Medium heating device and heating method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11141997-B2
Application number	US-202016799417-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2020
Priority date	Feb 27, 2019
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A liquid ejecting device includes a heating unit configured to heat a medium transported in a state where liquid adheres to the medium, and a control unit configured to control the heating unit. The control unit determines whether the medium is wound downstream, in a transport direction, from an area heated by the heating unit. When the control unit determines that the medium is wound, the control unit controls the heating unit at a first heating set temperature, and, when the control unit determines that the medium is not wound, the control unit controls the heating unit at a second heating set temperature that is lower than the first heating set temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medium heating device, comprising:
a heating unit configured to heat a medium transported in a state where liquid adheres to the medium;
a reel mechanism configured to wind the discharged medium onto a roll body that is downstream from the heating unit; and
a control unit configured to control the heating unit, wherein
the control unit determines whether the medium is wound downstream, in a transport direction, from an area heated by the heating unit onto the roll body by the reel mechanism,
when the control unit determines that the discharged medium is wound on the roll body by the reel mechanism, the control unit controls the heating unit at a first heating set temperature, and
when the control unit determines that the discharged medium is discharged without being wound on the roll body by the reel mechanism, the control unit controls the heating unit at a second heating set temperature that is lower than the first heating set temperature.

2. The medium heating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit rotates the reel mechanism in a winding direction, and, based on a rotational load exerted on the reel mechanism, determines whether the medium is wound downstream, in the transport direction, from the area heated by the heating unit.

3. The medium heating device according to claim 2 , wherein
the control unit rotates the reel mechanism before an operation of ejecting the liquid onto the medium, and determines, based on a rotational load exerted on the reel mechanism, whether the medium is wound downstream, in the transport direction, of the area heated by the heating unit.

4. The medium heating device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a support portion in which a suction hole is formed, the suction hole being open in a surface contacting the medium;
an ejecting unit configured to eject the liquid onto the medium supported by the support portion; and
a suction mechanism configured to generate negative pressure at the suction hole, wherein
when the control unit determines that the medium is wound, the control unit controls the suction mechanism to generate first negative pressure at the suction hole, and, when the control unit determines that the medium is not wound, the control unit controls the suction mechanism to generate second negative pressure, which is smaller than the first negative pressure, at the suction hole.

5. A heating method for heating a medium transported in a state where liquid adheres to the medium, the heating method comprising:
determining whether the discharged medium is wound downstream, in a transport direction, from a heated area in which the medium is heated by a heating unit onto a roll body by a reel mechanism;
controlling, when it is determined that the discharged medium is wound onto the roll body by the reel mechanism, the heating unit at a first heating set temperature; and
controlling, when it is determined that the discharged medium is not wound onto the roll body by the reel mechanism, the heating unit at a second heating set temperature that is lower than the first heating set temperature.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• YODA Tomohiro

Classifications

• B41J11/0024

  using conduction means, e.g. by using a heated platen · CPC title

• B41J11/0022

  using convection means, e.g. by using a fan for blowing or sucking air · CPC title

• B41J11/0085

  Using suction for maintaining printing material flat (on rotatable drums B41J13/226) · CPC title

• B41J11/002 Primary

  Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating · CPC title

• B65H26/04

  for variation in tension · CPC title