Medium transport apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9937732-B2
Application number	US-201615335232-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2016
Priority date	Oct 29, 2015
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A medium transport apparatus includes a transport section configured to support a medium and transport the medium in a transport direction, and a wrinkle reducing section configured to come into contact with the medium to reduce the formation of wrinkles in the medium. The wrinkle reducing section can change surfaces to come into contact with the medium. The medium transport apparatus having such a structure enables to reduce the formation of wrinkles in the medium.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medium transport apparatus comprising:
a transport section configured to support a medium and transport the medium in a transport direction; and
a wrinkle reducing section comprising at least two surfaces, the at least two surfaces comprising at least a first surface and a second surface, the first surface providing a smooth arc-shaped surface and the second surface providing a plurality of grooves that extend outward towards a downstream side in the transport direction, the wrinkle reducing section configured to come into contact with the medium to reduce a formation of wrinkles in the medium,
wherein the wrinkle reducing section can change which of the at least two surfaces comes into contact with the medium.

2. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wrinkle reducing section includes a roller, the roller comprising the at least two surfaces.

3. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two surfaces each have a different surface area capable of contacting the medium.

4. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the wrinkle reducing section includes a plurality of rollers of different outer diameters.

5. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a tension adjusting mechanism provided between the wrinkle reducing section and the transport section, the tension adjusting mechanism being capable of applying a predetermined tension to the medium in the transport direction.

6. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a supplying section configured to supply the medium to the transport section,
wherein the wrinkle reducing section is provided between the supplying section and the transport section.

7. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a pressing section configured to press the medium supplied from the supplying section against the transport section,
wherein the wrinkle reducing section is provided between the supplying section and the pressing section.

8. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a winding section configured to wind the medium transported by the transport section,
wherein the wrinkle reducing section is provided between the transport section and the winding section.

9. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wrinkle reducing section includes a metallic member.

10. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wrinkle reducing section includes a resin member.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Kanemoto Shuichi

Classifications

• B65H5/38

  immovable in operation · CPC title

• B41J11/005 Primary

  Guides in the printing zone, e.g. guides for preventing contact of conveyed sheets with printhead · CPC title

• B65H2404/1119

  with at least an axial cavity on the periphery · CPC title

• B65H2404/1118

  with at least a relief portion on the periphery · CPC title

• B65H23/16

  by weighted or spring-pressed movable bars or rollers · CPC title