Abstract: Airborne ink mist is prevented from sticking to the detector part of a paper detector disposed on a carriage without using a configuration for capturing the ink mist. A printer has a conveyance path that conveys paper past the print position of a printhead; a carriage that carries the printhead; and a carriage moving mechanism that moves the carriage bidirectionally on the transverse axis of the printer. A paper detector and a shutter that opens and closes the detection part of the paper detector are disposed on the carriage. When the carriage moves to one end of the range of carriage movement, a shutter operating member disposed on a second side frame facing the carriage contacts the shutter and moves the shutter from its open position or closed position to the other position.

Abstract: The platen gap adjustment mechanism 70 of a printer 1 adjusts a gap between a printhead 59 and a platen 25 by moving first and second guide rails 57, 58 that support the head carriage 59 in a gap adjustment direction relative to the platen 25. A rotary mechanism for synchronously rotating the first and second guide rails 57, 58 to adjust the gap has a rotary shaft 101 perpendicular to the first and second guide rails 57, 58; first and second drive-side gears (e.g. worms) 104, 105 disposed coaxially to the rotary shaft 101; a first driven-side gear (e.g. worm wheel) 106 disposed coaxially to the first guide rail 57 and meshing with the first drive-side gear 104; and a second driven-side gear (e.g. worm wheel) 107 disposed coaxially to the second guide rail 58 and meshing with the second drive-side gear 105.

Abstract: A duplex printer with a small, compact conveyance path has a medium supply path and a medium inverting path that merge into a middle conveyance path at a junction. The middle conveyance path goes to a path switching unit connecting a main conveyance path and the inverting path. A flap, which is a path switching member, is disposed in the path switching unit. A middle conveyance roller pair, having a middle conveyance roller and a nipping portion, conveys the medium (e.g. paper) through the middle conveyance path. The portion of the middle conveyance path from at least the junction to the nipping portion is a conveyance path portion defined by the roller surface of the middle conveyance roller. The paper fed to the middle conveyance path is guided by the middle conveyance roller from the junction to the nipping portion of the middle conveyance roller pair.

Abstract: A duplex printer with a small, compact conveyance path has a medium supply path and a medium inverting path that merge into a middle conveyance path at a junction. The middle conveyance path goes to a path switching unit connecting a main conveyance path and the inverting path. A flap, which is a path switching member, is disposed in the path switching unit. A middle conveyance roller pair, having a middle conveyance roller and a nipping portion, conveys the medium (e.g. paper) through the middle conveyance path. The portion of the middle conveyance path from at least the junction to the nipping portion is a conveyance path portion defined by the roller surface of the middle conveyance roller. The paper fed to the middle conveyance path is guided by the middle conveyance roller from the junction to the nipping portion of the middle conveyance roller pair.

Abstract: A printer absorbs conveyance speed differences between a conveyance mechanism and a reversing conveyance mechanism with a simple configuration. A printer 1 has a reversing conveyance mechanism 38 that reverses the front and back and returns printing paper P supplied from a main conveyance mechanism 17 to the main conveyance mechanism 17. The reversing conveyance mechanism 38 has a first reversing conveyance roller 31, and a first gear train 51 that transfers drive power from a reversing conveyance motor 39. A backlash part 70 enabling relative rotation in a preset angular range between the first final gear 64 and first reversing conveyance roller 31 is disposed between the first final gear 64 of the first gear train 51 and the first reversing conveyance roller 31.

Abstract: A small, compactly configured reference position detection device 170 for a rotary transfer mechanism includes a rotary member 130 that can rotate through a rotational angle less than one revolution from a first rotational position past a second rotational position and reference position to a third rotational position; a detection flag disc 151 that can move in a range from a first position past a detection position to a second position; a detector 162 that detects the detection flag passing the detection position, and a flag moving mechanism. The flag moving mechanism can move the detection flag disc 151 tracking the rotary member 130. The position of detection flag disc 151 movement when passing the reference position of the rotary member 130 is the detection position.

Abstract: Airborne ink mist is prevented from sticking to the detector part of a paper detector disposed on a carriage without using a configuration for capturing the ink mist. A printer has a conveyance path that conveys paper past the print position of a printhead; a carriage that carries the printhead; and a carriage moving mechanism that moves the carriage bidirectionally on the transverse axis of the printer. A paper detector and a shutter that opens and closes the detection part of the paper detector are disposed on the carriage. When the carriage moves to one end of the range of carriage movement, a shutter operating member disposed on a second side frame facing the carriage contacts the shutter and moves the shutter from its open position or closed position to the other position.

