Ink Ribbon Transport Control for Thermal Transfer Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In thermal transfer printers, variations in the transport speed of the print medium cause inaccuracies in ink ribbon transport, leading to excess or deficiency, resulting in faulty printing or ink waste due to improper control of ink ribbon transport amounts when moving to the next printing column.
Innovation Solution
A printing system with a controller that stores the longest used length of the ink ribbon in storage and determines the transport amount based on this data, ensuring accurate ink ribbon transport and rewinding to prevent excess or deficiency, thereby minimizing overlap or waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the ink ribbon is transported based on fixed transport speed assumptions, then the printing process is simple to control, but variations in transport speed cause inaccuracies in ink ribbon transport leading to excess or deficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing the actual transport amount of the ink ribbon during the first column printing in a storage device. This stored data is then used to determine the transport amount for subsequent columns, allowing the system to adapt to actual transport conditions rather than relying on fixed assumptions. This preliminary measurement and storage action enables more accurate transport control in later printing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the actual ink ribbon transport amount measured during first column printing is stored and then used to control the transport amount for second and subsequent columns. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust its transport control based on actual performance, compensating for variations in transport speed and improving overall transport accuracy without requiring complex real-time control systems.
2Reliability
If the ink ribbon is rewound by a fixed amount after each unit printing area, then the printing process is straightforward, but this causes print marks to overlap or creates unused ink ribbon waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement and storage of the actual ink ribbon transport amount during the first column printing operation. This stored information is then used to determine the appropriate rewind amount for subsequent columns, allowing the system to calculate the precise rewind distance needed to prevent both overlap and waste, rather than using a fixed rewind amount.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the rewind parameter based on actual transport conditions. Instead of using a fixed rewind amount, the system adjusts the rewind distance by utilizing the stored transport amount data from the first column, thereby optimizing the rewind parameter to prevent print mark overlap while minimizing ink ribbon waste in subsequent printing operations.
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 system reduces the likelihood of faulty printing by ensuring precise ink ribbon transport and rewinding, maintaining optimal ink usage and preventing ink ribbon waste.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal head
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system includes: a printing device including a thermal head, a supplier, a winder and a ribbon transport mechanism; a moving mechanism moving the printing device in a width direction of an ink ribbon; and a controller configured to: move the printing device in the width direction; when the printing device is moved for printing of a second row, rewind the ink ribbon; store the longest length of use of the ink ribbon by the printing in a first column of the ink ribbon; when printing with the thermal head proceeds to a second column, determine a transport amount of the ink ribbon based on the stored length; and after the first column of the ink ribbon is used by the printing, transport the ink ribbon based on the determined transport amount.