Repositionable Note Printer with Decurling and Feed Roller Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal sensitive printers face issues with print quality deterioration and note ejection jams when printing on repositionable notes wound in a roll form, due to curling and adhesive contamination, which also leads to malfunctions and incorrect note accommodation.
Innovation Solution
A printer design that includes a decurling unit, a feed roller with a step to apply pressure opposite to the note's rotation direction, and a droop suppressing guide to manage the note's movement path, ensuring the adhesive portion does not contact critical components, while the cartridge case accommodates the note with asymmetrical features to prevent incorrect mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If thermal sensitive printing is used for portability and simplicity, then device complexity is reduced and portability is improved, but print quality deteriorates and ejection jams occur due to note curling
Solution Approach 1:
The decurling unit is positioned to flatten the note before it reaches the thermal head, preventing curling from affecting print quality. This preliminary action removes the harmful curling effect before the printing process begins, resolving the contradiction between simple thermal printing and high print quality
2Ease of operation
If adhesive notes are used for repositionability, then ease of operation is improved, but adhesive contamination of thermal head occurs causing malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The feed roller includes a step structure that extracts or separates the adhesive portion from the thermal head contact area. The adhesive side faces the feed roller step while the non-adhesive side contacts the thermal head, preventing contamination while maintaining repositionability
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the note are assigned different functions: the adhesive portion interacts with the feed roller step for feeding control, while the non-adhesive portion contacts the thermal head for printing. This local differentiation prevents contamination while preserving repositionability
3Volume of moving object
If notes are wound in roll form for compact storage, then volume is reduced, but curling occurs causing ejection difficulties and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The decurling unit flattens the rolled note before it enters the printing and ejection path, preventing curling from causing ejection jams. This preliminary flattening action maintains the compact roll storage while ensuring smooth ejection
4Ease of manufacture
If symmetric accommodation structure is used for note storage, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but incorrect note accommodation cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The accommodation unit includes asymmetric guide structures that only accommodate notes with adhesive portions in the correct orientation. The asymmetric design prevents incorrect insertion while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through straightforward structural 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 solution improves print quality, prevents note jams, allows easy ejection and neat storage of printed notes, suppresses adhesive contamination, and facilitates correct note accommodation, enhancing operational reliability and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
A thermal sensitive printer includes a thermal head configured to selectively make multiple heating elements generate heat and performs printing by applying heat with the thermal head in direct contact with a thermal sensitive note
Implementation Method 2
a feed roller configured to rotate in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the note when the note accommodated in the housing is withdrawn and provided to face the thermal head and thus to enable printing on the note while transferring the note
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a printer for repositionable note (101), including: a housing including an accommodation unit (19) configured to accommodate a repositionable note (101) wound in the form of a roll with at least one adhesive portion exposed and an ejection outlet (21) through which the note (101) withdrawn from the accommodation unit (19) is ejected, and forming a movement path for the note (101) from the accommodation unit (19) to the ejection outlet (21); a print unit including a thermal head (33) provided on the movement path and configured to print on the note (101) ejected through the ejection outlet (21) and a feed roller (35) configured to rotate in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the note (101) when the note (101) accommodated in the housing is withdrawn and provided to face the thermal head (33) and thus to enable printing on the note (101) while transferring the note (101).