Thermal printer

Abstract

The invention is suitable for the technical field of printing equipment, and provides a thermal printer which comprises a main shell, a thermal printing part and a driving structure. A supporting face is arranged in a main shell, meanwhile, a thermal printing part is movably arranged, the thermal printing part is provided with a working face opposite to the supporting face, the supporting face and the working face form a printing gap for printing paper to pass through, and the printing paper enters and stays in the printing gap. During printing, the thermal printing part is driven by the driving structure to be close to the printing paper on the supporting surface, so that the working surface on the thermal printing part is in contact with the printing paper, and printing can be completed. Compared with a thermal printer in the prior art that printing paper moves while printing, printing can be completed only through one-time movement of the thermal printing part, so that the printing speed is increased, and the working efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of printing equipment, and in particular relates to a thermal printer. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of the express delivery industry in recent years, the volume of express delivery business has increased year by year, and the number of waybills that need to be printed has also increased. Since express delivery staff often need to pick up parcels at the door and post waybills before the parcels can be circulated. Therefore, in this scenario, portable printers have become the first choice for many express delivery staff because they are easy to carry and simple to operate. Most existing portable printers use a row of print heads at the paper outlet. When the printing paper passes through the paper outlet, the print heads heat the thermal printing paper in turn to generate waybills, resulting in the problem of slow printing speed when the printer is in use, which seriously affects the work efficiency of the couriers. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal printer, aiming to solve the technical problem that the portable printer in the prior art has a slow printing speed when in use, which affects the work efficiency of couriers.

[0004] The present invention is achieved in that a thermal printer comprises:

[0005] A main housing having a support surface for supporting printing paper;

[0006] a thermal printing unit, movably disposed inside the main housing, having a working surface disposed opposite to the supporting surface, the working surface being used to contact the surface of the printing paper to heat the surface of the printing paper, and a printing gap for the printing paper to pass through is formed between the working surface and the supporting surface; and

[0007] The driving structure is arranged on the main housing, and at least a part of the driving structure is connected to the thermal printing part, and is used for driving the thermal printing part to approach or move away from the supporting surface.

[0008] In an optional embodiment, the driving structure includes a pressing member, a connecting member and an elastic member, wherein the pressing member is located outside the main shell and can move relative to the main shell, the pressing member is connected to the thermal printing part through the connecting member, and the elastic member is arranged between the pressing member and the main shell and is used to push the pressing member to move in a direction away from the main shell.

[0009] In an optional embodiment, a conveying unit is further provided on the main housing, and the conveying unit is used to drive the printing paper to pass through the printing gap.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, the conveying unit includes a rotating member and a power unit. The rotating member is rotatably arranged inside the main shell body. The rotating member is used to drive the printing paper through the printing gap through friction contact. The output end of the power unit is connected to the rotating member, and the power unit is used to drive the rotating member to rotate.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the main shell is provided with a mounting component for mounting and fixing a printing paper roll, and the main shell is also provided with a first opening, the first opening is connected to the inner cavity of the main shell to form a accommodating cavity, and the mounting component is inserted into the accommodating cavity.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the mounting component is slidably connected to the inner wall of the main shell, a first sliding portion is provided on the mounting component, a second sliding portion is provided on the inner wall of the main shell, and the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion are slidably matched.

[0013] In an optional embodiment, the mounting component is a movable paper box, and the side of the movable paper box opposite to the working surface is the supporting surface. The movable paper box is provided with a paper outlet and a second opening, and the paper outlet and the second opening are respectively arranged at two ends of the movable paper box. The printed paper in the movable paper box can extend out of the movable paper box after passing through the second opening.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, two limiting components are arranged on the support surface, the two limiting components are arranged at an interval with each other, and a limiting channel for the printing paper to pass through is formed between the two limiting components.

[0015] In an optional embodiment, a marking portion is provided on the support surface, and the marking portion is used to mark the initial position of the end of the printing paper on the support surface.

