JP2004025588A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus that is easy for a user to use and that has a reduced height.
A cassette B for holding the uppermost surface of the sheet substantially horizontally and at a predetermined height, a separation roller 12 and a separation pad 15 for separating and feeding the sheets one by one sequentially from the uppermost position, A platen 8 that is provided at a predetermined position at an opposing position and supports a sheet at a recording position by the recording head; and a height of the platen 8 to a sheet supporting surface with respect to an installation surface of the apparatus main body. The platen 8 and the separation pad 15 are arranged so that the height of the sheet to the separation portion by the separation pad 15 and the like is substantially equal, and the cassette B is mounted on the platen with respect to the installation surface of the apparatus main body. 8 so that the top surface of the sheet is substantially horizontal and has a predetermined height so that the height to the sheet supporting surface of the sheet No. 8 is substantially equal to the height to the sheet separating portion by the separation pad 15 or the like. And wherein the holding.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of performing recording by discharging ink droplets onto a recording medium in accordance with image information, and is applied to, for example, a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a copier, a facsimile apparatus, or the like using a cut sheet as a recording medium, a plurality of cut sheets are stacked and stored in a casing-shaped cassette corresponding to the sheet size, and mounted on an apparatus main body.
[0003]
The direction in which the above cassette is attached to and detached from the main body of the device has been developed from the one that has been set out by protruding in the shape of a blade on the side of the device, and the one that uses the so-called front-loading method that can be stored and pulled out in a shelf shape on the front of the device. Has been put to practical use. As a result, the installation area of the apparatus is reduced, and the user can easily attach and detach the cassette.
[0004]
In conventional copiers and facsimile machines, a recording device such as an electrophotographic recording system or an ink-jet recording system is arranged below the main body of the device, and an image using a scanning type reduction optical system of a mirror movable type or a contact type image sensor is used. The reading means is arranged above the apparatus main body.
[0005]
In the above-described ink jet recording apparatus, a recovery device having a pump (recovery pump) for forcibly discharging ink from the discharge port of the recording head is provided in order to maintain and recover the ink discharge performance of the recording head. Is widely practiced. In other words, in the ink jet recording apparatus, due to the thickening of the ink due to the evaporation and drying of the ink in the discharge port of the recording head, clogging of the discharge port caused by the fixation, the discharge failure such as the ejection of the discharge ink and the non-discharge of the ink. May occur, and foreign matter such as paper dust and dust may adhere to the discharge port, causing ink discharge failure. Further, the ink supply from the ink tank to the print head discharge port Insufficient ejection of ink may occur when air bubbles accumulate in the road.Therefore, thickening, fixed ink, foreign matter, bubbles, etc., which cause these ejection failures, are forcibly forced out of the ejection port together with the ink. It is necessary to maintain and recover the ink discharge performance by discharging the ink and refreshing the ink in the discharge ports. The recovery device forcibly discharges ink from a discharge port by a pump in order to maintain and recover such ink discharge performance to a normal state.
[0006]
As described above, in an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a recovery device for forcibly discharging ink from a discharge port using a pump, it is common to provide a waste ink storage unit for storing the discharged waste ink. Has been done. As one conventional form of the waste ink storage unit, an ink absorber for absorbing and holding ink is housed in the waste ink storage unit, and the waste ink discharged from the pump is absorbed by the waste ink absorber. Things are provided. In this type of waste ink storage unit, the waste ink absorber is not stored in a closed container in order to absorb more ink into the waste ink absorber. 2. Description of the Related Art A waste ink absorber is housed in an open container having an opening, a vent, and the like so as to evaporate and dry.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in an ink jet recording apparatus that records input image information by ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a sheet), the sheet is fed in the front-rear direction of the apparatus. Further, in order to adopt a so-called front loading method that can be pulled out from the front of the apparatus, as disclosed in JP-A-10-114109 and JP-A-2001-260503, sheets are temporarily fed from a cassette (front of the apparatus) to the rear of the apparatus. After being fed, the image data is reversed (U-turn) in the front-rear direction, then the input image information is recorded, and the image information is directly discharged to the front of the apparatus.
