# US 9,039,164 B2 · Liquid ejecting apparatus

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- Number: US 9,039,164 B2
- Document ID: US9039164B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/594,355
- Filed: 2012-08-24
- Published: 2013-02-28
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-26
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Osamu Hanamura
- Inventors: Osamu Hanamura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039164B2

## CPC

- 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 11/057: Structure of the surface
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid toward a recording medium; a rib which projects in a direction toward the liquid ejecting head, and includes a support portion for supporting the recording medium; a detection target portion which is provided at a position lower than the support portion; a lower side portion located at a position lower than the detection target portion; a light emitting unit which irradiates the detection target portion with light rays; a light receiving unit which receives reflected light rays resulting from reflection of the light rays with which the detection target portion is irradiated, convers the received reflected light rays into photocurrent, and outputs the photocurrent as an output voltage; and a sensitivity setting unit which causes the light emitting unit to irradiate the detection target portion with light rays and sets the sensitivity of the light receiving unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid toward a recording medium;
a rib which projects in a direction toward the liquid ejecting head, and includes a support portion for supporting the recording medium;
a detection target portion which is provided at a position lower than the support portion;
a lower side portion located at a position lower than the detection target portion, wherein a height L1 from a top edge of the lower side portion to a flat portion of the detection target portion is less than a height L2 from the top edge of the lower side portion to an edge portion of the rib;
a light emitting unit which irradiates the detection target portion with light rays;
a light receiving unit which receives reflected light rays resulting from reflection of the light rays with which the detection target portion is irradiated, converts the received reflected light rays into photocurrent, and outputs the photocurrent as an output voltage; and
a sensitivity setting unit which causes the light emitting unit to irradiate the detection target portion with light rays, causes the light receiving unit to receive reflected light rays resulting from reflection at the detection target portion and output a first output voltage, and sets the sensitivity of the light receiving unit on the basis of the first output voltage, wherein the sensitivity setting unit compares the first output voltage with a threshold value and sets a sensitivity setting circuitry of the light receiving unit to be in one of a conductive state or a non-conductive state based on the comparison.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensitivity setting unit causes the light emitting unit to irradiate the lower side portion with light rays, causes the light receiving unit to receive reflected light rays resulting from reflection at the lower side portion and output a second output voltage, acquires the second output voltage, and sets the sensitivity of the light receiving unit on the basis of a difference between the first output voltage and the second output voltage.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection target portion is located at a position outer than a liquid ejection area, onto which liquid is ejected by the liquid ejecting head, in a transporting direction along which the recording medium is transported.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a carriage which reciprocates in a direction intersecting with the transporting direction along which the recording medium is transported,
wherein the detection target portion is located inside a transportation area, within which the recording medium is transported, in the reciprocating direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the transportation area is located at a central portion in the reciprocating direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the transportation area is located at one side in the reciprocating direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection target portion is provided with a flat portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the flat portion is in a mirror-like state.