[0016] In an optional embodiment, the thermal printer further includes a control unit, a signal receiving unit, an indication unit and a sensor unit, wherein the signal receiving unit, the indication unit and the sensor unit are all electrically connected to the control unit, and the sensor unit is used to monitor the position of the thermal printing unit.

[0017] The technical effect of the present invention relative to the prior art is as follows: a supporting surface is provided on the main housing, and a thermal printing unit is also movably provided, the thermal printing unit has a working surface arranged opposite to the supporting surface, the supporting surface and the working surface form a printing gap for the printing paper to pass through, and the printing paper can enter and stay in the printing gap. When printing, it is only necessary to drive the thermal printing unit close to the printing paper on the supporting surface through the driving structure, so that the working surface on the thermal printing unit contacts the printing paper to complete the printing. Compared with the thermal printer in the prior art that prints while the printing paper moves, only one movement of the thermal printing unit is required to complete the printing, thereby increasing the printing speed and improving the work efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present invention or the description of the prior art 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.

[0019] Figure 1 The structure of the thermal printer provided by the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 1 ;

[0020] Figure 2 The structure of the thermal printer provided by the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 2 ;

[0021] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of a thermal printer provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the driving structure and thermal printing unit used in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of the main housing used in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the installation components used in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 7 It is a connection block diagram of a thermal printer provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Description of reference numerals:

[0027] 1. Main shell; 11. First opening; 12. Second sliding part; 13. Card-mounted component; 2. Thermal printing part; 3. Conveying unit; 31. Rotating member; 32. Power unit; 4. Driving structure; 41. Pressing member; 42. Connecting member; 43. Elastic member; 5. Mounting member; 51. Movable paper box; 52. Second opening; 53. Limiting member; 54. Identification part; 55. Avoidance groove; 56. Pulling member; 57. First sliding part; 58. Mounting rod; 6. Sensing unit; 7. Indicating unit; 8. Signal receiving unit; 9. Control unit; 10. Support surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to be used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0029] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0030] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "plurality" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0031] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0032] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0033] Please refer to Figures 1 to 6 As shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, a thermal printer is provided, comprising a main housing 1, a thermal printing unit 2 and a driving structure 4. The main housing 1 has a supporting surface 10 for supporting printing paper. The thermal printing unit 2 is movably arranged inside the main housing 1, and has a working surface arranged opposite to the supporting surface, the working surface is used to contact the surface of the printing paper to heat the surface of the printing paper, and the supporting surface 10 and the working surface form a printing gap for the printing paper to pass through. The driving structure 4 is arranged on the main housing 1, and at least a part of the driving structure 4 is connected to the thermal printing unit 2, and is used to drive the thermal printing unit 2 to approach or move away from the supporting surface 10.

[0034] The main housing 1 may refer to a thin-walled component with a cavity inside. The main housing 1 may be a closed structure, and a placement opening for installing a paper roll and a paper outlet for discharging paper are provided on the main housing 1. A cover may be provided at the placement opening to make the overall printing environment more sealed to ensure the safety of printing; the main housing 1 may also adopt an open structure, and a plurality of openings are provided around the main housing 1 to facilitate the installation of paper rolls and paper discharging. The printing paper may be driven to move on the main housing 1 by an automatic device, or the printing paper may be manually pulled along a preset direction through the above-mentioned printing gap, which can be freely selected.

[0035] The thermal printing unit 2 is a component that can heat the thermal printing paper according to a certain pattern. A heating resistor is provided on the thermal printing unit 2, and at least a part of the thermal printing unit 2 is an electrical part that can be connected to the control unit 9, and the heating resistor is connected to the control unit 9 through the electrical part. The heating resistors on the thermal printing unit 2 are arranged according to a certain pattern, and the heating resistor is used to form a working surface on the side in contact with the printing paper, and can heat the printing paper after contacting the thermal printing paper.

[0036] The driving structure 4 refers to a component that can drive the thermal printing unit 2 to move closer to or away from the supporting surface 10. The driving structure 4 can be driven by a power unit 32 that uses electrical energy as an energy source, or can be driven manually.

