Printing Apparatus Harmonization Control for Label Tape

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a balanced feeding speed and print forming process, leading to inconsistencies in printed label properties due to variations in tape thickness, material, and frictional forces, which can result in unintended character spacing and printing quality issues.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus with harmonization controlling means that adjusts the driving speed of the feeding mechanism based on the properties of the print-receiving medium and bonding medium, using a predetermined correlation to synchronize feeding and printing processes, ensuring consistent output by modifying the pulse interval of print instruction signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a feeding roller is used to feed the tape, then the feeding mechanism is simple and easy to operate, but the feeding speed varies with tape thickness and material properties, causing inconsistency in the balance between feeding speed and print forming process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding operationVSAvoidfeeding speed consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the feeding roller's rotational speed adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically changes the rotational speed based on detected tape properties (thickness, material type), allowing the feeding mechanism to adapt to different tape characteristics while maintaining consistent linear feeding speed. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both ease of operation (automatic adjustment) and feeding speed consistency (adaptive control).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of rotational speed of the feeding roller based on tape properties. By detecting tape thickness and material type, the system adjusts the rotational speed parameter to compensate for variations in friction and pull-out forces. This ensures that despite different tape characteristics, the linear feeding speed remains consistent, maintaining the proper balance with the print forming process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the feeding roller rotates at the same rotational speed, then the operation is simple, but tapes with different thicknesses experience different feeding speeds, causing variation in character spacing and print quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding efficiencyVSAvoidcharacter spacing consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using a detection unit to measure tape properties (thickness, material type) and feeding speed, then using this information to adjust the feeding roller's rotational speed via the control unit. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that despite variations in tape characteristics, the actual feeding speed remains consistent, maintaining proper character spacing and print quality while preserving high productivity through automatic control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the feeding roller's rotational speed based on real-time detection of tape properties. Rather than operating at a fixed speed, the system continuously adapts the rotational parameter to match the specific tape being fed, ensuring consistent linear feeding speed and character spacing across different tape types while maintaining efficient production rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If different types of tapes with varying thicknesses and materials are used, then the adaptability of the printing apparatus increases, but the feeding speed becomes inconsistent, affecting the balance with the print forming process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetape type compatibilityVSAvoidprinting quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the feeding mechanism dynamic by enabling automatic adjustment of rotational speed based on detected tape properties. The control unit receives information about tape type and thickness from the detection unit and accordingly modifies the feeding roller's speed, ensuring that the linear feeding rate remains consistent across different tape varieties. This maintains reliable printing quality while supporting high adaptability to various tape specifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter (rotational speed) of the feeding roller according to the specific tape being used. By detecting tape characteristics and adjusting the rotational speed parameter, the system compensates for differences in friction and pull-out forces among various tape types. This ensures consistent feeding speed and maintains the proper balance with the print forming process, thereby ensuring printing quality consistency across different tape materials and thicknesses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2022640B1Printing apparatus
Publication Date: 2016.10.19 BROTHER KOGYO KK
  • EP2022640B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2022640B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2022640B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tag label producing apparatus (1) has a feeding roller driving shaft (46a) that applies driving force in order to feed a cover film (41), a print head (49) that performs a print forming process on the cover film (41) fed by the driving force, a harmonization control part (95) that harmonizes and controls a driving speed of the feeding roller driving shaft (46a) and the print forming process operation of the print head (49) based on input print information using a predetermined harmonization correlation, and a harmonization changing part (99) that changes the harmonization correlation according to properties of a base tape (37) or the cover film (41).