JP5888191B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus capable of recording an image on both sides of a sheet.

  Conventionally, an image recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet is known.

  In recent years, an increasing number of image recording apparatuses can record images on both sides of a sheet. In Patent Document 1, as an example of such an image recording apparatus, a sheet fed from a paper feed tray is conveyed to a recording unit by a pair of conveyance rollers. An image is recorded on the surface of the sheet in the recording unit. The sheet on which the image is recorded on the surface is switched back by a pair of reverse rollers on the downstream side of the recording unit. The switched-back sheet is conveyed to a refeed conveyance path provided below the recording unit and above the paper feed tray. The sheet conveyed to the resupply conveyance path is sent again to the conveyance roller pair through the resupply conveyance path. In the same manner as when an image is formed on the front side of the sheet that has reached the recording unit by the pair of conveying rollers, an image is recorded on the back side by the recording unit. Thereafter, the sheet on which images are recorded on both sides is discharged to a discharge tray by a pair of reverse rollers.

JP 2009-208862 A

  In recent years, there has been a demand for downsizing image recording apparatuses. On the other hand, image recording apparatuses are required to be able to record images on as large a sheet as possible. An image recording apparatus that satisfies both of the above two requirements is as follows. That is, the sheet that has been image-recorded on the front surface and then switched back by the pair of reversing rollers passes through the re-feed conveyance path and is sent again to the pair of conveyance rollers to be image-recorded on the back surface. When the leading edge of the sheet on which the image is recorded returns to the reversing roller pair again, if the size of the sheet is large, the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet is not completely removed from the reversing roller pair, and is sandwiched between the reversing roller pair. It may be in the state that was done.

  However, when the leading edge of the sheet on which the image is recorded on the back surface is made to enter the holding position of the pair of reverse rollers, the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet conveyed from the pair of reverse rollers toward the refeed conveyance path is the path of the sheet. If the sheet is blocked, there is a possibility that the sheet cannot be conveyed downstream from the nipping position by the pair of reversing rollers.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to allow the leading end of the sheet to enter a pair of reversing rollers sandwiched in the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet, and to move the sheet from the nipping position of the reversing roller pair. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that can be conveyed downstream.

(1) An image recording apparatus according to the present invention is provided on a downstream side of the conveyance direction with respect to the conveyance roller pair that conveys the sheet guided along the first conveyance path in the conveyance direction, and the conveyance roller pair. A recording unit for recording an image on a sheet and a reverse roller pair provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair, and sandwiching the sheet and transporting the downstream side in the transport direction Or, from the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the pair of transport rollers and the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the pair of reversing rollers, and through the lower side of the first transport path, the transport with respect to the pair of transport rollers. And a pair of reverse rollers for transporting to the second transport path connected to the first transport path on the upstream side in the direction. The first transport path is opposed to the first upper guide member and the first upper guide member on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the reverse roller pair. And a first lower guide member. The second transport path is defined by a second upper guide member and a second lower guide member facing the second upper guide member. The inclination angle of the upstream upstream guide surface facing the second transport path in the second lower guide member with respect to the guide surface facing the first transport path in the first lower guide member is 2 Inclination of the downstream guide surface downstream of the upstream guide surface facing the second transport path in the lower guide member with respect to the guide surface facing the first transport path in the first lower guide member Smaller than the angle.

  According to this configuration, the leading edge of the sheet on which the image is recorded after being conveyed to the second conveyance path is conveyed in the conveyance direction while being supported by the first lower guide member. On the other hand, the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet sandwiched between the pair of reversing rollers is supported by the upstream guide surface facing the second conveyance path in the second lower guide member, and conveyed along the second conveyance path toward the conveyance roller pair. Is done.

  Further, according to this configuration, the angle of inclination of the upstream guide surface facing the second transport path in the second lower guide member with respect to the guide surface facing the first transport path in the first lower guide member (next paragraph) Is the first tilt angle.) Is the tilt angle of the downstream guide surface facing the second transport path in the second lower guide member relative to the guide surface facing the first transport path in the first lower guide member. (Indicated in the next paragraph as the second inclination angle).

  As a result, the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet sandwiched between the reversing roller pair is in a state along the first inclination angle. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the vicinity of the trailing edge of the sheet blocks the path of the leading edge of the sheet conveyed toward the pair of reverse rollers. As a result, the leading edge of the sheet can appropriately enter the nipping position by the reversing roller pair, and can be conveyed downstream from the nipping position. Further, in the vicinity of the connection position between the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path on the upstream side of the conveyance roller pair, the inclination angle of the guide surface facing the second conveyance path is the second inclination angle. The radius of curvature of the path composed of the second transport path and the first transport path can be maintained large.

(2) The image recording apparatus according to the present invention is provided on a downstream side of the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair that transports the sheet guided in the first transport path in the transport direction, and the transport roller pair. A recording unit for recording an image on a sheet and a reverse roller pair provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair, and sandwiching the sheet and transporting the downstream side in the transport direction Or, from the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the pair of transport rollers and the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the pair of reversing rollers, and through the lower side of the first transport path, the transport with respect to the pair of transport rollers. A pair of reversing rollers that are transported to the second transport path connected to the first transport path on the upstream side in the direction and the second transport path, and are transported toward the transport roller while sandwiching the sheet. A re-conveying roller pairThe first transport path is opposed to the first upper guide member and the first upper guide member on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the reverse roller pair. And a first lower guide member. The second transport path is defined by a second upper guide member and a second lower guide member facing the second upper guide member. The first transport path in the first lower guide member of the upstream guide surface facing the second transport path of the second lower guide member between the reversing roller pair and the re-transport roller pair The inclination angle with respect to the guide surface facing the first side of the first lower guide member is a straight line connecting the sheet clamping position by the reversing roller pair and the sheet clamping position by the re-conveying roller pair in a side view. It is smaller than the inclination angle with respect to the guide surface facing the conveyance path.

  In this configuration, the first lower guide member faces the first conveyance path of the upstream guide surface facing the second conveyance path of the second lower guide member between the reversing roller pair and the re-conveyance roller pair. The inclination angle with respect to the guide surface is small as in (1) above. Thereby, the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet held between the pair of reversing rollers is in a state along the inclination angle, that is, a small inclination angle. As a result, it is possible to prevent the vicinity of the trailing edge of the sheet from blocking the path of the leading edge of the sheet conveyed toward the pair of reverse rollers.

(3) The image recording apparatus according to the present invention is provided in the first upper guide member, and is located downstream of the recording unit in the transport direction and upstream of the reverse roller pair in the transport direction. A pressing portion that contacts the sheet from above is further provided at a connection position of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path. A lower end of the pressing portion protrudes to a lower side than a holding position by the reverse roller pair.

