Thermal printer having real-time force feedback on printhead pressure and method of using same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A thermal printer, comprising:
- a printhead;
a platen roller;
a printhead arm connected to the printhead and configured to move the printhead relative to the platen roller; and
a first force sensor mounted on the printhead, the first force sensor configured to measure force between the printhead and the platen roller and transmit the measured force for display on a user interface during operation of the thermal printer; and
a second force sensor mounted on the printhead, the second force sensor configured to measure force between the printhead and the platen roller and transmit the measured force for display on the user interface during operation of the thermal printer.
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Abstract
A thermal printer having a printhead, a printhead arm to engage and disengage the printhead, a platen roller, a user interface, and a printhead pressure adjustment mechanism is provided. The improvement consists of at least one force sensor adapted to sense the pressure between the printhead and the platen roller in real-time. The force sensor is communicatively linked to the user interface. The user interface is configured to display the pressure measured by the force sensor in real-time.
600 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A thermal printer, comprising:
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a printhead; a platen roller; a printhead arm connected to the printhead and configured to move the printhead relative to the platen roller; and a first force sensor mounted on the printhead, the first force sensor configured to measure force between the printhead and the platen roller and transmit the measured force for display on a user interface during operation of the thermal printer; and a second force sensor mounted on the printhead, the second force sensor configured to measure force between the printhead and the platen roller and transmit the measured force for display on the user interface during operation of the thermal printer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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sensing a force between a printhead and a platen roller with a first force sensor mounted on the printhead; sensing a force between a printhead and a platen roller with a second force sensor mounted on the printhead; communicating the force sensed with the first force sensor to a user interface; communicating the force sensed with the second force sensor to a user interface; displaying the force sensed with the first force sensor on the user interface; displaying the force sensed with the second force sensor on the user interface; and adjusting a printhead pressure based upon the forces displayed on the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A thermal printer, comprising:
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a printhead; a platen roller; a printhead pressure adjustment mechanism; a printhead arm connected to the printhead and configured to move the printhead relative to the platen roller; and a first force sensor mounted on the printhead, the first force sensor configured to measure force between the printhead and the platen roller; a second force sensor mounted on the printhead, the second force sensor configured to measure force between the printhead and the platen roller; and a user interface configured to display the force measured by the first force sensor and the force measured by the second force sensor; wherein the first force sensor and the second force sensor are mounted on opposite ends of the printhead equidistant from the connection of the printhead arm to the printhead. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification