Recording apparatus and medium supporting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024114100-A1
Application number	US-202318477275-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 28, 2023
Priority date	Sep 29, 2022
Publication date	Apr 4, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A recording apparatus includes a support unit including a support surface configured to support a medium, a recording unit configured to perform recording on the medium supported by the support unit, and a projection unit configured to project an image onto the support surface. The projection unit includes an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the support surface with light, and a light blocking portion configured to block a part of the light emitted from the irradiation unit. The light blocking portion includes at least one light blocking region configured to block the part of the light emitted from the irradiation unit. The projection unit is configured to project a reference position image indicating a reference position of the medium supported by the support surface onto the support surface by blocking the part of the light emitted by the irradiation unit with the at least one light blocking region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A recording apparatus comprising:
a support unit including a support surface configured to support a medium; a recording unit configured to perform recording on the medium supported by the support unit; and a projection unit configured to project an image onto the support surface, wherein the projection unit includes an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the support surface with light, and a light blocking portion configured to block a part of the light emitted from the irradiation unit, the light blocking portion includes at least one light blocking region configured to block the part of the light emitted from the irradiation unit, and the projection unit is configured to project a reference position image onto the support surface by blocking the part of the light emitted by the irradiation unit with the at least one light blocking region, the reference position image indicating a reference position of the medium supported by the support surface.

2 . The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a control unit configured to control the irradiation unit, wherein the irradiation unit includes a first light source and a second light source, the first light source is located with a distance between the first light source and the at least one light blocking region being a first distance, the second light source is located with a distance between the second light source and the at least one light blocking region being a second distance longer than the first distance, the control unit is configured to perform control to switch to any one of a plurality of modes, the plurality of modes include a first mode and a second mode, the first mode is a mode in which both the first light source and the second light source are turned on, and the second mode is a mode in which the first light source is turned on and the second light source is turned off.

3 . The recording apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the control unit controls the first light source so that a light emission intensity of the first light source in the second mode is higher than a light emission intensity of the first light source in the first mode.

4 . The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a holding unit holding the light blocking portion with the light blocking portion being movable with respect to the irradiation unit, wherein the reference position image includes a first reference position image and a second reference position image different from the first reference position image, the at least one light blocking region includes a first light blocking region configured to form the first reference position image and a second light blocking region configured to form the second reference position image, and the holding unit holds the light blocking portion with a light blocking region disposed at a position closest to the irradiation unit being switchable between the first light blocking region and the second light blocking region.

5 . The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a transport unit configured to transport the medium in a transport direction, wherein when a direction intersecting the transport direction is a width direction, the reference position image is an image that enables identification of a reference position of an end portion of the medium in the width direction.

6 . The recording apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising
a holding unit holding the light blocking portion with the light blocking portion being movable in the transport direction with respect to the irradiation unit.

7 . The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a control unit configured to control the irradiation unit; and a position detection unit configured to detect a position of the light blocking portion, wherein the control unit controls the irradiation unit based on a result detected by the position detection unit.

8 . The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a transport unit configured to transport the medium in a transport direction, wherein the transport unit includes a transport belt configured to support the medium to be transported, the support unit includes the transport belt, and the support surface is a surface at which the transport belt supports the medium.

9 . A medium supporting device comprising:
a support unit including a support surface configured to support a medium being a recording target; and a projection unit configured to project an image onto the support surface, wherein the projection unit includes an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the support surface with light, and a light blocking portion configured to block a part of the light emitted from the irradiation unit, the light blocking portion includes at least one light blocking region that blocks the part of the light emitted from the irradiation unit, and the projection unit is configured to project a reference position image onto the support surface by blocking the part of the light emitted by the irradiation unit with the at least one light blocking region, the reference position image indicating a reference position of the medium supported by the support surface.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Hayashi Seiya
• Sasaki Tsuneyuki
• Kato Junya

Classifications

• H04N1/00997 Primary

  Light control, e.g. shielding from ambient light or preventing light leakage · CPC title

• H04N1/00045

  using a reference pattern designed for the purpose, e.g. a test chart · CPC title

• H04N1/00267 Primary

  with a viewing or projecting apparatus, e.g. for reading image information from a film (H04N1/00262 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/0061

  Feed belts · CPC title

• H04N1/0282

  Using a single or a few point light sources, e.g. a laser diode · CPC title