  According to this configuration, the leading edge of the sheet on which the image is recorded on the second surface is guided to the nipping position by the pair of reversing rollers while being pressed from above by the pressing portion. That is, the leading edge of the sheet is guided from the lower side of the nipping position by the reversing roller pair to the nipping position by the reversing roller pair. Here, when the leading edge of the sheet on which the image is recorded on the first surface passes through the second conveyance path and is recorded on the second surface and conveyed to the vicinity of the reversing roller pair, the trailing edge of the sheet is the reversing roller pair. In a state where the sheet is not completely pulled out, the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet is conveyed to the second conveyance path while being sandwiched between the pair of reverse rollers. As a result, the leading edge of the sheet located below the nipping position by the reversing roller pair, that is, near the second conveyance path, is guided to the nipping position by the reversing roller pair along the recording surface near the rear end of the sheet. . In other words, according to this configuration, the leading edge of the sheet can be easily moved into the nipping position by the pair of reversing rollers by following the vicinity of the trailing edge of the sheet.

(4) The pressing portion is movable between a first position where a lower end of the pressing portion protrudes below a clamping position by the pair of reversing rollers and a second position positioned above the first position. It is.

  According to this configuration, the effect (3) can be obtained by maintaining the pressing portion in the first position. On the other hand, when the sheet is sandwiched between the conveying roller pair and the reverse roller pair, the pressing portion moves to the second position, so that the resistance of the pressing portion with respect to the sheet becomes smaller than that in the first position, and smoothly. Can be transported. Further, when only the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet is in contact with the pressing portion, the sheet can be guided to the second conveyance path by the reverse roller pair by moving the pressing portion to the first position.

(5) The force that the conveying roller pair conveys while sandwiching the sheet is larger than the force that the reverse roller pair sandwiches and conveys the sheet.

  According to this configuration, when the leading edge of the sheet is nipped by the conveying roller pair via the second conveying path, the trailing edge of the sheet is maintained even when the vicinity of the trailing edge of the sheet is nipped by the pair of reverse rollers. The sheet can be easily pulled out from the pair of reversing rollers and properly conveyed.

(6) The guide surface of the first lower guide member is lower than the sheet holding position by the pair of reverse rollers.

  According to this configuration, the leading edge of the sheet on which the image is recorded on the second surface is guided to the nipping position by the reversing roller pair from below the nipping position by the reversing roller pair while being supported by the first lower guide member. . Here, when the leading edge of the sheet on which the image is recorded on the first surface passes through the second conveyance path and is recorded on the second surface and conveyed to the vicinity of the reversing roller pair, the trailing edge of the sheet is the reversing roller pair. In a state where the sheet is not completely pulled out, the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet is conveyed to the second conveyance path while being sandwiched between the pair of reverse rollers. As a result, the leading edge of the sheet located below the nipping position by the reversing roller pair, that is, near the second conveyance path, is guided to the nipping position by the reversing roller pair along the recording surface near the rear end of the sheet. . That is, according to this configuration, as in the case of (3), it is possible to easily enter the nipping position by the pair of reversing rollers by causing the leading edge of the sheet to follow the vicinity of the trailing edge of the sheet.

(7) The reversing roller pair is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction from the recording unit. The second transport path is located downstream of the recording unit in the transport direction, upstream of the reverse roller pair in the transport direction, and upstream of the transport roller pair in the transport direction. Connected with.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to record an image on a sheet without overlapping the sheets immediately below the recording unit.

(8) In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path are connected downstream of the recording unit in the conveyance direction and upstream of the reversing roller pair in the conveyance direction. A discharge roller pair is further provided on the upstream side in the transport direction from the position, and sandwiches the sheet and transports the sheet in the transport direction. The force that the discharge roller pair holds the sheet and conveys the sheet in the conveying direction is larger than the force that the reverse roller pair holds the sheet and conveys the sheet to the second conveying path.

  According to this configuration, the force that the discharge roller pair sandwiches and conveys the sheet is stronger than the force that the reverse roller pair sandwiches and conveys the sheet. Therefore, according to this configuration, the leading edge of the sheet that has been conveyed in the conveying direction by the discharge roller pair and reached the reversing roller pair can be easily pushed into the nipping position by the reversing roller pair. Further, when the leading edge of the sheet is sandwiched between the discharge roller pair, the trailing edge of the sheet can be easily pulled out of the reverse roller pair even when the vicinity of the trailing edge of the sheet is sandwiched between the pair of reverse rollers. .

(9) The image recording apparatus according to the present invention further includes a third upper guide member provided downstream of the pair of reversing rollers in the transport direction. The inclination angle of the guide surface of the third upper guide member is such that the first transport path in the first lower guide member of the upstream guide surface facing the second transport path in the second lower guide member. It is more than the inclination angle with respect to the guide surface facing the surface.

  When the sheet is sandwiched between the reverse roller pair while being supported by the guide surface of the second lower guide member facing the first conveyance path, the sheet supported by the inclined guide surface is conveyed more than the reverse roller pair. On the downstream side in the direction, the guide surface extends upward along the inclination angle of the guide surface. As a result, the sheet may be caught by the guide member disposed on the upper side of the sheet on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the pair of reverse rollers. Therefore, in this configuration, the inclination angle of the guide surface of the third upper guide member is configured to be greater than the inclination angle of the guide surface of the second lower guide member. Accordingly, since a space is secured on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the pair of reverse rollers, the possibility that the sheet is caught by the third upper guide member can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, the leading edge of the sheet can be made to enter the pair of reversing rollers in which the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet is nipped, and the sheet can be conveyed downstream from the nipping position of the reversing roller pair.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the relationship between the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29 and the first upper surface 33 and the second upper surface 35 of the second lower guide member 32. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when the control unit executes double-sided image recording on the recording paper 12. FIG. 5 is a diagram in which the roller pairs 59, 66, and 43 are extracted from FIG. 2, in which (A) shows the recording paper 12 for explaining the length L1, and (B) shows the long length. In order to explain the length L2, conveyance directions 15 and 16 are shown. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11 in the first modification. FIG. 7 schematically shows the relationship between the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29, the first upper surface 33 and the second upper surface 35 of the second lower guide member 32, the reverse roller pair 43, and the re-conveying roller pair 70. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view shown. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the relationship between the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29 and the lower surface 27 of the third upper guide member 34. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11 in Modification 5.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the following description, the vertical direction 7 is defined with reference to the state in which the multifunction machine 10 is installed (the state in FIG. 1), and the side where the opening 13 is provided is the front side (front side). A direction 8 is defined, and a left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction machine 10 is viewed from the front side (front).

[Overall structure of MFP 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 10 (an example of the image recording apparatus of the present invention) includes a printer unit 11 at the bottom. The multifunction machine 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. As a print function, it has a double-sided image recording function for recording images on both sides of the recording paper 12 (see FIG. 2). The printer unit 11 has an opening 13 formed in the front. A feeding tray 20 and a discharge tray 21 on which the recording paper 12 is placed can be inserted and removed from the opening 13 in the front-rear direction 8.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a feeding roller 25 is provided on the upper side of the feeding tray 20. The feed roller 25 can contact the recording paper 12 placed on the feed tray 20 from above. The feeding roller 25 is rotated by a driving force applied from a motor (not shown). As a result, the recording paper 12 placed on the feeding tray 20 is fed toward the conveyance roller pair 59 through the first conveyance path 65.

