High-speed imaging device, high-speed thermal printer and printing method

Abstract

The invention provides a high-speed imaging device, a high-speed thermal printer and a printing method. The high-speed imaging device comprises a plurality of thermal sensitive modules, a plurality of rubber roller modules and a paper feeding driving device, and the thermal sensitive modules and the rubber roller modules are located on the two sides of a paper feeding channel; the thermosensitive module comprises a thermosensitive support and thermosensitive pieces, the thermosensitive pieces are arranged on the thermosensitive support, printing head arrays are arranged on the thermosensitive pieces, the multiple printing head arrays are overlapped along the paper feeding channel, the paper feeding driving device drives the rubber rollers to rotate synchronously, and one thermosensitive piece is opposite to one rubber roller. The at least two thermosensitive sheets are arranged on the same side of the paper feeding channel, and the imaging areas of the printing head arrays on the thermosensitive sheets are overlapped, so that the multiple thermosensitive sheets can image the same side of the printing medium for multiple times, even if the printing speed and the paper feeding speed are improved, the imaging quality such as concentration and definition can be met, and the printing efficiency is improved. And the purpose of high-speed printing is achieved, and double-color or multi-color printing can be achieved through the arrangement of the multiple thermosensitive pieces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of thermal printing technology, and in particular to a high-speed imaging device, a high-speed thermal printer and a printing method. Background Art

[0002] With the popularization of thermal printers, desktop thermal printers, embedded thermal printers, handheld thermal printers or industrial thermal / thermal transfer printers are used not only in bank ATMs, supermarket cash registers, e-commerce delivery offices, catering shops, etc., but also in the large-scale use of printing in the e-commerce and express delivery industries, which have higher requirements on the stability of use, ease of operation and printing speed of the printers.

[0003] In the prior art, ordinary thermal printers are generally equipped with a glue stick and a thermal sheet. During thermal printing, the graphics are displayed on the thermal paper through the resistance heating of the print head array on the thermal sheet. The resistance heating takes a certain amount of time. If the printing speed is too fast and the paper feed speed is too fast, it will cause the resistance heating time to be short and fail to reach the rated temperature. The imaging density is insufficient, resulting in poor printing effect. The printing speed of existing ordinary printers is generally 100-300mm / s. Higher speeds will affect the printing quality. Summary of the invention

[0004] A first object of the present invention is to provide a high-speed imaging device that achieves high-speed printing.

[0005] A second object of the present invention is to provide a high-speed thermal printer having the above-mentioned high-speed imaging device.

[0006] The third object of the present invention is to provide a printing method for the above-mentioned high-speed imaging device.

[0007] In order to achieve the first objective of the present invention, the present invention provides a high-speed imaging device, comprising at least two thermal modules, at least two rubber roller modules and a paper feeding drive device, wherein the thermal modules and the rubber roller modules are located on both sides of a paper feeding passage; the thermal module comprises a thermal bracket and a thermal sheet, wherein the thermal sheet extends in the paper width direction and is arranged on the bottom surface of the thermal bracket, the two thermal sheets are arranged along the paper feeding passage and are both located on the same side of the paper feeding passage, the thermal sheet is provided with a print head array extending in the paper width direction, and at least two print head arrays overlap along the paper feeding passage; the rubber roller module comprises a rubber roller, wherein the rubber roller extends in the paper width direction, the two rubber rollers are arranged along the paper feeding passage and are both located on the same side of the paper feeding passage, the paper feeding drive device is connected to the at least two rubber rollers and drives the two rubber rollers to rotate synchronously around the paper width direction, and one thermal sheet is opposite to one rubber roller.

[0008] It can be seen from the above scheme that by arranging at least two thermal films on the same side of the paper feeding channel and utilizing the overlapping imaging areas of the print head arrays on the thermal films, multiple thermal films can image the same side of the printing medium multiple times. Even if the printing speed and paper feeding speed are increased, the imaging qualities such as concentration and clarity can be met, thereby achieving the purpose of high-speed printing.

