin (first convex portion)
118 ... Pin (second convex portion)
121, 122 ... Pin (fitting part)
138 ... elongated hole 140 ... interlocking member 145 ... positioning hole (first positioning hole)
146 ... Positioning hole (second positioning hole)
160 ... Slide gears 165, 166, 167 ... Receiving gears (first gear, second gear)
173 ... Holding member 174 ... Spindle 175 ... Lever member (lever)
176 ... Lever guide 177 ... Opening (slit)
180: Roller gear (transmission gear)
182 ... Second transmission portion (first drive transmission mechanism)
186 ... Sixth transmission portion (second drive transmission mechanism)

Claims (12)

Frame and
Having a support surface, a guide rail assembled to the frame,
A carriage supported by a supporting surface of the guide rail, the carriage being movable along a first direction in which the guide rail extends;
A recording head mounted on the carriage,
At least a sub-unit assembled to the guide rail,
The sub-unit has a lever whose position can be switched by contact with the carriage, a support shaft for movably supporting the lever in the axial direction, and a support shaft extending along the support shaft for inserting the lever. A holding member having a slit formed therein, and a lever guide having an abutting portion capable of abutting the tip portion of the lever, the lever being inserted into a through hole formed in the guide rail. It is assembled to the guide rail in the state of
The lever is in the detaching operation of the sub-unit is detached from the guide rails, rotates about the support shaft, Ri posture changeable der by contacting with the periphery defining the said through hole,
The lever guide has a fitting portion that fits with the holding member,
The holding member does not rotate about the support shaft when fitted to the fitting portion, and can rotate about the support shaft when the fitting with the fitting portion is released. Image recording device. The subunits are those having a slide gear which is movably supported in the axial direction on SL shaft, an image recording apparatus according to claim 1. The frame has a support plate portion that intersects the support surface of the guide rail,
The support plate portion has a long hole that is long in a second direction orthogonal to the support surface of the guide rail,
Said support shaft, an image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 is inserted into the elongated hole of the support plate portion. The frame supports a first conveyance roller that conveys a sheet,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first transport roller has a transmission gear that meshes with the slide gear and rotates coaxially. The sub unit has at least a sub frame assembled to the guide rail,
The image recording device is
A feed roller,
A first bearing supported by the sub-frame,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 , further comprising: a feeding drive shaft that transmits a driving force to the feeding roller and is expandable and contractable in an axial direction and supported by the first bearing. A second bearing supported by the subframe;
A transport drive shaft that transmits a drive force to the second transport roller, is stretchable in the axial direction, and is supported by the second bearing;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising: an interlocking member that interlocks the expansion and contraction of the feeding drive shaft and the expansion and contraction of the transport drive shaft. The subunit has a slide gear supported on the support shaft so as to be movable in the axial direction,
A motor supported by the subframe,
A first drive transmission mechanism that is supported by the sub-frame and that transmits drive from the motor to the slide gear;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a second drive transmission mechanism that is supported by the sub-frame and that transmits drive from the slide gear to the feeding drive shaft. The frame has a support plate portion that intersects the support surface of the guide rail,
The guide rail has a first positioning hole that is long in the first direction, and a circular second positioning hole that is arranged away from the first positioning hole in the first direction,
The sub-frame has a first protrusion inserted into the first positioning hole and a second protrusion inserted into the second positioning hole,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the first positioning hole is closer to the support plate portion than the second positioning hole. The subunit has at least a first gear and a second gear,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the slide gear is selectively interlocked with the first gear or the second gear by being moved in association with the lever. The sub-unit includes a cap capable of covering the nozzle surface of the recording head, a pump for generating a suction pressure for sucking liquid from the recording head in a state where the cap covers the nozzle surface, further image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1-9, comprising. Is supported by the frame, the image recording apparatus according to any one of 0 claims 1 1, further comprising a platen opposed to the recording head. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 1 1, further comprising a housing for supporting the frame.

Images