Printer paper feeder

Abstract

A printer paper feeder characterized by comprising a base frame and an elastic clamping assembly. The base frame is U-shaped and includes a bottom plate and side walls extending upward from both ends of the bottom plate. The elastic clamping assembly comprises two sets, one mounted on a corresponding side wall. Each set of elastic clamping assemblies includes a shaft, a support ring, a spring, and a tension spring. The shaft is reversibly mounted on the side wall. The support ring is slidably mounted on one end of the shaft and can rotate. One end of the tension spring is connected to the other end of the shaft, and the other end is connected to the side wall. At least one of the side walls is provided with a position switch, the position switch having an upwardly extending contact head that abuts against the bottom of the shaft. The device is independent of the printer, has a simple overall structure, provides a low-paper reminder function, and facilitates maintenance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer auxiliary device, and in particular to a paper supply device used in a printer. Background Art

[0002] Small portable printers all have built-in paper slots, in which roll paper for printing can be placed. After the roll paper is used up, the cover can be opened and paper can be reloaded. For documents related to this type of printer, please refer to the Chinese invention patent application disclosure with application number 201410649444.8, "A thermal printer and its paper feeding device" (application publication number CN104442015A).

[0003] Office paper printers print larger paper, such as A4, and basically have paper feeders specifically for placing A4 printing paper. There are also paper feeders suitable for placing roll paper, such as the Chinese utility model patent No. ZL201020282418.3 "A paper feeding device for inkjet printers" (authorization announcement No. CN201824651U). This type of paper feeder has a relatively complex structure and is integrated with the printer body, so maintenance is more troublesome in the event of a failure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a printer paper feeder that is independent of the printer body and can remind the user of paper shortage in view of the above technical status.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above technical problems is: a printer paper feeder, characterized by comprising a base frame and an elastic clamping assembly, the base frame being generally U-shaped and comprising a bottom plate and side walls extending upward from both ends of the bottom plate; the elastic clamping assembly is in two sets and is respectively arranged on the corresponding side walls, each set of the elastic clamping assembly comprising

[0006] A shaft, which is rotatably mounted on the aforementioned side wall;

[0007] A support ring is slidably mounted on one end of the shaft and is rotatable;

[0008] a spring, sleeved on the shaft and constantly forcing the support ring to move away from the side wall;

[0009] a tension spring, one end of which is connected to the other end of the aforementioned shaft and the other end of which is connected to the side wall;

[0010] At least one of the aforementioned side walls is provided with a position switch, which has an upwardly extending contact head that abuts against the bottom of the shaft; in use, the aforementioned support ring is adapted to the middle of the two ends of the roll paper and presses the roll paper tightly under the drive of the spring. In the roll paper feeding state, the aforementioned support ring rotates with the roll paper.

[0011] Furthermore, one end of the shaft has a support seat protruding from the shaft, one end of the spring abuts against the back of the support ring, and the other end abuts against the support seat, and the contact head abuts against the bottom of the support seat. One support seat serves as a spring seat, and the other serves as a contact portion for the contact head.

[0012] In order to adapt to the assembly of the inner circle holes of roll papers with different inner diameters, the front end face of the support ring has multiple convex rings that can adapt to the inner circle holes of roll papers with different inner diameters. The multiple convex rings are arranged in concentric circles and gradually bulge from the outside to the inside to form a tower shape.

[0013] Furthermore, the shaft has a hole at its rear end, the sidewall has a notch, and a shaft pin is disposed transversely at the end of the notch. The shaft pin extends through the shaft hole. The tension spring is disposed on the outer side of the sidewall, and the position switch is disposed within the notch and on the inner side of the sidewall. The tension spring and the position switch are located on either side of the sidewall, respectively, without interfering with each other.

[0014] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of the present invention are: a spring acts on the support ring, forcing it to engage and compress the paper roll, driving the paper roll to align with the horizontal center of the paper feeder. The support ring supports the paper roll, avoiding direct contact between the inner hole of the paper roll and the smaller diameter shaft. The clearance and friction coefficient between the support ring and the shaft are small, ensuring low resistance and smooth paper output. At the same time, when the amount of paper on the paper roll is reduced to nearly zero, the shaft is tilted up by the tension spring, and the contact head of the position switch is released from the shaft and pops up, triggering a warning signal to remind the user to replace the paper roll. Independent of the printer setting, the overall structure is simple, easy to maintain, and has a paper out reminder function. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment.

[0016] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Partial exploded view.

