Printer Thermal Head Mounting for Uniform Platen Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for mounting a thermal head in thermal printers often fail to achieve uniform pressure on the platen roller, leading to degraded print quality.
Innovation Solution
A printer design that includes a biasing member to apply force to the thermal head, allowing it to swing around a fulcrum and maintain optimal pressure on the platen roller, with a mechanism for switching between continuous and peeling issuing modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the thermal head is fixed using screws, a shaft, or a bracket to an internal frame or housing, then the thermal head can be securely mounted, but uniform pressure on the platen roller cannot be obtained, leading to degraded print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal head is designed to be swingable around a fulcrum rather than being rigidly fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and apply uniform pressure to the platen roller. The biasing member provides a flexible mounting solution that maintains contact pressure while accommodating variations in roller position and thermal head wear.
2Manufacturing precision
If a biasing member is introduced to allow the thermal head to swing and maintain pressure, then uniform pressure on the platen roller is achieved, but the mounting structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is segmented into distinct functional components: a fulcrum for rotation, a biasing member for applying force, and an abutting part for support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall design relatively simple and maintainable.
3Manufacturing precision
If the biasing point is positioned between the reaction force point and the support point, then the thermal head can swing freely to maintain uniform pressure, but the structural design becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member acts as a counterweight that balances the forces acting on the thermal head. By positioning the biasing point between the reaction force point and the support point, the system creates a balanced lever arrangement that enables free swinging motion while maintaining stable operation and uniform pressure distribution.
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
Prevents print quality degradation by ensuring consistent pressure on the thermal head, enabling high-quality printing in both issuing modes.
Implementation Method 1
at least a biasing member configured to bias the print head in a first direction toward the feed roller
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present invention is a printer including: a feed roller configured to feed a print medium; a print head configured to pinch the print medium with the feed roller and to print on the print medium; at least a biasing member configured to bias the print head in a first direction toward the feed roller; and an abutting part that abuts on the print head. The print head comprises: a first side biased by the biasing member, and a second side that is an opposite of the first side, the second side facing the feed roller. When seen from a side view of the printer, a point of applying a biasing force of the biasing member to the print head is between a position at which the print head receives a reaction force from the feed roller and a position at which the abutting part supports the second side of the print head. The print head is swingable around a fulcrum at the abutting part in a clockwise swinging direction and a counterclockwise swinging direction in a side view of the printer.