Elastic Roller with Low Hardness Silicone Coating for Label Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elastic rollers used in thermal printers face challenges in preventing adhesive agent attachment to linerless labels, leading to feeding and printing issues, and require frequent maintenance due to inadequate anti-stick properties and frictional forces.
Innovation Solution
An elastic roller with a coating layer of silicone resin having a C hardness of 20 degrees or less is applied to the outer periphery, combined with a substantially asymmetrically shaped design where the diameter gradually decreases, providing a non-stick property and necessary frictional force for stable feeding and guidance of belt-shaped members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a platen roller is formed with silicone rubber material or silicone oil is applied to prevent adhesive attachment, then the anti-stick property is improved, but the frictional force for feeding the label becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The roller surface is divided into two distinct regions: a non-stick region with low surface energy material (silicone rubber or fluororesin) to prevent adhesive attachment, and a feeding region with high friction coefficient material (natural rubber or synthetic rubber) to provide sufficient frictional force for label feeding. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller is constructed as a composite structure combining different materials with complementary properties. The non-stick region uses materials like silicone rubber (Shore A 20-40) or fluororesin coatings for adhesive release, while the feeding region uses natural rubber (JIS A 50-70) or synthetic rubber for high friction. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials that individually address opposite requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If the roller diameter is reduced to improve feeding precision for narrow labels, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the frictional force and grip on the label become insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The roller surface is divided into two distinct regions: a non-stick region with low surface energy material (silicone rubber or fluororesin) to prevent adhesive attachment, and a feeding region with high friction coefficient material (natural rubber or synthetic rubber) to provide sufficient frictional force for label feeding. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller is constructed as a composite structure combining different materials with complementary properties. The non-stick region uses materials like silicone rubber (Shore A 20-40) or fluororesin coatings for adhesive release, while the feeding region uses natural rubber (JIS A 50-70) or synthetic rubber for high friction. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials that individually address opposite requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a coating layer is applied to prevent adhesive attachment, then the anti-stick property is improved, but the wear resistance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The roller surface is divided into two distinct regions: a non-stick region with low surface energy material (silicone rubber or fluororesin) to prevent adhesive attachment, and a feeding region with high friction coefficient material (natural rubber or synthetic rubber) to provide sufficient frictional force for label feeding. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller is constructed as a composite structure combining different materials with complementary properties. The non-stick region uses materials like silicone rubber (Shore A 20-40) or fluororesin coatings for adhesive release, while the feeding region uses natural rubber (JIS A 50-70) or synthetic rubber for high friction. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials that individually address opposite 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
The solution effectively prevents adhesive attachment, ensures stable feeding and guidance of labels with varying widths, and reduces wear, maintaining performance over extended periods without frequent maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a coating layer configured to make contact with the belt-shaped member, and the coating layer being formed from a silicone resin having a hardness of 20 degrees or less based on a spring type hardness tester Asker C
Implementation Method 2
providing a non-stick property and necessary frictional force for stable feeding and guidance of belt-shaped members
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
[Problem] The problem to be solved is to provide an elastic roller, which has excellent non-stick or releasing properties and frictional force (gripping force) and is capable of stably feeding and guiding a belt-shaped member such as a linerless label and a typical label with a liner, even belt-shaped members having different widths. [Solution] The present inventor has focused on covering the outer layer of an inner layer elastic material member (223) with a silicone resin (coating layer (224)) having a low specified C hardness (hardness according to a spring-type Asker Type C as prescribed in SRIS 0101 specifications). The elastic roller includes an inner layer elastic material member (223) and a coating layer (224) that is provided on the outer circumference of the inner layer elastic material member (223) and contacts the belt-shaped member. The coating layer (224) is configured from a silicone resin with a C hardness of not more than 20. The elastic roller has a second side end part direction sloping circumferential surface (225) in which the elastic roller diameter (D1) decreases gradually toward a second side end part (220L), which is opposite to a first side end part (220R) in the axial direction of the roller shaft (221).