Printer Control Mechanism for Variable Division Printing Gap Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In printing devices employing variable division printing, frequent switching of motor excitation leads to variations in print dot positions along the conveying direction, causing gaps and missing prints between adjacent print lines due to differences in the number of printing times per line.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a control mechanism that performs complementary printing after the first print line to compensate for potential gaps between print lines, ensuring accurate alignment and preventing missing prints by adjusting the number of printing times based on print data for each line.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If variable division printing is performed with multiple printing times per line, then printing speed is improved, but print position accuracy deteriorates causing missing prints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidprint position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary determination of the number of printing times for each print line before actual printing. Based on this determination, it pre-calculates which complementary printing is needed and performs it between adjacent print lines, preventing position accuracy issues before they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies preliminary anti-action by performing complementary printing that counteracts the potential position shifts caused by multiple printing operations. The control unit identifies print dots that may have positional deviations and performs additional printing to compensate for these deviations, preventing missing prints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Productivity

If motor excitation switching is performed multiple times per print line, then printing speed is improved, but print dot position variation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidprint dot position consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit uses feedback by monitoring the relationship between adjacent print lines and determining which print dots require complementary printing. It analyzes the printing pattern and adjusts by performing additional printing on specific dots that may have positional deviations, ensuring consistent print dot positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If different numbers of printing times are used for adjacent print lines, then printing flexibility is improved, but gaps between print lines occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting flexibilityVSAvoidprint line alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by treating each print line individually with its own optimal number of printing times, while simultaneously applying complementary printing at specific local positions where gaps may occur. This allows different printing strategies for different lines while maintaining overall alignment through targeted complementary printing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively suppresses missing prints while maintaining high printing speed without increasing the current capacity of the power adapter, ensuring consistent print quality across print lines.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal head that performs printing on a medium to be printed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the medium is conveyed in a conveying direction by a conveyance motor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10406823B2Printing device, method of controlling printing device, and computer-readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2019.09.10 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

A printing device comprises: a print head configured to print a plurality of print lines on a medium to be printed, the medium being conveyed in a conveying direction; and a processor configured to control the print head. The processor is configured to: control the print head to print each of the plurality of print lines by a number of printing times which is once or a plurality of times by time division according to print data for printing each of the plurality of print lines; and in printing of a first print line and a second print line to be printed after the first print line of the plurality of print lines by the print head, the second print line being adjacent to the first print line along the conveying direction, control the print head to perform, after printing the first print line before printing the second print line, complementary printing that complements missing print estimated to occur between the first print line and the second print line in a case where a number of the printing times in the first print line and a number of the printing times in the second print line are set to different values from each other, and a number of the printing times is set to two or more.