Linerless Label Printer Conveyance Stabilization With Acute-Angle Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers using roll of paper with linerless labels experience significant fluctuations in conveyance force, leading to unstable sheet conveyance and degraded printing quality, especially when using a drop-in type holder unit and varying sheet widths.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a keeping unit that maintains a predetermined acute angle between the separation edge of the roll's outer circumferential surface and the pulled sheet, along with auxiliary rollers to stabilize the conveyance force, and a damper to absorb fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a drop-in type holder unit is used to hold the roll of paper, then the ease of operation is improved, but the conveyance force fluctuates significantly leading to degraded printing quality
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the holder unit and the conveyance path. This guide member stabilizes the sheet separation edge and maintains a constant angle (α) between the sheet and the outer circumferential surface of the roll of paper, thereby preventing conveyance force fluctuations while preserving the ease of operation provided by the drop-in type holder unit
2Adaptability or versatility
If the printer supports various sheet widths, then the adaptability is improved, but the conveyance force stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is designed with specific local geometric properties that interact with the sheet at the separation edge. By controlling the local angle (α) where the sheet separates from the roll of paper, the guide member ensures stable conveyance force regardless of the overall sheet width, thus supporting various sheet widths while maintaining conveyance stability
3Manufacturing precision
If linerless labels are used, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the conveyance force fluctuation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member performs a preliminary action by pre-positioning and stabilizing the sheet separation edge before the sheet enters the conveyance path. By establishing a constant angle (α) at the separation point, the guide member prevents conveyance force fluctuations that would otherwise occur with linerless labels, thereby maintaining both manufacturing precision and force stability
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
Stabilizes sheet conveyance and maintains consistent printing quality by minimizing fluctuations in conveyance force, particularly for linerless labels, and supports multiple sheet widths.
Implementation Method 1
a damper to absorb fluctuations
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a printer includes a holder unit configured to hold a roll of paper with a rolled belt-like sheet, a conveyance unit configured to pull out the sheet from the holder unit, and a keeping unit provided between the holder unit and the conveyance unit and configured to keep an angle of a separation edge between a cylindrical outer circumferential surface of the roll of paper and the sheet pulled out from the roll of paper at a predetermined acute angle.