Printer Thermal Line Head Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers using thermal line heads face inefficiencies in switching feed speeds of the printing medium due to the motor's limited ability to rapidly change revolution speeds, leading to prolonged printing times when the number of ON dots changes abruptly.
Innovation Solution
A printer system that includes a processor to specify and adjust feed speeds for different blocks of lines based on the number of ON dots, allowing for gradual changes in feed speed to match the printing requirements, ensuring efficient feeding and printing by setting second speeds for preceding lines to align with the first speeds of subsequent lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the feed speed is switched rapidly to match the number of ON dots, then printing efficiency is improved, but the motor cannot achieve rapid speed changes leading to prolonged printing time
Solution Approach 1:
The control device determines the feed speed for each line in advance based on the number of ON dots in that line and the feed speeds of adjacent lines. By pre-calculating the appropriate feed speed changes and preparing the transition plan before printing each line, the system optimizes the overall printing efficiency without requiring the motor to make abrupt speed changes during active printing.
2Productivity
If the number of heating elements heated is increased to reduce printing time per line, then line printing speed is improved, but the feed speed switching becomes more critical and problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adjusts the feed speed parameter for each line based on the number of ON dots. By changing the feed speed parameter in a controlled, gradual manner rather than making abrupt changes, the system maintains optimal printing speed while avoiding the motor's inability to respond rapidly to sudden speed changes.
3Manufacturing precision
If the motor revolution speed is changed to match printing requirements, then printing precision is improved, but the time required for speed adjustment increases overall printing time
Solution Approach 1:
The control device determines the appropriate feed speed for each line in advance, considering the number of ON dots and the feed speeds of adjacent lines. This preliminary determination allows the motor to adjust its speed gradually and smoothly before each line is printed, ensuring printing precision without incurring excessive speed adjustment time during the printing process.
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 approach enables the printer to maintain optimal feed speed adjustments, reducing the time required to complete printing by allowing for smoother transitions in feed speed, thus enhancing printing efficiency and speed.
Implementation Method 1
The printer may operate the thermal line head by applying an electric current to the heating elements, causing the heating elements to generate heat.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a feeding portion configured to feed a printing medium, a printing portion including a plurality of heating elements configured to perform printing of one line at a time on the printing medium, and a processor configured to specify numbers of ON dots for at least a first specified block and a second specified block, specify first speeds that respectively correspond to at least the first specified block and the second specified block based on the numbers of ON dots, set a second speed for the second specified block based on the first speeds that respectively correspond to the first specified block and the second specified block, such that the printing medium is fed at the first speed for the first specified block when the printing of the first specified block is performed, and control the feeding portion and the printing portion.