Printing apparatus, liquid absorbing apparatus, and printing method

Abstract

A printing apparatus includes a transfer member that cyclically passes through a formation area of an ink image and a transfer area of the ink image, a print unit that forms the ink image on the transfer member, and a transfer unit that transfers the ink image from the transfer member to a print medium. A liquid absorption unit absorbs a liquid component from the ink image on the transfer member, before the transfer by the transfer unit, and includes a liquid absorbing member that absorbs the liquid component, a support unit that supports the liquid absorbing member to be movable cyclically, an applying unit that applies a moisturizing liquid, and a supply unit that supplies the moisturizing liquid to the applying unit. The printing apparatus also includes control unit that controls a supply amount of the moisturizing liquid supplied to the applying unit by the supply unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A printing apparatus comprising:
 a transfer member configured to cyclically pass through a formation area of an ink image and a transfer area of the ink image;   a print unit configured to form the ink image on the transfer member by discharging ink to the transfer member in the formation area;   a transfer unit configured to transfer the ink image from the transfer member to a print medium;   a liquid absorption unit configured to absorb a liquid component from the ink image on the transfer member, before the transfer by the transfer unit, the liquid absorption unit including:
 a liquid absorbing member configured to absorb the liquid component; 
 a support unit configured to support the liquid absorbing member to be movable cyclically; 
 an applying unit configured to apply a moisturizing liquid; and 
 a supply unit configured to supply the moisturizing liquid to the applying unit; and 
   a control unit that controls a supply amount of the moisturizing liquid supplied to the applying unit by the supply unit.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid absorbing member comprises an endless sheet, the support unit supports the sheet to be able to move cyclically, and the supply unit supplies the moisturizing liquid to a peripheral surface of a roller of the applying unit. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the supply unit includes a reservoir tank configured to store the moisturizing liquid, and the control unit controls the supply amount from the reservoir tank. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the supply amount based on a state of the liquid absorbing member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the control unit determines a dry state of the liquid absorbing member, and controls the supply amount based on a determination result of the dry state. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the control unit determines the dry state of the liquid absorbing member based on an amount of ink discharged to the transfer member for forming the ink image. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the dry state of the liquid absorbing member, wherein the control unit determines the dry state of the liquid absorbing member based on a detection result of the sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the liquid absorption unit further includes:
 a removal unit arranged in a moving path of the liquid absorbing member, and configured to remove the liquid component from the liquid absorbing member; and   a sensor configured to detect a removal amount of the liquid component by the removal unit, and   the control unit determines the dry state of the liquid absorbing member based on a detection result of the sensor.   
     
     
         9 . A liquid absorbing apparatus for absorbing a liquid component from an ink image formed on a transfer member, before transferring the ink image to a print medium, the liquid absorbing apparatus comprising:
 a liquid absorbing member configured to absorb the liquid component;   a support unit configured to support the liquid absorbing member to be movable cyclically;   an applying unit configured to apply a moisturizing liquid;   a supply unit configured to supply the moisturizing liquid to the applying unit; and   a control unit configured to control a supply amount of the moisturizing liquid supplied to the applying unit by the supply unit.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the liquid absorbing member comprises an endless sheet, the support unit supports the sheet to be able to move cyclically, and the supply unit supplies the moisturizing liquid to a peripheral surface of a roller of the applying unit. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the supply unit includes a reservoir tank configured to store the moisturizing liquid, and the control unit controls the supply amount from the reservoir tank. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the control unit controls the supply amount based on a state of the liquid absorbing member. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the control unit determines a dry state of the liquid absorbing member, and controls the supply amount based on a determination result of the dry state. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the control unit determines the dry state of the liquid absorbing member based on an amount of ink discharged to the transfer member for forming the ink image. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the dry state of the liquid absorbing member, wherein the control unit determines the dry state of the liquid absorbing member based on a detection result of the sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a removal unit arranged in a moving path of the liquid absorbing member, and configured to remove the liquid component from the liquid absorbing member; and   a sensor configured to detect a removal amount of the liquid component by the removal unit, wherein the control unit determines the dry state of the liquid absorbing member based on a detection result of the sensor.   
     
     
         17 . A printing method of transferring an ink image to a print medium via a transfer member, the method comprising:
 forming the ink image on the transfer member by discharging ink to the transfer member;   absorbing a liquid component from the ink image on the transfer member, after ink image is formed, the absorbing including:
 cyclically moving a liquid absorbing member configured to absorb the liquid component from the ink image; 
 applying a moisturizing liquid to the liquid absorbing member by an applying unit in the moving; and 
 controlling a supply amount of the moisturizing liquid supplied to the applying unit; and 
   transferring the ink image from the transfer member to the print medium after the liquid component has been absorbed.