Printing System Ribbon Tension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal printers face issues with increased ink ribbon tension during the movement of the thermal head, leading to potential ribbon cutting and motor malfunction, which disrupts the print operation.
Innovation Solution
A printing system with a control unit that manages the ribbon motor to decrease ink ribbon tension by adjusting the current supplied to the head motor, using different current values based on the movement direction of the thermal head and the state of the accommodation portion, thereby preventing ribbon cutting and motor stepping out.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thermal head is moved from the initial position to the print position, then printing can be performed, but the tension of the ink ribbon increases causing potential cutting or motor stepping out
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit decreases the tension of the ink ribbon in advance before the thermal head moves from the initial position to the print position. This preliminary action prevents the tension from increasing during the head movement, thereby avoiding ribbon cutting or motor stepping out while enabling reliable printing operation.
2Reliability
If the tension of the ink ribbon is decreased by controlling the ribbon motor, then ribbon cutting and motor stepping out are prevented, but additional control complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors the position of the thermal head and automatically adjusts the ribbon motor to decrease ink ribbon tension when the head moves toward the print position. This feedback-based control maintains ribbon integrity without requiring manual intervention or complex mechanical modifications.
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
The system effectively suppresses ink ribbon tension increases, ensuring stable print operations by maintaining appropriate ribbon tension and preventing ribbon cutting and motor malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal head configured to perform printing by heating the ink ribbon transported from the supply roll toward the winding roll
Implementation Method 2
a head drive source configured to move the thermal head and include a head motor that rotates to move the thermal head
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system includes: a control unit; and a printing device including: a supply unit configured to be attached with a supply roll configured by an ink ribbon; a winding unit configured to be attached with a winding roll for winding the ink ribbon fed out from the supply roll; a ribbon motor configured to rotationally drive at least one of the supply unit and the winding unit; a thermal head configured to perform printing by heating the ink ribbon transported from the supply roll toward the winding roll by driving the ribbon motor; and a head drive source configured to move the thermal head. The control unit is configured to control the ribbon motor to decrease tension of the ink ribbon when the thermal head is moved in a first direction, in which the tension of the ink ribbon increases, with the head drive source.