Abstract: The platen gap adjustment mechanism 70 of a printer 1 adjusts a gap between a printhead 59 and a platen 25 by moving first and second guide rails 57, 58 that support the head carriage 59 in a gap adjustment direction relative to the platen 25. A rotary mechanism for synchronously rotating the first and second guide rails 57, 58 to adjust the gap has a rotary shaft 101 perpendicular to the first and second guide rails 57, 58; first and second drive-side gears (e.g. worms) 104, 105 disposed coaxially to the rotary shaft 101; a first driven-side gear (e.g. worm wheel) 106 disposed coaxially to the first guide rail 57 and meshing with the first drive-side gear 104; and a second driven-side gear (e.g. worm wheel) 107 disposed coaxially to the second guide rail 58 and meshing with the second drive-side gear 105.

Abstract: A small, compactly configured reference position detection device 170 for a rotary transfer mechanism includes a rotary member 130 that can rotate through a rotational angle less than one revolution from a first rotational position past a second rotational position and reference position to a third rotational position; a detection flag disc 151 that can move in a range from a first position past a detection position to a second position; a detector 162 that detects the detection flag passing the detection position, and a flag moving mechanism. The flag moving mechanism can move the detection flag disc 151 tracking the rotary member 130. The position of detection flag disc 151 movement when passing the reference position of the rotary member 130 is the detection position.

Abstract: A printer absorbs conveyance speed differences between a conveyance mechanism and a reversing conveyance mechanism with a simple configuration. A printer 1 has a reversing conveyance mechanism 38 that reverses the front and back and returns printing paper P supplied from a main conveyance mechanism 17 to the main conveyance mechanism 17. The reversing conveyance mechanism 38 has a first reversing conveyance roller 31, and a first gear train 51 that transfers drive power from a reversing conveyance motor 39. A backlash part 70 enabling relative rotation in a preset angular range between the first final gear 64 and first reversing conveyance roller 31 is disposed between the first final gear 64 of the first gear train 51 and the first reversing conveyance roller 31.

Abstract: A medium transporting apparatus has a first transport path that reverses the sides of the medium when guiding the medium, wherein the first transport path is installed so as to be connected to the middle of a second transport path between a mounting portion and a recording portion; a first mode in which after there has been recording on a first surface of a preceding medium, a second roller installed on the mounting portion transports a succeeding medium to the recording portion side while guiding it to the second transport path.

Abstract: A medium transporting apparatus has a first transport path that reverses the sides of the medium when guiding the medium, wherein the first transport path is installed so as to be connected to the middle of a second transport path between a mounting portion and a recording portion; a first mode in which after there has been recording on a first surface of a preceding medium, a second roller installed on the mounting portion transports a succeeding medium to the recording portion side while guiding it to the second transport path.

Abstract: A sheet cassette is adapted to be detachably attached to a cassette receiver of an information processing apparatus. A cassette body is formed with an opened space adapted to contain sheets therein. A stopper is operable to prevent a sheet from moving in a first direction to enter the opened space when a volume of the sheets contained in the opened space reaches a maximum containing capacity, while allowing the sheets contained in the opened space to move in a second direction to be fed to the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet cassette is adapted to be detachably attached to a cassette receiver of an information processing apparatus. A cassette body is formed with an opened space adapted to contain sheets therein. A stopper is operable to prevent a sheet from moving in a first direction to enter the opened space when a volume of the sheets contained in the opened space reaches a maximum containing capacity, while allowing the sheets contained in the opened space to move in a second direction to be fed to the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet cassette is adapted to be detachably attached to a cassette receiver of an information processing apparatus. A cassette body is formed with an opened space adapted to contain sheets therein. A stopper is operable to prevent a sheet from moving in a first direction to enter the opened space when a volume of the sheets contained in the opened space reaches a maximum containing capacity, while allowing the sheets contained in the opened space to move in a second direction to be fed to the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet cassette is adapted to be detachably attached to a cassette receiver of an information processing apparatus. A cassette body is formed with an opened space adapted to contain sheets therein. A stopper is operable to prevent a sheet from moving in a first direction to enter the opened space when a volume of the sheets contained in the opened space reaches a maximum containing capacity, while allowing the sheets contained in the opened space to move in a second direction to be fed to the information processing apparatus.