Recording medium loader
View Patent ↗An inventive recording medium loader includes a connector provided on a chassis for engagement with a front edge of a generally rectangular planar recording medium, and a tray provided on the chassis for transporting the recording medium toward and away from the connector. An engagement piece having a claw to be brought into and out of engagement with a notch formed in the recording medium is provided on the tray, and a cam is provided in an engagement piece movement path on the chassis. Before the forward edge of the recording medium is engaged with the connector, the claw is brought into engagement with the notch of the recording medium by the cam to lock the recording medium on the tray. In this state, the recording medium is brought into engagement with the connector.
1. A recording medium loader comprising:
a chassis;
a single tray provided on the chassis for transporting a generally rectangular planar recording medium;
a connector provided on the chassis for engagement with the recording medium;
an engagement piece provided on the tray and having a claw to be brought into and out of engagement with a notch formed in the recording medium; and
a cam provided on the chassis, the cam being engageable with the engagement piece during a period from a time point when the tray starts advancing to a time point when the tray reaches a forward end,
wherein the engagement piece is operated by the cam to engage the claw with the notch of the recording medium before a forward edge of the recording medium is brought into engagement with the connector, whereby the recording medium is locked on the tray.
2. A recording medium loader as set forth in claim 1 ,
wherein the notch is provided in one of upper and lower surfaces of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is slidable in a thickness direction of the recording medium.
3. A recording medium loader as set forth in claim 1 ,
wherein the notch is provided in one of upper and lower surfaces of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is slidable in a thickness direction of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is biased by a spring in such a direction that the claw thereof is moved away from the notch of the recording medium on the tray.
4. A recording medium loader as set forth in claim 1 ,
wherein the notch is provided in one of upper and lower surfaces of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is slidable in a thickness direction of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is biased by a spring in such a direction that the claw thereof is moved toward the notch of the recording medium on the tray.
5. A recording medium loader as set forth in claim 1 ,
wherein the notch is provided in one of upper and lower surfaces of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is pivotal within a plane parallel to a side surface of the recording medium.
6. A recording medium loader as set forth in claim 1 ,
wherein the notch is provided in one of upper and lower surfaces of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is pivotal within a plane parallel to a side surface of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is biased by a spring in such a direction that the claw thereof is moved away from the notch of the recording medium on the tray.
7. A recording medium loader as set forth in claim 1 ,
wherein the notch is provided in one of upper and lower surfaces of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is pivotal within a plane parallel to a side surface of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is biased by a spring in such a direction that the claw thereof is moved toward the notch of the recording medium on the tray.
8. A recording medium loader as set forth in claim 1 ,
wherein the notch is provided in a side surface of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is pivotal within a plane parallel to upper and lower surfaces of the recording medium.
9. A recording medium loader as set forth in claim 1 ,
wherein the notch is provided in a side surface of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is pivotal within a plane parallel to upper and lower surfaces of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is biased by a spring in such a direction that the claw thereof is moved toward the notch of the recording medium on the tray.
10. A recording medium loader as set forth in claim 1 ,
wherein the notch is provided in a side surface of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is pivotal within a plane parallel to upper and lower surfaces of the recording medium,
wherein the engagement piece is biased by a spring in such a direction that the claw thereof is moved away from the notch of the recording medium on the tray.
11. A recording medium loader as set forth in claim 3 ,
wherein the engagement piece includes a detection piece projecting upward through a bottom of the tray,
wherein the chassis includes a stopper which is brought into abutment against the engagement piece when a loading operation is performed with the tray being empty,
wherein the engagement piece is lowered to evade the stopper by depressing the detection piece when the recording medium is loaded on the tray.