[First transport path 65]
As shown in FIG. 2, the first transport path 65 extends from the rear end of the feed tray 20. The first transport path 65 includes a curved portion and a straight portion. The curved portion is a portion of the first transport path 65 that extends while curving from the rear end portion of the feed tray 20 to the transport roller pair 59. The straight portion is a portion of the first transport path 65 that extends substantially linearly from the transport roller pair 59 through the recording unit 24 and the reverse roller pair 43 to the discharge tray 21.

  The recording paper 12 accommodated in the feeding tray 20 is conveyed so as to make a U-turn from the lower side to the upper side of the curved portion, and then conveyed along the straight portion and conveyed to the recording unit 24. The recording paper 12 on which image recording has been performed by the recording unit 24 is conveyed through the linear portion and discharged to the discharge tray 21. That is, the recording paper 12 is transported in the transport direction 15 indicated by the one-dot chain arrow in FIG.

  The curved portion of the first conveyance path 65 is partitioned by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 that face each other with a predetermined interval therebetween. The straight portion of the first transport path 65 is partitioned by a first upper guide member 28 and a first lower guide member 29 that face each other at a predetermined interval. That is, the first conveyance path 65 is located downstream of the recording unit 24 in the conveyance direction 15 and upstream of the reversing roller pair 43 in the conveyance direction 15, and the first upper guide member 28 and the first lower guide member 29. It is divided by.

  The outer guide member 18, the inner guide member 19, the first upper guide member 28, and the first lower guide member 29 extend in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. In the present embodiment, the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29 is a plane along the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. Here, the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29 is a guide surface that faces the first conveyance path 65 and guides the recording paper 12 conveyed through the first conveyance path 65.

[Conveying roller pair 59, discharging roller pair 66, and reversing roller pair 43]
As shown in FIG. 2, a conveyance roller pair 59 including a conveyance roller 60 and a pinch roller 61 is provided upstream of the recording unit 24 in the conveyance direction 15. The pinch roller 61 is pressed against the transport roller 60 by a spring or the like. As a result, the pinch roller 61 rotates following the conveyance roller 60.

  A discharge roller pair 66 including a discharge roller 62 and a spur 63 is provided downstream of the recording unit 24 in the conveyance direction 15. A spur 63 is pressed against the discharge roller 62 by a spring or the like. As a result, the spur 63 rotates following the discharge roller 62.

  A reverse roller pair 43 including a reverse roller 45 and a spur 46 is provided downstream of the discharge roller pair 66 in the conveying direction 15. The spur 46 is pressed against the reversing roller 45 by a spring or the like. As a result, the spur 46 rotates following the reverse roller 45. In the present embodiment, the holding position 43 </ b> A of the recording paper 12 by the reversing roller pair 43 is a position higher than the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29.

  Each pair of rollers 59, 66, and 43 conveys the recording sheet 12 in the conveying direction 15 and in the opposite direction to the conveying direction 15 by rotating in a state where the recording sheet 12 guided through the first conveying path 65 is sandwiched. The transport roller 60 is rotated by a driving force applied from a motor (not shown). The conveyance roller 60 to which the driving force is applied from the forward driving motor rotates in the second rotation direction. Here, the second rotation direction is a rotation direction in which the recording paper 12 is conveyed in the conveyance direction 15. The conveyance roller 60 to which the driving force is applied from the reverse driving motor rotates in the first rotation direction opposite to the second rotation direction. Here, the first rotation direction is a rotation direction in which the recording paper 12 is conveyed in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction 15.

  Note that the motor that applies the driving force to the conveying roller 60 and the motor that applies the driving force to the feeding roller 25 may be the same or different. When the motor is the same, a drive transmission mechanism (not shown) is provided between the motor and the conveyance roller 60 and the feeding roller 25. Then, the presence / absence of rotation and the direction of rotation of the transport roller 60 and the feeding roller 25 are appropriately switched by the drive transmission mechanism.

  The conveyance roller 60, the discharge roller 62, and the reverse roller 45 are connected via a pulley or belt (not shown) or a gear (not shown). Thus, when the transport roller 60 rotates in the second rotation direction, the discharge roller 62 and the reverse roller 45 also rotate in the second rotation direction. When the transport roller 60 rotates in the first rotation direction, the discharge roller 62 and the reverse roller 45 rotate. Also rotate in the first rotation direction.

  Note that, during double-sided image recording, as will be described later, the recording paper 12 conveyed through the first conveyance path 65 is switched back between the discharge roller pair 66 and the reverse roller pair 43, and is described later by the reverse roller pair 43. It is conveyed toward the second conveyance path 67.

  In this embodiment, the conveyance force of the conveyance roller pair 59 and the discharge roller pair 66 is larger than the conveyance force of the reverse roller pair 43. Here, the conveyance force is a force by which each of the roller pairs 59, 66, and 43 sandwiches and conveys the recording paper 12, and for example, the rotation speed and material of the rollers that constitute each of the roller pairs 59, 66, and 43, the roller It is determined by the clamping force of the pair.

[Recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, a recording unit 24 is provided on the downstream side of the conveyance direction 15 of the conveyance roller pair 59 and the upstream side of the conveyance direction 15 of the discharge roller pair 66. A platen 42 is provided below the recording unit 24 and at a position facing the recording unit 24. The platen 42 supports the recording paper 12 conveyed through the first conveyance path 65. In the present embodiment, the recording unit 24 records an image on the recording paper 12 supported by the platen 42 by a known inkjet method. The recording unit 24 includes a recording head 38 on which a plurality of nozzles 39 for ejecting ink droplets are formed on the recording paper 12, and a carriage 40 on which the recording head 38 is mounted.

  The carriage 40 is supported by the frame of the printer unit 11 so as to be reciprocable in the left-right direction 9. The carriage 40 is connected to a carriage driving motor (not shown) via a known belt mechanism. The carriage 40 is reciprocated in the left-right direction 9 by the driving force transmitted from the carriage driving motor. With the recording paper 12 supported on the platen 42, the carriage 40 is reciprocated. When the carriage 40 is reciprocated, ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 38. As a result, an image is recorded on the recording paper 12 supported by the platen 42. Note that the method by which the recording unit 24 records an image on the recording paper 12 is not limited to the inkjet method, and the recording unit 24 may record an image on the recording paper 12 by an electrophotographic method, for example.

[Route switching member 41]
As shown in FIG. 2, the path switching member 41 (an example of the pressing portion of the present invention) is provided between the discharge roller pair 66 and the reverse roller pair 43 in the first transport path 65. The path switching member 41 includes auxiliary rollers 47 and 48, a flap 49, and a shaft 87. The path switching member 41 is attached to the first upper guide member 28. That is, the path switching member 41 is provided on the first upper guide member 28.

