US 11,938,720 B2
Printing apparatus having a splice portion
Shoji Kakimoto, Kyoto (JP); Mitsuru Tanemoto, Kyoto (JP); and Hideaki Onishi, Kyoto (JP)
Assigned to SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., Kyoto (JP)
Filed by SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., Kyoto (JP)
Filed on Jan. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/587,414.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-030443 (JP), filed on Feb. 26, 2021; and application No. 2021-210829 (JP), filed on Dec. 24, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0274429 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. B41J 15/16 (2006.01); B41J 11/00 (2006.01); B41J 13/00 (2006.01); B41J 29/377 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 15/165 (2013.01) [B41J 11/002 (2013.01); B41J 11/0095 (2013.01); B41J 13/0009 (2013.01); B41J 29/377 (2013.01); B41J 15/16 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A printing apparatus for printing on printing media in a continuous form, the printing apparatus comprising:
a transport device for transporting the printing media in a transport direction;
a detector for detecting a splice portion which is a joint between the printing media transported by the transport device;
a printing section for printing on the printing media transported by the transport device;
a drying section for drying at a drying temperature the printing media printed in the printing section and transported by the transport device; and
a controller for operating the transport device to reduce tension applied to the splice portion at least while the splice portion is located in the drying section,
wherein the transport device comprises a first drive roller located upstream of the drying section in the transport direction and a second drive roller located downstream of the drying section in the transport direction, the first drive roller and the second drive roller both being configured to transport the printing media,
wherein the detector is located upstream of the first drive roller in the transport direction, and additionally has a tension sensor located downstream of the first drive roller in the transport direction and upstream of the second drive roller in the transport direction, the tension sensor being configured to detect a tension of the printing media,
wherein the controller operates the first drive roller so as to transport the printing media at a constant transporting speed,
wherein the controller operates the second drive roller so that a target tension value and a tension detection value of the tension sensor are in agreement with each other,
wherein the controller operates the second drive roller so that a tension of the splice portion is in agreement with a target tension value reduced only by a predetermined value from the target tension at least while the splice portion is located in the drying section, and
wherein the transport device transports the printing media at the constant transporting speed for a period of time when the splice portion is located in the drying section.