[0037] The thermal printer provided by the present invention is provided with a support surface 10 inside the main housing 1, and a thermal printing unit 2 is also movably provided. The thermal printing unit 2 has a working surface arranged opposite to the support surface. The support surface 10 and the working surface form a printing gap for the printing paper to pass through. The printing paper enters and stays in the printing gap under the drive of the conveying unit 3. When printing, it is only necessary to drive the thermal printing unit 2 close to the printing paper on the support surface 10 through the driving structure 4 so that the working surface on the thermal printing unit 2 contacts the printing paper to complete the printing. Compared with the thermal printer in the prior art that prints while the printing paper moves, only one movement of the thermal printing unit 2 is required to complete the printing, thereby improving the printing speed.

[0038] In one embodiment, Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, at least a portion of the driving structure 4 is located inside the main housing 1, and another portion of the driving structure 4 is located outside the main housing 1. Specifically, a portion of the driving structure 4 is located outside the main housing 1, and another portion is located inside the main housing 1 and connected to the thermal printing unit. When printing is required, the operator can directly press the portion of the driving structure 4 located outside the main housing 1 to drive the thermal printing unit 2 to move, making the operation of the printer more convenient and quick.

[0039] In an optional embodiment, the driving structure 4 may also be an automated component, such as an electric push rod, a scissor-type lifting unit, or any other component that can push the thermal printing unit to move, so that pushing the thermal printing unit to print is more automated. When the driving structure 4 adopts the above structure, the driving structure 4 may be partially located in the main housing 1, or may be completely located in the main housing 1.

[0040] In one embodiment, Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the driving structure 4 includes a pressing member 41, a connecting member 42 and an elastic member 43. The pressing member 41 is located outside the main housing 1 and can move relative to the main housing 1. The pressing member 41 is connected to the thermal printing unit 2 through the connecting member 42. The elastic member 43 is arranged between the pressing member 41 and the main housing 1 to push the pressing member 41 to move in a direction away from the main housing 1. Specifically, the pressing member 41 refers to a component with a certain volume, and the pressing member 41 can be any one of a block, a plate or a sphere. The connecting member 42 refers to a component with a certain length arranged between the pressing member 41 and the thermal printing unit 2. The elastic member 43 refers to an elastic member with a certain length, and the elastic member 43 can be any one of a spring, a rubber sheet or a silicone sheet. When printing is required, the pressing member 41 can be moved by pressing the pressing member 41, and the pressing member 41 will drive the thermal printing unit 2 to approach and press on the printing paper located on the support surface 10 through the connecting member 42. After printing is completed, the pressing member 41 is lifted up by the elastic member 43, and the pressing member 41 drives the thermal printing unit 2 away from the printing paper through the connecting member 42 to complete printing. The driving structure 4 adopts the above structure to make the entire printing operation faster and more convenient, and improve the printing efficiency.

[0041] In an optional embodiment, if Figure 4As shown, the connection member 42 and the pressing member 41 can be fixedly connected, such as by pasting, welding or directly forming an integral body, etc.; or a detachable connection method can be adopted, and a detachable connection structure is provided between the connection member 42 and the pressing member 41, such as a plug-in column and a plug-in hole cooperating with each other. The connection member 42 and the thermal printing unit 2 are generally detachably connected, which can facilitate replacement of the thermal printing unit 2 after damage. Among them, the detachable connection method can be adopted by providing a clamping structure on the connection member 42 to fix the thermal printing unit 2; or the plug-in column and the plug-in hole can be used to cooperate, which can make the installation and disassembly of the entire drive structure 4 more convenient.

[0042] In another optional embodiment, Figure 4 As shown, the pressing member 41 is in the shape of a plate as a whole, which can increase the overall area of ​​the pressing member 41, and can avoid the pressing member 41 from hurting the operator's hand to a certain extent, making the pressing of the pressing member 41 more comfortable and convenient. And there are multiple connecting members 42. Multiple connecting members 42 are evenly distributed in the area between the pressing member 41 and the thermal printing unit 2, so that the pressing member 41 can be more evenly pressed in the hands of various parts of the thermal printing unit 2 during the pressing process, and can avoid the situation that the uneven force on the thermal printing unit 2 during printing causes inconsistent printing depth on the printing paper to a certain extent.