[0008]
However, in this configuration, it is necessary to provide a space for reversing the sheet, and there is a problem that the height of the apparatus is correspondingly increased and the apparatus is enlarged. Further, when a sheet is jammed in the reversing unit, the jammed sheet must be removed from the rear side of the apparatus, which is not easy to use for the user. Further, when the sheet is turned over, it is necessary to bend the sheet. Unnecessary curl is attached to the sheet, or the sheet slides with the sheet guide member of the reversing portion, so that, for example, ink absorption added to the sheet is improved. In some cases, there is a problem that a stable recording is adversely affected by, for example, scratching the coat layer.
[0009]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that is easy for a user to use and has a reduced height.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium storing means for stacking and storing a recording medium, and holding a top surface of the stacked and stored recording medium substantially horizontally and at a predetermined height. Separating and feeding means for separating and feeding the recording medium loaded and stored in the recording medium storing means one by one sequentially from the top, and recording means for discharging ink droplets onto the recording medium in accordance with image information to perform recording A platen that is disposed at a predetermined interval at a position facing the recording medium and supports the recording medium at the recording position by the recording means, and has a height from the installation surface of the apparatus main body to the recording medium supporting surface of the platen. And the platen and the separation / feed unit are disposed so that the height of the recording medium to the separation unit by the separation / feed unit is substantially equal, and the recording medium housing unit is disposed on the installation surface of the apparatus main body. , The plastic Holding the top surface of the recording medium substantially horizontally and at a predetermined height so that the height of the recording medium to the recording medium support surface and the height of the recording medium to the separation section by the separation feeding means are substantially equal to each other. Features.
[0011]
According to the first configuration, the recording medium is conveyed substantially horizontally without being bent after the feeding operation is started, and the recording medium such as a relatively thick sheet or a sheet whose surface is coated is used. Even in this case, the recording medium is prevented from being clogged and the surface coat is not damaged. Further, since the recording medium is conveyed substantially horizontally, the height of the apparatus can be reduced as compared with an apparatus that reverses the recording medium.
[0012]
Further, a second configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, further includes a transport unit that transports and discharges the separated and fed recording medium via a recording position of the recording unit, wherein the transport unit includes It is characterized in that the separating and feeding means and the platen are integrally disposed at an end of the apparatus main body as a recording section.
[0013]
According to the second configuration, since the recording section is disposed at the end of the apparatus, the state of the recording medium immediately after recording is easily visually recognized, and the recording medium ejected after recording is easily taken out.
[0014]
According to a third configuration of the present invention, in the second configuration, the recording unit is configured to be movable in a recording medium transport direction with respect to the apparatus main body.
[0015]
According to the third configuration, by moving the recording unit disposed at the end of the apparatus main body in the recording medium transport direction, the transport path of the recording medium is exposed. It will be easier to do. In addition, since the moving direction of the recording unit is equal to the conveying direction of the recording medium, an unreasonable force is not applied to the recording medium stopped in the conveying path due to the jam, and the recording medium can be taken out without being damaged. Become.
[0016]
In a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the ink absorbing means capable of absorbing the ink droplets may be provided from a lower part of the recording means to a lower part of the recording medium accommodating means. It is characterized by being arranged.
[0017]
According to the fourth configuration, since the ink absorbing means is provided from the lower part of the recording means to the lower part of the recording medium accommodating means, compared with the ink absorbing means provided only at the lower part of the recording means. In addition, the thickness of the ink absorbing means can be reduced, and as a result, the height of the apparatus can be further reduced.
[0018]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the ink absorbing means below the recording medium housing means is disposed at a lower position than the ink absorbing means below the recording means. .
[0019]
According to the fifth configuration, among the ink absorbing units, the ink absorbing unit below the recording medium housing unit is disposed at a position lower than the ink absorbing unit below the recording unit. The ink absorbed by the ink absorbing means flows smoothly into the ink absorbing means below the recording medium accommodating means.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As a recording system of the image forming apparatus, an apparatus generally called an ink jet recording apparatus is employed.
[0021]
In the drawing, a recording unit A is a sheet as a recording medium supplied from a separation feeding unit in accordance with an image signal transmitted from an image reading unit D or a host device such as a personal computer or an image signal such as character data. The image is recorded on the image. In FIG. 1, reference numeral E denotes an operation unit on which a display unit and operation keys are arranged, and is disposed on the front side of the apparatus which is a drawer side of a cassette to be described later.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a schematic configuration of the ink jet recording unit A. Reference numeral 1 denotes a recording head (not shown) integrally forming a head chip for printing yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and ink cartridges 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. Is a carriage to which is removably fixed. The carriage 1 performs serial printing while moving in a sheet width direction (a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction) via a flexible belt 4 by a driving source and a driving pulley 3 (not shown).
