Printer Continuous Printing via Full-Cut and Nip Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ticket issuing devices experience downtime when switching from printing one ticket to another, leading to inefficiencies in continuous printing operations.
Innovation Solution
A printer system with a conveyor, printing device, full-cut unit, roller, nip member, and controller that enables full cutting and precise control of the printing medium, allowing for continuous printing by maintaining the leading edge nipped between the roller and nip member while conveying and printing the succeeding medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ticket issuing device waits for the numbered ticket to be taken out from the output opening before starting printing on the succeeding sheet, then the ticket can be properly discharged, but printing downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by fully cutting the printing medium into leading and succeeding portions before the ticket is completely discharged. The controller starts conveying and printing on the succeeding sheet while the leading sheet is still being discharged, rather than waiting for complete discharge. This preliminary preparation eliminates idle time and enables continuous printing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention maintains continuous useful action by overlapping the discharge process of the current ticket with the printing process of the next ticket. The controller coordinates the conveyor and printing device to ensure that printing on the succeeding sheet begins before the leading sheet fully exits the output opening, thereby eliminating downtime and maintaining continuous productive operation.
2Productivity
If the printing medium is fully cut before the ticket is discharged, then the next printing can start earlier, but the cutting mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The full-cut unit performs the cutting action in advance, dividing the printing medium into leading and succeeding portions before the discharge is complete. This preliminary full cut enables the system to immediately begin processing the succeeding sheet without waiting for discharge completion, thereby increasing printing speed while using a dedicated cutting mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes: a conveyor; a printing device; a full-cut unit provided downstream of the printing device; a roller provided downstream of the full-cut unit; a nip member; a motor; and a controller configured to: control the full-cut unit to fully cut the printing medium; control the motor to establish a state in which a leading printing medium is nipped between the roller and the nip member; and control the conveyor to convey a succeeding printing medium downstream while controlling the printing device to perform printing on the succeeding printing medium.