Optical Print Head with Preheating for Thermal Paper

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thermal printing systems face inefficiencies due to bulky mechanical components that require significant energy and produce noise, limiting their use in mobile or wireless POS environments where space and energy are constrained.

Innovation Solution

A thermal printing system that employs preheating elements to prime thermal paper with thermal energy before using an optical print head to activate the chemical coating, reducing the energy needed for printing and allowing for compact and efficient operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If traditional heated mechanical components are used for thermal printing, then printing function is achieved, but device size becomes bulky and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional heated mechanical print heads with an optical print head that uses optical energy (laser or LED) to activate the thermal paper. This substitution eliminates the need for bulky heating elements and mechanical contact components, significantly reducing device size and energy consumption while maintaining printing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a preheating element that heats the thermal paper before it reaches the optical print head. This preliminary action prepares the paper by raising its temperature close to the activation point, reducing the energy required by the optical print head and enabling faster, more efficient printing with smaller components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If mechanical contact printing is used, then thermal energy is transferred to thermal paper, but printing speed is limited and noise is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical contact printing with optical printing using an optical print head that emits light energy to activate the thermal paper. This eliminates mechanical friction and contact noise while enabling faster printing speeds since optical energy transfer occurs instantaneously without the need for sustained physical contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical print head can emit optical energy in rapid pulses or continuous waves at high frequencies, enabling fast printing speeds without mechanical movement. The periodic or continuous optical energy delivery activates the thermal paper quickly, significantly improving productivity compared to mechanical contact methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If physical contact printing is used, then thermal energy is imparted to thermal paper, but component configuration becomes inefficient and bulky

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent configuration efficiencyVSAvoidcomponent size

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical contact components with a simplified optical print head system. The optical print head uses light-emitting elements (laser or LED) that can be mounted on a compact circuit board, eliminating the need for large heating elements, pressure mechanisms, and mechanical contact components, thereby reducing overall device volume and simplifying configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The preheating element is positioned upstream of the optical print head in the paper path, allowing thermal paper to be preheated as it feeds through the device. This sequential arrangement optimizes component configuration by separating the preheating function from the printing function, enabling compact layout without mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This solution enables faster, more efficient thermal printing with reduced energy consumption and minimized mechanical interactions, making thermal printing systems suitable for mobile POS devices without the need for bulky components.

Implementation Method 1

applying a priming thermal energy to the thermal paper, where the priming thermal energy heats the thermal paper to a near activation temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

imparting optical energy to print information onto the thermal paper by causing the thermal paper to activate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical activation: Photo-oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS11807020B2Thermal paper preheating and optical printing

Publication Date: 2023.11.07 TOSHIBA GLOBAL COMMERCE SOLUTIONS HLDG

AI summary

Thermal printing systems are described. The thermal printing systems and methods described provide efficient, compact, and fast thermal printing by providing preheating components that generate a priming thermal energy which preheats thermal paper in the printing system. The priming thermal energy decreases the amount of energy needed to activate the thermal paper during printing. The system and methods also include an optical print head which activates thermal paper using optical energy, which provides for multiple different types of efficient component configuration and increased speed of printing.