Detaching Roller Tension Control for Label Transport Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing printing apparatuses face issues with deteriorating transport accuracy and printing quality due to slippage between the transport roller and the label sheet during back-feeding, which affects the positional accuracy and detachment of labels from the backing sheet.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus incorporates a control unit that manages the driving of transport and detaching rollers to reduce the front tension applied to the label sheet during back-feeding by allowing the detaching roller to start back-feeding prior to the transport roller, increasing the detaching roller's transport amount, and controlling acceleration and deceleration to maintain equal speeds, ensuring the tension remains lower than during front-feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the transport roller applies front tension to back-feed the label sheet, then the label sheet can be transported to the detaching unit, but slippage between the transport roller and the label sheet occurs, deteriorating transport accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the front tension level based on the transport direction. During back-feeding, the front tension is set to a first (lower) level to prevent slippage and maintain transport accuracy, while during forward feeding, the front tension is set to a second (higher) level to ensure reliable label detachment. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between achieving sufficient transport force and maintaining precise positioning.
2Reliability
If the detaching unit applies constant front tension to detach the label from the backing sheet, then the label can be successfully detached, but the positional accuracy of the label at the printing position deteriorates during back-feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the front tension level variable rather than constant. The control unit dynamically switches between a first front tension level during back-feeding and a second front tension level during forward feeding. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize for positional accuracy during back-transport while ensuring reliable label detachment during forward movement, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
3Productivity
If the transport roller back-feeds the label sheet with high front tension, then the label sheet can be quickly returned to the printing position, but slippage occurs and printing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the front tension parameter according to the operational phase. During back-feeding, the front tension is reduced to a first level that prevents slippage between the transport roller and label sheet, thereby maintaining printing quality. During forward feeding for detachment, the front tension is increased to a second level. This parameter adaptation enables the system to balance productivity with quality requirements.
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 approach effectively suppresses slippage and maintains high transport accuracy, preventing deterioration in printing quality by reducing the front tension and ensuring accurate label positioning and detachment.
Implementation Method 1
a detaching roller configured to apply to the backing sheet a tension for detaching the label from the backing sheet at the detaching unit
Implementation Method 2
a transport roller configured to apply a transport force to a label sheet having a backing sheet, to which a label is attached, in a transport path of the label sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a transport roller applying a transport force to a label sheet having a backing sheet to which a label is attached, a printing head performing printing on the label sheet, a detaching roller configured to apply to the backing sheet a tension for detaching the label from the backing sheet at a detaching unit that detaches the label from the backing sheet and apply a transport force to the backing sheet from which the label was detached, and a control unit controlling the transport roller and the detaching roller, wherein the control unit controls driving of the transport roller and the detaching roller such that a front tension, which is a tension applied to the label sheet at the position of the transport roller, when the label sheet is back-fed to upstream in the transport path, is smaller than a front tension when the label sheet is front-fed to downstream.