Data processing apparatus

• US 20060082050A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Wanibuchi, Hiroshi, Kondo, Katsuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,364,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 271/264
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/006 Means for preventing paper jams or for facilitating their removal
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section

Abstract

A data processing apparatus having a construction for guiding a transported medium conveyed from a curved transportation unit enables opening and closing the guide unit. The data processing apparatus 1 has an intermediate roller 39 and guide portion 38 constituting a curved transportation unit 23 inside the printer case 7, and a paper feed roller pair 25 and 26 for nipping and conveying paper P conveyed from the curved transportation unit 23 disposed a specific distance from the curved transportation unit 23. The guide portion 38 has an auxiliary guide member 51 and can move circularly open and closed in unison with an outside wall unit 16. The auxiliary guide member 51. projects toward the paper feed roller pair 25 and 26 and guides the paper P. An auxiliary guide linking mechanism 53 causes the auxiliary guide member 51 to retract away from the paper feed roller pair 25 and 26 in conjunction with the unlocking operation of opening/closing levers 41 and 42.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus comprising a guide unit having an intermediate roller and an arc-shaped guide surface composing a substantially arc-shaped curved transportation unit inside an external case;

a paper feed roller pair, which nips and conveys a transported medium conveyed from said curved transportation unit toward a processing position, disposed at a specific distance from a discharge end of said curved transportation unit,

wherein said guide unit comprises an auxiliary guide member which projects from said discharge end of said curved transportation unit toward said paper feed roller pair and guides said transported medium conveyed toward said paper feed roller pair, said guide unit rendered to move circularly and open and close in unison with an outside wall portion of said external case positioned on the outside of said guide unit;

opening/closing levers for locking and unlocking a lock unit which restricts circular motion of said guide unit in a closed position; and

an auxiliary guide linking mechanism for retracting said auxiliary guide member in a direction separating from said paper feed roller pair in conjunction with said unlocking operation of said lock unit by said opening/closing levers.

2. The data processing apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary guide member advances and retracts in the direction of said paper feed roller pair in conjunction with movement between said unlocked position and said locked position of said lock unit.

3. The data processing apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary guide linking mechanism comprises:

a first rack which moves linearly in conjunction with an unlocking operation of said opening/closing levers;

a first pinion which meshes with said first rack and rotates in conjunction with linear movement of said first rack;

a second pinion which rotates codirectionally to said first pinion; and

a second rack which has teeth which mesh with said second pinion arrayed in the retracting direction of said auxiliary guide member, and retracts said auxiliary guide member as a result of linear motion of said second rack in conjunction with rotation of said second pinion.

4. The data processing apparatus described in claim 1, further comprising stops which contact said opening/closing levers in said unlocked position when said guide unit is in said open position, and hold said lock unit in said unlocked position.

5. The data processing apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said lock unit is elastically urged toward said locked position.

6. The data processing apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary guide member is housed in a flange member which moves circularly in conjunction with said outside wall portion when said auxiliary guide member retracts away from said paper feed roller pair.

7. The data processing apparatus described in claim 3, wherein the first rack is formed in unison with one of said opening/closing levers.

8. The data processing apparatus described in claim 3, wherein the second rack is formed in unison with said auxiliary guide member.