Gear transmission system of label printer and reversible label printer

Abstract

The present invention discloses a gear transmission system for a label printer and a reversible label printer, belonging to the field of label printers. The gear transmission system includes a first gear set connected to the output shaft of a motor, a planetary gear set connected to the first gear set, a printing rubber roller gear set connected to the planetary gear set to drive the label paper to move forward or reverse, and a carbon ribbon winding gear and a carbon ribbon unwinding gear selectively connected to the planetary gear set; the planetary gear set includes a sun gear, planetary gears and a planetary carrier, and the sun gear drives the planetary gears to rotate under the drive of the first gear set, and the planetary gears are meshed with the carbon ribbon winding gear or the carbon ribbon unwinding gear according to the forward and reverse rotation of the sun gear. The present invention drives the sun gear to rotate forward and reverse by the motor, so that the planetary gears can selectively mesh with the carbon ribbon winding gear and the carbon ribbon unwinding gear, which can not only realize normal printing of label paper, but also reversely return the label paper and recycle the carbon ribbon at the same time, thereby avoiding waste of label paper and carbon ribbon and improving material utilization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of label printers, and in particular to a gear transmission system of a label printer and a reversible label printer. Background Art

[0002] Currently, thermal transfer label printers use a ribbon that travels along the label paper in one direction (the paper output direction). After printing is complete, the label paper is torn off or cut. This leaves a certain length of blank label between the printhead's heat line and the paper cutoff point. This blank label section remains unprinted. Furthermore, the ribbon that followed this blank label section remains unused, resulting in wasted label paper and ribbon for the next print. This results in low material utilization and high costs.

[0003] It can be seen that the above-mentioned existing label printers still have inconveniences and defects in their structure, methods, and use, and are in urgent need of further improvement. How to create a new gear transmission system for label printers and a reversible label printer that can realize label paper discharge and carbon ribbon tightening during forward rotation, and label paper retraction and carbon ribbon retraction during reverse rotation. After printing a label, the blank label paper can be returned to the label box, and the carbon ribbon can also be smoothly retracted into the label box, thereby reducing label paper and carbon ribbon waste, has become a goal that the current industry urgently needs to improve. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a gear transmission system for a label printer, so that it can realize the label paper output and carbon ribbon tightening during forward rotation, and can also realize the label paper retraction and carbon ribbon retraction during reverse rotation. After printing a label, the blank label paper is returned to the label box, and the carbon ribbon can also be flatly retracted into the label box, reducing the waste of label paper and carbon ribbon, thereby overcoming the shortcomings of existing label printers.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a gear transmission system for a label printer, comprising a first gear set drivingly connected to an output shaft of a motor, a planetary gear set drivingly connected to the first gear set, a print roller gear set drivingly connected to the planetary gear set for driving label paper to move forward or reverse, and a carbon ribbon winding gear and a carbon ribbon unwinding gear selectively drivingly connected to the planetary gear set;

[0006] The planetary gear set includes a sun gear and planetary gears meshing with the sun gear, and a planetary carrier connecting the sun gear and the planetary gears. The sun gear drives the planetary gears to rotate under the drive of the first gear set, and under the action of the planetary carrier, the planetary gears mesh with the carbon ribbon winding gear or the carbon ribbon unwinding gear according to the forward or reverse rotation of the sun gear.

[0007] As a further improvement, the planetary gear set is further provided with an elastic limiting mechanism, which is used to cause the planetary gear to engage with the carbon ribbon winding gear when the motor is stopped.

[0008] Further improvement, the elastic limiting mechanism includes an elastic limiting member and a limiting rod in conflict with it, one end of the elastic limiting member is connected to the tail of the planetary frame, and the other end thereof pops out to the outside of the planetary frame and forms a certain tension with the planetary frame, and the limiting rod is fixed on the printer housing. When the motor is in the stopped state, the elastic limiting member causes the planetary gear to engage with the carbon ribbon winding gear under the interference of the limiting rod.

[0009] As a further improvement, torsion springs with opposite rotation directions are provided inside the carbon ribbon winding gear and the carbon ribbon unwinding gear.

