A printing apparatus includes: a driving roller configured to drive a recording medium by rotation thereof while being in contact with the recording medium; a discharging head configured to discharge liquid onto a recording medium; a driven rotational member configured to be driven to rotate as a result of transport of the recording medium while being in contact with the recording medium; a rotation position detection unit configured to detect a rotation position of the driven rotational member; and a control unit configured to rotate the driving roller to transport the recording medium and adjust a timing of discharging the liquid from the discharging head in accordance with a detection result of the rotation position detection unit. The control unit adjusts a rotational speed of the driving roller in accordance with a linear pressure applied to the recording medium on the driving roller.

A printing apparatus is provided with: a recording head that performs printing on a medium fed out from a transport roller pair; a feeding unit that feeds the medium to the transport roller pair; and a winding unit that winds, into a roll shape, the medium subjected to the printing by the recording head. The winding unit winds the medium while adjusting a front tension acting on the medium between the transport roller pair and the winding unit, depending on a diameter of the medium wound into the roll shape. The feeding unit feeds the medium while adjusting a back tension acting on the medium between the transport roller pair and the feeding unit, depending on changes in the front tension.

An example method comprises operating a drive unit to advance a substrate in a substrate advance direction toward a printing station. At the printing station, a first line is printed onto the substrate. A drive unit is instructed to advance the substrate in the substrate advance direction by a target amount, and a second line is printed onto the substrate. The distance between the first and second lines in a direction perpendicular to the substrate advance direction is calculated and, based on the calculated difference, a tension of the substrate is modified.

An example method comprises operating a drive unit to advance a substrate in a substrate advance direction toward a printing station. At the printing station, a first line is printed onto the substrate. A drive unit is instructed to advance the substrate in the substrate advance direction by a target amount, and a second line is printed onto the substrate. The distance between the first and second lines in a direction perpendicular to the substrate advance direction is calculated and, based on the calculated difference, a tension of the substrate is modified.

A printing system includes a transport path for transporting a web medium. The transport path includes a slack region wherein the web medium is slack or substantially tension-free. A take-up roller is positioned at a downstream end of the transport path for receiving and winding the web medium. A tensioning device is positioned along the transport path between the slack region and the take-up roller. The tensioning device includes a first surface arranged for exerting a friction force on the web medium moving over the first surface in a direction opposite to a transport direction of the transport path, such that the web medium is tensioned between the tensioning device and the take-up roller. Since the friction force tensions the web being wound onto the take-up roller, the wound media rolls are tightly wound when applying “loose winding.”

A printing system includes a transport path for transporting a web medium. The transport path includes a slack region wherein the web medium is slack or substantially tension-free. A take-up roller is positioned at a downstream end of the transport path for receiving and winding the web medium. A tensioning device is positioned along the transport path between the slack region and the take-up roller. The tensioning device includes a first surface arranged for exerting a friction force on the web medium moving over the first surface in a direction opposite to a transport direction of the transport path, such that the web medium is tensioned between the tensioning device and the take-up roller. Since the friction force tensions the web being wound onto the take-up roller, the wound media rolls are tightly wound when applying “loose winding.”

In a method for high speed printing of web-based media, a medium is pulled along a media transport path to a pulling transport mechanism. The orientation of the medium with respect to the media transport path is sensed and this orientation is compared to a reference orientation to detect an orientation error. If an orientation error is detected, one or more of the following steps is performed: adjusting a print job for an image to be printed on the web medium; adjusting the transport speed; emitting a communication signal; and stopping the pulling transport mechanism and the image forming unit. It is the insight of the inventor that productivity may be increased by allowing a “tight winding” printing system to start printing at relatively high speed and reduce this speed only when significantly large deviations in the orientation of the web are detected.

A method is provided for controlling a web in a printing apparatus The printing apparatus includes a transport assembly for moving the web through a transport path along a printing unit for printing an image onto a print area of the web. The method includes feeding the web from a supply roll through the transport path to the transport assembly; and switching the printing apparatus to a ready-to-print mode, wherein the printing unit does not print an image on the web and the web is maintained ready to be printed on. In a printing mode after the ready-to print mode, the following steps are performed: moving the web through the transport path in a transport direction along the printing unit by the transport assembly; and printing the image onto the print area of the web by the printing unit. The image is printed by applying an image material, which solidifies on the web during the printing step. The ready-to-print mode includes the step of: operating the transport assembly to prevent a deformation of the print area of the web in the transport path, while maintaining the web in the ready-to-print mode. The web is maintained ready to print while preventing a deformation of the print area of the web in the transport path.

A method is provided for controlling a web in a printing apparatus The printing apparatus includes a transport assembly for moving the web through a transport path along a printing unit for printing an image onto a print area of the web. The method includes feeding the web from a supply roll through the transport path to the transport assembly; and switching the printing apparatus to a ready-to-print mode, wherein the printing unit does not print an image on the web and the web is maintained ready to be printed on. In a printing mode after the ready-to print mode, the following steps are performed: moving the web through the transport path in a transport direction along the printing unit by the transport assembly; and printing the image onto the print area of the web by the printing unit. The image is printed by applying an image material, which solidifies on the web during the printing step. The ready-to-print mode includes the step of: operating the transport assembly to prevent a deformation of the print area of the web in the transport path, while maintaining the web in the ready-to-print mode. The web is maintained ready to print while preventing a deformation of the print area of the web in the transport path.

Edge hold down (EHD) systems are described herein that enable high print quality to be achieved more consistently, particularly when using substrates that are rigid or include one or more defects. Each EHD system includes a tensioned band for holding down an edge of a substrate as it passes through a printer assembly without impacting the print area. The tensioned band can be affixed between an entry tension assembly and an exit tension assembly disposed downstream of the entry tension assembly in the media feed direction. The tensioned band holds the substrate substantially flat against a transfer belt during printing by applying pressure to the surface of the substrate. The tensioned band generally contacts the surface of the substrate substantially proximate to an outer edge that is parallel to the media feed direction.