A printing module and a printing device with stable printing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a printing module with stable printing performance, which includes a head unit, an impression unit and a metal bracket. The metal bracket is fixedly installed on the head frame in a detachable manner, and includes a main body, outer blocking parts and connecting arms arranged on both sides of the main body. Inner blocking parts corresponding to the outer blocking parts are provided on the head frame, and the outer blocking parts and the inner blocking parts jointly form a positioning groove with an opening; the impression roller is installed in the positioning groove, the thermal head is rotatably connected to the connecting arm through a pivot shaft, and the outer blocking parts and the connecting arms simultaneously bear the force transmitted by the printing paper during the printing process. The present invention also relates to a printing device including the above printing module. The solution disclosed by the present invention can effectively improve the stability of the printing quality and the service life of the printer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of thermal printers, and particularly relates to a printing module and a printing device with stable printing performance. Background Art

[0002] In the past, in a printing module of a thermal printer, with a recording paper clamped between a printing roller and a thermal head, the printing roller is rotated, thereby conveying the recording paper while heating the printing surface of the recording paper with the thermal head to make the printing surface develop color for printing. The printing roller is disposed on a pressure roller mechanism, and the thermal printing mechanism is supported on a fixed frame of the printing module in a swinging manner. A positioning groove is disposed on the fixed frame, and both ends of the printing roller can be inserted into the positioning groove so that the printing roller can be fixed.

[0003] For a portable printer, it needs to be convenient to carry and not too bulky. Currently, the fixed frame is integrally formed of plastic. In normal working and non-working conditions, the pressure roller mechanism is supported on the fixed frame by being supported in the positioning groove. When the printing module is impacted, the components of the positioning groove are liable to break or snap under the force of the pressure roller mechanism or other external forces. In the case where the components of the positioning groove are broken or snapped, the entire fixed frame needs to be disassembled and replaced, and the replacement of the entire fixed frame is very troublesome and time-consuming.

[0004] In addition, the print head and the printing roller of a traditional printer are separately disposed on different units and then combined into a printing module. In this way, the fixing members of the fixed printing roller and the print head are liable to undergo fatigue deformation or damage due to the high-frequency force transmitted from the two of them. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the problems of unstable operation and short service life of the above-mentioned printing device, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0006] A printing module with stable printing performance, comprising:

[0007] A head unit, which includes a thermal head and a head frame;

[0008] An imprinting unit, which includes an imprinting roller and an imprinting frame, and is combined with the head unit in a separable manner;

[0009] The imprinting roller is supported on the imprinting frame in a manner capable of rotating around a first direction;

[0010] The imprinting roller is disposed opposite to the thermal head, and rotates while clamping a recording paper therebetween to send out the recording paper;

[0011] The printing module further comprises:

[0012] A metal bracket, which is fixedly installed on the head frame in a detachable manner, includes a body, outer blocking parts and connecting arms provided on both sides of the body. An inner blocking part corresponding to the outer blocking part is provided on the head frame. The outer blocking part and the inner blocking part together form a positioning groove with an opening.

[0013] The embossing roller is installed in the positioning groove. The thermal head is rotatably connected to the connecting arm through a pivot shaft. The outer blocking part and the connecting arm jointly bear the force transmitted by the printing paper during the printing process.

[0014] Preferably, the head unit further includes a support frame. The thermal head is provided on the support frame. A pivot shaft is provided at the rear end of the support frame. A shaft hole for the pivot shaft to pass through is provided on the connecting arm.

[0015] Preferably, limiting rods are provided on both sides at the front end of the support frame. Installation parts allowing the limiting rods to move within a specific range are provided at corresponding positions on the head frame.

[0016] Preferably, an elastic member for pressing the thermal head against the printing paper is provided between the support frame and the head frame.

[0017] Preferably, one end of the embossing roller in the first direction has a transmission wheel. A driving source is provided on the head frame. When the embossing unit is installed on the head unit, the driving source drives the transmission wheel to rotate so that the embossing roller rotates.

