Label Printing Apparatus Alignment Marks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in preventing misalignment and skew when attaching a medium to a wrapped member, leading to potential adhesive exposure and difficulties in rotating the printed label around the wrapped object.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus with a conveyor system that conveys a medium with defined regions of stickability and non-stickability, using a controller to print marks in specific arrangements to ensure proper alignment and attachment, preventing misalignment and skew during the wrapping process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the medium is manually attached to the wrapped member, then the attachment process is simple, but misalignment and skew occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment process simplicityVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Alignment marks are printed on the medium before attachment to guide proper positioning. The marks are pre-positioned on specific regions (adhesive and non-adhesive areas) to indicate where the medium should be placed on the wrapped member, eliminating the need for manual alignment during attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the medium are designated with different properties (adhesive vs. non-adhesive) and marked with alignment marks. The visual contrast and distinct regional characteristics help the user identify correct positioning and orientation during the attachment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Manufacturing precision

If alignment marks are printed on the medium, then alignment precision is improved, but the printing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidprinting process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The medium is divided into distinct functional regions (adhesive region and non-adhesive region) with alignment marks printed in each. This segmentation allows the printing system to target specific areas with specific mark patterns, simplifying the overall printing process by breaking it down into region-specific operations rather than requiring complex full-surface printing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Alignment marks serve as intermediary elements between the printing system and the final attachment process. These marks provide a simple visual reference that bridges the gap between mechanical positioning and precise alignment, allowing the printing apparatus to use straightforward marking rather than complex positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10322591B2Printing apparatus, medium, non-transitory storage medium storing instructions

Publication Date: 2019.06.18 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A printing apparatus includes: a conveyor that conveys a medium including a base layer and a separation layer and including a first region, a second region, and a third region; a printer; and a controller. The controller is configured to control the printer to print a first mark on a portion of the medium in one of the first region and a first-region-side portion of the second region and to print a second mark on a portion of the medium in one of the third region and a third-region-side portion of the second region such that the first mark and the second mark are arranged in a line in the first direction.