[0010] As another improvement of the present invention, the present invention also provides a reversible label printer, comprising the gear transmission system of the above-mentioned label printer.

[0011] The label printer includes a shell and a printing rubber roller, a carbon ribbon supply roller and a carbon ribbon take-up roller arranged inside the shell. In the gear transmission system, the printing rubber roller gear group is connected to the printing rubber roller to drive the label paper to move, the carbon ribbon take-up gear is connected to the carbon ribbon take-up roller, and the carbon ribbon unwinding gear is connected to the carbon ribbon unwinding roller. When the motor rotates to one side, the first gear group transmits power to the planetary gear group, and the planetary gear group drives the printing rubber roller and the carbon ribbon take-up roller to rotate, thereby realizing the paper output of the label paper and the tightening of the carbon ribbon; when the motor rotates to the opposite side, the first gear group transmits reverse power to the planetary gear group, and the planetary gear group drives the printing rubber roller and the carbon ribbon unwinding roller to rotate, thereby realizing the paper unreeling of the label paper and the recycling of the carbon ribbon.

[0012] As a further improvement, the label printer is used for printing die-cut label paper rolls, continuous label paper rolls, heat shrink tube rolls or marking strip rolls.

[0013] After adopting such a design, the present invention has at least the following advantages:

[0014] 1. The gear transmission system of the label printer of the present invention is provided with a planetary gear set. Under the action of the sun gear, planetary gear and planetary carrier, the sun gear is driven by the motor to rotate forward and reverse, so that the planetary gear can selectively engage with the carbon ribbon winding gear and the carbon ribbon unwinding gear, thereby realizing the forward and reverse printing mechanism of the label printer, which can not only realize the normal printing and output of label paper, but also return the label paper to the label box, and at the same time recycle the carbon ribbon into the label box, thereby avoiding the waste of label paper and carbon ribbon and improving material utilization.

[0015] 2. By setting up an elastic limit mechanism and utilizing the interference fit between the elastic limit member and the limit rod, when the motor is stopped, the elastic limit member causes the planetary gear to engage with the ribbon winding gear, thereby ensuring instantaneous printing in the forward direction.

[0016] 3. By setting torsion springs with opposite rotation directions inside the carbon ribbon winding gear and the carbon ribbon unwinding gear, it is ensured that the carbon ribbon can always maintain a certain tension during the process of tightening the carbon ribbon in the forward direction and retracting the carbon ribbon in the reverse direction, and the carbon ribbon will not wrinkle.

[0017] 4. The label printer of the present invention is not only suitable for die-cut label paper rolls and continuous label paper rolls, but also suitable for printing materials such as heat shrink tube rolls and marking strip rolls. It has a wide range of applications and good economy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above is only an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present invention, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the meshing of the planetary gear and the carbon ribbon winding gear in the gear transmission system of the label printer of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the meshing of the planetary gear and the carbon ribbon unwinding gear in the gear transmission system of the label printer of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 The present invention is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a carbon ribbon winding gear and a carbon ribbon unwinding gear in the gear transmission system of a label printer.

[0022] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the label printer of the present invention (for clarity, the gear 1 and the gear 7 are not in meshing state).

[0023] Figure 5 This is a top view of the internal structure of the label printer of the present invention (for clarity, gears 1, 2, and 7 are removed from the figure).

[0024] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of the winding roller connected to the gear transmission system inside the label printer of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The gear transmission system of the label printer of this embodiment includes a first gear group connected to the output shaft of the motor, a planetary gear group connected to the first gear group, a printing roller gear group connected to the planetary gear group for driving the label paper to move forward or reverse, and a carbon ribbon winding gear and a carbon ribbon unwinding gear selectively connected to the planetary gear group.

[0026] For details, please refer to the attached Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the first gear set includes a first gear 1, which is a duplex gear. The outer gear of the duplex gear meshes with the motor output shaft and is driven to rotate by it, while the inner gear of the duplex gear also rotates accordingly. Of course, the first gear can also be composed of two gears on the same central axis, or a plurality of meshing gears.

