Printing apparatus and method of controlling printing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023286295-A1
Application number	US-202318182436-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 13, 2023
Priority date	Mar 14, 2022
Publication date	Sep 14, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A printing apparatus includes a printing head configured to eject photocurable ink onto a medium, an irradiation portion configured to perform light irradiation of the medium, a mounting portion mounted with the irradiation portion and the printing head in the order from the irradiation portion to the printing head along a first direction, and a driving portion configured to move the mounting portion between a standby position where the printing head stands by and a stop position in the first direction with respect to the standby position. The stop position is a position where the irradiation portion faces the medium.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A printing apparatus comprising:
a printing head configured to eject photocurable ink onto a medium; an irradiation portion configured to perform light irradiation of the medium; a mounting portion mounted with the irradiation portion and the printing head in order from the irradiation portion to the printing head along a first direction; and a driving portion configured to move the mounting portion between a standby position where the printing head stands by and a stop position in the first direction with respect to the standby position, wherein the stop position is a position where the irradiation portion faces the medium.

2 . The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a control portion configured to control the driving portion and the irradiation portion.

3 . The printing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the printing head ejects a plurality of types of photocurable ink onto the medium and the plurality of types of photocurable ink include clear ink.

4 . The printing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the control portion causes the irradiation portion to stop the light irradiation, before the mounting portion stops at the stop position.

5 . The printing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the control portion causes the irradiation portion to reduce a light amount of the light irradiation, before the mounting portion stops at the stop position.

6 . The printing apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising
a second irradiation portion mounted to the mounting portion and configured to perform the light irradiation, wherein the second irradiation portion is mounted at a position in the first direction of the printing head.

7 . The printing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the control portion: controls the driving portion to move the mounting portion stopped at the stop position in a second direction being a reverse direction of the first direction and after moving the mounting portion to a second stop position where the second irradiation portion faces the medium and the printing head does not face the medium, moves the mounting portion from the second stop position in the first direction.

8 . A method of controlling a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus including
a mounting portion mounted with an irradiation portion and a printing head in order from the irradiation portion to the printing head along a first direction, the printing apparatus being configured to eject photocurable ink onto a medium, the method comprising: moving the mounting portion from a standby position in the first direction; and passing the mounting portion above the medium and stopping the mounting portion at a stop position where the irradiation portion mounted to the mounting portion faces the medium.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Ozaki Kazuma

Classifications

• B41J2/16508

  connected with the printer frame · CPC title

• B41J2/2114

  Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids (B41J2/211 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B41J11/00212 Primary

  Controlling the irradiation means, e.g. image-based controlling of the irradiation zone or control of the duration or intensity of the irradiation · CPC title

• B41J11/00218

  Constructional details of the irradiation means, e.g. radiation source attached to reciprocating print head assembly or shutter means provided on the radiation source · CPC title

• B41J2202/14

  Mounting head into the printer · CPC title