[0009] A further solution is that the thermosensitive module includes an elastic member, which is connected to the thermosensitive bracket, and the elastic member applies an elastic pressing force to the thermosensitive sheet toward the rubber roller.

[0010] As can be seen from the above, the elastic member applies an elastic pressing force toward the rubber roller to the thermal sheet, so that the thermal sheet is kept in close contact with the printing medium.

[0011] A further solution is that the high-speed imaging device includes a mounting bracket, which has two mounting slots extending along the paper width direction. The two mounting slots are arranged along the paper path, and a thermal bracket is installed in one mounting slot.

[0012] As can be seen from the above, by installing the thermal film on the same mounting bracket, it is possible to improve the stability of imaging.

[0013] A further solution is that the installation groove is respectively provided with slide grooves at both ends in the paper width direction, the elastic member is a spring, the slide groove and the spring both extend along the radial direction of the rubber roller, and the installation bracket is respectively provided with sliders at both ends in the paper width direction, one side of the slider is movably installed in the slide groove on one side, and the spring is elastically abutted against the thermistor bracket.

[0014] As can be seen from the above, through the cooperation of the slider and the slide groove, when the thermal sheet is in elastic contact with the rubber roller, the thermal sheet can stably move along a predetermined direction to improve the imaging quality.

[0015] A further solution is that the thermistor module includes a mounting cover, which covers the outside of the two mounting grooves and is fixedly connected to the mounting bracket, and the spring elastically abuts between the thermistor bracket and the mounting cover.

[0016] A further solution is that the mounting cover is provided with at least two positioning protrusions, one positioning protrusion is located in a mounting groove and adjacent to the rear side wall of the mounting groove, and the spring is located at the front side of the positioning protrusion in the same mounting groove.

[0017] As can be seen from the above, the installation cover provides a stable assembly for the spring, and utilizes the positioning protrusion located at the rear side to cooperate with the rear side wall. The positioning protrusion can limit the rear edge of the thermal bracket, and the spring is located at the front side. The spring can be closer to the print head array, thereby making the print head array more closely fit with the printing medium.

[0018] A further solution is that the paper feeding drive device includes a driving motor and a transmission gear, the axial end of the rubber roller is provided with a driving gear, the driving motor is connected to the transmission gear, and the transmission gear is connected to at least two driving gears.

[0019] As can be seen from the above, by driving the driving motor and the transmission gear, the rubber roller can rotate at the same speed and in the same direction, thereby improving the paper feeding stability.

[0020] In order to achieve the second objective of the present invention, the present invention provides a high-speed thermal printer, comprising the high-speed imaging device of the above scheme.

[0021] A further solution is that the high-speed thermal printer further comprises a base and a cover, one of the rubber roller module and the thermal module is arranged on the base, and the other of the rubber roller module and the thermal module is arranged on the cover.

[0022] In order to achieve the third objective of the present invention, the present invention provides a printing method for a high-speed imaging device applied to the above-mentioned scheme, the printing method comprising: each thermal sheet receives the same printing data; the thermal sheet and the rubber roller clamp the imaging medium, and the rubber roller rotates to drive the imaging medium to feed along a paper feeding path; each thermal sheet generates heat according to the printing data and thermally forms an image on the imaging medium.

[0023] It can be seen from the above scheme that by outputting the same printing data to the thermal film and overlapping the imaging areas of the print head array, the same printing data can be imaged multiple times on the same side of the imaging medium. While improving the printing speed, it can also meet the requirements of imaging quality such as concentration and clarity, thereby achieving high-speed printing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of an embodiment of a high-speed thermal printer of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 It is a structural diagram of an embodiment of a high-speed thermal printer of the present invention after the cover is opened.

[0026] Figure 3 It is a partial structural diagram of the cover body of an embodiment of a high-speed thermal printer of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 It is an exploded view of the thermal module in the embodiment of the high-speed thermal printer of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 1 is a structural diagram of a rubber roller module in an embodiment of a high-speed thermal printer of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 6 It is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a high-speed thermal printer of the present invention along the paper width direction.