[0023]
Reference numeral 5 denotes a guide shaft for the carriage 1 to move. A recording head as a recording unit is a type that forms an image on a recording sheet by ejecting ink droplets by using thermal energy. When the recording head is mounted on the carriage 1, the ink cartridges 2 </ b> Y to 2 </ b> K It is connected. Reference numeral 6 denotes a sheet metal chassis that supports the above-described components. The above-mentioned integrally formed chassis 6 is fixed on the bottom chassis 7. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the guide shaft 5 is disposed so as to be in the front-rear direction of the apparatus, and the recording unit A is disposed at the left end of the apparatus.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 1, a platen 8 is provided in parallel with the guide shaft 5 at a position facing the ink discharge portion (discharge port surface) of the recording head with a predetermined gap. The platen 8 regulates the position of the recording medium (sheet) at the recording position to an appropriate sheet distance (distance between the ejection opening surface and the recording medium). A line feed roller (paper feed roller) 9 is disposed in parallel with the guide shaft 5 upstream of the platen 8 in the sheet conveyance direction. By pressing the pinch roller 11 supported by the pinch roller guide 10 against the feed roller 9, the recording medium sent from the separation roller 12 is frictionally conveyed between the feed roller 9 and the pinch roller 11. The recording unit A is configured to be conveyed onto the platen 8 by force. On the downstream side of the platen 8 in the sheet conveying direction, there are provided a discharge roller 13 and a spur 14 for discharging the recording medium that has passed through the recording unit, and also here, a friction conveying force between the discharge roller 13 and the spur 14. To send out the recording medium. Here, the spur is configured so that the contact area with the sheet is small and the recorded image of the sheet is not disturbed even when the sheet contacts the sheet surface after recording.
[0025]
The feed roller 9, the pinch roller 11, the discharge roller 13, the spur 14, and the like constitute a conveying means for conveying and discharging a sheet via a recording position by a recording head. The conveying means is provided integrally with a separating roller 12 and a platen 8 constituting a separating and feeding means to be described later as a recording unit, and is disposed at an end of the apparatus main body.
[0026]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the recording unit A is configured to be able to slide integrally to the left side of the apparatus. The chassis 6 slides along a rail (not shown). Further, a lever 41 for moving the recording unit A when the door 40 provided on the front surface of the apparatus is opened is provided, and the user can operate from the front surface. When the user operates the lever 41, a latch mechanism (not shown) operates to release the engagement between the recording unit A and the apparatus main body, and the recording unit A becomes movable with respect to the apparatus main body. In this state, the recording unit A is moved to the left of the apparatus. The recording unit A is provided with detection means (not shown). When the user opens the door 40, the detection means detects this and moves the carriage 1 to a predetermined position shown in FIG. Let it.
[0027]
When the recording unit A moves to the left side of the apparatus, the sheet conveyance path is exposed, and processing such as jamming of the sheet becomes easier. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the separation roller 12 is also configured to move together with the recording unit A, so that even if the sheet is jammed in the separation unit, the portion sandwiched by the sheet is opened. It can be taken out without resistance, and jam processing becomes easy. At this time, since the moving direction of the recording unit A is equal to the sheet feeding direction, an unreasonable force is not applied to the sheet stopped in the transport path due to the jam, and the sheet can be taken out without being damaged.
[0028]
When the ink cartridge 2 becomes empty, the user replaces it with a new one. At this time, the recording unit A is exposed to the left side of the apparatus including the image reading unit D as shown in FIG. Since the work can be performed with the upper part opened without being affected by the reading unit D, the replacement work is facilitated. At this time, an opening 42 is provided so that a replaceable portion of the ink cartridge 2 is exposed, so that the user does not touch an unnecessary mechanism portion. At this time, since the carriage 1 is moved to the position of the opening 42 by opening the door 40 as described above, the user can easily find and replace the empty ink cartridge 2.