[0043] In a specific embodiment, Figure 3 As shown, the pressing member 41 is plate-shaped as a whole, and the connecting members 42 are all columnar. One end of the connecting member 42 is connected to the pressing member 41 and the other end is connected to the thermal printing unit 2, and the connecting member 42 is arranged through the side wall of the main housing 1. The elastic member 43 is a spring, and the elastic member 43 is sleeved on the outside of the connecting member 42, which can make the overall layout of the driving structure 4 more reasonable.

[0044] In one embodiment, Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the thermal printing unit 2 includes a thermal printing head disposed in the main housing 1, and the thermal printing head is in a plate shape as a whole, wherein the working surface is one side of the thermal printing head. The connecting member 42 of the driving structure 4 is connected to the other side of the thermal printing head opposite to the working surface. The specific structure and working principle of the plate-shaped thermal printing head can refer to the prior art.

[0045] In an optional embodiment, a sliding structure for limiting the sliding direction of the thermal printing unit 2 may be provided in the main housing 1. The sliding structure may be a slideway provided on the inner wall of the main housing 1, and the thermal printing head may be provided with a part of itself in the slideway to slide along the length direction of the slideway; an additional slider may also be provided on the thermal printing unit 2, and the slider is slidably provided on the slideway. To a certain extent, the thermal printing unit 2 is prevented from deflecting during the sliding process, and the accuracy of the printing position is ensured.

[0046] In one embodiment, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the main housing 1 is also provided with a conveying unit 3, and the conveying unit 3 is used to drive the printing paper through the printing gap. Specifically, the conveying unit 3 refers to a component that can push the thermal printing paper to move along a preset path, and the preset path is a direction that can be parallel to the support surface. The conveying unit 3 can be driven by a power unit 32 that uses electrical energy as an energy source, or it can be driven manually, such as by a rocker or a rotating wheel, which can make the driving of the printing paper more convenient.

[0047] In one embodiment, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the conveying unit 3 includes a rotating member 31 and a power unit 32. The rotating member 31 is rotatably arranged inside the main housing 1, and the rotating member 31 is used to drive the printing paper to pass through the printing gap through friction contact, and the output end of the power unit 32 is connected to the rotating member 31 to drive the rotating member 31 to rotate. Specifically, the rotating member 31 refers to a rotating member with a circular circumference, and the rotating member 31 can be any one of a disc, a column or other rotating member.

[0048] The power unit 32 refers to a component that can convert electrical energy or other energy into rotation. The power unit 32 can be a motor, a servo motor, etc. The rotating member 31 is against the side of the printing paper. When the printing paper needs to move, the rotating member 31 can be driven to rotate by the power unit 32, and the printing paper is driven to move by the friction between the rotating member 31 and the printing paper. The structure of the conveying unit 3 can be made simpler and more compact, saving the space occupied by the conveying unit 3 and reducing the manufacturing cost.

[0049] In an optional embodiment, if Figure 3 As shown, there is at least one rotating member 31, and the rotating members 31 are all arranged coaxially, and the rotating members 31 are all located at a position directly opposite to the support surface 10. The rotating member is located above the support surface, and a paper passage for the printing paper to pass through is formed between the rotating member and the support surface, and the paper passage is connected to the printing gap. When the rotating member 31 drives the printing paper to move, the printing paper can be supported by the support surface 10 so that the rotating member 31 can be against the side of the printing paper, which can avoid relative sliding between the rotating member 31 and the printing paper to a certain extent, making the movement of the printing paper more precise.