[0030] Figure 7It is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a high-speed thermal printer of the present invention along the length direction of paper.

[0031] Figure 8 It is a structural diagram of the thermal sheet in the embodiment of the high-speed thermal printer of the present invention.

[0032] The present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Reference Figures 1 to 8 The high-speed thermal printer includes a base 1, a cover 2 and a high-speed imaging device. The high-speed imaging device includes two thermal modules 3, two rubber roller modules 4 and a paper feeding drive device. The two rubber roller modules 4 are arranged on the base 1, and the two thermal modules 3 are arranged on the cover 2. The cover 2 is hinged to the base 1. The base 1 is provided with a paper bin. The cover 2 covers the top of the base 1. A paper outlet 101 is formed between the base 1 and the cover 2. The thermal module 3 is opposite to the rubber roller module 4 and forms a paper feeding channel. The paper feeding channel extends along the paper length direction X. The thermal module 3 and the rubber roller module 4 are located on the upper and lower sides of the paper feeding channel 102. The paper feeding channel 102 is connected with the paper outlet 101. The thermal module 3 and the rubber roller module 4 are close to the paper outlet 101.

[0034] The high-speed imaging device also includes a mounting bracket 23, a mounting cover plate 32 and a circuit board 33. The cover body 2 includes an outer cover 21 and an inner cover 22. The outer cover 2 covers the outer side of the inner cover 22. The mounting bracket 23 is located on a side of the inner cover 22 close to the paper outlet 101. The mounting bracket 23 and the inner cover 22 are integrally formed and arranged. The mounting bracket 23 is provided with two mounting grooves 231 in the vertical direction. The mounting grooves 231 extend along the paper width direction Y. The two mounting grooves 231 are arranged along the paper feeding channel 102.

[0035] The thermal module 3 includes a thermal bracket 31, a thermal sheet 313 and an elastic member. The thermal sheet 313 extends along the paper width direction Y and is arranged on the bottom surface of the thermal bracket 31. The two thermal sheets 313 are arranged along the paper feed path 102 and are both located on the same side of the paper feed path 102. A print head array 3131 extending along the paper width direction Y is arranged on the thermal sheet 313. The print head array 3131 is an array body composed of multiple thermistors. The imaging width of the two print head arrays 3131 is L. The two print head arrays 3131 are aligned along the paper feed path 102 and completely overlap.

[0036] The mounting groove 231 is provided with a slide groove 232 at both ends in the paper width direction Y. The slide groove 232 extends in the vertical direction and has a supporting bottom wall at the bottom. The elastic member adopts a spring 312. The slide groove 232 and the spring 312 both extend in the radial direction of the rubber roller 41. The mounting bracket 23 is provided with a slider 311 at both ends in the paper width direction Y. A thermistor bracket 31 is installed in a mounting groove 231. A slider 311 on one side is movably installed in the slide groove 232 on one side. The thermistor 313 faces the rubber roller 41. The spring 312 is located on the back side of the thermistor 313.

[0037] The installation cover 32 covers the two installation slots 231 and is fixedly connected to the installation bracket 23 . The spring 312 elastically abuts between the thermistor bracket 31 and the installation cover 32 . The spring 312 applies an elastic pressing force to the thermosensitive sheet 313 toward the rubber roller 41 . The inner end surface of the mounting cover 32 is provided with a plurality of positioning protrusions 322, wherein a part of the positioning protrusions 322 are located in a mounting groove 231 and are adjacent to the rear side wall of the mounting groove 231, and another part of the positioning protrusions 322 are located in another mounting groove 231 and are adjacent to the rear side wall of the mounting groove 231, the positioning protrusion 322 is located above the rear edge of the thermistor bracket 311 and is adjacent to the rear edge, and then the positioning protrusion 322 upper limits the rear edge of the thermistor bracket 311, and a bearing step 233 is further provided below the rear side wall of the mounting groove 231, the rear edge of the thermistor bracket 311 is located above the bearing step 233, and the bearing step 233 lower limits the rear edge of the thermistor bracket 311, the spring 312 is located on the front side of the positioning protrusion 322 in the same mounting groove 231, and the spring 312 is positioned and assembled with the positioning column through the positioning hole.