[0018] Preferably, the embossing roller has a support part in the first direction. The support part is inserted into the positioning groove through the opening of the positioning groove to couple the embossing roller to the metal bracket, so that the power of the driving source arranged on the head frame is transmitted to the transmission wheel.

[0019] Preferably, communicating mounting holes are provided at corresponding positions of the connecting arm and the head frame. The mounting hole on the head frame is in the shape of a waist-shaped hole, and its diameter is larger than the mounting hole of the connecting arm to facilitate the pivot shaft to pass through the mounting holes of the connecting arm and the head frame simultaneously.

[0020] Preferably, a receiving space is formed on the head frame in the first direction. The metal bracket is installed in the receiving space in a manner that is restricted from translating in the first direction.

[0021] Preferably, each of the left and right sides of the metal bracket has a positioning concave part extending in the second direction. The metal bracket also has a positioning convex part located outside the positioning concave part. The positioning convex part and the positioning concave part are spaced apart and form a fitting space. The head frame has a fitting part that is detachably inserted into the fitting space.

[0022] A part of the fitting part matches the positioning concave part.

[0023] The present invention also provides a printing device, including a housing and the above-mentioned printing module, and the printing module is disposed in the housing.

[0024] By adopting the above technical solutions, the present invention can achieve the following technical effects.

[0025] 1. A printing module provided by the present invention includes a metal bracket, which is fixedly installed on the head frame in a detachable manner. The positioning groove is composed of an outer retaining portion provided on the metal bracket and an inner retaining portion provided on the head frame. When the outer retaining portion is damaged by an external force, the printing device can be conveniently and quickly repaired by replacing the metal bracket. At the same time, since the outer retaining portion mainly bears the force transmitted by the printing roller during the working process and is often impacted when the printing assembly is externally impacted, disposing the outer retaining portion on a part of the metal bracket can effectively improve the mechanical strength of the outer retaining portion, and improve the service life and impact resistance of the printing device.

[0026] 2. By making the metal bracket bear the forces transmitted from both the impression roller and the thermal head simultaneously, the present invention enables the acting force and the reaction force during printing to be well borne, thereby ensuring the printing quality during long-term printing and preventing the problem that the fixing members of the impression roller or the thermal head are fatigued, deformed or damaged due to long-term high-frequency force application.

[0027] 3. By means of an embedding method, the metal bracket and the head frame are detachably fixed. In addition to being convenient for disassembly and assembly, it can also make the fixing of the metal bracket more stable in the first direction and the second direction, thereby ensuring the consistency of the printing device during long-term printing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of the printing module of the present invention is drawn.

[0029] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of the disassembled printing module of the present invention is drawn.

[0030] Figure 3 A three-dimensional view of the impression unit of the present invention is drawn.

[0031] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of the disassembled impression unit of the present invention is drawn.

[0032] Figure 5 A three-dimensional view of the head unit of the present invention is drawn.

[0033] Figure 6 A sectional view of the head unit of the present invention in the A-A direction is drawn.

[0034] Figure 7 A disassembled structural diagram of the head unit of the present invention is drawn.

[0035] Figure 8 The force diagram of the printing module of the present invention during printing is drawn.

[0036] Figure 9 The disassembled structure diagram of the main bracket of the head unit of the present invention is drawn.

[0037] Figure 10 The three-dimensional view of the metal bracket of the present invention is drawn.

[0038] Figure 11 The partial enlarged view of the metal bracket of the present invention is drawn.

[0039] Figure 12 The three-dimensional view of the head frame of the present invention is drawn

[0040] Figure 13 The partial enlarged view of the head frame of the present invention is drawn

[0041] Main identification of the attached drawings

[0042] 1. Imprinting unit; 11. Imprinting frame; 12. Transmission gear; 13. Elastic bracket; 14. Imprinting roller; 16. Elastic member; 17. Swing shaft; 18. Support portion; 2. Head unit; 21. Mounting bracket; 22. Support frame; 28. Head frame; 3. Metal bracket; 41. Positioning groove; 51. Sensor. Detailed implementation manners

[0043] To make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed present invention, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention.

[0044] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper end", "lower end", "upper section", "lower section", "upper side", "lower side", "middle", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc. are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings. These are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation on the present invention.

