Thermal Head Sticking Suppression via Voltage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing printing apparatuses using thermal heads 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 existing solutions like chopper control increase manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a processor that identifies lines prone to sticking and adjusts the temperature change of heat-generating elements by setting a second period for temperature adjustment after a printing period, applying voltage to both the identified line and the preceding line to prevent sticking.
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 patent replaces the mechanical/electrical chopper control system with a software-based control method. The processor executes a program to selectively apply voltage to heat-generating elements based on printing data analysis, substituting hardware complexity with software logic to achieve the same sticking suppression effect without increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own printing data to identify lines prone to sticking and automatically adjusts voltage application accordingly. The printing apparatus analyzes its own operational parameters and self-regulates to prevent sticking, eliminating the need for external control systems
2Reliability
If chopper control is implemented to suppress sticking, then sticking is suppressed, but control program complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of printing data before execution to identify lines with high sticking risk. By pre-processing the printing data and marking problematic lines, the control logic becomes simpler during actual printing execution, as the processor only needs to follow pre-determined voltage application patterns rather than making real-time complex decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the printing lines into categories based on sticking risk. Lines are divided into those requiring voltage application and those where voltage should be suppressed, creating a simplified binary control decision structure that reduces overall program complexity while maintaining effective sticking prevention
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, thereby maintaining printing quality by controlling temperature changes in thermal heads.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal head includes a plurality of heat-generating elements configured to generate heat when a voltage is applied thereto
Implementation Method 2
transfer ink applied to an ink ribbon to a medium to be printed
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a thermal head and a processor. The thermal head includes heat-generating elements and prints on a plurality of lines in a medium. The processor sets a second period within one of the setting periods. The second period is a time period for adjusting a temperature change of the heat-generating elements without printing on the medium, after a first period for printing. The processor determines a nth line (n: an integer of 2 or greater) among the lines based on printing data. The nth line is estimated to have a possibility of sticking in printing. The processor adjusts a temperature change of at least a part of the heat-generating elements in the second periods corresponding to at least the nth line and a (n−1)th line. The (n−1)th line is printed immediately before the nth line based on the printing data, to suppress the sticking.