[0029]
Further, a cassette B as a recording medium accommodation means which can be inserted and removed in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction is disposed substantially horizontally and to the right of the recording section A. The cassette B is a so-called paper deck type cassette, and the sheets stored in the cassette B are always kept substantially horizontal, and the height of the uppermost sheet is constant. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 denotes a pantograph mechanism for lifting the sheet horizontally, and reference numeral 17 denotes a sensor for detecting the uppermost surface of the sheet. The sheets fed by the separation roller 12 that picks up the top sheet from the cassette B are separated one by one by the separation pad 15 and then substantially horizontally to the nip portion between the line feed roller 9 and the pinch roller 11 and immediately thereafter. To the platen 8.
[0030]
The separating roller 12 and the separating pad 15 constitute a separating and feeding means for separating and feeding the sheets stacked and accommodated in the cassette B one by one sequentially from the top. Further, the sheet separating section by the separating and feeding means is a portion where the sheets fed by the separating roller 12 are separated one by one by the separating pad 15.
[0031]
As described above, the platen 8 and the platen 8 are arranged so that the height of the platen 8 to the sheet supporting surface with respect to the installation surface of the apparatus main body is substantially equal to the height of the sheet to the sheet separation unit by the separation and feeding unit. In addition to the separation and feeding means, the height of the cassette B with respect to the installation surface of the apparatus main body is substantially equal to the height of the platen 8 up to the sheet support surface and the height of the separation and feeding means to the sheet separation section. As described above, since the sheet is always kept substantially horizontal and the top surface of the sheet is kept at a predetermined height, the sheet is conveyed substantially horizontally without being bent after the feeding operation is started, Even for a recording medium such as a relatively thick sheet or a sheet whose surface is coated, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being clogged or the surface coat from being damaged. Further, since the trailing edge of the sheet during printing after feeding is guided along the upper surface of the next sheet, the entire sheet is kept substantially horizontal during printing. For this reason, the sheet trailing edge is deformed by its own weight, so that the sheet does not undulate at the recording position, and stable printing can be performed, which is effective in stabilizing the printing quality.
[0032]
Also, since the leading end of the sheet in the cassette B in the feeding direction is close to the recording head, the time from the start of the feeding operation to the start of the printing operation can be shortened, and the first copy time can be shortened. become.
[0033]
Further, since the sheet is conveyed substantially horizontally, a space required for the sheet reversing mechanism is not required as compared with a device for reversing the sheet, and the height of the device can be reduced.
[0034]
Further, since the recording section A is provided at the end of the apparatus, the state of the sheet immediately after recording is easily visually recognized, and the sheet ejected after printing is easily taken out.
[0035]
Further, as described above, by moving the recording unit A disposed at the end of the apparatus to the left side of the apparatus, the sheet conveyance path is exposed, so that processing such as jamming of the sheet can be easily performed. At this time, since the moving direction of the recording unit A is equal to the sheet feeding direction, an unreasonable force is not applied to the sheet stopped in the transport path due to the jam, and the sheet can be taken out without being damaged.
[0036]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a manual insertion portion C is provided at an upper portion of the cassette B. The manual insertion portion C is integrally provided with a paper end reference surface 18 for regulating the sheet in the front-rear direction (width direction) of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, the paper end reference surface 18 is on the paper reference side of the recording unit A, that is, on the front side of the apparatus. When printing on a long sheet such as a short fence such as a postcard or an envelope, or a legal sheet, the user strikes the sheet end reference surface 18 and sends the sheet to the nip portion between the line feed roller 9 and the pinch roller 11. The apparatus that detects manual sheet feeding by a sensor (not shown) rotates the line feed roller 9 to convey the sheet to the printing unit. By providing the manual feed portion C, the present apparatus can cope with irregularly shaped recording sheets, and can print on a sheet of a different size and material from the sheets in the cassette B without taking out the sheets in the cassette B. .
[0037]
The image reading unit D is a so-called flat bed type image reading unit that scans an original placed on a mounting table by scanning with a scanner. The image reading unit D is arranged horizontally above and substantially above the recording unit A. The flatbed scanner as the image reading unit D will be described with reference to FIGS. The contact image sensor 30 is supported by a carriage 31 and is movable along a guide shaft 32 parallel to the sub-scanning direction. The movement of the carriage 31 is performed by a timing belt (not shown) driven by a motor (not shown). The image sensor 30 incorporates a light source (not shown), a lens, and a photoelectric conversion element, and moves at a fixed distance to the back surface of a contact glass (not shown) as a document table. The read image is transmitted to a main body image processing unit (not shown) by a flexible cable (not shown).
