Conveyance device, printer, and conveyance method
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorHiroyuki Nakayama
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a conveyance device including a roll storage unit that stores a continuous sheet conveyance medium in a roll, a tractor that sequentially engages engaging parts in engagement holes formed along the length of the conveyance medium and conveys the conveyance medium stored in the roll storage unit, a roll drive unit that delivers the conveyance medium stored in the roll storage unit toward the tractor, a slack detection unit that detects slack in the conveyance medium between the roll storage unit and the tractor, and a control unit that controls the roll drive unit based on the detection value of the slack detection unit.
Claims11
A conveyance device comprising:
- a shaft member unit configured for supporting and driving a roll of a continuous sheet conveyance medium having a plurality of engagement holes formed along both sides of the conveyance medium;
- a roll drive unit configured to drive the shaft member for delivering the conveyance medium from the roll;
- a paper feed roller for conveying the conveyance medium delivered from the roll;
- a tractor including a plurality of pins for engaging with the engagement holes of the conveyance medium between the roll and the paper feed roller;
- a slack detection unit configured to detect a slack in the conveyance medium, the slack being between the roll and the paper feed roller and below the roll;
- and
- a control unit configured to control the roll drive unit based on a detection value of the slack detection unit, wherein the tractor is configured to drive the conveyance medium, and wherein
- while the conveyance medium is conveyed during intermittent conveyance in the printing process,
- the paper feed roller is controlled to drive, and
- the tractor is configured to follow the conveyance medium.
A conveyance method of a conveyance device comprising a shaft member configured to support a roll of conveyance medium having a plurality of engagement holes formed along both sides of the conveyance medium, a paper feed roller, a tractor, and a roll drive unit configured to drive the shaft member, the method comprising:
- delivering the conveyance medium toward the paper feed roller by driving the shaft member;
- conveying the conveyance medium delivered from the roll by the paper feed roller;
- engaging a plurality of pins of the tractor with the engagement holes of the conveyance medium between the roll and the paper feed roller;
- detecting a slack in the conveyance medium, the slack being between the roll and the paper feed roller and being below the roll;
- and
- controlling the roll drive unit based on a result of a detection whether or not there is the slack, wherein the tractor is configured to drive the conveyance medium, and wherein
- while the conveyance medium is conveyed during intermittent conveyance in the printing process,
- controlling the paper feed roller to drive, and
- controlling the tractor to follow the conveyance medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.