Recording apparatus and method for moving medium support unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9725266-B2
Application number	US-201615054374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A recording apparatus includes a medium support unit that is capable of moving by driving of a motor in a moving direction and is capable of supporting a medium, a recording unit that records an image onto the medium supported on the medium support unit, and a control unit that allows the motor to execute an assist operation for assisting the movement of the medium support unit when recognizing the movement of the medium support unit without depending on the driving of the motor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A recording apparatus comprising:
a medium support unit that is capable of moving by driving of a motor in a moving direction and is capable of supporting a medium;
a recording unit that records an image onto the medium supported on the medium support unit; and
a control unit that allows the motor to execute an assist operation for assisting the movement of the medium support unit when recognizing the movement of the medium support unit without depending on the driving of the motor,
wherein during the assist operation the motor is driven by a force provided by a user of the recording apparatus such that a load of the motor that prevents the movement of the medium support unit is suppressed so that the movement occurs without the need to internally drive the motor.

2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a scale unit that is capable of confirming a position of the medium support unit,
wherein the control unit allows the motor to execute the assist operation when confirming a change in the position of the medium support unit without depending on the driving of the motor by the scale unit.

3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first switch and a second switch,
wherein the control unit allows
the motor to execute a first assist operation in the assist operation generating an assist force from one side to the other side in the moving direction if the first switch is pressed, and
the motor to execute a second assist operation in the assist operation generating the assist force from the other side to the one side if the second switch is pressed.

4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a pressure detecting unit that is capable of detecting a pressure applied to the medium support unit in the moving direction,
wherein the control unit allows the motor to execute the assist operation based on a strength of the pressure detected by the pressure detecting unit.

5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the control unit allows the motor to execute the assist operation such that the pressure detected by the pressure detecting unit is within a predetermined range.

6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control unit allows the motor to execute the assist operation such that the assist force is decreased when a moving speed of the medium support unit exceeds a predetermined speed during execution of the assist operation.

7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control unit allows the movement of the medium support unit to be switched to an non-assist state in which the movement is not assisted even when recognizing the movement of the medium support unit without depending on the driving of the motor.

8. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein a strength of the assist force in the assist operation is configured so that the medium support unit is not propelled by the assist force's self.

9. A method for moving medium support unit in a recording apparatus including a medium support unit that is capable of moving by driving of a motor in a moving direction and is capable of supporting a medium and a recording unit that records an image onto the medium supported on the medium support unit, the method comprising:
allowing the motor to execute an assist operation for assisting a movement of the medium support unit and assisting the movement of the medium support unit when recognizing the movement of the medium support unit without depending on the driving of the motor,
wherein during the assist operation the motor is driven by a force provided by a user of the recording apparatus such that a load of the motor that prevents the movement of the medium support unit is suppressed so that the movement occurs without the need to internally drive the motor.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Anzai Sumito

Classifications

• B41J3/4078 Primary

  Printing on textile · CPC title

• B41J11/06

  Flat page-size platens {or smaller flat platens having a greater size than line-size platens (B41J11/0085 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B41J13/16

  movable for insertion or release of sheets · CPC title

• B41J29/38

  Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism · CPC title

• B65H5/04 Primary

  by movable tables or carriages (rotary tables B65H5/18 {; suction gripper or gripper tables B65H5/10}) · CPC title