Elastic Roller with Silicone Coating for Adhesive Sticking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elastic rollers used in thermal printers face issues with adhesive sticking and paper jam due to insufficient non-stick properties, leading to frequent maintenance and instability in feeding and printing, especially when handling both linerless and traditional labels with liners.
Innovation Solution
An elastic roller design featuring a two-layered inner elastic member with a base layer and intermediate layer, surrounded by a silicone resin coating layer, providing non-stick properties and sufficient friction for stable feeding and printing, while also having internal grooves for improved wear resistance and low print pressure compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a silicone rubber member or rubber member impregnated with silicone oil is used to prevent adhesive sticking, then non-stick property is improved, but adhesive strength and frictional force decrease leading to insufficient gripping of the label
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is divided into multiple layers: a base layer (silicone rubber or silicone oil-impregnated rubber) for non-stick properties, and an intermediate layer (high-tear-strength rubber) for providing frictional force and gripping. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining different rubber materials with complementary properties. The base layer provides non-stick characteristics while the intermediate layer contributes high tear strength and friction, creating a material system that achieves both non-stick and gripping functions simultaneously.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If grooves are formed on the roller surface to reduce contact area and prevent sticking, then non-stick property is improved, but abrasion resistance decreases leading to easy wear
Solution Approach 1:
The roller surface is segmented into grooved regions (for non-stick and label guidance) and flat regions (for abrasion resistance and print pressure distribution). This segmentation allows the roller to simultaneously achieve low sticking and high durability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the roller surface have different qualities: grooved areas provide non-stick properties and label positioning, while flat areas provide abrasion resistance and uniform print pressure. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between non-stick and durability requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the roller is made softer to improve non-stick property, then separation property is improved, but print pressure becomes insufficient leading to faint printing
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is segmented into a softer base layer for non-stick properties and a harder intermediate layer for maintaining print pressure. This layered structure allows the roller to be soft enough to prevent sticking while still providing sufficient pressure for clear printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite rubber structure combines soft silicone rubber (non-stick) with harder high-tear-strength rubber (pressure maintenance). The combination achieves both low adhesive sticking and adequate print pressure, resolving the contradiction between softness and pressure capability.
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 elastic roller effectively prevents adhesive sticking, ensures stable feeding and printing of both linerless and labeled materials, and maintains durability and abrasion resistance, reducing maintenance needs and ensuring consistent print quality.
Implementation Method 1
the coating layer is made of silicone resin having hardness of 20 degrees or less... providing non-stick properties and sufficient friction for stable feeding and printing
Implementation Method 2
The intermediate layer has a plurality of internal grooves along the circumferential direction of the intermediate layer... providing non-stick properties and sufficient friction for stable feeding and printing
Implementation Method 3
The base layer and the intermediate layer have a rubber hardness of 30 to 80 degrees... having excellent abrasion resistance and durability
Data Source
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AI summary
An elastic roller includes an inner layer side elastic member around a roller shaft, and a coating layer surrounding around the inner layer side elastic member, the coating layer contacting a belt-shaped member. The coating layer is made of silicone resin having JIS-C hardness of 20 degrees or less. A base layer (23a) and an intermediate layer (23b) of the inner layer side elastic member (23) have JIS-A hardness of 30 to 80 degrees. The rubber hardness of the base layer (23a) is higher than the rubber hardness of the intermediate layer (23b). The intermediate layer (23b) has tearing strength of 25 N/mm or more, the tearing strength being measured using an unnicked angle-shaped test piece in accordance with JIS K 6252. The intermediate layer (23b) has internal grooves (31) having a groove angle of 40 to 160 degrees and having a V-shaped cross section.