  The flap 49 extends substantially from the shaft 87 in the transport direction 15 and is rotatably supported by the shaft 87. Spur-shaped auxiliary rollers 47 and 48 are rotatably supported by the flap 49. The flap 49 has a discharge position suitable for discharging the recording paper 12 to the discharge tray 21 (a position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2, an example of the second position of the present invention), and a leading end positioned below the discharge posture. It rotates between the reversing position (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2, an example of the first position of the present invention).

  The flap 49 is in the reverse position due to its own weight in the standby state. When the flap 49 is lifted in contact with the leading edge of the recording paper 12 conveyed through the first conveyance path 65, the flap 49 rotates to the discharge posture. When the rear end (upstream end in the transport direction 15) of the recording sheet 12 being conveyed passes through the auxiliary roller 47, the flap 49 is rotated from the discharge position to the reverse position by its own weight. As a result, the trailing edge of the conveyed recording paper 12 moves downward. As a result, the rear end of the recording paper 12 being conveyed is directed to a second conveyance path 67 described later. In this state, when the rotation of the reverse roller 45 in the second rotation direction is continued, the recording paper 12 is conveyed in the conveyance direction 15 and discharged to the discharge tray 21. On the other hand, when the rotation direction of the reverse roller 45 is switched to the first rotation direction, the recording paper 12 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction 15 and guided to the second conveyance path 67. As described above, the reversing roller pair 43 rotates the recording paper 12 in the transport direction 15 by rotating in the second rotation direction, and rotates the recording paper 12 in the direction opposite to the transport direction 15 by rotating in the first rotation direction. Transport to the second transport path 67. Note that the flap 49 may be rotated by a method other than the method described above. For example, the flap 49 may be rotated by being applied with a driving force from a flap rotation motor (not shown).

  The flap 49 at the reverse position is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction 8 so that the front side is the lower side. Accordingly, the lower end 49A of the flap 49 at the reversing position (specifically, the lower end of the auxiliary roller 48) 49A is also referred to as a nipping position 43A of the recording paper 12 by the reversing roller pair 43 (hereinafter, nipping position 43A of the reversing roller pair 43). ) Is a lower position. That is, the lower end 49A of the flap 49 at the reverse position protrudes below the pinching position 43A of the reverse roller pair 43. That is, the lower end 49 </ b> A of the path switching member 41 protrudes to a lower side than the clamping position 43 </ b> A of the reverse roller pair 43.

  The flap 49 at the discharge position is generally along the front-rear direction 8. In other words, the front end portion of the flap 49 at the discharge position is located above the reverse position. The flap 49 (specifically, the auxiliary rollers 47 and 48 supported by the flap 49) comes into contact with the recording paper 12 located at a first connection position 36 described later from above.

[Second transport path 67]
The second conveyance path 67 is a path that passes below the straight line portion of the first conveyance path 65 and above the feeding roller 25. The second conveyance path 67 is branched from a first connection position 36 (an example of the connection position of the present invention) on the downstream side in the conveyance direction 15 with respect to the discharge roller pair 66 and on the upstream side in the conveyance direction 15 with respect to the reverse roller pair 43. This is a path that joins the first transport path 65 at the second connection position 37 upstream of the transport roller pair 59 in the transport direction 15. That is, the second transport path 67 is connected to the first transport path 65 at the first connection position 36 and the second connection position 37. The reverse roller pair 43 that rotates in the first rotation direction conveys the recording paper 12 toward the second conveyance path 67, and is in the direction from the first connection position 36 to the second connection position 37 in the second conveyance path 67. It conveys in the conveyance direction 16 (direction shown with a dashed-two dotted line in FIG.2 and FIG.5 (B)).

  The second transport path 67 is defined by a second upper guide member 31 and a second lower guide member 32 that face each other with a predetermined interval therebetween. The second upper guide member 31 and the second lower guide member 32 extend in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the upper surface of the second lower guide member 32 is a flat surface inclined with respect to the surfaces along the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The upper surface of the second lower guide member 32 includes a first upper surface 33 on the upstream side in the transport direction 16 and a second upper surface 35 that is a surface continuous with the first upper surface 33 and downstream of the transport direction 16. ing. Here, the first upper surface 33 and the second upper surface 35 of the second lower guide member 32 face the second transport path 67 and guide surfaces for guiding the recording paper 12 transported through the second transport path 65. It is.

  The second lower guide member 32 is configured such that the first upper surface 33 and the second upper surface 35 have a relationship as described in detail below. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the second lower guide member 32 is configured such that the angle θ1 is smaller than the angle θ2. Here, the angle θ <b> 1 is an inclination angle of the first upper surface 33 of the second lower guide member 32 with respect to the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29. Further, the angle θ <b> 2 is an inclination angle of the second upper surface 35 of the second lower guide member 32 with respect to the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29.

[Image recording control]
Hereinafter, a processing procedure when the control unit that controls the overall operation of the multifunction machine 10 performs double-sided image recording on the recording paper 12 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 4. It is assumed that the initial position of the flap 49 of the path switching member 41 is the discharge position. In this embodiment, the control unit is calculated by the detection timing of the leading edge of the recording paper 12 by a sensor (not shown) provided in the first transport path 65 and an encoder (not shown) provided on the transport roller 60. Based on the rotation amount of the transport roller 60, the current position of the recording paper 12 is determined.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit controls image recording on the recording paper 12 as follows. That is, the recording sheet 12 on which an image is recorded has a length L1 (see FIG. 5A, an example of the sheet length of the present invention) along the conveying direction 15 and a length L2 (see FIG. 5B). Longer than. Here, the length L1 is a length along the front-rear direction 8 of the recording paper 12 in a state where the recording paper 12 is placed on the feeding tray 20, and is, for example, the recording paper 12 conveyed in the conveyance direction 15. Can be obtained from the rotation amount of the transport roller 60 from when the leading edge of the recording paper 12 is detected by a sensor (not shown) arranged in the first transport path 65 until the trailing edge of the recording paper 12 is detected by the sensor. Note that the control unit may recognize the length L1 by a method other than the method obtained by the detection of the sensor and the rotation amount of the transport roller 60. For example, the control unit may recognize the length L1 based on the size of the recording paper 12 designated by the user operating the operation panel 17 (see FIG. 1) before printing.

  Further, the length L2 extends from the clamping position 43A of the pair of reversing rollers 43 to the second connection position 37 through the first connection position 36 and the second conveyance path 67, and from the second connection position 37 to the first conveyance path 65. This is the length of the conveyance path until it passes through the reversing roller pair 43 to the clamping position 43A. The length L2 is a design value determined by the lengths of the first conveyance path 65 and the second conveyance path 67, the positions of the first connection position 36 and the second connection position 37, the arrangement position of the reverse roller pair 43, and the like.