[0038]
A system control board 50 (see FIG. 1) for controlling the entire system of the apparatus is provided between the manual feed unit C and the image reading unit D. This system control board 50 is short in distance from each of electrical boards such as a power supply unit (not shown) on the rear side of the recording section A, the image reading section D, the operation section E, and the cassette B, and can shorten cables for connecting them. And the assemblability is improved. The lower part of the image reading unit D is a dead space, and even if the system control board 50 is arranged in this area, the installation area of the apparatus does not increase. Therefore, the size of the apparatus can be reduced without increasing the installation area of the apparatus. Further, since the electrical component is not disposed below the recording unit A, even if the ink flows out of the ink jet type recording unit of the recording unit A, it does not contact the electrical components.
[0039]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bottom surface of the image reading unit D is configured to be inclined so as to become lower toward the apparatus depth direction (from the front side to the rear side of the apparatus). With this configuration, it is possible to secure a space near the paper end reference surface 18 in front of the apparatus when setting a sheet in the manual feed section C, and there is no problem if the sheet can be inserted into the manual feed section C at the back of the apparatus. And the space for disposing the system control board 50 can be secured more. Further, by using this space, a space for securing the structural strength for supporting the image reading unit D can be secured at the same time.
[0040]
Next, the waste ink storage unit F will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, a container of the waste ink storage unit F is defined by a partition wall (peripheral wall: partially not shown) provided below the recording unit A and the cassette B and on the upper surface of the bottom chassis 7 of the apparatus main body. I have. That is, in the illustrated example, the container of the waste ink storage unit F is formed by the inner surface of the partition wall erected in four directions and the upper surface of the bottom chassis 7, and is a container whose upper surface is open. A waste ink absorber 20 as ink absorbing means for absorbing and holding the waste ink is accommodated in the opened container.
[0041]
Conventionally, the waste ink storage unit F (waste ink absorber 20) is provided only at the lower part of the recording unit A, but in this embodiment, it extends from the lower part of the recording unit A to the lower part of the cassette B as shown in FIG. I have. Therefore, if the amount of waste ink absorption required for the waste ink absorber 20 is constant, the thickness of the waste ink absorber 20 can be reduced. As a result, the height of the device can be further reduced.
[0042]
The waste ink absorber 20 is formed of a material excellent in ink absorption and retention performance, such as a porous absorber such as sponge or a fibrous absorber such as felt or laminated paper. As the material of the waste ink absorber 20, other than the porous absorber and the fibrous absorber, any other material that can absorb and hold ink may be selected.
[0043]
Note that the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a recovery device having a suction pump 21 for forcibly discharging ink from a discharge port of the print head in order to maintain and recover the ink discharge performance of the print head. Have.
[0044]
Therefore, by operating the suction pump 21 with the ejection port surface of the recording head capped, the waste ink sucked from the ejection port of the recording head and introduced into the waste ink storage unit F through the waste ink passage is discharged. When it comes into contact with the waste ink absorber 20 of the waste ink storage section F, the waste ink is absorbed into the waste ink absorber 20 by the capillary force.
[0045]
In the waste ink storage unit F, the waste ink absorber 20 below the cassette B is disposed at a position lower than the waste ink absorber 20 below the recording unit A. As a result, first, the waste ink absorbed by the waste ink absorber 20 below the recording unit A smoothly flows into the waste ink absorber 20 below the cassette B.
[0046]
In order to effectively use the waste ink absorber 20 at the lower part of the cassette B, the waste ink holding power of the waste ink absorber 20 at the lower part of the recording unit A is made slightly weaker than that of the waste ink absorber 20 at the lower part of the cassette B. You may do it. This is achieved, for example, by slightly lowering the fiber density of the fibrous absorber.
