Provided are: a holding unit configured to rotatably hold a roll body on which a medium is wound; a transport unit configured to transport the medium unwound from the roll body; a tension applying unit configured to press the medium between the holding unit and the transport unit to apply tension to the medium; a driving portion configured to provide driving force to the tension applying unit; a control unit configured to control the transport unit and the driving portion; and a detector configured to detect a load applied to the transport unit, and the control unit controls the driving force by the driving portion on the basis of the load detected by the detector to adjust the tension applied to the medium.

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 position control system includes a roller rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and a pivotable member having a first member end rotatable about a first pivot axis and a second member end coupled to the roller. The second member end is rotatable about a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis and the first and second pivot axes are movable relative to one another. A motor is adapted to move the roller along the longitudinal axis wherein movement of the roller along the longitudinal axis causes the pivotable member to pivot the roller relative to the longitudinal axis. A control system is responsive to a sensed parameter for controlling the motor. A position control method is also disclosed.

A transport device provided in a printing apparatus includes a transport mechanism as an example of a first transport unit and a winding unit that is disposed on a downstream side of the transport mechanism in a transport direction. The transport device includes a tensile force applying unit that has a tension bar as an example of a tensile force applying member that is biased toward a medium between the transport mechanism and the winding unit and applies tensile force to the medium. Furthermore, the transport device includes a control unit that independently and intermittently drives the transport mechanism and the winding unit. The control unit controls transport start timing of the winding unit to take place later than transport start timing of the transport mechanism and causes the transport mechanism and the winding unit to transport the medium in parallel.

A printing device includes a printing apparatus that includes a transport unit including a roller pair that nips and transports a medium, a printing unit that prints on the medium and a first sensor that detects the medium or a mark at a position downstream of the roller pair. The printing device also includes a first motor capable of driving the roller pair to a non-nipping state and to a nipping state, and a controller that controls the transport unit and the first motor so as to perform an assistance operation to assist setting of the medium. The assistance operation performed by the controller. When the first sensor detects the medium or the mark, the controller causes the medium to be nipped by the roller pair, and a skew correction operation in which the medium is transported and reverse transported is performed.

A printing apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a medium, a winding unit disposed downstream, in a transport direction, of the transport unit, the winding unit being configured to wind the medium, and a tension applying unit including a rod member biased toward the medium between the transport unit and the winding unit, the rod member being for applying a tension to the medium. The tension applying unit is configured so that the rod member moves along a predetermined direction as at least one of the transport unit and the winding unit is driven to transport the medium. An upper limit position of a movement of the tension bar along the predetermined axis is changed according to a winding mode of the winding unit.

A system (300) is provided having a printer (4) to print printing liquid onto a web (6) of media (8). The system (300) has a winding roller (10) on which to roll the web (6) of media (8) after printing. A tensioner (12) to vary the tension in a portion (14) of the web (6) of media (8) is also provided. The portion (14) is a portion of web which is being rolled onto the winding roller (10). Also provided is controller (16) to control the tensioner (12) to vary the tension based on the time taken for the printed printing liquid on the web (6) of media (8) to dry.

A print unit is disposed in an apparatus having a printing function. The print unit includes a print engine configured to perform printing on a continuous sheet, and a damper located on an upstream side of a sheet entrance of the print engine in a sheet traveling direction and configured to adjust tension applied to the continuous sheet to be fed to the print engine. The damper includes a sheet guide having a planar guide portion which guides the continuous sheet to the sheet entrance, and an end portion of the guide portion on a downstream side in a sheet traveling direction is configured as a fixed end resting on the sheet entrance, and another end portion thereof on an opposite side is configured as a swinging end which is elastically biased toward the continuous sheet by a spring force of a spring.

To alleviate the trouble of the color developing step and achieve miniaturization. A color developer that heats and color develops a print medium, on which an ink is attached, is arranged. The color developer includes a transportation path in which a carry-in port and a carry-out port of the print medium are communicated to outside air, and the transportation path is extended in a direction intersecting a horizontal direction.

A substrate in the form of a continuous sheet is fed towards a belt conveyor and is lied out on the conveyor itself. By means of the belt conveyor, the substrate is moved along a feed direction, while a printing unit operating above the belt conveyor realizes a print pattern on the substrate. The printed substrate is withdrawn by a traction unit operating downstream of the belt conveyor. In a section of its longitudinal extension between the belt conveyor and the traction unit, the substrate is subjected to a braking action to retain the substrate in contrast to traction actions induced on the same by the traction unit. A drying group operates on the substrate in the area affected by the braking action, with a combined action of radiation and ventilation.