Printer Transport Speed Controller Intermediate Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printers used at point of sales (POS) terminals, the increasing number of transport speeds required to achieve a desired print quality and speed leads to a corresponding increase in control information, making it cumbersome to manage effectively.
Innovation Solution
A thermal printer with a transport speed controller that determines intermediate speeds between the current and target transport speeds, allowing the printer to sequentially adjust the transport speed using predefined pulse control information, thereby reducing the overall number of control information pieces needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of transport speeds is increased to achieve desired print quality and printing speed, then the print quality and printing speed are improved, but the number of control information pieces increases making management cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the transport speed parameter based on the current state (current speed and direction) and target speed. Instead of managing separate control information for each speed level, the system uses a unified control mechanism that adapts parameters (acceleration, deceleration, direction) based on the difference between current and target speeds, reducing the number of control information pieces needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the transport speed adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically selects from multiple speed levels (first through fourth speeds) based on real-time conditions, and dynamically adjusts acceleration and deceleration rates based on the gap between current and target speeds, allowing flexible speed management without proportionally increasing control information complexity
2Productivity
If the number of transport speeds is increased to achieve desired print quality and printing speed, then the print quality and printing speed are improved, but the complexity of managing multiple transport speeds increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the transport mechanism to automatically determine and adjust its own speed based on pre-stored control information. The system autonomously selects appropriate acceleration/deceleration rates and target speeds based on the relationship between current and target states, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex external management of multiple speed parameters
3Measurement precision
If multiple transport speeds are provided to reach target speed, then the ability to reach target speed accurately is improved, but the number of control information pieces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the speed adjustment process into distinct phases (acceleration phase and deceleration phase) with different control strategies. During acceleration, the system uses one set of control information for increasing speed, while during deceleration, it uses another set for reducing speed. This segmentation allows accurate target speed achievement while reducing the total number of control information pieces needed compared to managing all possible speed transitions uniformly
Data Source
AI summary
A printer according to an embodiment includes a communication interface that receives print data from an external device. A print head prints on a sheet, line by line according to the received print data. A motor drives a roller to transport the sheet, line by line according to the received print data. A processor configured determines, for a current print line, a target transport speed for transporting the sheet, and determines one or more intermediate speeds defined in advance and between a current transport speed of transporting the sheet and the target transport speed. The processor controls the motor to transport the sheet at each determined intermediate speed and the target transport speed, sequentially.