[0047]
In this way, the waste ink is quickly diffused into a wide area up to the waste ink absorber 20 at the lower portion of the cassette B, so that the evaporation amount of the waste ink from the entire waste ink absorber 20 increases, and the waste ink absorber 20 It is possible to increase the waste ink absorption capacity as a whole.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the recording medium is conveyed substantially horizontally without being bent after the feeding operation is started, such as a relatively thick sheet or a sheet whose surface is coated. Even if the recording medium is a medium, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being clogged or the surface coat from being damaged. Further, since the recording medium is conveyed substantially horizontally, the height of the apparatus can be reduced as compared with an apparatus that reverses the recording medium.
[0049]
Further, since the recording section is provided at the end of the apparatus, the state of the recording medium immediately after recording is easily visually recognized, and the recording medium ejected after recording is easily taken out.
[0050]
In addition, by moving the recording unit provided at the end of the apparatus main body in the recording medium transport direction, the transport path of the recording medium is exposed, so that it is easy to perform processing such as jamming of the recording medium. In addition, since the moving direction of the recording unit is equal to the conveying direction of the recording medium, an unreasonable force is not applied to the recording medium stopped in the conveying path due to the jam, and the recording medium can be taken out without being damaged. Become.
[0051]
Further, since the ink absorbing means is provided from the lower part of the recording means to the lower part of the recording medium accommodating means, the thickness of the ink absorbing means is smaller than that of the ink absorbing means provided only at the lower part of the recording means. The device can be made thinner, so that the height of the device can be further reduced.
[0052]
Further, among the ink absorbing units, the ink absorbing unit below the recording medium housing unit is disposed at a position lower than the ink absorbing unit below the recording unit, so that the ink absorbing unit below the recording unit is absorbed by the ink absorbing unit below the recording unit. The ink that has flowed smoothly flows into the ink absorbing means below the recording medium housing means.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall structural sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a recording unit.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the entire structure of the image forming apparatus in a state where a recording unit is pulled out.
FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view of the image forming apparatus in a state where a recording unit is pulled out.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the entire external appearance of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the entire external appearance of the image forming apparatus in a state where a cassette is pulled out.
[Explanation of symbols]
A: Recording unit
B: Cassette
C: Manual feed
D: Image reading unit
E: Operation unit
F: Waste ink storage unit
1 ... carriage
2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K ... ink cartridge
3. Drive pulley
4 ... belt
5. Guide shaft
6… Chassis
7… Bottom chassis
8… Platen
9 ... feed roller
10… Pinch roller guide
11… Pinch roller
12 ... separation roller
13 ... discharge roller
14 ... spurs
15 ... separation pad
16… Pantograph mechanism
17… Sensor
18… paper edge reference surface
20 ... waste ink absorber
30… Contact image sensor
31… Carriage
32… Guide shaft
40 ... door
41… Lever
42 ... opening
50… System control board

Claims (6)

A recording medium storing means for loading and storing the recording medium, and holding the uppermost surface of the loaded and stored recording medium substantially horizontally and at a predetermined height;
Separation feeding means for separating and feeding the recording media stacked and stored in the recording medium storage means one by one sequentially from the top,
A platen that is disposed at a predetermined interval at a position facing a recording unit that ejects ink droplets according to image information to perform recording according to image information, and supports a recording medium at a recording position by the recording unit;
Has,
The platen and the separation / feed unit so that the height of the platen to the recording medium support surface and the height of the separation / feed unit to the separation unit of the recording medium are substantially equal to the installation surface of the apparatus main body. Along with
The recording medium accommodating means is arranged so that the height of the platen with respect to the installation surface of the apparatus main body is substantially equal to the height of the recording medium by the separation and feeding means to the separation portion of the recording medium. An image forming apparatus wherein an upper surface is held substantially horizontally and at a predetermined height. A transport unit configured to transport and discharge the separated and fed recording medium via a recording position of the recording unit, and the apparatus main body integrally including the transport unit, the separated and fed unit, and the platen as a recording unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed at an end of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording unit is configured to be movable in a recording medium transport direction with respect to the apparatus main body. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an ink absorbing unit capable of absorbing the ink droplet is provided from a lower part of the recording unit to a lower part of the recording medium storage unit. 5. . 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ink absorbing unit below the recording medium storage unit is disposed at a position lower than the ink absorbing unit below the recording unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an image reading unit that reads image information of a document, wherein the image reading unit is disposed immediately above the recording unit. .

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