Image forming apparatus and control method of image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12409672-B2
Application number	US-202318317454-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2023
Priority date	May 18, 2022
Publication date	Sep 9, 2025
Grant date	Sep 9, 2025

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a main part that forms an image on a continuous medium in a state in which a tension is applied to the continuous medium, the continuous medium being fed from a first roll and conveyed to be taken up on a second roll; and a tension maintaining part that maintains the tension of the continuous medium at the main part during a manipulation for replacing at least one of the first roll and the second roll.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a main part that forms an image on a continuous medium in a state in which a tension is applied to the continuous medium, the continuous medium being fed from a first roll and conveyed to be taken up on a second roll; and
a tension maintaining part that maintains the tension of the continuous medium at the main part during a manipulation for replacing at least one of the first roll and the second roll;
wherein:
the tension maintaining part includes:
a tension applier that applies a predetermined tension to the continuous medium, and
a holder that holds the continuous medium in a state in which the predetermined tension is applied to the continuous medium, and
when the image forming apparatus transitions from an image formable state to a roll replacement state, the holder is operated such that the holder holds the continuous medium, and thereafter stops the tension applier applying the tension.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein during the manipulation, the main part performs a preliminary operation of image formation while the tension is maintained.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tension maintaining part includes:
a tension applier that applies a predetermined tension to the continuous medium, and
a holder that holds the continuous medium in the state in which the predetermined tension is applied to the continuous medium.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the holder holds at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the continuous medium with respect to the main part in a conveyance direction in which the continuous medium is conveyed.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the holder includes a nip roller that nips and conveys the continuous medium.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a splice table that presses the continuous medium onto a table with a clamp when the continuous medium is cut or the continuous medium is connected to one another;
wherein the holder includes the clamp.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a tension detector that detects the tension of the continuous medium at the main part, wherein when the tension detected is abnormal, the tension maintaining part terminates an operation of maintaining the tension depending on the manipulation.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:
the tension maintaining part further includes a tension adjustment part that adjusts the tension of the continuous medium, and
the tension adjustment part is disposed on the main part side of the holder in a conveyance direction in which the continuous medium is conveyed.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein
the tension adjustment part includes a dancer roller that is disposed to be vertically movable and that applies its own weight to the continuous medium.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a tension detector that detects that the tension is abnormal, when the dancer roller is at a lowermost portion or an uppermost portion of a range of vertical movement.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a hardware processor that controls the image forming apparatus based on an instruction from a user by manipulation, wherein
the hardware processor permits a preliminary operation of image formation, when transitioning, in accordance with the instruction of the user, to the roll replacement state for replacing at least one of the first roll and the second roll.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
when the hardware processor is in an image formable state in which starting formation of the image is allowed, the hardware processor transitions to the roll replacement state in accordance with the instruction of the user.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
when the hardware processor is in the roll replacement state, the hardware processor transitions to an image formable state in which starting formation of the image is allowed, in accordance with an instruction from the user.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein:
the tension maintaining part includes:
a tension applier that applies a predetermined tension to the continuous medium, and
a holder that holds the continuous medium in a state in which the predetermined tension is applied to the continuous medium, and
when the hardware processor transitions from the roll replacement state to the image formable state, the hardware processor starts the tension applier applying a tension, and thereafter operates the holder such that holding of the continuous medium is released.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein:
the tension maintaining part includes:
a tension applier that applies a predetermined tension to the continuous medium, and
a holder that holds the continuous medium in a state in which the predetermined tension is applied to the continuous medium, and
when the tension is abnormal in the roll replacement state, the hardware processor releases the roll replacement state, operates the holder such that holding of the continuous medium is released, and stops the tension applier applying the tension.

16. A control method of an image forming apparatus, comprising:
forming an image on a continuous medium by a main part of the image forming apparatus in a state in which a tension is applied to the continuous medium, the continuous medium being fed from a first roll and conveyed to be taken up on a second roll;
operating a tension maintaining part to maintain the tension of the continuous medium at the main part during a manipulation for replacing at least one of the first roll and the second roll;
wherein:
the tension maintaining part includes:
a tension applier that applies a predetermined tension to the continuous medium, and
a holder that holds the continuous medium in a state in which the predetermined tension is applied to the continuous medium, and
when the image forming apparatus transitions from an image formable state to a roll replacement state, the holder is operated such that the holder holds the continuous medium, and thereafter stops the tension applier applying the tension.

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Naoi Shinya
• Okuzawa Sho
• Soda Sho

Classifications

• B65H19/20

  Cutting-off the expiring web · CPC title

• G03G15/652

  Feeding a copy material originating from a continuous web roll · CPC title

• G03G15/6517

  Apparatus for continuous web copy material of plain paper, e.g. supply rolls; Roll holders therefor · CPC title

• B41J15/16 Primary

  Means for tensioning or winding the web · CPC title