[0050] In another optional embodiment, the number of rotating members 31 is multiple, and the rotating members 31 are divided into two groups. The rotating members 31 in the same group are all arranged coaxially. The rotation axes of the two groups of rotating members 31 are arranged parallel to each other, and the rotation directions of the two groups of rotating members 31 are opposite. The two rotating members 31 are respectively pressed against the two sides of the printing paper, and the two rotating members 31 rotate simultaneously to drive the printing paper to move. By adopting the method of rotating the two groups of rotating members 31 simultaneously, the driving work of the printing paper can be completed without the cooperation of the supporting surface 10, so that the position setting of the rotating member 31 in the main housing 1 is more flexible, and the flexibility of the conveying unit 3 is improved.

[0051] In a specific embodiment, Figure 5 As shown, the rotating member 31 includes a rotating shaft rotatably arranged in the main housing 1, the axial direction of the rotating shaft is arranged along the width direction of the printing paper, and the driving end of the power unit 32 is connected to one end of the rotating shaft. Specifically, the width direction of the printing paper refers to a direction parallel to the axial direction of the printing paper roll, and the printing paper can be driven to move by rotating the rotating shaft. The rotating member 31 uses a rotating shaft to increase the contact area between the rotating shaft and the printing paper, so that the movement of the printing paper in its own width direction is more synchronized, and to a certain extent, the printing paper is prevented from being deflected during movement.

[0052] In one embodiment, Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the main housing 1 is provided with a mounting component 5 for mounting and fixing a printing paper roll, and the main housing 1 is also provided with a first opening 11, which is connected to the inner cavity of the main housing to form a receiving cavity. The mounting component 5 is inserted into the receiving cavity. Specifically, the mounting component 5 refers to a component that can fix and support the printing paper roll. The mounting component 5 can be a box body with a hollow interior, and a mounting shaft is provided in the box body; it can also be a support frame, and a structure for fixing and supporting the printing paper roll is provided on the support body. The first opening 11 refers to an opening provided on the side wall of the main housing 1, and the size of the first opening 11 is adapted to the mounting component 5. The paper roll is set on the mounting component 5, and the mounting component 5 is disassembled and installed in the interior of the main housing 1 through the first opening 11. When the printing paper is replaced, the mounting component 5 can be taken out from the main housing 1, so that the addition of printing paper is more convenient.

[0053] In one embodiment, Figure 2 and Figure 6As shown, the mounting component 5 is slidably connected to the inner wall of the main housing 1, and a first sliding portion 57 is provided on the mounting component 5, and a second sliding portion 12 is provided on the inner wall of the main housing 1, and the first sliding portion 57 and the second sliding portion 12 are slidably matched. Specifically, the mounting component 5 is slidably connected to the inner wall of the main housing 1 through the first sliding portion 57 and the second sliding portion 12, which can make the disassembly and installation of the mounting component 5 more convenient, and make the replacement of the paper roll more convenient and quick. At the same time, the mounting component 5 can also be limited after being installed inside the main housing 1, which can prevent the movement of the mounting component 5 and affect the printing accuracy to a certain extent.

[0054] In an optional embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown, the first sliding portion 57 can be a sliding member arranged on the mounting component 5, and the sliding member can be an integral block or strip structure, or a plurality of protrusion structures arranged on the side of the mounting component 5 and arranged in a straight line. The second sliding portion 12 can be a sliding groove arranged on the inner wall of the main housing 1. The sliding member is arranged in the sliding groove and can slide along the length direction of the sliding groove. The first sliding portion 57 can also be a sliding groove arranged on the mounting component 5, in which case the second sliding portion 12 can be a sliding member arranged on the inner wall of the main housing 1, and similarly the sliding member can be an integral block or strip structure, or a plurality of protrusion structures arranged on the inner wall of the main housing 1 and arranged in a straight line.

[0055] In an optional embodiment, if Figure 2 and Figure 6 As shown, a pulling member 56 is also provided on the mounting component 5. Specifically, the pulling member 56 is a member with a certain volume protruding from the mounting component 5, and the mounting component 5 can be any one of a columnar shape, a block shape, or a shape formed by combining multiple shapes, and the setting of the pulling member 56 can pull the mounting component 5 out of the main housing 1 through the pulling member 56 when the mounting component 5 needs to be disassembled.

