Printer Stepping Motor Current Control for Conveyance Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printer devices fail to generate sufficient conveyance force for printing paper, especially at low temperatures, due to not considering the varying conveyance load caused by paper thickness, speed, and environmental conditions, leading to potential motor missteps.
Innovation Solution
A printer device with modules to acquire environmental and printing conditions, estimate conveyance load, and set appropriate current values for the motor to ensure sufficient conveyance force, including a temperature sensor, remaining quantity sensor, and a control module to adjust motor current based on estimated conveyance load and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If motor current is controlled to maintain motor temperature within a predetermined range, then motor temperature is stabilized, but conveyance force becomes insufficient at low temperatures when conveyance load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameter from fixed temperature-based current control to variable current control based on estimated conveyance load. The control module adjusts motor current dynamically according to the estimated conveyance load, which considers paper thickness, conveyance speed, and environmental temperature, thereby ensuring sufficient conveyance force while preventing motor overheating through adaptive current adjustment rather than fixed temperature maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control module continuously estimates the conveyance load based on operating conditions and environmental temperature, then adjusts the motor current accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that the motor generates appropriate conveyance force for the actual load while maintaining temperature within safe limits through adaptive current regulation
2Volume of moving object
If printer device is miniaturized with complicatedly curved conveyance path, then device size is reduced, but conveyance load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the motor current control dynamic rather than static. The control module continuously adjusts the motor current based on real-time estimation of conveyance load, which accounts for the complicated conveyance path geometry. This dynamic adaptation allows the miniaturized printer to overcome the increased conveyance load from curved paths by providing variable torque support matched to actual operating conditions
3Productivity
If printing speed is increased, then productivity is improved, but conveyance load varies and requires adjusted conveyance force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the conveyance force control dynamic by continuously adjusting motor current based on the estimated conveyance load, which includes printing speed as a variable. As printing speed changes, the control module recalculates the required conveyance force and adjusts current accordingly, enabling high-speed printing while adapting to varying conveyance loads without motor missteps
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
The solution enables the printer device to generate an appropriate conveyance force corresponding to the conveyance load of the printing paper, preventing motor missteps and ensuring reliable operation across different conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor, and a control module to adjust motor current based on estimated conveyance load and temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature acquisition section (acquisition module) acquires a temperature of an environment in which a printer device is used. A printing condition acquisition section (acquisition module) acquires information relating to printing conditions of the printer device. A conveyance load estimation section (estimation module) estimates a conveyance load when a stepping motor (motor) provided in the printer device conveys a printing paper (print medium) based on the information acquired by the temperature acquisition section and the printing condition acquisition section. A current value setting section (setting module) sets a current value to be applied to the stepping motor based on the conveyance load estimated by the conveyance load estimation section. A motor control section (control module) controls the stepping motor by applying the current value set by the current value setting section to the stepping motor.