[0045] In the present invention, the first direction is the X direction and the -X direction in the drawings, the second direction is the Y direction and the -Y direction in the drawings, and the third direction is the Z direction and the -Z direction in the drawings.

[0046] Now in combination with Figures 1 to 13 the structure and functions of the solutions of the present application will be described in detail.

[0047] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the present invention provides a printing module, including an embossing unit 1, a head unit 2, and a metal bracket 3. The embossing unit 1 and the head unit 2 are assembled and installed in a separable manner. The head unit 2 includes a thermal head 221, a head frame 28, and a driving source 24 for driving the embossing roller to rotate. A preferred solution for the driving source 24 is a motor. As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, the embossing unit 1 includes an embossing frame 11, an embossing roller 14, and an elastic bracket 13 provided on the embossing frame 11. As Figure 4 shown, the embossing roller 14 is supported on the embossing frame 11 in a manner that it can rotate around the first direction X. One end of the embossing roller 14 on one side in the first direction has a transmission wheel 12, and the transmission wheel 12 is connected to the driving source 24 on the head frame 28 to receive the force transmitted from the driving source 24 and rotate. The embossing roller 14 is disposed opposite to the thermal head 22, and rotates while holding a recording paper therebetween to send out the recording paper.

[0048] As Figure 4As shown, on the left and right sides of the elastic support 13 in the first direction, there is a transition arm 132 each. The transition arm 132 has a shaft hole or a clearance portion for the rotation shaft of the impression roller 14 to pass through. The elastic support 13 is assembled with the impression roller 14 through the shaft hole or the clearance portion; the elastic support 13 is supported and installed on the impression frame in a manner that can rotate around the central axis of the impression roller 14. A swing shaft 17 is penetrated through the elastic support 13 at a position far from the transition arm 132. On the outer retaining portion 31 of the metal support 3, there is a limiting groove 3 for supporting the swing shaft 17, and the limiting groove 3 has an opening for the swing shaft 17 to enter and exit. An arc-shaped groove 111 for the swing shaft 17 to pass through is provided on the impression frame 11, and the swing shaft 17 can move within the arc-shaped groove 111 of the impression frame 11. An elastic member 16 is provided between the impression frame 11 and the elastic support 13, and the impression frame 11 and the elastic support 13 are provided with mounting portions for mounting the elastic member. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounting portion of the elastic member is a mounting groove.

[0049] As Figure 4 shown, on the left and right sides of the impression roller 14 in the first direction X, there is a support portion 18 each. The support portion 18 has a shaft hole penetrating in the first direction X, and the rotation shaft of the impression roller 14 passes through the shaft hole and can rotate within the shaft hole. The support portion 18 is inserted into the positioning groove 41 through the opening of the positioning groove 41 to couple the impression roller 14 to the metal support 3. Here, the support portion 18 can be a component with different shapes that meets the above functional requirements; it can also be integrally formed with the impression roller 14 and belongs to a part of the impression roller.

[0050] As Figure 5 shown, on the body 32 of the metal support 3, there is a photoelectric sensing component 51 for detecting the information of the recording paper. The photoelectric sensing component 51 includes a sensor, a sensor carrier plate, and a mounting base, and the mounting base is snap-fitted on the body 32. The photoelectric sensing component 51 is used to detect the situation information of the printing paper, such as the presence or absence of the printing paper, or different positions of the printing paper, etc.

