Printer Conveyor Roller Speed Control for Adhesive Tape Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers using tape members without release tape face a risk of tape jam due to adhesive sticking to conveyor rollers, leading to operational issues during restarts.
Innovation Solution
A printer with a conveyor roller system that initially conveys the tape member at a slower speed to prevent sticking, then transitions to standard speed after a predetermined length, using a DC motor and control unit to manage speed and adhesive detection for various tape types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the conveyor roller conveys the tape member at standard speed from the start, then productivity is improved, but the adhesive on the back surface sticks to the conveyor roller causing tape jam
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor roller dynamically adjusts its rotational speed based on the conveyance distance. It starts at a first rotational speed (lower) to prevent adhesive sticking, then transitions to a second rotational speed (higher) for normal operation. This dynamic speed adjustment resolves the contradiction between productivity and reliability by adapting the conveyance speed to the specific operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter (rotational speed of the conveyor roller) based on the conveyance distance. When the conveyance distance is below a threshold, the roller operates at a lower speed to prevent sticking. When the distance exceeds the threshold, it switches to higher speed for efficient printing. This parameter change strategy allows the system to maintain both reliability during startup and productivity during normal operation.
2Productivity
If the conveyor roller rotates at high speed, then printing productivity is improved, but the tape member may not separate from the conveyor roller after adhesive contact
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor roller's rotational speed is dynamically adjusted based on operational phase. During the initial phase when the tape member first contacts the roller, it rotates at a lower first speed to ensure easy separation. After the tape has been conveyed by a predetermined length, it switches to a higher second speed to maximize printing throughput. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between productivity and ease of operation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the printer waits for a long period before next printing operation, then adhesive has time to set, but the conveyor roller and tape member become secured together causing jam on restart
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary low-speed conveyance action at the start of each printing operation. This preliminary action at the first (lower) rotational speed ensures that even if adhesive has set during idle time, the tape member can still be conveyed without sticking. After this preliminary conveyance phase, the system switches to the second (higher) speed for normal printing operations, thus resolving the contradiction between idle duration and restart reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a conveyor roller for conveying a long printing tape having an adhesive but no release paper on a back surface thereof, a printing mechanism for performing printing on the printing tape conveyed, a drive unit for rotationally driving the conveyor roller, and a control unit for controlling the drive unit so that a rotational speed thereof becomes a constant speed slower than a standard speed when the printing tape is initially conveyed and then becomes the standard speed after it is conveyed a contact length of the conveyor roller with the printing tape. Thus, a risk can be prevented of a tape jam occurring in the printer due to the tape member remaining sticking to the conveyor roller when it is conveyed for the next printing because the tape member with the adhesive has been left stationary long in the printer.