Printing apparatus and method of fixing support unit

• US 10,639,917 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Hamada, Nobuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Richmond, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US16/156,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20190118565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/06 Flat page-size platens or smaller flat platens having a greater size than line-size platens B41J11/0085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/04 Means for attaching machines to baseboards
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 Cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4078 Printing on textile

Abstract

A printing apparatus includes a supporting unit for a medium including an insertion part on which an indented part is provided, a base unit including an insertion inlet for the insertion part, the base unit being configured to have the supporting unit attach and detach to/from the base unit, and a fixing part configured to, when the insertion part is inserted up to a fixing position, fix the insertion part at the fixing position. The fixing part includes a first fixing part and a second fixing part. When the insertion part is inserted up to the fixing position, the first fixing part is configured to engage with the indented part when the indented part is located at a facing position, and the second fixing part is configured to not engage with the indented part when the indented part is located at a facing position.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus comprising:

a supporting unit including an insertion part on which an indented part is provided, the supporting unit being configured to support a medium;

a base unit including an insertion inlet into which the insertion part is insertable, the base unit being configured to have the supporting unit attach and detach to/from the base unit along an attachment/detachment direction; and

a fixing part configured to, when the insertion part is inserted into the insertion inlet up to a fixing position, fix the insertion part to the insertion inlet at the fixing position, wherein

the fixing part includes a first fixing part provided on one side in an intersecting direction which intersects with the attachment/detachment direction, and a second fixing part provided on the other side in the intersecting direction, and

when the insertion part is inserted up to the fixing position, the first fixing part is configured to engage with the indented part when the indented part is located at a position facing the first fixing part, and the second fixing part is configured to not engage with the indented part when the indented part is located at a position facing the second fixing part.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a non-indented part is provided on the insertion part at a position different from the indented part in the attachment/detachment direction, and

the second fixing part is configured to, when the insertion part is inserted up to the fixing position and the indented part is located at a position facing the second fixing part, come into contact with the non-indented part and not engage with the indented part.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the second fixing part is configured to, when the insertion part is inserted up to the fixing position and the indented part is located at a position facing the second fixing part, come into contact with the non-indented part provided at a position on a lower side with respect to the indented part in the attachment/detachment direction.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a length of the second fixing part in the attachment/detachment direction is greater than a length of the first fixing part in the attachment/detachment direction.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pressing part configured to, when the insertion part is inserted up to the fixing position, press the insertion part in a pressing direction toward the first fixing part in the intersecting direction.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

an engagement between the first fixing part and the indented part is released from a state in which the first fixing part and the indented part engage with each other by moving the supporting unit in an opposite direction of the pressing direction.

7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the insertion part includes the indented part provided at least on one side in the intersecting direction and on the other side in the intersecting direction.

8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the insertion part includes the indented part provided to make one lap around an outer peripheral surface in the intersecting direction.

9. A method of fixing a support unit in a printing apparatus including

a supporting unit including an insertion part on which an indented part is provided, the supporting unit being configured to support a medium;

a base unit including an insertion inlet into which the insertion part is insertable, the base unit being configured to have the supporting unit attach and detach to/from the base unit along an attachment/detachment direction; and

a fixing part configured to, when the insertion part is inserted into the insertion inlet up to a fixing position, fix the insertion part to the insertion inlet at the fixing position, wherein

the fixing part includes a first fixing part provided on one side in an intersecting direction which intersects with the attachment/detachment direction, and a second fixing part provided on the other side in the intersecting direction, the method comprising;

fixing the supporting unit at the fixing position by, when the insertion part is inserted up to the fixing position, engaging the first fixing part with the indented part when the indented part is located at a position facing the first fixing part, and not engaging the second fixing part with the indented part when the indented part is located at a position facing the second fixing part.