Rotating Thermal Head Support for Label Printer Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional label printers face challenges in accurately aligning the thermal head with the platen roller, leading to deteriorated printing quality, and require complex mechanisms for head attachment and detachment, making adjustments and replacements time-consuming and prone to irregularities.
Innovation Solution
A printer design featuring a rotating first head support member with a first shaft and a second shaft that allows for easy adjustment and detachment of the printing head, utilizing a groove system for precise positioning and removal, enabling simplified alignment and replacement processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the thermal head position is adjusted manually by an operator using screws while viewing a printing sample, then the printing quality can be improved through accurate alignment, but the adjustment operation takes time and leads to large irregularities according to the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal head positioning mechanism enables self-alignment through the interaction of the positioning groove and positioning protrusion. When the head support plate is rotated, the positioning protrusion moves along the positioning groove, automatically guiding the thermal head to the correct position without requiring manual measurement or observation by the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the manual screw-adjustment mechanism with a rotational positioning mechanism. Instead of using screws that require manual turning and precise measurement, the system uses a rotatable head support plate with groove-protrusion engagement that converts rotational motion into precise linear positioning, eliminating the need for operator observation and manual measurement.
2Ease of repair
If the thermal head is replaced by loosening left and right screws, then the thermal head can be replaced, but front-rear position adjustment must be performed again after replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning groove and positioning protrusion are pre-configured on the head support plate and thermal head respectively. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the thermal head is reinstalled after replacement, the positioning protrusion automatically engages with the positioning groove at the correct position, eliminating the need for subsequent adjustment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal head and head support plate have self-aligning features through the groove-protrusion mechanism. When the thermal head is installed, it automatically positions itself correctly without requiring the operator to perform additional adjustment operations, making the replacement process both easy and permanent.
3Ease of operation
If a head attachment/detachment mechanism with a rotatable lever is used, then the thermal head can be attached and detached easily, but a head position adjustment mechanism must be provided separately to adjust the position of the head, making the peripheral mechanisms complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the attachment/detachment function and the positioning function into a single integrated mechanism. The rotatable head support plate serves both to attach/detach the thermal head and to position it accurately through the groove-protrusion engagement, eliminating the need for separate adjustment mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The head support plate is designed with multi-functionality: it provides attachment/detachment through rotation, positioning through the groove-protrusion mechanism, and support for the thermal head. This single component performs multiple functions that would traditionally require separate mechanisms, simplifying the overall device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a printer with which both position adjustment and attachment/detachment of a printing head can be performed easily. The printer includes: a platen roller; a printing head; a first head support member capable of rotating relative to a casing; a first shaft serving as a rotary axis of the first head support member; a second shaft that is attached to the first head support member and includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion having a different central axis to the rotary axis; and a second head support member, to which the printing head is attached, and which is formed with a first set of grooves into which the first shaft is inserted and a second set of grooves into which the second shaft is inserted, moves in accordance with rotation of the second shaft, when attached to the first head support member, due to engagement between the first set of grooves and the first shaft and engagement between the second set of grooves and the small diameter portion of the second shaft, and can be removed from the first head support member by moving the second shaft parallel to the axial direction.