A paper feeder for a large format printer

Abstract

The present invention discloses a paper feeder for a large-format printer, which is composed of a frame, a paper lifting platform, a paper suction and paper separation mechanism, a paper feeding mechanism and a controller. The paper suction and paper separation mechanism is composed of a paper support height sensing wheel, a suction cup, a suction cup fixing frame, a paper separator and a suction cup motor. The suction cup has a row and is fixed on the suction cup fixing frame. The suction cup can move up and down. The suction cup fixing frame is driven by the suction cup fixing frame motor to move forward and backward along the paper feeding direction; the paper feeding mechanism is composed of a paper pickup shaft and a paper pressing wheel. The paper pressing wheel is driven by a motor through a spring and a cam to move up and down. The paper feeding length of the present invention is precisely controllable, the paper can be freely controlled to move forward and backward, and the paper can be pressed or released in time. The paper format and paper thickness are widely applicable, the mechanical performance is stable and the structure is simple, and the accurate paper feeding of both sides of the printing can be realized, as well as unattended continuous operation, which greatly improves the utilization rate of printing equipment and saves labor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a paper feeder, in particular to a paper feeder for a large-format printer. Background Art

[0002] Large format printers are printers with a printing width exceeding A2 (42 cm). Existing large format printers mainly provide roll paper printing and single-sheet paper printing. Since roll paper has a paper length limit, a roll of paper generally only supports 2 to 3 hours of printing time. If it needs to work continuously for 24 hours, it must be manually supervised; and roll paper is generally printed on one side, it is difficult to achieve accurate alignment for double-sided printing; in addition, roll paper is generally more expensive in the market, and the printing cost is high. Although single-sheet paper printing can achieve double-sided printing and is cheap, large format printers can only feed paper manually for single-sheet printing, which is difficult to accurately align, so the efficiency is low and must be manually operated. The same is true for engraving machines. Several paper feeding features of large format printers and engraving machines: 1. Large format printers have a wide adaptability to the range of paper thickness; 2. The range of paper formats is large; 3. The timing of paper feeding must be accurate; 4. The length of the paper fed must be accurate and the printer can freely adjust the paper position. Most of the existing paper feeding devices have a fixed engagement state of the paper pickup wheel and the paper pressure wheel or have no paper pickup wheel or paper pressure wheel. They cannot freely adjust the paper after feeding the large-format printer and accurately control the length of the paper feeding. Therefore, they are not suitable for the paper feeding method of large-format printers or engraving machines. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to overcome the deficiencies in the existing technology, the present invention provides a paper feeder for a large-format printer. The paper feeder has a wide range of paper widths, a precisely controllable paper feeding length, the paper can be freely controlled to move forward and backward, and the paper can be pressed or released at the right time. The paper width and paper thickness are very widely applicable, the mechanical properties are stable and the structure is simple, and the paper feeder can be docked and used with a variety of devices. The paper feeder is particularly suitable for single-sheet paper feeding of large-format printers, engraving machines and other devices, and can achieve precise paper feeding for both-sided printing and unattended continuous operation, thereby greatly improving the utilization rate of printing equipment and saving labor.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a paper feeder for a large-format printer, which is composed of a frame, a paper lifting platform, a paper suction and separation mechanism, a paper feeding mechanism and a controller.

[0005] The paper lifting platform is composed of a paper loading bin, a paper bin bracket and a bracket lifting device, and the paper bin bracket and the bracket lifting device are fixed on the frame;

[0006] The paper suction and paper separation mechanism is composed of a paper support height sensing wheel, a suction cup, a suction cup fixing frame, a paper separator and a suction cup motor. The paper support height sensing wheel and the suction cup are located above the front end of the paper loading bin. The paper support height sensing wheel is provided with a sensing sensor for sensing the height of the paper in the paper loading bin. The paper separator is located at the front end surface of the paper loading bin. The suction cup has a row and is fixed on the suction cup fixing frame. The suction cup can move up and down. The suction cup fixing frame is driven by the suction cup fixing frame motor to move forward and backward along the paper feeding direction.

[0007] The paper feeding mechanism is composed of a paper picking shaft and a paper pressing wheel. The paper pressing wheel is driven by a motor through a spring and a cam to move up and down.

[0008] The paper separator is composed of air blowing holes and tooth pieces. The air blowing holes are distributed on the front end surface of the paper loading bin, and the tooth pieces are distributed above the air blowing holes.

[0009] The paper bin support is composed of a support plate, a stabilizing rod, a lifting device and a pallet. The support plate is fixed in the middle of the frame. The support plate is provided with a stabilizing rod, which stably supports the pallet. A paper sensing sensor is provided on the pallet.

