Printer Thermal Head and Platen Roller Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printer configurations that align a platen roller and a thermal head require complex mechanisms for movement in multiple directions, making them cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A printer design where the thermal head is movable in transport directions and the platen roller is movable vertically to these directions, using a regulating mechanism to maintain alignment with a simple configuration, ensuring the thermal head and platen roller are positioned appropriately for image formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the platen roller is supported by first and second support members to be movable in pressing direction and vertical direction, then the platen roller and thermal head can be aligned, but the alignment configuration becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple support members (first support member, second support member, third support member) that independently control movement in different directions. Each support member handles a specific degree of freedom, allowing precise alignment while keeping each individual support element relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The platen roller is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to adjust its position in both the pressing direction (toward the thermal head) and the vertical direction. This dynamic capability enables the system to accommodate variations in roller installation and achieve proper alignment without complex fixed positioning mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If the image forming portion is movable in transport directions and the platen roller is movable vertically, then alignment is achieved with simple configuration, but maintaining parallelism with transport rollers becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the support system have different movement capabilities. The image forming portion is allowed to move in transport directions, while the platen roller is specifically enabled to move vertically. This localized movement freedom allows each component to adjust in its optimal direction while maintaining overall system stability and parallelism.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple support members act as intermediaries between the fixed casing and the movable components. These support members transmit and regulate movements, ensuring that the platen roller and image forming portion can adjust their positions while maintaining proper parallelism with the transport rollers through controlled mechanical coupling.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a transport roller (driving roller, driven roller, counter roller) that is disposed in a casing, and configured to transport a sheet to be fed from roll paper, an image forming portion (thermal head) that is disposed in a cover (upper cover) of the casing, and configured to form an image on the sheet; and a platen roller that is disposed in the casing to face the image forming portion (thermal head). The image forming portion (thermal head) is movable in transport directions (feeding direction, drawing back direction) of the sheet, and the platen roller is movable in directions substantially vertical to the transport directions (feeding direction, drawing back direction).