Thermal Printer Energization Control for Battery Resistance Variations
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Solution Overview
Problem
When replacing a conventional battery in a thermal printer with an alternative battery having lower internal resistance, the increased power supply per unit time can lead to variations in printing quality, such as thicker printing density, due to differences in internal resistance between the two batteries.
Innovation Solution
The printer calculates a printing cycle and adjusts the energization time based on the characteristic difference between the internal resistance of a reference battery and the alternative battery, ensuring compatibility in printing quality and speed by using a processor to control the thermal head's power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the conventional battery is replaced with an alternative battery having lower internal resistance, then the power supply capability is improved, but the printing quality deteriorates due to increased power supply per unit time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energization time parameter based on battery internal resistance characteristics. By detecting the internal resistance and adjusting the energization time accordingly, the system maintains consistent printing quality while accommodating different battery types with varying power supply capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the internal resistance of the battery is detected and used to adjust the energization time. This closed-loop control ensures that printing quality remains consistent regardless of whether a conventional or alternative battery is used
2Productivity
If the energization time is extended to maintain printing quality with alternative battery, then the printing speed is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the energization time parameter based on the detected battery internal resistance. This optimization ensures that the printer achieves maximum printing speed while consuming the minimum necessary power, adapting to different battery characteristics
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 approach maintains the same printing speed and ensures consistent printing quality by adjusting the energization time according to the battery's internal resistance, even when replacing batteries with different characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal head configured to include a plurality of heating elements arranged along a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of a recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
A printer driven by power of a battery, the printer including a thermal head including a plurality of heating elements arranged along a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction, a drive unit to supply power to the thermal head to drive the thermal head, and a processor to control driving and perform printing on the recording medium according to printing data, in which the processor calculates, based on a state of its own printer, a printing cycle related to printing of each line for the line configuring the printing data and an energization time for supplying power to the thermal head within the printing cycle, adjusts the energization time according to a characteristic difference between an internal resistance of the reference battery and an internal resistance of the battery, and prints for one line by supplying power to the drive unit during the energization time after adjustment.