[0027] In this embodiment, the planetary gear set includes a sun gear 2, meshing planetary gears 3, and a planet carrier 4 connecting the sun gear 2 and the planetary gears 3. The planetary gears 3 are rotatably mounted on the planet carrier 4 and revolve around the sun gear 2. The sun gear 2 also utilizes a duplex gear system, with its outer gear meshing with the inner gear of the first gear 1, which in turn meshes with the planetary gear 3. Driven by the first gear 1, the sun gear 2 drives the planetary gear 3 to rotate, and the planetary gear 3 also rotates around the sun gear 2. The planetary gear 3 can selectively mesh with either the ribbon take-up gear 5 or the ribbon unwinding gear 6. When the planetary gear 3 drives the ribbon take-up gear 5 to rotate, the unwinding gear 6 becomes an idler gear, tightening the ribbon. When the planetary gear 3 drives the unwinding gear 6 to rotate, the unwinding gear 6 becomes an idler gear, retracting the ribbon.

[0028] In this embodiment, the print roller gear assembly includes gears 7, 8, 9, and 10, which mesh in sequence. Gear 7 also utilizes a duplex gear system, with its outer gear meshing with the outer gear of sun gear 2 and its inner gear meshing with gear 8. Gear 8 also meshes with gear 9, which in turn meshes with gear 10. Driven by sun gear 2, gear 7 drives gear 8, which in turn drives gears 9 and 10. Based on forward or reverse rotation of the motor, gears 9 and 10 facilitate forward or reverse movement of the label paper, facilitating the forward and reverse movement of the label paper.

[0029] A preferred embodiment is that the planetary gear set is further provided with an elastic limiting mechanism, which is used to keep the planetary gear and the carbon ribbon winding gear engaged when the motor is stopped, thereby ensuring the instantaneous tightening of the carbon ribbon during forward printing.

[0030] Specifically, the elastic limiting mechanism includes an elastic limiting member 11 and a limiting rod 12 that conflicts with it. One end of the elastic limiting member 11 is connected to the tail of the planetary frame 4, and the other end thereof pops out to the outside of the planetary frame 4 and forms a certain tension with the planetary frame 4. The limiting rod 12 is fixed on the printer housing. When the motor is in the stopped state, the elastic limiting member 11 causes the planetary gear 3 and the carbon ribbon winding gear 5 to maintain a meshing state under the interference of the limiting rod 12, which can timely drive the start of the carbon ribbon winding gear 5 to ensure the instantaneous tightening of the carbon ribbon.

[0031] Also, refer to the attached Figure 3 As shown, the ribbon rewinding gear 5 and the ribbon unwinding gear 6 are each internally provided with torsion springs 13 and 14 of opposite rotational directions. These torsion springs 13 and 14 ensure that the ribbon maintains a certain tension during both the forward ribbon tightening and reverse ribbon retraction processes, preventing the ribbon from wrinkling and ensuring smooth operation of the printer.

[0032] When the above-mentioned gear transmission system is applied to a label printer, the label printer can be rotated forward and reversely, that is, a reversible label printer is formed.

[0033] Refer to the attached Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the label printer includes a housing 15 and a gear transmission system disposed within the housing 15, as well as a print roller 16, a ribbon supply roller 17, and a ribbon take-up roller 18 connected to the gear transmission system. The print roller gear set in the gear transmission system is connected to the print roller 16, which drives the label paper 20 by friction with the print roller 16. The ribbon take-up gear 5 is connected to the ribbon take-up roller 18, and the ribbon unwinding gear 6 is connected to the ribbon unwinding roller 17. When the motor 19 rotates to one side, the first gear 1 transmits power to the planetary gear set, which drives the print roller 16 to rotate in the forward direction, while simultaneously controlling the rotation of the ribbon take-up roller 18, achieving forward delivery of the label paper 20 and forward tightening of the ribbon 21. When the motor 19 rotates in the opposite direction, the first gear 1 transmits reverse power to the planetary gear set, which drives the print roller 16 to rotate in the opposite direction, and simultaneously controls the rotation of the ribbon unwinding roller 17, achieving reverse unwinding of the label paper 20 and reverse recycling of the ribbon 21. This gear transmission system that can drive the label printer in reverse is beneficial for retracting unused label paper 20 and ribbon 21 that have exceeded the print head heat line to the front end of the print head heat line, facilitating full utilization of the unused label paper 20 and ribbon 21 and reducing material waste.