  For example, when double-sided printing is instructed by operating the operation panel 17 (see FIG. 1), the control unit rotates the feeding roller 25. Further, the control unit rotates the conveyance roller 60 in the first rotation direction, that is, the direction in which the recording paper 12 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction 15. As a result, the discharge roller 62 and the reverse roller 45 also rotate in the first rotation direction.

  As the feed roller 25 rotates, the recording paper 12 placed on the feed tray 20 is fed to the first transport path 65 (S10). When the leading end of the fed recording paper 12 reaches the conveyance roller pair 59 (S20), the control unit 130 executes a registration process described below.

  The control unit includes a timer circuit that counts time, and maintains the rotation of the conveyance roller 60 in the first rotation direction for a preset time after the leading edge of the recording paper 12 contacts the conveyance roller 60. As a result, a so-called registration process for correcting the skew of the recording paper 12 in contact with the conveying roller 60 is executed (S30). After the registration process, the control unit stops the feeding roller 25 (S40). Thereafter, the control unit rotates the transport roller 60 in the second rotation direction (S50). As a result, the discharge roller 62 and the reverse roller 45 also rotate in the second rotation direction. As a result, the recording paper 12 is transported in the transport direction 15 by the transport roller pair 59.

  Next, the control unit executes cueing processing of the recording paper 12 on which the first surface (front surface) is printed (S60). Specifically, when the leading edge of the recording sheet 12 conveyed in the conveying direction 15 reaches the print start position facing the recording unit 24, the control unit stops the rotation of the conveying roller 60 and stops the recording sheet 12. Let Here, the print start position is, for example, a position where the tip of the image recording area of the recording paper 12 faces the nozzle 39 positioned at the upstream end in the transport direction 15 among the plurality of nozzles 39 formed on the recording head 38. It is.

  When the cueing process (S60) is completed, the control unit executes image recording on the first surface of the recording paper 12 (S70). More specifically, the control unit controls the recording unit 24 to move the carriage 40 in the left-right direction 9 and ejects ink droplets from the nozzles 39 toward the recording paper 12 supported by the platen 42, and a conveyance roller. 60 is controlled to alternately perform the process of transporting the recording paper 12 in the transport direction 15 by a predetermined line feed width.

  After the image recording is completed, the control unit rotates the transport roller 60 in the second rotation direction and transports the recording paper 12 in the transport direction 15 (S80). As a result, the recording paper 12 is conveyed downstream of the recording unit 24 in the conveying direction 15. The recording paper 12 is sandwiched between the discharge roller pair 66 rotating in the second rotation direction and conveyed toward the reverse roller pair 43.

  When the leading edge of the recording paper 12 reaches the path switching member 41, the recording paper 12 is guided in the transport direction 15 while the upper surface is guided by the path switching member 41 and the lower surface is guided by the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29. To be transported. Thereafter, when the leading edge of the recording paper 12 passes through the upper surface of the first lower guide member 29 and reaches the first upper surface 33 of the second lower guide member 32, the recording paper 12 moves the upper surface to the path switching member 41. While being guided and guided by the first upper surface 33 of the second lower guide member 32, the lower surface is transported in the transport direction 15 and guided to the clamping position 43 </ b> A by the reverse roller pair 43. As a result, the recording paper 12 enters the holding position 43A of the reversing roller pair 43 from obliquely below. Specifically, the recording paper 12 enters the holding position 43A of the pair of reverse rollers 43 while maintaining the inclination angle of the second lower guide member 32, that is, the angle θ1.

  When the leading end of the recording paper 12 is sandwiched between the reversing roller pair 43, the path switching member 41 is pushed up by the recording paper 12 to be conveyed, and thereby rotates from the reverse position to the discharge position. In this state, since the reverse roller 45 rotates in the second rotation direction, the conveyance of the recording paper 12 toward the discharge tray 21 is continued. Thereafter, the control unit determines that the rear end of the recording sheet 12 conveyed in the conveying direction 15 (the upstream end of the recording sheet 12 in the conveying direction 15) is a defined position between the auxiliary roller 47 and the auxiliary roller 48, that is, the first connection. If it is determined that the position 36 has been reached, the transport motor 71 is stopped (S90). When the trailing edge of the recording paper 12 reaches the specified position, the force due to the weight of the path switching member 41 becomes larger than the force by which the recording paper 12 pushes up the path switching member 41. As a result, the path switching member 41 rotates from the discharge position to the reverse position. As a result, the rear end of the recording paper 12 conveyed in the conveyance direction 15 is pushed downward by the auxiliary roller 48 and directed toward the second conveyance path 67 side.

  When the recording paper 12 is held between both the discharge roller pair 66 and the reverse roller pair 43, the recording paper 12 is conveyed while being guided by the path switching member 41 at the discharge position. At this time, since the resistance of the flap 49 with respect to the recording paper 12 is smaller than that at the reverse position, the recording paper 12 is smoothly conveyed. The recording paper 12 is conveyed between the discharge roller pair 66 and the reverse roller pair 43 in the first conveyance path 65 while being in contact with the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29. That is, the recording paper 12 is guided by the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29. Here, as described above, the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29 is located at a position lower than the clamping position 43 </ b> A of the pair of reverse rollers 43. Therefore, the recording paper 12 guided by the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29 enters the nipping position 43A of the pair of reverse rollers 43 from obliquely below.

  On the condition that the rear end of the recording paper 12 is located at the first connection position 36 (specified position), the control unit drives the motor for applying the driving force to the rollers 60, 62, and 45 in the reverse direction. Thereby, the reverse roller 45 rotates in the first rotation direction. As a result, the recording paper 12 is transported in the direction opposite to the transport direction 15. In other words, the recording paper 12 whose upstream end in the transport direction 15 is directed toward the second transport path 67 is switched back and transported to the second transport path 67 (S100). The recording paper 12 that has been switched back is transported in the transport direction 16 through the second transport path 67. Thereafter, the front and rear ends of the recording paper 12 are opposite to the printing conveyance to the first surface (front surface). That is, the rear end of the recording paper 12 at the time of first side printing becomes the leading end of the recording paper 12 that is switched back and the front end of the recording paper 12 at the time of first side printing is the leading edge of the recording paper 12 that is switched back. It becomes the rear end.

  When the leading edge of the recording paper 12 that has been transported back and transported from the second connection position 37 to the first transport path 65 again reaches the transport roller pair 59 (S110), registration processing is executed as in step S30 (S120). ), The rotation direction of the transport roller 60 is switched to the second rotation direction as in step S50 (S130).

