Image Forming Apparatus Ink Ribbon Separation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the conveyance speed of the label increases in conventional image forming apparatuses, the period for non-image areas to pass between the ink ribbon and the platen becomes shorter, making it difficult to separate the ink ribbon from the label and stop its conveyance, leading to reduced ink ribbon usage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus includes a controller that adjusts the conveyance speeds of the print medium and ink ribbon, and the distance between the head and the roller, allowing for precise control during image formation. Specifically, the controller reduces the conveyance speeds of both the print medium and the ink ribbon before a non-image area reaches the print position, enabling effective separation of the ink ribbon and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the conveyance speed of the label is increased, then the productivity is improved, but the time available to separate the ink ribbon from the label is reduced, making it difficult to stop ink ribbon conveyance
Solution Approach 1:
The controller stops the ink ribbon conveyance in advance before the non-image area reaches the print position between the thermal head and platen. This preliminary action ensures that the ink ribbon is already stopped when the separation opportunity arises, even at high label conveyance speeds where the window for separation is very short.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the ink ribbon conveyance based on the detected print pattern. When non-image areas are detected, the ink ribbon conveyance is stopped; when image areas are detected, conveyance resumes. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to varying label content and maintain efficiency at different conveyance speeds.
2Productivity
If the ink ribbon is conveyed continuously at high speed, then the productivity is improved, but the ink ribbon usage efficiency is reduced due to inability to separate during non-image areas
Solution Approach 1:
The controller detects the print pattern (image areas and non-image areas) and uses this feedback to control the ink ribbon conveyance. When non-image areas are detected, the system feedbacks a stop command to the ink ribbon conveyance mechanism, preventing waste. When image areas are detected, conveyance is maintained. This closed-loop control optimizes both productivity and ink ribbon usage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards (stops conveying) the ink ribbon during non-image areas where it would otherwise be wasted, and recovers (resumes conveying) during image areas where the ink ribbon is needed for printing. This selective discarding and recovering minimizes material waste while maintaining production throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a head configured to transfer ink from an ink ribbon to a print medium, a roller for pressing the print medium, and a controller configured to: upon receipt of print data, determine image areas in which an image is formed and non-image areas in which no image is formed, at the beginning of printing, control a distance between the head and the roller such that they contact each other, and set conveyance speeds of the medium and the ribbon to first and second values, before a boundary between the image and non-image areas reaches a position at which the head contacts the roller, set the speeds to third and fourth values lower than the first and second values, and when the boundary reaches the position, control the distance such that the head and the roller are separated from each other.