US 12,083,807 B2
Printing apparatus and printing method
Hirotaka Matsunaga, Matsumoto (JP)
Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/653,068.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-034155 (JP), filed on Mar. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0281251 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. B41J 29/393 (2006.01); B41J 2/21 (2006.01); B41J 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 29/393 (2013.01) [B41J 2/2135 (2013.01); B41J 11/0095 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A printing apparatus comprising:
a platen configured to support a printing medium;
a transport unit configured to transport the printing medium in a transport direction;
a printing head including a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge ink to the printing medium supported by the platen;
a scanning portion configured to move the printing head in a main scanning direction intersecting the transport direction; and
a control unit configured to control the transport unit, the printing head, and the scanning portion, wherein
the platen includes:
a plurality of contact portions configured to be brought into contact with the printing medium to support the printing medium; and
a plurality of non-contact portions configured not to be brought into contact with the printing medium, each of the non-contact portions comprising a first groove that is parallel to the main scanning direction,
the plurality of the contact portions of which positions differ from each other in the transport direction are each provided between the non-contact portions, one contact portion of the plurality of the contact portions being encircled by a plurality of the plurality of first grooves in the transport direction, each of the plurality of the first grooves accommodating an ink absorbing body, and
when performing marginless printing for discharging ink to an end portion, in the transport direction, of the printing medium, the control unit changes areas of the nozzles used in the marginless printing to any of a plurality of nozzle areas corresponding respectively to the plurality of first grooves in the transport direction in accordance with deposit information indicating an amount of the ink deposited at the first groove.