Printer Thermal Management Segmentation for Gap-Free Resumption

Solution Overview

Problem

Printers that execute cooling based on detected temperature often result in gaps or non-printed portions during the resumption of printing, degrading print quality due to mechanical precision errors and the need for connecting printing techniques.

Innovation Solution

A printer configuration that includes a feeding roller, a printing head with heat generating elements, a motor temperature detector, and a processor to perform forcible cooling and between-page cooling control, ensuring that printing is discontinued and resumed without gaps by controlling the printing head and feeding roller based on predetermined temperature thresholds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If printing is immediately discontinued when the detected temperature reaches the cooling temperature, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but print quality deteriorates due to gaps or non-printed portions in the middle of print content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidprint quality

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cooling process into two distinct phases: (1) first cooling phase where printing is discontinued when temperature reaches the cooling temperature during print area processing, and (2) second cooling phase where printing is discontinued when temperature reaches a lower between-page cooling temperature during non-print area processing. This segmentation allows optimized cooling at each phase while maintaining print quality by performing the second cooling only during non-print areas, avoiding gaps in printed content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary cooling action by executing the between-page cooling process during non-print areas before the temperature reaches the higher cooling temperature threshold. This preliminary cooling prevents the need for abrupt printing discontinuation during print areas, thereby avoiding gaps or non-printed portions in the middle of print content while still achieving effective cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If connecting printing is executed to resume printing by doubly forming dots, then print resumption is attempted, but gaps or non-printed portions may still be generated degrading print quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint resumption capabilityVSAvoidprint quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary cooling action by executing the between-page cooling process during non-print areas before the temperature reaches the higher cooling temperature threshold. This preliminary cooling prevents the need for abrupt printing discontinuation during print areas, thereby avoiding gaps or non-printed portions in the middle of print content while still achieving effective cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous printing action by resuming printing immediately after the between-page cooling process without executing connecting printing. Since the second cooling is performed during non-print areas, the printing can be continuously resumed at the next print area without gaps or non-printed portions, eliminating the need for doubly forming dots and maintaining both productivity and print quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Temperature

If cooling is executed during print areas, then temperature control is improved, but print quality deteriorates due to unavoidable mechanical precision errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidprint quality

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cooling process into two distinct phases: (1) first cooling phase where printing is discontinued when temperature reaches the cooling temperature during print area processing, and (2) second cooling phase where printing is discontinued when temperature reaches a lower between-page cooling temperature during non-print area processing. This segmentation allows optimized cooling at each phase while maintaining print quality by performing the second cooling only during non-print areas, avoiding gaps in printed content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different cooling strategies to different areas: during print areas, cooling is performed only when necessary to prevent overheating, while during non-print areas, more aggressive cooling is performed by discontinuing printing at the lower between-page cooling temperature. This local quality approach allows effective temperature control without compromising print quality in print areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 reliably prevents print quality degradation by ensuring seamless printing resumption without gaps or non-printed portions, improving overall print quality by managing temperature thresholds for both print areas and non-print areas.

Implementation Method 1

a motor temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the driving motor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature detection:

Implementation Method 2

a printing head including plural heat generating elements that is arranged along a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the feeding roller and is configured to form at least dots in each print line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat generation:

Implementation Method 3

the printing head being configured to form a print on the print-receiving medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy transfer:

Data Source

PatentUS10189290B2Printer and recording medium

Publication Date: 2019.01.29 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

The disclosure discloses a printer configured to perform a forcible a first discontinuation control process, a first resuming control process, a second discontinuation control process, and a second resuming control process. In the first discontinuation control process, the printing is discontinued to execute forcible cooling when the detected temperature reaches a forcible cooling temperature. In the first resuming control process, the printing is resumed while doubly forming dots on the print line a print-receiving medium when the detected temperature is decreased to a forcible cooling cancellation temperature after a start of an execution of the forcible cooling. In the second discontinuation control process, the printing is discontinued to execute between-page cooling when the detected temperature reaches a between-page cooling temperature. In the second resuming control process, the printing is resumed when the detected temperature is decreased to between-page cooling cancellation temperature.