Thermal printer and printer control method

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a thermal printer and a printer control method. The thermal printer comprises a motor, a driving circuit, a current limiting circuit and a main control module. And the main control module is electrically connected with the driving circuit and is electrically connected with the motor through the driving circuit so as to control the motor to drive through the driving circuit. The drive circuit drives the motor. The current limiting circuit is electrically connected with the driving circuit and inputs current limiting driving current to the driving circuit. And the main control module is also electrically connected with the current limiting circuit, and controls the driving circuit to input current to the motor by controlling the current limiting driving current input by the current limiting circuit to the driving circuit, so as to control the output torque of the motor. According to the technical scheme, on one hand, through cooperation of the current limiting circuit and the variable resistance module, the current of the motor is accurately controlled, and too high temperature rise caused by long-time work of the motor is avoided; on the other hand, the output torque of the motor is adjusted according to different conditions, and it is ensured that the motor cannot excessively consume electric power and generate redundant heat under the condition that the motor has enough torque.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of printing equipment, and in particular to a thermal printer and a printer control method. Background Art

[0002] In thermal printers, the motor is responsible for paper transport and print head movement. When under high load and working for a long time, the motor will generate a lot of heat, causing the motor temperature to rise too high, affecting the printing quality and possibly damaging the equipment. In order to deal with the problem of excessive motor temperature rise, traditional methods often limit the temperature rise of the motor through fixed current or simple temperature monitoring. These methods are not flexible enough under complex working conditions and cannot effectively balance the needs of motor torque output and temperature rise control. Summary of the invention

[0003] The embodiments of the present application provide a thermal printer and a printer control method, thereby overcoming, at least to a certain extent, the problem that thermal printers in the prior art are prone to overheating when working at high load for a long time.

[0004] Other features and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following detailed description, or may be learned in part by the practice of the present application.

[0005] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a thermal printer is provided, characterized in that it includes: a motor; a drive circuit electrically connected to the motor to drive the motor; a current limiting circuit electrically connected to the drive circuit, including a variable resistance module and a control element connected to the variable resistance module; a main control module electrically connected to the control end of the control element to adjust the resistance value of the variable resistance module through the control element, thereby controlling the output torque of the motor.

[0006] In some embodiments of the present application, the variable resistance module includes: a fixed resistor, electrically connected to the current limiting circuit; a variable resistance resistor, electrically connected to the fixed resistor and connected to the control element; the control element adjusts the resistance value of the variable resistance module by controlling whether the variable resistance resistor is connected to the circuit.

[0007] In some embodiments of the present application, one end of the variable resistor is electrically connected to the current limiting circuit, and the other end is connected in series with the control element. The variable resistor is connected in parallel with the fixed resistor, and the control element and the fixed resistor are connected in parallel.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present application, the variable resistor is connected in series with the fixed resistor and in parallel with the control element, and the control element and the fixed resistor are connected in series.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present application, the control element is a MOS tube, the gate of the control element is electrically connected to the main control module, and the source and drain of the control element are electrically connected to the resistance changing module.

[0010] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a printer control method is provided, which is applied to the thermal printer as described above, and the printer control method includes: in response to the triggering of a print instruction, obtaining paper information of a paper to be printed, the paper information including paper specifications and a target printing speed; determining a motor output torque based on the paper information; and controlling the resistance value of the variable resistance module based on the motor output torque.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present application, the obtaining of paper information of the paper to be printed specifically includes: obtaining parameter setting information, wherein the parameter setting information includes paper information; and parsing the parameter setting information to obtain the paper information.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present application, the obtaining of the parameter setting information specifically includes: receiving a parameter setting instruction from a user, wherein the parameter setting instruction includes the parameter setting information; and parsing the parameter setting instruction to obtain the parameter setting information.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present application, the obtaining of parameter setting information specifically includes: scanning the label on the paper to obtain label information, wherein the label information includes the parameter setting information; parsing the label information to obtain the parameter setting information.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present application, the printer control method further includes: monitoring the real-time printing speed of the printer; if the real-time printing speed is lower than the target printing speed and the difference is higher than a predetermined difference threshold, increasing the motor voltage.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present application, determining the motor output torque based on the paper information specifically includes: determining whether the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold; determining whether the target printing speed is higher than a predetermined speed threshold; if the paper specification is lower than the predetermined specification threshold and the target printing speed is higher than the predetermined speed threshold, determining that the motor outputs a first gear torque; if the paper specification is not lower than the predetermined specification threshold or the target printing speed is not higher than the predetermined speed threshold, determining that the motor outputs a second gear torque, and the second gear torque is less than the first gear torque.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present application, the paper specification includes paper width, and determining whether the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold specifically includes: if the paper width is lower than a predetermined width threshold, then the paper specification is lower than the predetermined specification threshold.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present application, the paper specification includes paper thickness, and determining whether the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold specifically includes: if the paper thickness is lower than a predetermined thickness threshold, then the paper specification is lower than the predetermined specification threshold.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present application, the paper specification includes paper roughness, and determining whether the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold specifically includes: if the paper roughness is equal to the predetermined roughness threshold, then the paper specification is lower than the predetermined specification threshold.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present application, controlling the resistance value of the variable resistance module according to the output torque of the motor specifically includes: if the motor outputs a first gear torque, controlling the variable resistance module to change to a first gear resistance value; if the motor outputs a second gear torque, controlling the variable resistance module to change to a second gear resistance value, and the second gear resistance value is greater than the first gear resistance value.

