Thermal Printer Platen with Variable Rubber Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal printers face issues with high frictional resistance during sheet conveyance, particularly when printing small-width sheets, leading to increased load and inefficiency due to direct contact between the print head and platen.
Innovation Solution
A thermal printer design featuring a platen with a rotatable columnar shape and a print head that applies heat, where the platen has a central region and outer regions with varying rubber thickness and diameter, reducing frictional resistance by controlling contact areas and deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wide print head and platen are used to print on large-size sheets, then printing capability on large sheets is improved, but frictional resistance increases when printing on small-width sheets causing high conveyance load
Solution Approach 1:
The platen is designed with non-uniform rubber thickness: the central portion (first region) has smaller rubber thickness while both end portions (second regions) have larger rubber thickness. This local differentiation reduces frictional resistance at the ends where direct contact occurs during small-sheet printing, while maintaining adequate contact at the center for proper printing function.
2Speed
If the platen rotates to convey the sheet, then sheet conveyance is achieved, but direct contact between platen and print head generates frictional resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The platen rubber thickness is optimized locally: smaller thickness at the central portion reduces friction during rotation when printing small sheets, while larger thickness at end portions maintains adequate sheet contact and conveyance capability without excessive friction.
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
The design reduces the load of sheet conveyance by minimizing frictional resistance, allowing for efficient handling of sheets with varying widths without deforming the rubber excessively, thus maintaining the distance between the print head and platen.
Implementation Method 1
a print head that is oppositely disposed along the platen, that is pressed by the outer peripheral portion, and that is configured to perform printing by applying heat to the print medium
Implementation Method 2
a thickness of the rubber in the first region is smaller than thicknesses of the rubber in the second regions
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal printer according to an embodiment includes: a platen that has a rotatable columnar shape and that is configured to convey a print medium having various widths, with a central portion in a direction of a rotary shaft as a reference, in a manner of being in contact with an outer peripheral portion; and a print head that is oppositely disposed along the platen, that is pressed by the outer peripheral portion, and that is configured to perform printing by applying heat to the print medium. The platen includes a shaft constituting the rotary shaft and a rubber including the outer peripheral portion provided on an outer periphery of the shaft, and has a first region centered on the central portion and second regions on both outer sides in the direction of a rotary shaft with respect to the first region. A diameter of the platen in the first region and diameters of the platen in the second regions are the same, and a thickness of the rubber in the first region is smaller than thicknesses of the rubber in the second regions.