[0010] The pickup shafts are arranged in two rows, and corresponding paper pressing wheels are arranged above the pickup shafts. Paper sensing sensors are arranged behind the first pickup shaft and behind the second pickup shaft.

[0011] The controller is a PLC controller or a single chip microcomputer, which receives signals from various sensors and controls the working status of various motors.

[0012] The present invention can ensure the flatness of large-format paper through a paper loading bin and a paper bin bracket, and a bracket lifting device ensures the working gap between the top layer of paper and the suction cup; the paper suction and paper separation uses a numerical control motor or a stepping motor to control the front and rear positions of the suction cup, and can accurately control the optimal suction positions of different types of paper, thereby achieving adaptability to different characteristics of various thick and thin papers; the forward and backward movement of the suction cup ensures that the paper arrives at the paper feeding mechanism smoothly; the gap size between the paper pressing wheel and the paper picking shaft is adjusted by a spring and a cam device, thereby realizing free control of the forward and backward movement of the paper and timely pressing or releasing of the paper; the paper separation mechanism ensures the single suction and separation of large-format paper through blowing under the blowing hole of the paper separator and the suction of the suction cup, as well as the pulling of the tooth piece; the rotation of the paper picking shaft is controlled by a numerical control motor or a stepping motor, thereby realizing accurate control of the paper feeding length and speed.

[0013] The paper feeding device of the present invention has a wide range of paper widths, and the paper feeding length is precisely controllable. The paper can be freely controlled to move forward and backward, and the paper can be pressed or released at the right time. The paper width and paper thickness are very widely applicable, the mechanical performance is stable, the structure is simple, and it can be connected and used with a variety of equipment. It is particularly suitable for single-sheet paper feeding of large-format printers, engraving machines and other equipment, and can achieve precise paper feeding for double-sided printing on both sides, as well as unattended continuous operation, which greatly improves the utilization rate of printing equipment and saves labor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0015] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the paper suction, separation and conveying mechanism of the present invention;

[0017] In the figure, 1 is a support plate, 2 is a bracket lifting device, 3 is a stabilizing bar, 4 is a paper loading bin, 5 is an adjustable side plate of the paper bin, 6 is a first paper picking shaft, 7 is a first paper pressing wheel, 8 is a paper pressing wheel transmission gear, 9 is a paper support height sensing wheel, 10 is a suction cup, 11 is a suction cup cylinder, 12 is a paper separator, 13 is a transmission rack, 14 is a suction cup fixing frame motor, 15 is a paper picking shaft motor, 16 is a suction cup fixing frame, 17 is a paper sensing sensor 1, 18 is a paper sensing sensor 2, 19 is a tooth piece, 20 is a second paper picking shaft, 21 is a second paper pressing wheel, and 22 is a paper sensing sensor 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] from Figure 1 , 2It can be seen that the present invention is a paper feeder for a large-format printer, which is composed of a frame, a paper lifting platform, a paper suction and paper separation mechanism, a paper feeding mechanism and a controller. The paper lifting platform is composed of a paper loading bin, a paper bin bracket and a bracket lifting device. The paper loading bin is a paper loading bin that can load A2 and above paper. The paper bin bracket and the bracket lifting device are fixed on the frame, and the bracket lifting device can adjust the height of the paper bin bracket; the paper bin bracket is composed of a support plate, a stabilizing rod, a lifting device and a pallet. The support plate is fixed in the middle of the frame. A plurality of stabilizing rods are arranged on the support plate, and the plurality of stabilizing rods stably support the pallet. There are generally 4 stabilizing rods, and a paper sensing sensor 3 is arranged on the pallet.

[0020] The paper suction and paper separation mechanism consists of a paper support height sensing wheel, a suction cup, a suction cup fixing frame, a paper separator and a suction cup cylinder. The paper support height sensing wheel and the suction cup are located above the front end of the paper loading bin. The paper support height sensing wheel is provided with a sensing sensor for sensing the height of the paper in the paper loading bin. The paper separator is located at the front end face of the paper loading bin. There is a row of suction cups fixed on the suction cup fixing frame. The suction cups can move up and down. The suction cup fixing frame is driven by the suction cup fixing frame motor to move forward and backward along the paper feeding direction. The movement of the suction cup fixing frame has two functions: one is to fine-tune the front and rear positions of the suction cups to adapt to the best suction position of papers of different thicknesses; the other is to drive the horizontal movement of the paper adsorbed by the suction cups. The suction cup fixing frame motor is a CNC motor or a stepper motor.

[0021] The paper feeding mechanism consists of a pickup shaft and a pressure roller. The pressure roller is driven by a motor through a spring and a cam to move up and down. There are two pickup shafts, and corresponding pressure rollers are arranged above the pickup shafts. Paper sensing sensors are arranged behind the first pickup shaft and the second pickup shaft. The pickup shaft motor is a CNC motor or a stepper motor.