[0056] In another optional embodiment, Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a clamping component 13 for preventing the installation component 5 from escaping from the first opening of the main housing 1 is also movably provided on the main housing 1. Specifically, the clamping component 13 refers to a component that is movably provided on the main housing 1 and can switch between two states of being blocked in front of the first opening and being moved away from the first opening. The clamping component 13 can be a clamping rod rotatably provided on the main housing 1, or a limit block slidably provided on the main housing 1. Of course, the clamping component 13 can also be other components that can play a limiting role, which can be freely selected according to actual conditions.

[0057] In one embodiment, Figure 6As shown, the mounting component 5 is a movable paper box 51, and the side of the movable paper box 51 opposite to the working surface is the support surface 10. The movable paper box 51 is also provided with a paper outlet and a second opening 52, and the paper outlet and the second opening 52 are respectively located at the two ends of the movable paper box 51. The printing paper in the movable paper box 51 can extend out of the movable paper box 51 through the second opening 52 and be laid on the support surface 10. Specifically, the movable paper box 51 refers to a thin-walled component with a hollow interior, which can make the mounting component 5 itself lighter and also improve the space utilization rate in the main housing 1. At the same time, the mounting component 5 is the movable paper box 51 and can also provide a setting area for the setting of the support surface 10. The support surface 10 is arranged on the mounting component 5, and the end of the paper roll can be pulled out and placed on the support surface 10 when the paper roll is installed. After the printing paper is positioned, the movable paper box 51 is installed in the main housing 1, so that the installation of the printing paper and the positioning of the first sheet of each new paper roll are more convenient. The efficiency of replacing the printing paper can be improved, and the printing accuracy of the first sheet of paper can be improved.

[0058] In an optional embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown, the second opening 52 on the movable paper box 51 and the first opening 11 on the main housing 1 are arranged in opposite directions. Specifically, the printing paper in the movable paper box 51 is laid on the support surface 10 after passing through the second opening 52, and then after printing is completed, it can be transported from the first opening 11 to the inside of the main housing 1 under the drive of the transport unit 3, so that the first opening 11 is used as the paper outlet on the main housing 1, which can make the transportation route of the printing paper inside the main housing 1 more reasonable and smooth, and improve the space utilization rate inside the main housing 1.

[0059] In another optional embodiment, Figure 1 As shown, a mounting member for mounting a paper roll is also detachably provided in the movable paper box 51. Since a hollow cylindrical support is usually provided inside the paper roll, the mounting member can be a mounting rod penetrating the cylindrical support, or a supporting column with two ends extending into the cylindrical support and respectively located on both sides of the cylindrical support. This can make the installation of the paper roll more secure and convenient.

[0060] In a specific embodiment, Figure 6 As shown, the mounting component 5 is a movable paper box 51, and the movable paper box 51 is also provided with a second opening 52, and the second opening 52 on the movable paper box 51 is arranged in opposite directions to the first opening 11 on the main housing 1. A mounting rod 58 for mounting a paper roll is also detachably provided in the movable paper box 51. Sliding blocks are provided on both sides of the movable paper box 51, and sliding grooves are provided on the inner wall of the main housing 1, and the movable paper box 51 can be conveniently disassembled and installed by sliding the sliding blocks in the sliding grooves.

[0061] In one embodiment, Figure 6As shown, two limiting components 53 are arranged on the support surface 10, and the two limiting components 53 are arranged at a distance from each other, and the two limiting components 53 form a limiting channel for the printing paper to pass through. Specifically, the limiting component 53 refers to a component with a certain length protruding from the support surface 10, and both limiting components 53 have limiting surfaces arranged along the moving direction of the printing paper, and the limiting surfaces on the two limiting components 53 are arranged parallel to each other. And the spacing between the two limiting surfaces is adapted to the width size of the printing paper. Through the positioning function of the two limiting components 53, the position of the printing paper on the support surface 10 can be made more accurate, preventing the printing paper from being offset during the printing process to affect the printing accuracy.

