Printer Thermal Head Guide Angles for Consistent Medium Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers face variations in print quality due to differences in medium rigidity, as the position of medium contact with the thermal head can deviate based on the medium's rigidity, leading to inconsistent printing results.
Innovation Solution
The printer incorporates a first defining member to form an introduction angle and a second defining member to form a discharge angle, which helps maintain consistent contact with the thermal head, regardless of medium rigidity, by adjusting the conveyance path and contact points to prevent deviation and curling of the medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an introduction angle is formed by a guide member in conventional printers, then the medium can be guided into the thermal head, but the contact position of the medium with the thermal head deviates depending on medium rigidity, causing print quality differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the guide member, specifically setting the introduction angle to 0 degrees and the discharge angle to a specific range (10-30 degrees). This parameter optimization ensures that the medium contacts the thermal head at a consistent position regardless of medium rigidity, resolving the contradiction between ease of medium guidance and contact position consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is designed with specific angle parameters that dynamically adapt to different medium rigidities. By optimizing the discharge angle within a specific range, the system maintains consistent medium contact position with the thermal head across various medium types, transforming a static guidance structure into a dynamically adaptable solution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the medium rigidity varies, then different medium types can be printed, but the contact position with the thermal head deviates, leading to print quality differences
Solution Approach 1:
By optimizing the discharge angle parameter within the range of 10-30 degrees, the guide member maintains consistent medium contact position with the thermal head across different medium rigidities. This parameter change enables the system to handle various medium types while preserving contact position accuracy, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and precision.
3Speed
If the medium is conveyed with an introduction angle, then the medium can be fed into the printing area, but the medium may curl or deviate, causing positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent sets the introduction angle to 0 degrees and the discharge angle to 10-30 degrees, optimizing these geometric parameters to prevent medium curling and deviation during conveyance. This ensures the medium maintains accurate positioning while being fed into the printing area, resolving the contradiction between conveyance speed and positioning accuracy.
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 configuration effectively suppresses differences in print quality caused by varying medium rigidity, ensuring consistent printing and preventing medium damage or jamming, while allowing for adjustment without altering the heat sink design.
Implementation Method 1
The heating element provided on the front surface of the substrate, and is configured to come into contact with the medium pressed against the front surface by the platen roller and to perform printing on the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a platen roller, a substrate, a heating element, a first defining part, and a second defining part. The platen roller conveys a medium in a conveyance direction. The substrate has a front surface which faces the platen roller in a facing direction intersecting an axis direction of the platen roller and the conveyance direction. The heating element is provided on the front surface of the substrate. The heat sink is in contact with a back surface of the substrate. The first defining part and the second defining part define the conveyance path. The first defining part is provided on a further upstream side than the heating element in the conveyance direction. The second defining part is provided at the heat sink on a further downstream side than the substrate in the conveyance direction. and has a contact surface with which the medium comes into contact.