Printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9889687-B2
Application number	US-201615293637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2016
Priority date	Oct 19, 2015
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

A printer includes a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium; a winding unit that winds the printing medium on which the printing is performed by the printing unit; and a frame unit which is positioned between the printing unit and the winding unit on a feeding path of the printing medium, in which in a case where the printing medium is not wound by the winding unit, a receiving member for receiving the printing medium is detachably mounted to the frame unit, and in a case where the printing medium is wound by the winding unit, the receiving member is detached such that the frame unit comes in contact with the printing medium.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A printer comprising:
a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium;
a winding unit that winds the printing medium on which the printing is performed by the printing unit; and
a frame unit which is positioned between the printing unit and the winding unit on a feeding path of the printing medium,
wherein in a case where the printing medium is not wound by the winding unit, a receiving member for receiving the printing medium is detachably mounted to the frame unit, and in a case where the printing medium is wound by the winding unit, the receiving member is detached such that the frame unit comes in contact with the printing medium.

2. The printer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the winding unit comes in contact with the printing medium such that a part of the printing medium before being wound by the winding unit is curved to the side opposite to the winding unit.

3. The printer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the frame unit includes an engaging portion which is engaged with the receiving member.

4. The printer according to claim 3 ,
wherein a plurality of the engaging portions are provided along a width direction of the printing medium.

5. The printer according to claim 3 ,
wherein the receiving member is attached to the frame unit so as to be wound, and
wherein in the winding direction of the receiving member, the engaging portion is provided on the downstream side in the winding direction further than a position at a half circumference from a winding start position.

6. The printer according to claim 1 ,
wherein a position where the frame unit is disposed in a case where the printing medium is not wound by the winding unit is the same as a position where the frame unit is disposed in a case where the printing medium is wound by the winding unit.

7. The printer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a detecting unit which is capable of detecting that a slack amount of the printing medium wound by the winding unit approaches a predetermined amount,
wherein the detecting unit is capable of being displaced between a detecting position where the slack amount that approaches a predetermined amount is detected, and a retractable position which is retracted from the detecting position.

8. The printer according to claim 7 ,
wherein the detecting unit includes a first detecting unit and a second detecting unit, and
wherein at least one of the first detecting unit and the second detecting unit is rotated so as to be displaced between the detecting position and the retractable position.

9. The printer according to claim 7 ,
wherein the detecting unit is detachable from the winding unit.

10. A method for using a printer that includes a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium, a winding unit that winds the printing medium on which the printing is performed by the printing unit, and a frame unit which is positioned between the printing unit and the winding unit of a feeding path of the printing medium, the method comprising:
in a case where the printing medium is not wound by the winding unit, mounting a receiving member for receiving the printing medium to the frame unit; and in a case where the printing medium is wound by the winding unit, detaching the receiving member such that the frame unit comes in contact with the printing medium.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Watanabe Yuta
• Ozaki Kazuma
• Ota Hidenobu
• Yamamoto Takao
• Ishikawa Akira

Classifications

• B65H31/02

  with stationary end support against which pile accumulates · CPC title

• B41J15/16 Primary

  Means for tensioning or winding the web · CPC title

• B65H2701/11312

  large formats, i.e. above A3 · CPC title

• B41J15/046 Primary

  for the guidance of continuous copy material, e.g. for preventing skewed conveyance of the continuous copy material · CPC title

• B65H2511/112

  of a loop, e.g. a free loop or a loop of dancer rollers · CPC title