  In this embodiment, when the rotation directions of the conveyance roller 60, the discharge roller 62, and the reverse roller 45 are rotated in the second rotation direction in step S130, the conveyance roller pair 59 and the reverse roller pair that sandwich the recording paper 12 together. 43 is in a state of pulling the recording paper 12 together. Therefore, in this embodiment, the conveyance force of the conveyance roller pair 59 is set to be larger than the conveyance force of the reverse roller pair 43. Here, the conveyance force is a force by which the roller pair conveys the recording paper 12, and is determined by, for example, the rotational speed and material of the rollers constituting the roller pair, the clamping force of the roller pair, and the like. With the above setting, the force of the conveying roller pair 59 that conveys the recording paper 12 is greater than the force of the reversing roller pair 43 that conveys the recording paper 12, so the conveying roller pair 59 is sandwiched between the reversing roller pair 43. The recording paper 12 can be pulled out and conveyed.

  Thereafter, the control unit conveys the recording paper 12 to the print start position in the same manner as when recording an image on the first surface (S140), and records an image on the second surface of the recording paper 12 (S150). Here, the second surface is the back surface of the first surface. The recording paper 12 on which the image is recorded on the second surface is transported in the transport direction 15 and guided to the reverse roller pair 43.

  At this time, the leading end of the recording paper 12 is guided to the reverse roller pair 43 while being guided by the rear end of the recording paper 12 guided by the first upper surface 33 of the second lower guide member 32 as described in detail below. It is conveyed toward. That is, the length L1 of the recording paper 12 is longer than the length L2 of the transport path. Therefore, when the leading edge of the recording paper 12 is conveyed in the conveying direction 15 and guided to the pair of reverse rollers 43, the rear end of the recording paper 12 is directed to the second conveying path 67 while being guided by the first upper surface 33. Are being transported. That is, the leading edge of the recording paper 12 is conveyed toward the reverse roller pair 43 while being guided by the trailing edge of the recording paper 12 guided by the first upper surface 33. However, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the angle of the inclination angle θ1 of the first upper surface 33 is smaller than the angle θ2. Therefore, the inclination angle of the rear end of the recording paper 12 is kept small. As a result, the possibility that the leading edge of the recording paper 12 is hindered by the trailing edge of the recording paper 12 is kept low.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the recording paper 12 on which the image is recorded on the second surface is guided to the reversing roller pair 43, the recording paper 12 on which the image is recorded on the first surface is guided to the reversing roller pair 43. Thus, the flap 49 of the path switching member 41 is located at the reversal position where the tip is lower than the clamping position 43A of the reversing roller pair 43. Therefore, the recording paper 12 enters the holding position 43 </ b> A of the pair of reversing rollers 43 obliquely from below while being guided by the flap 49. Thereafter, the recording paper 12 passes through the reversing roller pair 43 and is conveyed downstream of the reversing roller pair 43 in the conveying direction 15 and is discharged to the discharge tray 21 (S160).

[Effect of the embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, the leading end of the recording paper 12 on which the image is recorded on the second surface is conveyed in the conveying direction 15 while being supported by the first lower guide member 28. On the other hand, the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12 sandwiched between the reverse roller pair 43 is conveyed toward the conveyance roller pair 59 through the second conveyance path 67 while being supported by the upper surface of the second lower guide member 32.

  According to the present embodiment, the second lower guide member 32 includes the first upper surface 33 and the second upper surface 35, and the first upper surface 33 is inclined with respect to the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29. The angle θ1 is smaller than the angle θ2 of the inclination angle θ2 of the second upper surface 35 with respect to the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29.

  As a result, the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12 sandwiched between the reversing roller pair 43 is in a state along the inclination angle θ1. Therefore, the possibility that the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12 closes the path of the leading edge of the recording paper 12 conveyed toward the reversing roller pair 43 can be reduced. As a result, the leading edge of the recording paper 12 can be appropriately advanced to the nipping position by the reversing roller pair 43. Further, in the vicinity of the second connection position 37, the magnitude of the inclination angle θ2 of the guide surface facing the second conveyance path 67 is larger than the inclination angle θ1, so that the second conveyance path 67 and the first conveyance path 65 The radius of curvature of the route to be maintained can be kept large.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12 can be obtained without separating the pair of rollers 45 and 46 constituting the pair of reverse rollers 43 for guiding the recording paper 12 to the second conveyance path 67. The leading edge of the recording paper 12 can be caused to enter the pair of reversing rollers 43 that are sandwiched.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the leading end of the recording paper 12 on which the image is recorded on the second surface is guided to the holding position 43A of the reverse roller pair 43 while being pressed by the path switching member 41 from above. That is, the leading edge of the recording paper 12 is guided to the clamping position 43A from below the clamping position 43A of the reverse roller pair 43. Here, when the leading edge of the recording paper 12 on which the image is recorded on the first surface passes through the second conveyance path 67 and is recorded on the second surface and conveyed to the vicinity of the reverse roller pair 43, the recording paper 12 In a state where the rear end is not completely removed from the reverse roller pair 43, the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12 is conveyed to the second conveyance path 67 while being sandwiched by the reverse roller pair 43. As a result, the leading edge of the recording paper 12 positioned below the pinching position 43 </ b> A of the pair of reverse rollers 43, that is, on the side close to the second transport path 67, runs along the recording surface near the rear end of the recording paper 12. It is guided to the clamping position by the pair 43. That is, according to this configuration, the leading edge of the recording paper 12 can be easily moved into the holding position 43 </ b> A of the reversing roller pair 43 by being along the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the flap 49 of the path switching member 41 is maintained at the reverse position, so that the leading end of the recording paper 12 is positioned near the rear end of the recording paper 12 and the pinching position 43A of the reverse roller pair 43 is maintained. It is possible to achieve the above-described effect that it can be made to enter easily. On the other hand, when the recording paper 12 is sandwiched between the conveyance roller pair 59 and the reverse roller pair 43, the flap 49 moves to the discharge position, so that the resistance of the flap 49 to the recording paper 12 is smaller than that at the reverse position. And can be transported smoothly. Further, when only the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12 is in contact with the auxiliary roller 48 of the flap 49, the recording paper 12 is moved by the reverse roller pair 43 to move the flap 49 to the reverse position. 67.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the force that the conveying roller pair 59 nipping and conveying the recording paper 12 is larger than the force that the reversing roller pair 43 nipping and conveying the recording paper 12. Therefore, even if the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12 is sandwiched between the reverse roller pair 43 when the leading end of the recording paper 12 is sandwiched between the transport roller pair 59 via the second transport path 67, the recording paper The recording paper 12 can be properly conveyed by easily pulling the rear end of 12 from the reverse roller pair 43.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29 is positioned lower than the clamping position 43 </ b> A of the reverse roller pair 43. Therefore, the leading end of the recording paper 12 on which the image is recorded on the second surface is guided to the clamping position 43A from below the clamping position 43A of the pair of reverse rollers 43 while being supported by the first lower guide member 29. Here, when the leading edge of the recording paper 12 on which the image is recorded on the first surface passes through the second conveyance path 67 and is recorded on the second surface and conveyed to the vicinity of the reverse roller pair 43, the recording paper 12 In a state where the rear end is not completely removed from the reverse roller pair 43, the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12 is conveyed to the second conveyance path 67 while being sandwiched by the reverse roller pair 43. As a result, the leading edge of the recording paper 12 positioned below the pinching position 43 </ b> A of the pair of reverse rollers 43, that is, on the side close to the second transport path 67, runs along the recording surface near the rear end of the recording paper 12. It is guided to the clamping position 43A of the pair 43. That is, according to the present embodiment, the leading edge of the recording paper 12 can be easily moved into the pinching position 43 </ b> A of the reversing roller pair 43 by being along the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12.

