Printing Apparatus Medium Cutting Position Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing apparatuses waste medium material during replacement by cutting regions that are not used for printing, leading to inefficiency and material loss.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus that cuts the medium in a state where the medium information is located further upstream than the downstream roller, minimizing the blank region and reducing waste by leaving a blank between the medium information and the printing region, allowing for more efficient detachment and attachment processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the medium is cut after the medium information passes the downstream roller, then the medium can be easily detached, but a larger blank region is created causing medium waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedium detachmentVSAvoidmedium waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The medium is cut before the medium information passes the downstream roller, in advance of the normal detachment process. This preliminary cutting action minimizes the blank region that would otherwise be created during detachment, reducing medium waste while still allowing easy detachment afterward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of cutting the medium after the information has passed the downstream roller (conventional approach), the invention cuts it before the information passes the downstream roller (inverted approach). This reversal of the cutting timing optimizes the blank region size and reduces medium waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Loss of substance

If the medium is cut before the medium information passes the downstream roller, then medium waste is reduced, but the cutting position must be precisely controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedium wasteVSAvoidcutting position control

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a sensor to detect the position of the medium information and provides feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables precise control of the cutting position, ensuring the medium is cut at the optimal moment before the information passes the downstream roller, thereby minimizing waste while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces manual or less precise mechanical cutting control with an automated system that uses sensor detection and electronic control to determine the cutting position. This substitution of mechanical control with sensor-based positioning achieves higher precision in cutting position control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If the blank region is minimized, then medium efficiency is improved, but the detachment process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedium efficiencyVSAvoiddetachment process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The medium is cut in advance before the information passes the downstream roller, which simplifies the subsequent detachment process. By performing the cutting action preliminarily, the system avoids the need for complex real-time adjustments during detachment, maintaining simplicity while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11458747B2Printing apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A processor prints medium information on a medium using a printing head in response to reception of a replacement instruction for the medium, causes a printing apparatus to cut the medium in a state in which a downstream end of the medium information is located further on the upstream than a downstream roller, and, thereafter, enables the medium to be detached.