[0051] As Figure 6 and Figure 7The thermal head 221 shown is installed on the support frame 22. On both sides of the front end of the support frame 22, there are limit rods 223, and at the rear end, there is an installation hole for installing the pivot shaft 222. The pivot shaft 222 is installed in the installation hole of the support frame and assembled on the head frame 28. The limit rods 223 of the support frame 22 are installed in the grooves 2814 of the head frame 28, and the limit rods 223 can swing around the pivot shaft 222 in the grooves 2814. The swing range is determined by the size of the grooves 2814 and can be set according to actual needs. The support frame 22 is swingably installed on the head frame around the pivot shaft 222. An elastic member (not shown in the drawing) is provided between the front end of the support frame 22 and the head frame. A preferred solution for this elastic member is a spring, which is used to keep a certain pre-tightening force on the thermal head during printing so that the thermal head is close to the printing paper. Therefore, the thermal head 221 is fixed to the head frame 28 in a manner that it can swing around the pivot shaft 222. The pivot shaft 222 passes through the shaft hole in the connecting arm 314 of the metal bracket 3 and the shaft hole 2813 of the head frame 28 at the same time. The shaft hole 2813 is a waist-shaped hole or a hole with a shape similar to a waist-shaped hole, such as an oval hole. As Figure 7 and Figure 13 shown, in the present invention, the pivot shaft 222 passes through the shaft hole 2813 of the connecting arm 314 and the head frame 28 at the same time. The diameter of the shaft hole 2813 of the head frame is larger than the diameter of the shaft hole of the connecting arm 314, so that the pivot shaft 222 can more easily pass through the shaft hole 2813 of the head frame after passing through the shaft hole of the connecting arm 314, making the assembly easier and avoiding the situation of over-fitting.

[0052] As Figure 8 shown, the impression roller 14 is limited on the limiting part 311 of the metal bracket 3, and the support frame 22 with the thermal head installed is pivotally connected to the connecting arm 314 of the metal bracket 3 rotatably. When the printing assembly prints, the printing paper is clamped between the thermal head 221 and the impression roller 14. During the printing process, the acting force F1 and the reaction force F2 transmitted by the printing paper are respectively transmitted to the force-receiving part 311 and the connecting arm 314 of the metal bracket 3, so that the acting force and the reaction force during printing are borne by the metal bracket, thereby preventing the fatigue damage of the plastic parts during frequent stress application from affecting the printing quality.

[0053] As Figure 10 and Figure 11As shown, the metal bracket 3 is an integrally die-cast metal bracket. The metal bracket 3 is fixedly installed on the head frame 28 in a detachable manner. On both the left and right sides of the head frame 28, there are integrally formed fixing seats 281 and 282. The fixing seats 281 and 282 are provided with bolt mounting portions 2811. The head frame 28 is fixedly connected to the metal bracket 3 through the bolt mounting portions 2811 by bolts. The metal bracket 3 includes a main body 32 and two outer blocking portions 31. The two outer blocking portions 31 are respectively integrally formed on the left and right sides of the main body 32. Corresponding to the outer blocking portion 31, on both the left and right sides of the head frame 28, there is an inner blocking portion 281 each. The outer blocking portion 31 and its corresponding inner blocking portion 281 together form a positioning groove 41 with an opening; on both the left and right sides of the metal bracket 3 in the first direction X, there is a connecting arm 314 each. A shaft hole is provided on the connecting arm 314 for installing a pivot shaft 222.

[0054] As Figure 9 shown, the head unit 2 includes a head frame 28 and a mounting frame 21 assembled with the head frame 28. The mounting frame 21 and the head frame 28 form a cutter installation space in front. The two ends of the mounting frame 21 are bent to form bent portions 211, and the bottom of the mounting frame 21 is bent to form a clamping portion 212. The two bent portions 211 and the two sides of the head frame 28 form an installation space for a driving gear set 26 of the cutter and an installation space for an impression roller gear set 23; the clamping portion 212 is located in the accommodation space of the head frame 28 and forms an installation space for a cutter motor 25 and a driving motor 24 of the impression roller with the head frame 28. The metal bracket 3 is detachably provided on the head frame 28. As Figure 12 and Figure 13 shown in the component diagram of the head unit 2, on both sides of the head frame 28, there are protruding mounting portions 281 and 282. A accommodation space is formed between the mounting portions 281 and 282 in the first direction. The metal bracket 3 is installed in the accommodation space in a manner restricted from translation in the first direction. As Figure 13 shown, the mounting portion 281 is further provided with a fitting portion 2812 and a mounting groove 2815 that mates with the convex portion of the metal bracket 3. As Figure 10 and Figure 11 shown, on both the left and right sides of the metal bracket 3, there is a positioning recess 313 each extending in the second direction Y. The metal bracket 3 also has a positioning convex portion 315 located outside the positioning recess 313. The positioning convex portion 315 and the positioning recess 313 are spaced apart and form a fitting space. The head frame 28 has a fitting portion 2812 that is detachably embedded in the fitting space. Part or all of the fitting portion 2812 matches the positioning recess 313. In the present invention, in a preferred solution, the above-mentioned second direction is perpendicular to the above-mentioned first direction.

