Printer Tape Cutting Accuracy via Roller Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tape printers face issues with accuracy in cutting label tapes due to wrinkles or inclination, leading to potential deviations in cutting position and reduced cutting precision.
Innovation Solution
A printer design that includes a conveyor, printing device, rollers, an opposed member, and a moving mechanism to accurately position the tape for cutting, with a controller managing the printing and cutting processes to ensure precise alignment and operation of the cutting mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the label tape is nipped between the output roller and the movable roller during cutting, then the cutting operation can be performed, but the cutting accuracy deteriorates due to wrinkles or inclination in the label tape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by moving the movable roller to the separated position before the cutting operation begins. This allows the label tape to be fed and positioned correctly through the conveyor mechanism first, ensuring it is flat and properly aligned. Only after this preliminary positioning is complete does the system move the roller to the nip position for cutting, thereby preventing wrinkles and inclination from affecting cutting accuracy.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the movable roller is moved to the nip position before cutting, then the label tape can be secured for cutting, but the cutting position deviates when wrinkles or inclination are present
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary feeding and positioning of the label tape through the conveyor before moving the movable roller to the nip position. This ensures the tape is flat and correctly positioned prior to securing it between rollers, eliminating the cause of position deviation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control by sequentially adjusting the position of the movable roller based on the operational phase. The roller is dynamically positioned at the separated position during feeding to allow tape movement, then moved to the nip position only when feeding is complete and the tape is properly positioned, optimizing both stability and precision at different stages.
3Productivity
If the label tape is conveyed while being nipped by the conveyor, then the printing operation can be performed, but the tape may develop wrinkles or inclination affecting subsequent cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor mechanism performs preliminary action by feeding and positioning the label tape in a controlled manner before the printing operation. This preliminary feeding ensures the tape is properly aligned and flat on the conveyor surface, preventing wrinkles and inclination from developing during the printing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes: a conveyor; a printing device; a roller; a moving mechanism configured to move a moving member; and a cutter that performs a cutting operation. A controller executes: a printing processing for performing a printing operation while conveying the printing medium with the moving member being located at a second position; a cutting processing for performing the cutting operation after the printing operation is stopped; a moving processing for controlling the moving mechanism such that movement of the moving member to a first position is completed before the cutting operation; and a roller driving processing for, after the movement of the moving member to the first position is completed and before the cutting operation, rotating the roller in a direction for conveying the printing medium downstream in a conveying direction and stops the roller from rotating.