[0038] The circuit board 33 is arranged above the installation cover 32. The installation cover 32 is penetrated by a groove 321. A flat cable 331 of the circuit board 33 passes through the groove 321 and is connected to a thermal sheet 313. Another flat cable 331 of the circuit board 33 passes through the installation cover 32 from the rear side and is connected to another thermal sheet 313. There is an interface on the circuit board 33, which is connected to the main board of the printer through a data cable.

[0039] The rubber roller module 4 includes a rubber roller 41 and two bearings. The rubber roller 41 extends along the paper width direction Y. The two bearings are respectively connected to the axial ends of the rubber roller 41. The two rubber rollers 41 are arranged along the paper feeding channel 102 and are both located on the same side of the paper feeding channel 102. Specifically, the base 1 is respectively provided with a support frame 11 and a support frame 12 in the paper width direction Y. The bearing at one end of the rubber roller 41 is mounted on the support frame 11, and the bearing at the other end of the rubber roller 41 is mounted on the support frame 12. The two rubber rollers 41 are aligned along the paper feeding channel 102 and completely overlap.

[0040] The paper feeding drive device includes a driving motor 42 and a transmission gear 43. A driving gear 44 is provided at the axial end of the rubber roller 41. The driving motor 42 and the transmission gear 43 are arranged on the support frame 12. The driving motor 42 is connected to the transmission gear 43. The transmission gear 43 is connected to two driving gears 44. Then, under the drive of the driving motor 42, the two driving gears 44 and the two rubber rollers 41 are driven to rotate synchronously around the paper width direction Y. The two driving gears 44 are also connected by a transmission belt 45 to achieve synchronous rotation.

[0041] When the cover 2 is closed, a thermal sheet 313 faces a rubber roller 41, and the imaging medium passes through the two thermal sheets 313 and the two rubber rollers 41. The imaging medium includes but is not limited to printing paper, thermal paper, label paper, express delivery label, washing label, etc. At this time, the high-speed imaging device executes a related printing method. The printing method includes that first, each thermal sheet 313 receives the same printing data, and the printing data is the heating control data of the print head array 3131. Since the thermal sheet 313 and the rubber roller 41 clamp the imaging medium, the driving motor 42 is then rotated to release the rubber roller. The roller 41 rotates to drive the imaging medium to feed along the paper feeding path 102. Each thermal film 313 generates heat according to the printing data and forms a thermal image on the imaging medium. Since the two thermal films 313 print the same image, the same image is printed twice on the imaging medium, and then the imaging areas of the print head array overlap, thereby realizing multiple imaging of the same printing data on the same side of the imaging medium. While improving the printing speed, it can also meet the requirements of imaging quality such as concentration and clarity, thereby realizing high-speed printing. The printing speed of this case reaches more than 500 mm / S.

[0042] Of course, the above embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention. In specific applications, there may be more variations. For example, three or more thermal modules and rubber roller modules may be provided. By printing on the same side of the imaging medium, the printing speed may be increased. In addition, different print head arrays may be arranged to overlap partially along the paper path, or the imaging widths of different print head arrays may be arranged in different widths. In response to different concentration requirements, the overlapping portion may have a higher printing concentration while increasing the printing speed, which may also achieve the purpose of the present invention.

[0043] Furthermore, for the drive of the rubber roller module, in addition to using a single drive motor, multiple drive sources can also be used to drive the rubber roller respectively, and the purpose of the present invention can be achieved as long as the synchronous rotation is ensured. Furthermore, the paper feeding channel of the above embodiment is arranged along the straight line X in the paper length direction. In addition to the present embodiment, the paper feeding channel can also extend in an inclined straight line. The curved or V-shaped paper feeding channel can realize paper feeding and secondary printing. Moreover, the thermal module can also be arranged on the base, and the rubber roller module can also be arranged on the cover. By matching the paper feeding drive device, the purpose of the present invention can also be achieved. By arranging and utilizing multiple thermal sheets, different printing data and different heating information are output to different thermal sheets, and then combined with two-color or multi-color thermal paper, two-color or multi-color printing can be realized.

