Printer Adhesive Transfer Unit Integrated with Movable Blade

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printers that apply adhesive to a recording medium and cut it to produce printed products tend to increase in size due to the need for separate components and mechanisms for adhesive application and cutting.

Innovation Solution

A printer design that integrates the adhesive application mechanism with the cutting mechanism, using a movable blade and an adhesive transfer unit that moves together with the blade, and incorporates a transfer roller to press the recording medium against the adhesive, thereby reducing the overall device size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the adhesive transfer device is spaced from the recording medium, then printing can be performed without transferring adhesive, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting mode flexibilityVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive transfer device is integrated with the cutting unit, where the adhesive roller is disposed in the movable blade assembly. This merging of functions allows the same mechanical structure to perform both cutting and adhesive transfer operations, eliminating the need for separate spacing mechanisms and reducing overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive transfer device is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned in contact with the recording medium during adhesive transfer mode and moved away during cutting operations. This dynamic positioning enables functional versatility without requiring permanent space for all components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If separate components are used for adhesive application and cutting, then each function can be optimized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional performanceVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable blade assembly serves multiple functions: it performs cutting operations and simultaneously houses the adhesive roller for adhesive transfer. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of components while maintaining the reliability of both cutting and adhesive application functions through integrated engineering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive roller is nested within the movable blade assembly structure, where it is disposed in the cutting unit housing. This nesting arrangement allows the adhesive transfer component to be contained within the existing cutting mechanism boundaries, reducing overall device complexity while preserving both functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 integrated design allows for the production of printed products with adhesive by applying adhesive and cutting the recording medium in a single, compact device, maintaining efficiency and versatility in printing operations.

Implementation Method 1

a transfer roller disposed to face the adhesive adding portion and configured to press the recording medium toward the adhesive adding portion and transport the recording medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4389440B1printer
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 FCL COMPONENTS LTD
  • EP4389440B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4389440B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4389440B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A printer 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a printing portion 3 configured to perform printing on a recording sheet P; a cutter 4 including a fixed blade 41 and a movable blade 43 and configured to cut the recording sheet P along a width direction thereof by movement of the movable blade 43, an adhesive transfer unit 7 configured to add an adhesive G to a rear surface of the recording sheet P, and a transfer roller 17 disposed to face the adhesive transfer unit 7 and configured to press the recording sheet P toward the adhesive transfer unit 7 and transport the recording sheet P. The adhesive transfer unit 7 is integrally assembled together with the movable blade 43, and provided to move together with the movable blade 43 along a moving direction of the movable blade 43.