Thermal Transfer Printhead Sensor Ribbon Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Thermal transfer printers face issues with unreliable printing operations due to the lack of real-time monitoring of ribbon status, leading to potential damage and poor print quality when the ribbon end or snapped ribbon is not detected promptly.

Innovation Solution

A printhead equipped with sensors that detect the ink carrying ribbon close to the printing location, preventing further printing operations when the ribbon end or snapped ribbon is detected, ensuring reliable printing and maintaining print quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If printing operations continue after ribbon end or snap is detected late, then printing productivity is maintained, but print quality deteriorates and printhead damage may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting operations continuityVSAvoidprint quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor is positioned to detect ribbon status (end or snap) before the ribbon fully exits the printing zone, enabling preliminary detection that triggers immediate printing cessation. This prevents deterioration of print quality and avoids printhead damage by stopping operations while sufficient ribbon remains visible to the sensor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If sensor is positioned far from printing location, then device complexity is reduced, but detection precision of ribbon status deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor positioning complexityVSAvoidribbon status detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor is positioned locally adjacent to the printing elements, creating a localized detection zone that precisely monitors ribbon status at the critical printing location. This local positioning ensures high detection precision for ribbon end or snap conditions without requiring complex system-wide sensor networks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of time

If printing continues after ribbon end detaches, then loss of time for ribbon replacement is avoided, but harmful effects on printhead and print quality increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveribbon replacement downtimeVSAvoidprinthead damage and poor print quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor provides real-time feedback on ribbon status to the printing system, creating a closed-loop control mechanism. When the sensor detects ribbon end or snap, it immediately feeds this information back to stop printing operations, preventing harmful effects while allowing quick ribbon replacement without unnecessary downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11420459B2Printer

Publication Date: 2022.08.23 VIDEOJET TECH INC

AI summary

A printhead for a thermal transfer printer comprising a plurality of printing elements, each of the printing elements being configured to transfer ink from an ink carrying ribbon to a substrate, and at least one sensor arranged to sense ink carrying ribbon. The at least one sensor comprises at least one emitter arranged to emit radiation towards the ribbon and a plurality of receivers. Each of the plurality of receivers is arranged to receive a respective reflected signal reflected by the ribbon, each reflected signal is based upon radiation emitted by the at least one emitter.