  Further, according to this embodiment, the force that the discharge roller pair 66 sandwiches and conveys the recording paper 12 is stronger than the force that the reversing roller pair 43 sandwiches and conveys the recording paper 12. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the leading end of the recording paper 12 that has been transported in the transport direction 15 by the discharge roller pair 66 and reached the reversing roller pair 43 can be easily pushed into the nipping position 43A of the reversing roller pair 43. . Further, when the front end of the recording paper 12 is sandwiched between the discharge roller pair 66, the rear end of the recording paper 12 can be easily moved even if the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12 is sandwiched between the reverse roller pair 43. The reversing roller pair 43 can be pulled out.

  In addition, since the conveyance paths 65 and 67 and the roller pairs 59, 66, and 43 are arranged as in the present embodiment, an image is recorded on the recording paper 12 without overlapping the recording paper 12 immediately below the recording unit 24. Can be recorded.

[Modification 1]
In the first modification, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a re-conveying roller pair 70 including a re-conveying roller 68 and a driven roller 69 is disposed in the second conveying path 67. The re-conveying roller 68 to which a driving force is applied from a motor (not shown) rotates in the direction in which the recording paper 12 is conveyed in the conveying direction 16 along the second conveying path 67. When the recording paper 12 conveyed to the second conveyance path 67 by the reversing roller pair 43 is sandwiched between the reconveying roller pair 70, the recording paper 12 is conveyed in the conveying direction 16 by the reconveying roller pair 70. As a result, the recording paper 12 is conveyed toward the conveying roller pair 59 via the second connection position 37.

  In Modification 1, as shown in FIG. 7, the second lower guide member 32 is configured such that the angle θ <b> 1 is smaller than the angle θ <b> 3. Here, the angle θ3 corresponds to the holding position 43A of the recording paper 12 by the reversing roller pair 43 and the re-conveying roller pair 70 when the printer unit 11 is viewed from the left or right side (when viewed from the left side in FIG. 7). Is an inclination angle of the straight line 88 connecting the holding position 70A of the recording paper 12 with respect to the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29.

  In the first modification, the inclination angle θ1 of the first upper surface 33 of the second lower guide member 32 between the reverse roller pair 43 and the re-conveying roller pair 70 with respect to the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29 is as described above. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. As a result, the vicinity of the rear end of the recording paper 12 sandwiched between the reversing roller pair 43 is in a state along the inclination angle θ1. As a result, it is possible to prevent the vicinity of the rear end of the recording sheet 12 from blocking the path of the leading end of the recording sheet 12 conveyed toward the reversing roller pair 43.

[Modification 2]
In the above-described embodiment, each guide member 29, 32 has the upper surface 30, the first upper surface 33, and the second upper surface 35, which are a single plane, as guide surfaces. However, the guide surface of each guide member 18, 19, 28, 29, 31, 32 is not limited to a single plane. For example, each guide member 18, 19, 28, 29, 31, 32 extends along the first conveyance path 65 and the second conveyance path 67 and is formed at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction 9 and has a plurality of ribs ( (Not shown). In this case, a virtual surface including all the top portions of the plurality of ribs on the conveyance paths 65 and 67 functions as a guide surface.

[Modification 3]
In the above-described embodiment, the flap 49 of the path switching member 41 is rotated, but the path switching member 41 may be fixed without rotating. In this case, the lower end of the path switching member 41 is fixed at a position where the lower end of the path switching member 41 protrudes below the pinching position 43 </ b> A of the reverse roller pair 43.

[Modification 4]
As shown in FIG. 8, the third upper guide member 34 that forms a part of the opening 13 in which the feeding tray 20 and the discharge tray 21 are accommodated downstream of the reversing roller pair 43 in the conveying direction 15. 8 and the lower surface 27 of the upper guide member 34 may have the shape shown in FIG. The third guide member 34 extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 8, that is, in the left-right direction 9, similarly to the guide members 18, 19, 28, 29, 31, and 32 described in the above embodiment.

  The third upper guide member 34 is configured such that the angle θ4 is larger than the angle θ1. Here, the angle θ4 is an inclination angle of the lower surface 27 of the third upper guide member 34 with respect to the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29.

  When the recording paper 12 is sandwiched between the reversing roller pair 43 while being supported by the first upper surface 33 of the second lower guide member 32, the recording paper 12 supported by the inclined first upper surface 33 is moved to the reversing roller pair. On the downstream side in the transport direction 15 with respect to 43, the first upper surface 33 extends upward along the inclination angle (angle θ1). As a result, the recording paper 12 may be caught by a guide member disposed on the upper side of the recording paper 12 on the downstream side in the transport direction 15 with respect to the reversing roller pair 43. Therefore, in the fourth modification, the inclination angle of the lower surface 27 of the third upper guide member 34 is configured to be equal to or greater than the inclination angle of the first upper surface 33 of the second lower guide member 32, that is, an angle θ4. As a result, a space is secured on the downstream side in the conveyance direction 15 with respect to the pair of reversing rollers 43, so that the possibility of the recording paper 12 being caught by the third upper guide member 34 can be reduced.

[Modification 5]
In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the second transport path 67 is a first connection on the downstream side in the transport direction 15 with respect to the discharge roller pair 66 and on the upstream side in the transport direction 15 with respect to the reverse roller pair 43. It was branched from the position 36 and merged with the first transport path 65 at the second connection position 37 upstream of the transport roller pair 59 in the transport direction 15. However, since the second conveyance path 67 is a path whose purpose is to reverse the surface of the recording paper 12 facing the recording head 38, the second conveyance path 67 is provided if the purpose is achieved. Is not limited to the one described in the above-described embodiment, specifically the one shown in FIG.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the reverse roller pair 43 is disposed between the conveyance roller pair 59 and the recording unit 24 in the first conveyance path 65, and the second conveyance path 67 is formed by the conveyance roller pair 59. Are also connected to the first conveying path 65 at a position downstream of the conveying direction 15 and upstream of the conveying roller pair 43 in the conveying direction 15 and upstream of the conveying roller pair 59 in the conveying direction 15. Also good. In the case of FIG. 9, the angle θ2 is larger than the angle θ1 as in the above embodiment. In FIG. 9, the path switching member 41 provided on the first upper guide member between the conveyance roller pair 59 and the reverse roller pair 43 is not shown.

