Transport device and liquid ejecting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12403704-B2
Application number	US-202318479721-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2023
Priority date	Oct 3, 2022
Publication date	Sep 2, 2025
Grant date	Sep 2, 2025

Abstract

A transport device including a transporting belt that includes a medium-supportable outer circumferential surface and transports the medium, a cleaning roller capable of cleaning the outer circumferential surface, a storage unit that stores a cleaning liquid supplied to the outer circumferential surface via the cleaning roller, a discharge port through which the cleaning liquid is dischargeable, a flow path pipe through which the discharged cleaning liquid is passable, a pump that changes an internal pressure of the flow path pipe to cause the cleaning liquid to flow so that the cleaning liquid stored in the storage unit is discharged from the storage unit through the discharge port and the flow path pipe, a sensor capable of detecting the internal pressure of the flow path pipe, and a control unit that determines a state of the cleaning liquid stored in the storage unit based on a detection result of the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transport device, comprising:
a transporting belt including an outer circumferential surface on which a medium is supportable, and configured to transport the medium;
a cleaning roller being in contact with the outer circumferential surface, and configured to clean the outer circumferential surface while rotating;
a storage unit in which a cleaning liquid supplied to the outer circumferential surface via the cleaning roller is stored;
a discharge port through which the cleaning liquid is dischargeable;
a flow path pipe that communicates with the discharge port, and through which the cleaning liquid discharged through the discharge port is passable;
a pump configured to change an internal pressure of the flow path pipe to cause the cleaning liquid to flow so that the cleaning liquid stored in the storage unit is discharged from the storage unit through the discharge port and the flow path pipe;
a sensor configured to detect the internal pressure of the flow path pipe; and
a control unit configured to determine a state of the cleaning liquid stored in the storage unit based on a detection result of the sensor.

2. The transport device according to claim 1 , comprising a stirring unit configured to stir the cleaning liquid stored in the storage unit, wherein
the control unit, when determining that the discharge port is clogged based on the detection result of the sensor, operates the stirring unit.

3. The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein
the pump is configured to cause the cleaning liquid stored in the storage unit to flow in a first direction to be discharged through the discharge port and the flow path pipe, and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and
the control unit, when determining that the discharge port is clogged based on the detection result of the sensor, controls the pump to change a flow direction of the cleaning liquid from the first direction to the second direction.

4. The transport device according to claim 3 , wherein
the control unit controls the pump to perform operation twice or more for changing the flow direction from the first direction to the second direction.

5. The transport device according to claim 1 , comprising a heating unit configured to heat the cleaning liquid stored in the storage unit, wherein
the control unit, when determining that the discharge port is clogged based on the detection result of the sensor, changes output of the heating unit from first output to second output greater than the first output.

6. The transport device according to claim 5 , wherein
the heating unit is provided along an edge of the discharge port.

7. A liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising:
an ejecting unit configured to eject a liquid droplet onto a medium;
a transporting belt including an outer circumferential surface on which the medium is supportable, and configured to transport the medium;
a cleaning roller being in contact with the outer circumferential surface, and configured to clean the outer circumferential surface while rotating;
a storage unit in which a cleaning liquid supplied to the outer circumferential surface via the cleaning roller is stored;
a discharge port through which the cleaning liquid is dischargeable;
a flow path pipe that communicates with the discharge port, and through which the cleaning liquid discharged through the discharge port is passable;
a pump configured to change an internal pressure of the flow path pipe to cause the cleaning liquid to flow so that the cleaning liquid stored in the storage unit is discharged from the storage unit through the discharge port and the flow path pipe;
a sensor configured to detect the internal pressure of the flow path pipe; and
a control unit configured to determine a state of the cleaning liquid stored in the storage unit based on a detection result of the sensor.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Fujishima Kazutoshi

Classifications

• B65G45/12

  comprising scrapers · CPC title

• B41P2235/22

  Rollers · CPC title

• B41P2235/21

  Scrapers, e.g. absorbent pads · CPC title

• B41J29/17 Primary

  Cleaning arrangements · CPC title

• B08B1/34

  rotating about an axis parallel to the surface · CPC title