[0044] Furthermore, the high-speed imaging device of the present invention is not only suitable for desktop thermal printers, but also suitable for thermal printers that utilize the carbon ribbon thermal transfer imaging principle, and is also suitable for embedded thermal printers.

[0045] As can be seen from the above, by arranging at least two thermal films on the same side of the paper feed path and utilizing the overlapping imaging areas of the print head arrays on the thermal films, multiple thermal films can image the same side of the print medium multiple times. Even if the printing speed and paper feed speed are increased, the imaging qualities such as concentration and clarity can be met, thereby achieving the purpose of high-speed printing.

Claims

1. A high-speed imaging device, characterized in that: It comprises at least two thermal modules, at least two rubber roller modules and a paper feeding drive device, wherein the thermal modules and the rubber roller modules are located on both sides of the paper feeding channel; The thermal module comprises a thermal bracket and a thermal sheet, wherein the thermal sheet extends along the paper width direction and is arranged on the bottom surface of the thermal bracket, two thermal sheets are arranged along the paper feeding channel and are both located on the same side of the paper feeding channel, and a print head array extending along the paper width direction is arranged on the thermal sheet, and at least two of the print head arrays overlap along the paper feeding channel; The rubber roller module includes a rubber roller, which extends along the paper width direction. Two rubber rollers are arranged along the paper feeding channel and are located on the same side of the paper feeding channel. The paper feeding drive device is connected to at least two of the rubber rollers and drives the two rubber rollers to rotate synchronously around the paper width direction. One of the thermal sheets is opposite to one of the rubber rollers.

2. The high-speed imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thermosensitive module comprises an elastic member, the elastic member is connected to the thermosensitive bracket, and the elastic member applies an elastic pressing force to the thermosensitive sheet toward the rubber roller.

3. The high-speed imaging device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The high-speed imaging device comprises a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is provided with two mounting slots extending along the paper width direction, the two mounting slots are arranged along the paper feeding channel, and one thermal bracket is mounted in one of the mounting slots.

4. The high-speed imaging device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The mounting groove is provided with slide grooves at both ends in the paper width direction, the elastic member is a spring, the slide groove and the spring both extend along the radial direction of the rubber roller, the mounting bracket is provided with sliders at both ends in the paper width direction, one side of the slider is movably installed in the slide groove on one side, and the spring is elastically abutted against the thermistor bracket.

5. The high-speed imaging device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The thermal module comprises a mounting cover plate, which covers the two mounting grooves and is fixedly connected to the mounting bracket, and the spring elastically abuts between the thermal bracket and the mounting cover plate.

6. The high-speed imaging device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The mounting cover is provided with at least two positioning protrusions, one of the positioning protrusions is located in one of the mounting grooves and is adjacent to the rear side wall of the mounting groove, and the spring is located at the front side of the positioning protrusion in the same mounting groove.

7. The high-speed imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The paper feeding drive device comprises a driving motor and a transmission gear. The axial end of the rubber roller is provided with a driving gear. The driving motor is connected to the transmission gear, and the transmission gear is connected to at least two of the driving gears.

8. High-speed thermal printer, characterized in that, Comprising the high-speed imaging device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The high-speed thermal printer according to claim 8, characterized in that: The high-speed thermal printer further comprises a base and a cover, one of the rubber roller module and the thermal module is arranged on the base, and the other of the rubber roller module and the thermal module is arranged on the cover.

10. A printing method applied to a high-speed imaging device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The printing method comprises: Each of the thermal sheets receives the same printing data; The thermal sheet and the rubber roller clamp the imaging medium, and the rubber roller rotates to drive the imaging medium to feed along the paper feeding channel; Each of the thermal sheets generates heat according to the printing data and forms a thermal image on the imaging medium.

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