US 12,263,672 B2
Printing apparatus for performing printing to an elongated print medium
Yuki Tsutsui, Kyoto (JP); Mitsuru Tanemoto, Kyoto (JP); Takahiro Uda, Kyoto (JP); and Masaki Era, Kyoto (JP)
Assigned to SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., Kyoto (JP)
Filed by SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., Kyoto (JP)
Filed on May 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/654,361.
Application 18/654,361 is a continuation of application No. 18/324,463, filed on May 26, 2023, granted, now 12,030,303.
Application 18/324,463 is a continuation of application No. 17/387,262, filed on Jul. 28, 2021, granted, now 11,697,293, issued on Jul. 11, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-141726 (JP), filed on Aug. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0278588 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. B41J 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 11/0024 (2021.01) [B41J 11/00216 (2021.01); B41J 11/0022 (2021.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A printing apparatus for performing printing to a print medium elongated, the printing apparatus comprising:
a printing unit configured to cause inks to adhere to a printing face of the print medium to be transported, and
a drying mechanism configured to dry the inks by heating the print medium unloaded from the printing unit,
the drying mechanism including:
at least a first turning roller, a second turning roller, a third turning roller, and a fourth turning roller each configured to contact a rear face of the print medium unloaded from the printing unit with no inks adhering thereto to turn a transportation direction of the print medium;
a printing face contact roller located downstream of the fourth turning roller in the transportation direction and configured to contact the printing face of the print medium to turn the transportation direction of the print medium; and
at least a first heating unit and a second heating unit each configured to heat the print medium guided by the first to fourth turning rollers and the printing face contact roller; wherein
the first turning roller turns a direction of the print medium, unloaded from the printing unit, vertically downward or diagonally downward such that the printing face of the print medium is directed upward,
the second turning roller turns a direction of the print medium, whose direction is turned by the first turning roller, such that the printing face is directed downward,
the third turning roller turns a direction of the print medium, whose direction is turned by the second turning roller, vertically upward or diagonally upward such that the printing face of the print medium is directed upward,
the fourth turning roller turns a direction of the print medium, whose direction is turned by the third turning roller, horizontally such that the printing face is directed upward or diagonally downward such that the printing face is directed upward,
the first heating unit is located so as to face the printing face of the print medium and heats the print medium in a non-contact manner between the first turning roller and the second turning roller,
the second heating unit is located so as to face the printing face of the print medium and heats the print medium in a non-contact manner between the third turning roller and the fourth turning roller, and
the printing face contact roller firstly contacts the printing face of the print medium after the inks adhere, and guides the print medium to an outlet of the drying mechanism by folding the print medium with the inks being dried,
the printing apparatus further comprising:
a first reflector that is located across the print medium transported between the first turning roller and the second turning roller and opposite to the first heating unit; and
a plurality of downstream guide rollers located downstream of the printing face contact roller and configured to guide the print medium to the outlet of the drying mechanism; wherein
two downstream guide rollers of the plurality of the downstream guide rollers are located opposite to the first heating unit across the first reflector and the print medium transported between the first turning roller and the second turning roller, the two downstream guide rollers are configured to guide the print medium transported from the printing face contact roller.