[0034] In this application, the label printer can be used for the printing of die-cut label rolls. Of course, it can also be used for the printing of continuous label rolls, heat shrink tube rolls or marking strip rolls, etc.

[0035] The gear transmission system of the label printer of the present invention is set through the meshing relationship between the gears, so that the gear transmission system can rely on the same motor to realize the forward and reverse rotation of the gears, and at the same time can selectively control the carbon ribbon winding gear or the carbon ribbon unwinding gear to rotate as the driving wheel, which can not only realize the normal printing of label paper, but also return the label paper to the label box and recycle the carbon ribbon into the label box, avoiding the waste of label paper and carbon ribbon and improving material utilization.

[0036] The label printer of the present invention is not only suitable for printing media of die-cut label paper rolls and continuous label paper rolls, but also suitable for printing media of materials such as heat shrink tube rolls and marking strip rolls, and has a wide range of applications and good economy.

[0037] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "back", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They 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, they cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0038] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed, detachable, or integral connections; mechanical or electrical connections; direct or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0039] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any form. Those skilled in the art can make some simple modifications, equivalent changes or modifications based on the technical content disclosed above, which all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gear transmission system for a label printer, characterized in that: The device comprises a first gear set drivingly connected to the output shaft of the motor, a planetary gear set drivingly connected to the first gear set, a printing roller gear set drivingly connected to the planetary gear set for driving the label paper to move forward or reverse, and a carbon ribbon winding gear and a carbon ribbon unwinding gear selectively drivingly connected to the planetary gear set; The planetary gear set includes a sun gear and planetary gears meshing with the sun gear, and a planetary carrier connecting the sun gear and the planetary gears. The sun gear drives the planetary gears to rotate under the drive of the first gear set, and under the action of the planetary carrier, the planetary gears mesh with the carbon ribbon winding gear or the carbon ribbon unwinding gear according to the forward or reverse rotation of the sun gear. The planetary gear set is also provided with an elastic limiting mechanism, which is used to cause the planetary gear to engage with the carbon ribbon winding gear when the motor is stopped. The elastic limiting mechanism includes an elastic limiting member and a limiting rod that conflicts with it. One end of the elastic limiting member is connected to the tail of the planetary frame, and the other end thereof pops out to the outside of the planetary frame and forms a certain tension with the planetary frame. The limiting rod is fixed on the printer housing. When the motor is stopped, the elastic limiting member causes the planetary gear to engage with the carbon ribbon winding gear under the interference of the limiting rod.

2. The gear transmission system of the label printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: Torsion springs with opposite rotation directions are arranged inside the carbon ribbon winding gear and the carbon ribbon unwinding gear.

3. A reversible label printer, characterized in that: A gear transmission system comprising the label printer according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The reversible label printer according to claim 3, wherein: The label printer includes a shell and a printing rubber roller, a carbon ribbon supply roller and a carbon ribbon take-up roller arranged inside the shell. In the gear transmission system, the printing rubber roller gear group is connected to the printing rubber roller to drive the label paper to move, the carbon ribbon take-up gear is connected to the carbon ribbon take-up roller, and the carbon ribbon unwinding gear is connected to the carbon ribbon supply roller. When the motor rotates to one side, the first gear group transmits power to the planetary gear group, and the planetary gear group drives the printing rubber roller and the carbon ribbon take-up roller to rotate, thereby realizing the paper output of the label paper and the tightening of the carbon ribbon; when the motor rotates to the opposite side, the first gear group transmits reverse power to the planetary gear group, and the planetary gear group drives the printing rubber roller and the carbon ribbon supply roller to rotate, thereby realizing the paper unreeling of the label paper and the recycling of the carbon ribbon.

5. The reversible label printer according to claim 4, wherein: The label printer is used for printing die-cut label paper rolls, continuous label paper rolls, heat shrink tube rolls or marking strip rolls.

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