Adhesive Ribbon Feeding Roller for Thermal Transfer Printers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In thermal transfer printers, the existing mechanisms struggle to accurately control the feeding of ink ribbons due to changes in winding diameter, leading to loosening and surface stains, especially when the ribbon roll-up roller and feeding roller cannot follow the forward and backward movements of the print medium, and the manual tension roller fails to actively manage ribbon tension.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of ribbon feeding rollers with adhesive layers between the thermal head and the ribbon roll-up unit and between the thermal head and the ribbon feeding unit, which are driven synchronously to maintain consistent ink ribbon feeding, preventing loosening and surface stains by holding the ribbon on the adhesive layer during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a manual or fixed tension roller is provided between the thermal head and the ribbon roll-up roller, then the ink ribbon tension is maintained to prevent wrinkles, but the ink ribbon feeding amount cannot be accurately controlled and the ribbon cannot actively follow the thermal head movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the tension roller a driven roller that can dynamically adjust its rotation speed and direction. The tension roller is rotated by a driving unit to feed the ink ribbon in synchronization with the print medium feeding, allowing it to actively follow forward and backward movements of the thermal head while maintaining appropriate tension to prevent wrinkles.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension roller is designed to perform multiple functions: it maintains ribbon tension to prevent wrinkles, accurately controls ribbon feeding amount through synchronized rotation, and actively follows thermal head movements in both forward and backward directions. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate mechanisms for each function.
2Ease of operation
If the ribbon roll-up roller and ribbon feeding roller are placed far from the thermal head, then the thermal head can be opened or closed properly, but the rollers cannot follow forward and backward feeding operations of the print medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tension roller positioned between the thermal head and the ribbon roll-up roller/feeding roller as an intermediary element. This tension roller acts as a mediator that transmits the thermal head's forward and backward movements to the ribbon feed system, enabling synchronization without requiring the roll-up and feeding rollers to be immediately adjacent to the thermal head.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension roller is designed to dynamically respond to thermal head movements by rotating in synchronization with the print medium feeding. This dynamic response allows the ribbon feed system to follow forward and backward operations of the thermal head despite the physical distance between components.
3Productivity
If the winding diameter of the ink ribbon on the ribbon roll-up roller changes, then the ink ribbon is continuously fed, but the rotation control of the ribbon roll-up roller fails to maintain accurate roll-up amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using a sensor to detect the winding diameter of the ink ribbon on the ribbon roll-up roller and adjusting the rotation speed of the roll-up roller accordingly. This feedback mechanism maintains accurate roll-up amount control despite changes in winding diameter during continuous feeding operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the rotation speed parameter of the ribbon roll-up roller based on the winding diameter. As the winding diameter increases or decreases during continuous feeding, the rotation speed is adjusted to maintain constant linear feeding speed and accurate roll-up amount.
4Loss of substance
If the thermal head is elevated in non-print areas to save ink ribbon, then ribbon consumption is reduced, but the loosened ink ribbon creates feeding amount inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The tension roller is designed to dynamically adjust its operation during thermal head elevation. When the thermal head is elevated in non-print areas, the tension roller continues to rotate to feed the ink ribbon in synchronization with the print medium, preventing loosening and maintaining feeding consistency even as ribbon consumption is reduced.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous and useful action of the tension roller during thermal head elevation. The tension roller keeps feeding the ink ribbon without interruption or loosening, ensuring consistent feeding amount throughout the entire printing cycle including non-print areas where the thermal head is elevated for ribbon saving.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures precise control of ink ribbon feeding, preventing loosening and surface stains, and allows for accurate management of ribbon tension regardless of changes in winding diameter, enhancing the operational efficiency and print quality.
Implementation Method 1
a ribbon feeding roller driving unit that drives the at least one of the ribbon feeding rollers; and a controller that controls the ribbon feeding roller driving unit, a driving unit of the feeding mechanism, and a driving unit of the ribbon roll-up unit, wherein the ribbon feeding roller has an adhesive layer on its surface and feeds the ink ribbon be being rotated while holding the ink ribbon on the adhesive layer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A thermal transfer printer includes a label feeding roller driving unit, a ribbon roll-up driving unit, a ribbon feeding roller, a ribbon feeding roller driving unit, and a controller. The ribbon feeding roller has an adhesive layer on its surface and is rotated to feed the ink ribbon while holding the ink ribbon on the adhesive layer.