[0062] In an optional embodiment, a clamping structure for clamping the edge of the printing paper is also provided on the limiting surfaces of the two limiting components 53. Specifically, the clamping structure can be a clamping member provided on the limiting surface and spaced apart from the support surface 10, for example, it can be an integral strip member provided along the moving direction of the printing paper, or it can be composed of a plurality of raised blocks spaced apart and arranged along the moving direction of the printing paper; it can also be a limiting groove provided on the limiting surface, so that the edge of the printing paper can be slidably provided in the limiting groove, and the edge can be limited by the inner wall of the limiting groove. The edge of the printing paper can be prevented from warping up to a certain extent, and the printing paper can be placed more flat on the support surface 10, thereby making printing more convenient.

[0063] In a specific embodiment, Figure 6 As shown, the support surface 10 is located at the top of the movable paper box 51, and the limiting components 53 are two limiting baffles arranged at the top of the movable paper box 51, and the two limiting baffles are arranged parallel to each other. The conveying unit 3 is a rotating rod shaft rotatably arranged in the main housing 1, and the rotating rod shaft is located between the two limiting baffles. At this time, in order to facilitate the installation and disassembly of the movable paper box 51, an avoidance groove 55 for avoiding the rotating rod shaft is also arranged on the limiting baffle. In order to facilitate the installation of the movable paper box 51, the overall height of the movable paper box 51 is less than the height of the first opening 11 on the main housing 1, and at this time, the gap between the support surface 10 and the top of the first opening 11 forms a paper outlet.

[0064] Furthermore, in order to ensure the sealing of the printing space inside the main shell 1 after the movable paper box 51 is installed, a baffle can also be provided on the side of the movable paper box 51. At this time, a paper outlet needs to be opened on the baffle to facilitate the output of the printed paper from the main shell 1 through the printing outlet after printing is completed.

[0065] In one embodiment, Figure 6As shown, a marking portion 54 is provided on the support surface 10, and the marking portion 54 is used to mark the initial position of the end of the printing paper on the support surface 10. Specifically, the marking portion 54 can be a marking line, a raised portion, or other marks that can play a marking role. Through the setting of the marking portion 54, the end of the printing paper can be pulled and placed in the correct position on the support surface 10 after the printing paper roll is installed, and a reference can be provided for the position of the first printing paper, thereby ensuring the accurate position of the first printing paper and improving the printing accuracy.

[0066] In an optional embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown, the marking portion 54 is a marking line arranged on the support surface 10. Specifically, the marking line is marked by a pigment having a different color from the movable paper box 51 body.

[0067] In one embodiment, Figure 7 As shown, the thermal printer also includes a control unit 9 electrically connected to the thermal printing unit 2 and the conveying unit 3, a signal receiving unit 8 electrically connected to the control unit 9, an indicating unit 7 electrically connected to the control unit 9, and a sensor unit 6 electrically connected to the control unit 9 and used to monitor the position of the thermal printing unit 2. Specifically, the signal receiving unit 8 refers to a device that can receive the print content sent by the mobile device, and the signal receiving unit 8 can be any one of a Bluetooth receiving unit, an infrared receiving unit or a WIFI receiving unit. The control unit 9 refers to a component that can send the signal received by the signal receiving unit 8 to the thermal printing unit 2 and control the various electrical components of the main housing 1. The indicating unit 7 refers to a component that can send a reminder signal to the operator, and the indicating unit 7 can be any one of a sound unit, a vibration unit or a light unit. In this embodiment, an indicator light is used. The sensing unit 6 is usually a displacement sensor that can detect the position of the thermal printing unit 2.

