Thermal Printer Platen Roller Support via Integrated Resin Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional thermal printers require a large number of parts and labor hours for assembly due to the use of wire springs and metal bearings, leading to increased costs and complexity in supporting the platen roller mechanism.

Innovation Solution

The thermal printer design integrates resin-formed side plates and platen roller receiving parts with deformable gaps and protrusions, eliminating the need for wire springs and separate metal bearings, allowing for detachable support of the platen roller with reduced parts and assembly time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wire springs and metal bearings are used to support the platen roller, then the platen roller can be securely supported and rotated, but the number of parts and labor hours for assembly increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport stabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the support function and rotation function into a single integrated resin-formed platen roller receiving part. This part includes both the bearing structure and the spring mechanism as integral components, eliminating the need for separate wire springs and metal bearings. The merging of these functions reduces the total number of parts while maintaining secure support and rotational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical system of wire springs and metal bearings with a resin-formed integrated structure. The resin material provides both the structural support and the elastic deformation capability, substituting the need for separate mechanical components. This substitution reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the necessary mechanical functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If wire springs and metal bearings are used to support the platen roller, then the platen roller can be securely supported and rotated, but production labor hours and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport stabilityVSAvoidassembly efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions (support, rotation, elastic deformation) into a single resin-formed platen roller receiving part. This integration eliminates the need for separate wire springs and metal bearings, significantly reducing the number of assembly steps and labor hours required during production while maintaining reliable support stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical assembly of wire springs and metal bearings with a monolithic resin structure. This substitution eliminates multiple manufacturing and assembly operations, improving production efficiency and reducing labor costs while maintaining the necessary mechanical performance for supporting and rotating the platen roller.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If multiple separate parts are used for the platen roller support, then the platen roller can be securely supported, but the assembly process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport stabilityVSAvoidassembly simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the support structure, bearing, and spring mechanism into a single resin-formed platen roller receiving part. This integration simplifies the assembly process by eliminating the need to assemble multiple separate components, while the internal structure maintains reliable support stability through the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the complex mechanical system of multiple separate parts with a single resin-formed structure. This substitution simplifies manufacturing and assembly operations, making the production process easier and faster while maintaining the necessary mechanical functions for secure support and rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 configuration reduces the number of parts and production labor hours, lowering costs while ensuring effective support and rotation of the platen roller, thereby simplifying the assembly process and reducing material usage.

Implementation Method 1

resin-formed side plates and platen roller receiving parts with deformable gaps and protrusions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2537681B1Thermal printer

Publication Date: 2020.12.09 FCL COMPONENTS LTD

Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3C

AI summary

A thermal printer includes a platen roller (1), a thermal head (2), a frame including the thermal head (2) and a side plate (110, 111), the side plate (110, 111) including a platen roller receiving part configured to detachably support a bearing (16) of the platen roller (1). The platen roller receiving part (120) includes an open mouth for inserting and pulling out the bearing (16) of the platen roller (1) in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the platen roller (1), and the open mouth includes a protrusion formed on a downstream side in a rotation direction of the platen roller (1).