[0055] The present invention further provides a printing device, specifically a portable printing device (not shown in the figure), which includes the above-mentioned printing module and a housing, and the printing module is configured and fixed in the housing.

[0056] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can have various modifications and changes. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A printing module with stable printing, comprising: A head unit, which includes a thermal head and a head frame; An imprinting unit, which includes an imprinting roller and an imprinting frame, and is combined with the head unit in a separable manner; The imprinting roller is supported on the imprinting frame in a manner that it can rotate around a first direction; The imprinting roller is arranged opposite to the thermal head, and rotates while holding a recording paper therebetween to feed out the recording paper; It is characterized in that The printing module further includes: A metal bracket, which is fixedly installed on the head frame in a detachable manner, includes a main body and outer retaining parts and connecting arms provided on both sides of the main body. Inner retaining parts corresponding to the outer retaining parts are provided on the head frame, and the outer retaining parts and the inner retaining parts together form a positioning groove with an opening; The imprinting roller is installed in the positioning groove, the thermal head is rotatably connected to the connecting arm through a pivot shaft, and the outer retaining part and the connecting arm simultaneously bear the force transmitted by the printing paper during the printing process; wherein, the imprinting roller is limited on the limiting part of the outer retaining part; during the printing process, the acting force and the reaction force transmitted by the printing paper are respectively transmitted to the limiting part and the connecting arm of the metal bracket, so that the acting force and the reaction force during printing are borne by the metal bracket.

2. A printing module with stable printing according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The head unit further includes a support frame, the thermal head is arranged on the support frame, the pivot shaft is provided at the rear end of the support frame, and a shaft hole for the pivot shaft to pass through is provided on the connecting arm.

3. A printing module with stable printing according to claim 2, It is characterized in that Limit rods are provided on both sides at the front end of the support frame, and mounting parts allowing the limit rods to swing are provided at corresponding positions on the head frame.

4. A printing module according to claim 3, It is characterized in that An elastic member for pressing the thermal head against the printing paper is provided between the support frame and the head frame.

5. A printing module with stable printing according to claim 1, It is characterized in that One end of the imprinting roller on one side in the first direction has a transmission wheel, a driving source is provided on the head frame, and when the imprinting unit is installed on the head unit, the driving source drives the transmission wheel to rotate so as to rotate the imprinting roller.

6. A printing module with stable printing according to claim 5, It is characterized in that The imprinting roller has a support part in the first direction, and the support part is inserted into the positioning groove through the opening of the positioning groove to couple the imprinting roller to the metal bracket, so that the power of the driving source arranged on the head frame is transmitted to the transmission wheel.

7. A printing module with stable printing according to claim 1, It is characterized in that Corresponding positions of the connecting arm and the head frame are provided with communicating shaft holes. The shaft hole of the head frame is in the shape of an oval hole, and its diameter is larger than the diameter of the shaft hole of the connecting arm so that the pivot shaft can more conveniently pass through the shaft holes of the connecting arm and the head frame at the same time.

8. A printing module with stable printing according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The head frame forms an accommodating space in the first direction, and the metal bracket is installed in the accommodating space in a manner that it is restricted from translating in the first direction.

9. A printing module with stable printing according to claim 8, characterized in that, each of the left and right sides of the metal bracket has a positioning recess extending in the second direction, the metal bracket also has a positioning protrusion located outside the positioning recess, the positioning protrusion and the positioning recess are spaced apart and form a fitting space, the head frame has a fitting portion that is detachably embedded in the fitting space, and a part of the fitting portion matches the positioning recess; the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

10. A printing device, comprising a housing, characterized in that, it further comprises the printing module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and the printing module is disposed in the housing.

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