# US 10,308,059 B2 · Printing apparatus and control method for printing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,059 B2 - Document ID: US10308059B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/833,460 - Filed: 2017-12-06 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-07 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Tomohiko Sano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308059B2 ## CPC - B41J 11/00244: {Means for heating the copy materials before or during printing} - B41J 2/01: Ink jet - B41J 11/002: {Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating} - B41M 7/009: {using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) ## Abstract A printing apparatus for performing printing on a medium includes a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature and a control unit configured to, in a case where an operation mode of the printing apparatus is a first mode, allow the temperature sensor to detect temperature of heat emitted by an external heater, and execute processing in relation to an adjustment of the external heater based on the detected temperature. The external heater is externally installed and is configured to heat the medium. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printing apparatus for performing printing on a medium, comprising: a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature; a control unit configured to, in a case where an operation mode of the printing apparatus is a first mode, allow the temperature sensor to detect temperature of heat emitted by a first heater installed externally to the printer apparatus and configured to heat the medium, and execute processing in relation to an adjustment of the first heater based on the detected temperature; and an instructing unit configured to display an instruction for adjustment of the first heater in response to said processing by the control unit, wherein the instruction includes instruction for adjustment of one or both of the installation position of the first heater or an output of the first heater. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second heater disposed along a transport path of the medium and configured to heat the medium, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to detect temperature of the second heater concurrently with detecting the temperature of heat emitted by the first heater. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, when the temperature of the sensor has risen above a predetermined threshold value, the control unit causes a printing operation of the printing apparatus to be stopped. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second heater is disposed downstream of a printer head and is configured to heat the medium after printing is performed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The control method according to claim 4, further comprising, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, causing a printing operation of the printing apparatus to be stopped when the temperature of the sensor has risen above a predetermined threshold value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control method according to claim 5, further comprising: waiting for a reception of an instruction indicating whether or not the operation mode of the printing apparatus is to be moved to a second mode based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, the second mode being a mode in which, even when the temperature of the heater has risen above the predetermined threshold value, the operation of the printing apparatus is not caused to be stopped; and moving the operation mode of the printing apparatus to the second mode based on the instruction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reporting unit configured to report information, wherein, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, the control unit is configured to cause the reporting unit to report information indicating whether or not the temperature of the heat emitted by the first heater is within an acceptable range. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit configured to supply electric power to the first heater, wherein the control unit is configured to control the electric power supplied by the power supply unit based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. ### Claim 9 A printing apparatus for performing printing on a medium, comprising: a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature; and a control unit configured to, in a case where an operation mode of the printing apparatus is a first mode, allow the temperature sensor to detect temperature of heat emitted by a first external heater, and execute processing in relation to an adjustment of the external heater based on the detected temperature, the external heater being externally installed and configured to heat the medium; and a second heater configured to heat the medium; wherein the temperature sensor is configured to detect temperature of the second heater concurrently with detecting the temperature of heat emitted by the first heater; wherein, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, when the temperature of the sensor has risen above a predetermined threshold value, the control unit causes operation of the printing apparatus to be stopped; wherein the control unit waits for a reception of an instruction indicating whether or not the operation mode of the printing apparatus is to be moved to a second mode based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, the second mode being a mode in which, even when the temperature of the heater has risen above the predetermined threshold value, the operation of the printing apparatus is not caused to be stopped, and wherein, upon reception of an instruction indicating that the operation mode of the printing apparatus is to be moved to the second mode, the control unit moves the operation mode of the printing apparatus to the second mode. ### Claim 10 A control method for a printing apparatus for performing printing on a medium, the control method comprising: in a case where an operation mode of the printing apparatus is a first mode, detecting, by a temperature sensor, temperature of heat emitted by a first heater installed externally to the printing apparatus and configured to heat the medium, and executing processing in relation to an adjustment of the first heater based on the detected temperature; and displaying an instruction for adjustment of the first heater in response to said processing by the control unit, wherein the instruction includes instruction for adjustment of one or both of the installation position of the first heater or an output of the first heater. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control method according to claim 10, wherein a second heater is disposed along a transport path of the medium and configured to heat the medium, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to detect temperature of the second heater concurrently with detecting the temperature of heat emitted by the first heater. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The control method according to claim 11, wherein the second heater is disposed downstream of a printer head and is configured to heat the medium after printing is performed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The control method according to claim 10, further comprising reporting, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, information indicating whether or not the temperature of the heat emitted by the first heater is within an acceptable range. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The control method according to claim 10, further comprising controlling the electric power supplied to the first heater based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.