US 8,740,345 B2 · Printing apparatus

Abstract

A printing apparatus is provided that can appropriately suction and hold a print medium on a platen by employing suction in accordance with the properties of different types of print media. In the printing apparatus, grooves are formed in the support face of the platen on which the print medium is held, and are extended in a conveying direction in which the print medium is to be conveyed. Groove suction holes are formed inside the grooves to apply suction. Rib suction holes are formed in the support face of the platen. The printing apparatus employs at least either the stiffness of the print medium or the print duty to control a ratio between the amount of suction applied via the groove suction holes and the amount of suction applied via the rib suction holes.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A printing apparatus, which includes a print head capable of ejecting ink, and which ejects ink from the print head onto a print medium conveyed along a support face of a platen, on which the print medium is supported, comprising:

grooves, formed in the support face of the platen for supporting the print medium and extended in a conveying direction in which the print medium is conveyed;
first suction portions, formed inside the grooves to perform suction;
a first suction unit for suctioning air from the first suction portions;
second suction portions formed in the support face of the platen;
a second suction unit for suctioning air from the second suction portions;
and
a control unit being able to control a ratio of an amount of suction provided by the first suction unit and an amount of suction provided by the second suction unit, based on at least either a stiffness of a print medium or a print duty.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Printing apparatus

Life of this patent

Printing apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13