Pre-scored Label Support for Selective Thermal Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing labels for electrical components, such as terminal blocks and cable wiring, are costly due to the high cost of plotter equipment and specialized thermal printers, and result in waste and inefficiency, as all labels must be printed at once on a single plate.
Innovation Solution
A method using a base support with pre-scored regions allows for selective printing of labels using low-cost thermal printing equipment, enabling the reuse of partially used supports without special plates, by employing transportation rollers and control means to ensure correct positioning and printing of only needed labels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized thermal printers and plotter equipment are used for label printing, then printing quality and reliability are improved, but equipment cost and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses disposable adhesive labels with pre-defined break lines instead of expensive specialized printing equipment. The labels are designed to be printed on standard supports and then easily separated, eliminating the need for costly specialized thermal printers and plotters while maintaining printing reliability through standard equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical printing systems (specialized thermal printers and plotters) with a simpler system using standard printing equipment combined with mechanically pre-prepared labels that have pre-scored break lines, substituting complex equipment with a combination of simple equipment and clever label design
2Productivity
If all labels are printed on a single plate at once, then printing efficiency is improved, but flexibility and adaptability decrease as unused labels cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the label support into multiple separable labels with pre-defined break lines, allowing individual labels or groups of labels to be printed and then easily separated. This segmentation enables selective removal of printed labels while keeping unprinted labels on the support for future use, combining printing efficiency with operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic system where labels can be selectively removed from the support after printing based on actual needs. The pre-scored break lines enable easy separation, allowing the system to adapt to changing requirements by removing only the needed labels and retaining others for future use, rather than a static all-or-nothing printing approach
3Ease of operation
If incision techniques are used to create preferential breakage lines, then label separation ease is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-scoring the break lines during label manufacturing before the labels are ever used. This pre-preparation of break lines during the labeling process itself eliminates the need for separate incision equipment and complex manufacturing steps, achieving easy label separation while keeping manufacturing simple
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 approach reduces costs by allowing selective printing of labels as needed, minimizing waste, and enabling the reuse of partially used supports, thus optimizing label production for electrical components.
Implementation Method 1
printing means, in particular a thermal printer head, for selectively printing alphanumeric and/or graphical labelling data on the base support
Implementation Method 2
perform selective printing, by means of the printer, of alphanumeric and/or graphical labelling data on said at least one removable region (110) selected
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of transportation rollers (510) for conveying the base support during its longitudinal movement inside the printer
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
Method for producing labels (110) from a base support according to a predefined standard, comprising the following steps: a) providing a base support according to the predefined standard, the base support comprising at least one non-removable region and at least one removable region having dimensions substantially corresponding to the size of the label to be printed; b) inserting the base support (100) into a printer for performing printing on base supports according to the standard indicated in step a); c) selectively printing by means of the printer alphanumeric and/or graphical labelling information on at least one removable region of the base support; d) extracting the printed base support from the printer.