[0022] The paper separator consists of air blowing holes and teeth. The air blowing holes are distributed on the front end surface of the paper loading bin, and the teeth are distributed above the air blowing holes, which can separate the paper into single sheets.

[0023] The controller is a PLC controller or a single chip microcomputer, which receives signals from various sensors and controls the working status of various motors.

[0024] The suction cup and the blowing hole are connected to the air compressor.

[0025] Working process of the present invention:

[0026] First, the height of the paper in the paper loading bin is sensed by the paper support height sensing wheel, and the controller adjusts the height of the paper bin bracket through the bracket lifting device; when the paper support height sensing wheel senses that the paper in the paper loading bin has reached the specified height, the blowing hole of the paper separator blows air horizontally to the paper, and at the same time, the front and rear positions of the suction cup are fine-tuned by moving the suction cup fixing frame to reach the best adsorption position for papers of different thicknesses, the suction cup moves downward to adsorb the top paper and then rises to be level with the top of the paper pickup shaft, and then the motor drives the suction cup fixing frame to move forward, and the suction cup fixing frame drives the suction cup to move forward. When the suction cup brings the paper to the first paper pressing wheel and the first paper pickup shaft, the paper sensing sensor behind the first paper pickup shaft senses the paper, the paper pressing wheel is pressed down, and the paper pickup shaft runs to send the paper to the paper feed of the printer. When a piece of paper is printed, the paper sensing sensor behind the second paper pickup shaft cannot sense the paper, and the first paper pressing wheel and the second paper pressing wheel rise.

[0027] The present invention can ensure the stability of large-format paper through a paper loading bin and a paper bin bracket, and a bracket lifting device ensures the working gap between the top layer of paper and the suction cup; the paper suction and paper separation uses a numerical control motor or a stepping motor to control the front and rear positions of the suction cup, and can accurately control the optimal suction positions of different types of paper, thereby achieving adaptability to different characteristics of various thick and thin papers; the forward and backward movement of the suction cup ensures that the paper arrives at the paper feeding mechanism smoothly; the gap size between the paper pressing wheel and the paper picking shaft is adjusted by a spring and a cam device, thereby realizing free control of the forward and backward movement of the paper and timely pressing or releasing of the paper; the paper separation mechanism ensures the single suction and separation of large-format paper through air blowing under the blowing hole of the paper separator and the suction of the suction cup; and the rotation of the paper picking shaft is controlled by a numerical control motor or a stepping motor to realize accurate control of the paper feeding length and speed.

[0028] The embodiments described in the present invention are merely descriptions of the preferred implementation modes of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the concept and scope of the present invention. Without departing from the design concept of the present invention, various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present invention by engineers and technicians in this field should fall within the protection scope of the present invention. The technical contents for which protection is sought in the present invention have all been recorded in the claims.

Claims

1. A paper feeder for a large format printer, comprising a frame, a paper lifting platform, a paper suction and separation mechanism, a paper feeding mechanism and a controller. The paper lifting platform is composed of a paper loading bin, a paper bin bracket and a bracket lifting device, and the paper bin bracket and the bracket lifting device are fixed on the frame; the paper bin bracket is composed of a support plate, a stabilizing rod, a lifting device and a supporting plate, and the support plate is fixed in the middle of the frame, and a stabilizing rod is arranged on the support plate, and the stabilizing rod stably supports the supporting plate, and a paper sensing sensor is arranged on the supporting plate; The paper suction and paper separation mechanism is composed of a paper support height sensing wheel, a suction cup, a suction cup fixing frame, a paper separator and a suction cup motor. The paper support height sensing wheel and the suction cup are located above the front end of the paper loading bin. The paper support height sensing wheel is provided with a sensing sensor for sensing the height of the paper in the paper loading bin. The paper separator is located at the front end surface of the paper loading bin. The suction cup has a row and is fixed on the suction cup fixing frame. The suction cup can move up and down. The suction cup fixing frame is driven by the suction cup fixing frame motor to move forward and backward along the paper feeding direction. The paper feeding mechanism consists of a paper pickup shaft and a paper pressure wheel. The paper pressure wheel is driven by a motor through a spring and a cam to move up and down. There are two paper pickup shafts, and corresponding paper pressure wheels are arranged above the paper pickup shafts. Paper sensing sensors are arranged behind the first paper pickup shaft and the second paper pickup shaft.

2. A paper feeder for a large format printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The paper separator is composed of air blowing holes and tooth pieces. The air blowing holes are distributed on the front end surface of the paper loading bin, and the tooth pieces are distributed above the air blowing holes.

3. A paper feeder for a large format printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The suction cup fixing frame motor and the paper picking shaft motor are numerical control motors or stepping motors.

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