Printer Roll Sheet Orientation Control for Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers using roll sheets with the print surface facing the inner or outer peripheral side face issues with sheet jamming due to warping, as the leading end of the print medium may enter into gaps between the thermal head and feed guide, especially when the print medium is moved back for repositioning.
Innovation Solution
A printer with a processor-controlled feeding and printing mechanism that determines the orientation of the roll sheet and adjusts the feeding and printing positions accordingly, ensuring the print medium is aligned to prevent jamming by positioning the leading end further upstream or downstream relative to the guide and cutting positions based on the sheet orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the roll sheet is wound with the print surface facing the inner peripheral side, then the print medium can be fed smoothly, but the print surface tends to warp inward causing the leading end to curl up on the adhering surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional winding direction by specifying that the print surface should face the outer peripheral side of the roll sheet instead of the inner peripheral side. This inversion reverses the warping tendency from inward to outward, preventing the leading end from curling up on the adhering surface while maintaining smooth feeding operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the roll sheet is wound with the print surface facing the outer peripheral side, then the edge portion of the print medium is inhibited from curling up, but the leading end portion may enter into the gap between the thermal head and the feed guide causing sheet jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by controlling the feed guide to protrude in the feed direction before the print medium leading end reaches the thermal head. This preliminary protrusion creates a guide structure that preemptively directs the leading end away from the gap between the thermal head and feed guide, preventing sheet jamming while maintaining the outward-facing winding configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the print medium is moved back for repositioning, then the print start position can be adjusted, but the leading end portion may enter into the gap between the thermal head and the feed guide causing sheet jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by controlling the feed guide to protrude in the feed direction before the print medium leading end reaches the thermal head. This preliminary protrusion creates a guide structure that preemptively directs the leading end away from the gap between the thermal head and feed guide, preventing sheet jamming while maintaining the ability to move the print medium back for repositioning.
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 effectively inhibits sheet jamming by optimizing the positioning of the print medium based on its orientation, reducing the margin of the print surface that cannot be printed on and preventing the leading end from entering the gap between the guide and platen roller, thus ensuring smooth printing operations.
Implementation Method 1
A release paper is adhered to a back surface of the print medium by an adhesive
Implementation Method 2
prints characters, graphics, etc. on the print medium using a thermal head
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a feeding portion, a guide portion, and a processor. The processor determines whether a roll sheet in the printer is an inward facing roll sheet or an outward facing roll sheet. When the roll sheet is the inward facing roll sheet, the processor controls the feeding portion to move the downstream-side end portion of the print medium from the cutting position to an upstream side in the feed direction than the upstream end portion before the printing. And the processor controls the printing portion to start printing. When the roll sheet is the outward facing roll sheet, the processor controls the printing portion to start printing in a state in which a downstream-side end portion of the print medium in the feed direction is positioned further to a downstream side in the feed direction than an upstream-side end portion of the guide portion in the feed direction.