  In the example of FIG. 9, the recording paper 12 placed on the feeding tray 20 is guided to the conveyance roller pair 59 through a path indicated by an arrow 68. The recording sheet 12 conveyed from the conveying roller pair 59 to the reversing roller pair 43 and conveyed to the position facing the recording unit 24 by the reversing roller pair 43 is image-recorded on the first surface by the recording unit 24. When the image recording is completed on the first surface, the recording paper 12 is discharged by the discharge roller pair 66. On the other hand, when an image is also recorded on the second surface, the recording paper 12 is returned by the discharge roller pair 66 directly below the recording unit 24 to the reverse roller pair 43. Next, the recording paper 12 is switched back and conveyed to the second conveyance path 67 by the reverse roller pair 43 and conveyed in the conveyance direction 16 (indicated by a two-dot chain line arrow in FIG. 9). When the leading edge of the recording paper 12 reaches the transport roller pair 59, the recording paper 12 is transported in the transport direction 15 by the transport roller pair 59. At this time, the rotation direction of the reverse roller pair 43 is also switched, and the recording paper 12 is rotated in the direction in which the recording sheet 12 is conveyed in the conveyance direction 15. At this time, the recording paper 12 is pulled by the conveying roller pair 59 and the reversing roller pair 43. However, the driving force of the conveying roller pair 59 is larger than that of the reversing roller pair 43. 15 can be conveyed. As a result, the recording paper 12 is led to the reversing roller pair 43 again in a state where the recording paper 12 is upside down. At this time, as in the above-described embodiment, the leading edge of the recording paper 12 is conveyed toward the reverse roller pair 43 while being guided by the rear end of the recording paper 12 guided by the first upper surface 33. Next, the recording paper 12 conveyed to the position facing the recording unit 24 by the reverse roller pair 43 is image-recorded on the second surface by the recording unit 24. Thereafter, the recording paper 12 is discharged by the discharge roller pair 66.

  Further, in Modification 5, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 9, the re-conveying roller pair 70 may be disposed in the second conveyance path 67 as in Modification 1.

  In the fifth modification, as in the first modification, the second lower guide member 32 is configured such that the angle θ1 is smaller than the angle θ3. Here, the angle θ3 corresponds to the holding position 43A of the recording paper 12 by the reversing roller pair 43 and the re-conveying roller pair 70 in a side view of the printer unit 11 viewed from the left or right side (FIG. 9 is a side view viewed from the left side). Is an inclination angle of the straight line 88 connecting the holding position 70A of the recording paper 12 with respect to the upper surface 30 of the first lower guide member 29. By being configured in this way, the same effect as that of Modification 1 can be obtained in Modification 5.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Multifunction machine 12 ... Recording paper 15 ... Conveying direction 24 ... Recording part 28 ... 1st upper side guide member 29 ... 1st lower side guide member 31 ... 2nd upper side Guide member 32 ... second lower guide member 43 ... reverse roller pair 59 ... transport roller pair 65 ... first transport path 67 ... second transport path

Claims (9)

A pair of conveyance rollers for nipping the sheet guided along the first conveyance path and conveying the sheet in the conveyance direction;
A recording unit that is provided downstream of the conveying roller pair in the conveying direction, and that records an image on a sheet;
A reversing roller pair provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair, sandwiching the sheet and transporting to the downstream side in the transport direction, or in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair. Connected to the first transport path downstream and from the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the reverse roller pair, through the lower side of the first transport path, and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair. A pair of reversing rollers for conveying to the second conveying path,
The first transport path is opposed to the first upper guide member and the first upper guide member on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the reverse roller pair. And a first lower guide member,
The second transport path is partitioned by a second upper guide member and a second lower guide member facing the second upper guide member,
The inclination angle of the upstream upstream guide surface facing the second transport path in the second lower guide member with respect to the guide surface facing the first transport path in the first lower guide member is 2 Inclination of the downstream guide surface downstream of the upstream guide surface facing the second transport path in the lower guide member with respect to the guide surface facing the first transport path in the first lower guide member An image recording device smaller than an angle. A pair of conveyance rollers for nipping the sheet guided along the first conveyance path and conveying the sheet in the conveyance direction;
A recording unit that is provided downstream of the conveying roller pair in the conveying direction, and that records an image on a sheet;
A reversing roller pair provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair, sandwiching the sheet and transporting to the downstream side in the transport direction, or in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair. Connected to the first transport path downstream and from the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the reverse roller pair, through the lower side of the first transport path, and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair. A pair of reversing rollers for conveying to the second conveying path;
A re-conveying roller pair that is arranged in the second conveying path and conveys the sheet toward the conveying roller while sandwiching the sheet,
The first transport path is opposed to the first upper guide member and the first upper guide member on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the transport roller pair and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the reverse roller pair. And a first lower guide member,
The second transport path is partitioned by a second upper guide member and a second lower guide member facing the second upper guide member,
The first transport path in the first lower guide member of the upstream guide surface facing the second transport path of the second lower guide member between the reversing roller pair and the re-transport roller pair The inclination angle with respect to the guide surface facing the first side of the first lower guide member is a straight line connecting the sheet clamping position by the reversing roller pair and the sheet clamping position by the re-conveying roller pair in a side view. An image recording apparatus having an inclination angle smaller than an inclination angle with respect to a guide surface facing a conveyance path. The first upper guide member is connected to the first transport path and the second transport path on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the recording unit and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the pair of reverse rollers. In the position, further comprising a pressing portion that contacts the seat from above,
The lower end of the holding part is
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus protrudes to a lower side than a holding position by the reverse roller pair. The holding part is
The lower end of the pair of reversing rollers is movable between a first position protruding to a lower side than a clamping position and a second position positioned above the first position. Image recording device.   5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a force that the pair of conveying rollers nipping and conveying the sheet is larger than a force that the pair of reversing rollers nipping and conveying the sheet.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a guide surface of the first lower guide member is lower than a sheet holding position by the pair of reverse rollers. The reversing roller pair is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction from the recording unit,
The second transport path is located downstream of the recording unit in the transport direction, upstream of the reverse roller pair in the transport direction, and upstream of the transport roller pair in the transport direction. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus is connected to the image recording apparatus. Provided on the upstream side in the transport direction from the connection position of the first transport path and the second transport path on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the recording unit and on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the pair of reverse rollers. A pair of discharge rollers that sandwich the sheet and convey the sheet in the conveying direction,
8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a force that the discharge roller pair holds the sheet and conveys the sheet in the conveying direction is larger than a force that the reversing roller pair holds the sheet and conveys the sheet to the second conveyance path. . A third upper guide member provided further on the downstream side in the transport direction than the pair of reverse rollers;
The inclination angle of the guide surface of the third upper guide member is such that the first transport path in the first lower guide member of the upstream guide surface facing the second transport path in the second lower guide member. The image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image recording apparatus has an angle of inclination with respect to the guide surface facing the surface.

Images