Thermal Head Application Time Control for Sticking Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses using thermal transfer methods face the issue of 'sticking' where the ink ribbon adheres to the thermal head due to rapid temperature changes, leading to printing quality deterioration, and current solutions like chopper control increase manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a processor that adjusts the application time of heat-generating elements in the thermal head by identifying lines prone to sticking and shortening the application time of preceding lines, based on temperature and printing data, to prevent rapid temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chopper control is implemented to suppress sticking, then sticking is suppressed, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the application time parameter of the heat-generating elements dynamically based on the thermal head temperature. When the temperature exceeds a threshold, the application time is reduced to suppress sticking, while when temperature is normal, full application time is used for quality printing. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by achieving sticking suppression without adding hardware complexity.
2Reliability
If chopper control is implemented to suppress sticking, then sticking is suppressed, but control program complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the thermal head's own temperature information to automatically adjust its operation. The processor monitors the temperature and autonomously modifies the application time without requiring external control signals or complex control algorithms. This self-service approach simplifies the control program while effectively preventing sticking.
3Reliability
If application time is reduced to prevent sticking, then sticking is suppressed, but printing quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The application time is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system continuously adapts the application time based on real-time temperature conditions: full application time when temperature is normal for quality printing, and reduced application time when temperature is high to prevent sticking. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by optimizing both printing quality and sticking prevention under different conditions.
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
This solution effectively suppresses sticking without increasing manufacturing costs or complexity, maintaining printing quality by gradually adjusting the application time to prevent thermal head temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal head includes a plurality of heat-generating elements configured to generate heat when a voltage is applied thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a thermal head and a processor. The thermal head prints an image on lines in a medium. The thermal head includes heat-generating elements to generate heat when a voltage is applied thereto in an application time, and the thermal head is controlled to sequentially on print each line. The processor is configured to: determine a specific line among lines based on printing data for printing lines, the specific line being a line estimated to have a possibility of sticking; and adjust the application time of an adjustment target line so as to be shorter than a reference application time, the adjustment target line having at least one line among lines, the at least one line being a line which is to be printed immediately before the specific line, the reference application time being set based on a temperature of the thermal head.