# US 10,766,285 B2 · Printing apparatus and printing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,285 B2 - Document ID: US10766285B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/368,292 - Filed: 2019-03-28 - Published: 2019-10-03 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-29 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Jun Ushiama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766285B2 ## CPC - B41J 15/165: {for tensioning continuous copy material by use of redirecting rollers or redirecting nonrevolving guides} - B41J 2/01: Ink jet - B41J 11/0095: {Detecting means for copy material, e.g. for detecting or sensing presence of copy material or its leading or trailing end} - B41J 11/02: Platens - B41J 13/0009: {control of the transport of the copy material} - B41J 15/16: Means for tensioning or winding the web - B65H 23/1806: {in reel-to-reel type web winding and unwinding mechanism, e.g. mechanism acting on web-roll spindle} - B65H 23/1888: {and controlling web tension} - B65H 23/26: by transverse stationary or adjustable bars or rollers - B65H 26/02: responsive to presence of irregularities in running webs - B41J 11/00244: {Means for heating the copy materials before or during printing} - B65H 2513/40: Movement - B65H 2515/31: Tensile forces - B65H 2801/06: Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A printing apparatus includes a transporting unit that transports a printing medium, a transporting unit encoder that outputs a movement amount information indicating a movement amount of the printing medium, a medium winding unit disposed downstream of the guide member with respect to the transporting unit and winds the printing medium, a tension applying unit including a tension bar that presses the printing medium at a location between the transporting unit and the medium winding unit while the tension bar is moving between an upper limit position and a lower limit position and applies tension to the printing medium, a tension applying unit encoder that outputs a rod member location information indicating a position of the tension bar, and a control unit that determines a movement state of the printing medium at the tension applying unit, based on the movement amount information and the rod member location information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printing apparatus comprising: a transporting unit configured to transport a medium along a guide member; a winding unit disposed downstream of the guide member with respect to the transporting unit and configured to wind the medium; a tension applying unit including a rod member configured to press the medium between the transporting unit and the winding unit, and the rod member configured to apply tension to the medium while moving between an upper limit position and a lower limit position; and a control unit including a first detecting unit configured to detect a movement amount of the medium, and a second detecting unit configured to detect a movement amount of the rod member, wherein the control unit detects the movement amount of the rod member every time the transporting unit transports the medium by a predetermined length, and detects a transportation failure of the medium when the movement amount of the rod member is smaller than a determination value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a winding amount of the medium wound by the winding unit is controlled such that the medium passes through a location where the rod member is configured to press the medium. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a driving unit configured to drive the tension applying unit, wherein when a transportation failure of the medium is detected, the control unit controls the driving unit such that a force in which the tension application unit presses the medium becomes greater than a force when the transportation failure of the medium has been detected. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the transportation failure of the medium is not detected after intensifying the force in which the tension applying unit presses the medium, the control unit controls the driving unit to maintain the force intensified. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the transportation failure of the medium is not detected after intensifying the force in which the tension applying unit presses the medium, the control unit controls the driving unit such that the force in which the tension applying unit presses the medium returns to the force when the transportation failure of the medium has been detected. ### Claim 6 A printing method comprising: transporting a medium along a guide member by a transporting unit; winding the medium by a winding unit downstream of the guide member with respect to the transporting unit; pressing the medium, between the transporting unit and the winding unit, by a rod member to apply tension to the medium while moving between an upper limit position and a lower limit position; detecting a movement amount of the medium by a first detecting unit; and detecting a movement amount of the rod member by a second detecting unit, wherein a control unit detects the movement amount of the rod member every time the transporting unit transports the medium by a predetermined length, and detects a transportation failure of the medium when the movement amount of the rod member is smaller than a determination value.