Thermal Printer Head Heating Delay Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal printers face challenges in achieving high-speed printing while maintaining printing quality due to heat storage issues in the thermal head and heater elements, leading to problems like uneven density, collapse, and trailing in printed materials, which are exacerbated by the need for costly voltage-resistant components.
Innovation Solution
The thermal printer employs an energization control process that adjusts the heating and non-heating periods in the printing cycle based on delay conditions and restoration processes, using a heating delay period to extend the non-heating time and prevent heat buildup, thereby maintaining printing quality without requiring special high-voltage components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the printing cycle is shortened for high-speed printing, then productivity is improved, but heat dissipation time is reduced causing heat storage in the thermal head, deteriorating printing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the heating period and non-heating period variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the duration of heating periods and inserts non-heating periods based on real-time temperature detection from the thermal head, allowing the system to adapt to changing thermal conditions during high-speed printing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by introducing non-heating periods at regular intervals during the printing cycle. These periodic non-heating periods allow the thermal head to dissipate heat accumulations before they reach levels that would cause printing defects, enabling sustained high-speed printing without quality degradation
2Productivity
If the printing cycle is shortened for high-speed printing, then productivity is improved, but voltage-resistant components with improved capacitance are required, increasing device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the thermal head's own temperature detection capability to control its own heating cycles. The temperature detection unit monitors the thermal head's temperature, and the control unit uses this information to automatically adjust heating periods and insert non-heating periods, eliminating the need for external voltage-resistant components with improved capacitance
3Productivity
If heat is stored above dissipating ability in the thermal head or heater elements, then printing speed can be maintained, but sensitivity of heat-sensitive paper or melting of ink is adversely affected, causing collapse, trailing or uneven density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using temperature detection from the thermal head to control the heating cycles. The temperature detection unit continuously monitors thermal head temperature, and this temperature information feeds back to the control unit, which adjusts the heating periods and inserts non-heating periods when temperature exceeds predetermined thresholds, preventing heat-related printing defects
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 allows for high-quality printing at high speeds by effectively managing heat dissipation, preventing heat storage issues and maintaining printing quality without the need for expensive components, thus reducing operational costs and improving print reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal head on which a plurality of heater elements are arranged, and that performs printing by selectively controlling energization of each of the plurality of heater elements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A thermal printer (1) includes a thermal head (41) and a control means (60) that controls energization of each of a plurality of heater elements (41A) based on printing data (50) including a plurality of line data arrays (55) corresponding to the plurality of heater elements (41A) respectively, for selectively heating up the plurality of heater elements (41A), and performs printing according to an order at the printing data (50) while taking a line data array (55) as a basic unit, on each printing cycle (T) including a heating period (H) and a non-heating period (C). The control means (60) delays a start of a heating period (H) in a printing cycle (T) with respect to a start of the printing cycle (T) for a predetermined time period when a predetermined condition with respect to the line data array (55) is satisfied.