[0017] Figure 3 A state reference diagram is used for the embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0019] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the printer paper feeder in this embodiment is characterized by including a base frame 1 and an elastic clamping assembly. The base frame 1 is generally U-shaped at a right angle and includes a bottom plate 11 and side walls 12 extending upward from both ends of the bottom plate 11; the elastic clamping assembly is divided into two sets and is respectively provided on the corresponding side walls 12.

[0020] Each set of elastic clamping components includes a shaft rod 3, a support ring 2, a spring 6 and a tension spring 4. The shaft rod 3 can be flipped and arranged on the side wall 12; specifically, the tail of the shaft rod 3 has an axial hole 32, and the side wall 12 has a notch groove 15. The end of the notch groove 15 is laterally provided with an axial pin 14, and the axial pin 14 passes through the axial hole 32 of the shaft rod 3. One end of the shaft rod 3 has a support seat 31 protruding from the shaft rod 3.

[0021] The support ring 2 is slidably mounted on one end of the shaft 3 and is rotatable. The front end of the support ring 2 features multiple raised rings 21 that adapt to the inner rings of paper rolls of varying inner diameters. These raised rings 21 are arranged concentrically and gradually rise inward, forming a tower-like shape. The raised rings 21 of varying inner diameters adapt to the inner diameters of paper rolls, and a larger inner diameter does not interfere with the assembly of a smaller inner diameter raised ring.

[0022] The spring 6 is sleeved on the shaft 3 and always forces the support ring 2 to move away from the side wall 12 ; one end of the spring 6 abuts against the back of the support ring 2 , and the other end abuts against the support seat 31 .

[0023] One end of the tension spring 4 is connected to the other end of the shaft 3 and is located on the outer side of the side wall 12 , and the other end is connected to the side wall 12 .

[0024] The position switch 5 is disposed in the notch 15 and is located on the inner side of the side wall 12. The position switch 5 has an upwardly extending contact head 51, which abuts against the bottom of the support base 31.

[0025] like Figure 3 As shown, in use, support ring 2 fits into the inner ring holes at the center of each end of the paper roll and, driven by spring 6, compresses the paper roll, aligning the paper roll left and right with the horizontal center of the paper feeder. During paper feeding, support ring 2 rotates with the paper roll. When the paper roll is nearly empty, the tension spring causes the shaft to tilt upward (the shaft is equivalent to a lever). The contact head of the position switch releases the shaft and springs up, triggering a warning signal to remind the user to replace the paper roll.

Claims

1. A printer paper feeder, characterized in that The invention comprises a base frame (1) and an elastic clamping assembly, wherein the base frame (1) is U-shaped and comprises a bottom plate (11) and side walls (12) extending upward from both ends of the bottom plate (11); the elastic clamping assembly comprises two sets and is respectively arranged on the corresponding side walls (12), and each set of the elastic clamping assembly comprises A shaft (3) is disposed on the aforementioned side wall (12) in a reversible manner; A support ring (2) is slidably mounted on one end of the shaft (3) and is rotatable; A spring (6) is sleeved on the shaft (3) and constantly forces the support ring (2) to move away from the side wall (12); A tension spring (4), one end of which is connected to the other end of the shaft (3) and the other end of which is connected to the side wall (12); At least one of the side walls (12) is provided with a position switch (5), the position switch (5) having an upwardly extending contact head (51), the contact head (51) abutting against the bottom of the shaft (3); In the use state, the aforementioned support ring (2) is adapted to be inserted into the middle holes at both ends of the roll paper, and is driven by the spring (6) to press the roll paper tightly. In the roll paper feeding state, the aforementioned support ring (2) rotates together with the roll paper. One end of the shaft (3) has a support seat (31) protruding from the shaft (3); one end of the spring (6) abuts against the back of the support ring (2), and the other end abuts against the support seat (31); and the contact head (51) abuts against the bottom of the support seat (31); The front end surface of the support ring (2) has a plurality of convex rings (21) that can adapt to the inner ring holes of roll paper with different inner diameters. The plurality of convex rings (21) are arranged in concentric circles and gradually convex from the outside to the inside to form a tower shape. The tail of the shaft (3) has an axial hole (32), the side wall (12) has a notch groove (15), the end of the notch groove (15) is laterally provided with an axial pin (14), and the axial pin (14) passes through the axial hole (32) of the shaft (3), the tension spring (4) is arranged on the outer side of the side wall (12), and the position switch (5) is arranged in the notch groove (15) and is located on the inner side of the side wall (12).

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