Thermal Transfer Printer Head Holder Pivot Axis Configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing thermal-transfer printers face challenges in reducing their size while maintaining the functionality of the head holder's movement without contacting the spools, leading to increased device size due to enlarged movable paths.
Innovation Solution
A thermal-transfer printer design with a movable member and head holder configuration, where the ink ribbon supporting member is positioned higher than the medium storage, and the head holder pivots about a second axis, allowing the head holder to contact the ink ribbon between the spools without colliding, while maintaining the printer's compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the movable path for the head holder is enlarged to avoid contact with spools, then the head holder can move without contacting the spools, but the size of the media processing device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the ink ribbon supporting member at a higher location than the medium storage, creating vertical separation. The head holder pivots about a second axis that is horizontally positioned between the spools, allowing the head holder to contact the ink ribbon extended between the spools without colliding with the spools themselves. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions enables compact device design while ensuring reliable head holder movement.
2Volume of moving object
If the ink ribbon supporting member is positioned higher than the medium storage, then the device size is reduced, but the head holder must pivot about a different axis to avoid spool contact
Solution Approach 1:
The head holder is designed to pivot about a second axis that extends in a predetermined direction, allowing dynamic adjustment of the head holder's position. This pivotable configuration enables the head holder to contact the ink ribbon extended between the spools at appropriate moments during operation while avoiding collision with the spools, maintaining both compactness and functionality.
3Productivity
If the head holder contacts the ink ribbon extended between the spools, then printing function is enabled, but collision with spools may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise positioning of the second axis (pivot axis of the head holder) in the horizontal direction - closer to the first spool than the first center, and closer to the second spool than the second center. This localized positioning creates an optimal pivot point that allows the head holder to contact the ink ribbon extended between the spools for printing while naturally avoiding collision with the spools during movement.
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 design enables a compact thermal-transfer printer that effectively prints images by heating the ink ribbon and transferring ink onto the medium, while preventing the head holder from contacting the spools, thus maintaining efficiency and reducing the device's overall size.
Implementation Method 1
the printing head may be heated so that the ink on the ink ribbon may be transferred onto the medium to print an image on the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal-transfer printer including a movable member and a head holder, is provided. A first axis of the movable member is located to be closer to a second side of the thermal-transfer printer in an orthogonal direction than a first center being a position of a center of a first spool, and higher than a lower-end position, which is lower than the first center and a second center being a position of a center of the second spool, and is apart from the first center and the second center for a half distance being a predetermined distance divided equally by two. A second axis being a pivot axis of the head holder is located to be closer to the first side in the orthogonal direction than the first center, closer to the second side in the orthogonal direction than the second center, and higher than the lower-end position.