[0068] The working principle of the thermal printer provided in this embodiment is as follows:

[0069] After the printing device is started, the indication unit 7 sends a ready signal to the user, informing the user that the printer is in a ready state. When printing, the signal receiving unit 8 sends the received print content information to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 first controls the indication unit 7 to send an executable operation and sends the print content to the thermal printing unit 2. At this time, the user presses the pressing member 41 to make the thermal printing unit 2 rest against the printing paper for printing. After printing is completed, the user removes his hand from the pressing member 41, and the pressing member 41 and the thermal printing unit 2 will be reset under the action of the elastic member 43. After the sensor unit 6 detects that the thermal printing unit 2 is reset, it will send a signal to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 will control the conveying unit 3 to start delivering the printed paper from the paper outlet. At the same time, the new printing paper will move to the printing position with the movement of the front printing paper, which is convenient for the next printing and improves the efficiency and accuracy of printing.

[0070] The manual pressing can be combined with the intelligent paper output. The synergy between the printer and the user's perception operation is realized, the intelligence of the device is enhanced, and the user experience is improved. At the same time, the driving part of the thermal printing unit 2 is manually driven, which is convenient for users to control the printing rhythm and optimize the printing power consumption performance.

[0071] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and only specifically describe the technical principles of the present invention. These descriptions are only for explaining the principles of the present invention and cannot be interpreted as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention in any way. Based on the explanations here, any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention, and other specific implementations of the present invention that can be associated with by technicians in this field without creative labor, should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A thermal printer, characterized in that: include: A main housing having a support surface for supporting printing paper; a thermal printing unit, movably disposed inside the main housing, having a working surface disposed opposite to the supporting surface, the working surface being used to contact the surface of the printing paper to heat the surface of the printing paper, and a printing gap for the printing paper to pass through is formed between the working surface and the supporting surface; as well as The driving structure is arranged on the main housing, and at least a part of the driving structure is connected to the thermal printing part, and is used for driving the thermal printing part to approach or move away from the supporting surface.

2. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein: The driving structure includes a pressing member, a connecting member and an elastic member. The pressing member is located outside the main shell and can move relative to the main shell. The pressing member is connected to the thermal printing part through the connecting member. The elastic member is arranged between the pressing member and the main shell and is used to push the pressing member to move in a direction away from the main shell.

3. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein: The main housing is also provided with a conveying unit, and the conveying unit is used to drive the printing paper to pass through the printing gap.

4. The thermal printer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The conveying unit includes a rotating member and a power unit. The rotating member is rotatably arranged inside the main shell, and is used to drive the printing paper through the printing gap through friction contact. The output end of the power unit is connected to the rotating member, and the power unit is used to drive the rotating member to rotate.

5. The thermal printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The main shell is provided with a mounting component for mounting and fixing a printing paper roll. The main shell is also provided with a first opening, which is connected with the inner cavity of the main shell to form a receiving cavity. The mounting component is inserted into the receiving cavity.

6. The thermal printer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The mounting component is slidably connected to the inner wall of the main shell, a first sliding portion is arranged on the mounting component, a second sliding portion is arranged on the inner wall of the main shell, and the first sliding portion and the second sliding portion are slidably matched.

7. The thermal printer according to claim 6, wherein: The mounting component is a movable paper box, and the side of the movable paper box opposite to the working surface is the supporting surface. The movable paper box is provided with a paper outlet and a second opening, and the paper outlet and the second opening are respectively arranged at two ends of the movable paper box. The printing paper in the movable paper box can extend out of the movable paper box after passing through the second opening.

8. The thermal printer according to claim 7, wherein: Two limiting components are arranged on the supporting surface, the two limiting components are arranged at an interval with each other, and a limiting channel for printing paper to pass through is formed between the two limiting components.

9. The thermal printer according to claim 7, characterized in that: The support surface is provided with a marking portion, and the marking portion is used to mark the initial position of the end of the printing paper on the support surface.

10. The thermal printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The thermal printer further comprises a control unit, a signal receiving unit, an indicating unit and a sensing unit. The signal receiving unit, the indicating unit and the sensing unit are all electrically connected to the control unit. The sensing unit is used to monitor the position of the thermal printing unit.

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