Variable Pressure Roller for Tape Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing devices face challenges in efficiently printing on tape-shaped media while minimizing load on the medium and ribbon, leading to issues like ribbon wrinkles and breakage, and require a mechanism to manage pressure effectively during transportation and printing.
Innovation Solution
A printing device with a transporter that uses a roller to press the printing medium against a thermal print head with adjustable pressures, employing a cam mechanism to apply first and second pressures differently based on the direction of medium transport, and a tape guide to prevent bending and facilitate stable ribbon tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the roller presses the printing medium against the printing head with constant high pressure during transportation, then printing quality is improved, but the ribbon and medium are subjected to excessive load causing wrinkles and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurizing force applied by the roller is made variable rather than constant. The controller adjusts the pressurizing force based on the operational phase: applying higher pressure during printing to ensure quality, and reducing pressure during transportation to prevent damage to the ribbon and medium.
2Manufacturing precision
If the roller applies high pressure during printing, then clear printing is achieved, but the load on the ribbon increases causing wrinkles and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurizing force is dynamically adjusted based on the operational phase. During printing, high pressure is applied to ensure clear printing. During transportation, the pressure is reduced to minimize the load on the ribbon, thereby preventing wrinkles and breakage while maintaining printing clarity when needed.
3Productivity
If the printing medium is transported frequently in feeding and retracting directions, then printing efficiency is improved, but the cumulative load on the medium increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurizing force is adjusted according to the transportation direction and operational phase. During feeding transportation before printing, appropriate pressure is applied. During retracting transportation after printing, pressure is reduced. This dynamic adjustment allows frequent transportation cycles for efficient printing while minimizing cumulative load and damage to the medium.
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 solution enables clear printing on the tape-shaped medium with reduced load, preventing ribbon wrinkles and breakage, and allows for stable transportation and efficient cutting, while also simplifying cartridge replacement by synchronizing the movement of the tape guide with the roller.
Implementation Method 1
transferring ink applied to a ribbon onto the printing medium by heat
Data Source
AI summary
A printing device includes a printer including a printing head to print a printing subject on a printing medium; a transporter including a roller to, while pressing the printing medium against the printing head, transport the printing medium in a feeding direction and a retracting direction; and a presser to, when the printing medium is transported in a feeding direction, cause the roller to press the printing medium against the printing head with first pressure and, when the printing medium is transported in a retracting direction, cause the roller to press the printing medium against the printing head with second pressure different from the first pressure.