[0020] In the technical solutions provided in some embodiments of the present application, on the one hand, the motor current is precisely controlled by the cooperation of the current limiting circuit and the variable resistance module to avoid excessive temperature rise of the motor due to long-term operation. On the other hand, the main control module adjusts the motor output torque according to different printing conditions to ensure that the motor can provide sufficient torque under various working conditions without excessively consuming electricity or generating unnecessary heat. At the same time, by dynamically adjusting the working state of the motor, the temperature rise of the motor is reduced, and the damage to the motor and other components caused by overheating is reduced, thereby improving the long-term stability and reliability of the thermal printer.

[0021] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The drawings herein are incorporated into the specification and constitute a part of the specification, showing embodiments consistent with the present application, and together with the specification, are used to explain the principles of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application, and for ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. In the drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a thermal printer of the present application is shown.

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of another thermal printer of the present application is shown.

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of another thermal printer of the present application is shown.

[0026] Figure 4 A flow chart of a printer control method provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0027] Figure 5 Shown according to Figure 4 A specific implementation flow chart of step S100 in the printer control method shown in the corresponding embodiment.

[0028] Figure 6 Shown according to Figure 4 A specific implementation flow chart of step S200 in the printer control method shown in the corresponding embodiment.

[0029] Reference numerals:

[0030] 100, motor; 200, drive circuit; 300, current limiting circuit; 400, main control module; 310, variable resistance module; 320, control element; 311, fixed resistor; 312, variable resistance resistor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, example embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application will be more comprehensive and complete and fully convey the concept of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art.

[0032] In addition, described feature, structure or characteristic can be combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner. In the following description, many specific details are provided to provide a full understanding of the embodiments of the present application. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the technical scheme of the present application can be put into practice without one or more of the specific details, or other methods, components, devices, steps, etc. can be adopted. In other cases, known methods, devices, realizations or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid blurring the various aspects of the application.

[0033] The block diagrams shown in the accompanying drawings are merely functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically independent entities. That is, these functional entities may be implemented in software form, or in one or more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or in different networks and / or processor devices and / or microcontroller devices.

[0034] The flowcharts shown in the accompanying drawings are only exemplary and do not necessarily include all the contents and operations / steps, nor must they be executed in the order described. For example, some operations / steps can be decomposed, and some operations / steps can be combined or partially combined, so the actual execution order may change according to actual conditions.

[0035] See also Figure 1 The present disclosure provides a thermal printer, which includes: a motor 100, a driving circuit 200, a current limiting circuit 300 and a main control module 400. The main control module 400 is electrically connected to the driving circuit 200, and is electrically connected to the motor 100 through the driving circuit 200, so as to control the driving of the motor 100 through the driving circuit 200. The driving circuit 200 is used to drive the motor 100. The current limiting circuit 300 is electrically connected to the driving circuit 200, and inputs a current-limiting driving current to the driving circuit 200. The main control module 400 is also electrically connected to the current limiting circuit 300, and controls the current input by the driving circuit 200 to the motor 100 by controlling the current-limiting driving current input by the current limiting circuit 300 to the driving circuit 200, thereby controlling the output torque of the motor 100.

[0036] The current limiting circuit 300 includes a variable resistance module 310 and a control element 320 connected to the variable resistance module. The control end of the control element 320 is electrically connected to the main control module 400. The main control module 400 can control the control element 320 to adjust the resistance value of the variable resistance module 310 through the control end of the control element 320, and adjust the current limiting driving current input to the drive circuit 200 of the current limiting circuit 300 through the change of the resistance value of the variable resistance module 310, thereby controlling the output torque of the motor 100.

[0037] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the variable resistance module 310 includes a fixed resistor 311 and a variable resistance resistor 312. The fixed resistor 311 and the variable resistance resistor 312 are both electrically connected to the current limiting circuit 300, and at the same time, there is also an electrical connection relationship between the fixed resistor 311 and the variable resistance resistor 312.

[0038] In this embodiment, the control element 320 is generally a switch element, which is electrically connected to the variable resistance circuit, and can adjust the resistance value of the variable resistance module 310 by controlling whether the variable resistance resistor 312 is connected to the circuit. Specifically, it may include a MOS tube, a triode, a relay, a Hall sensor, a temperature control switch, a light control switch, etc. This embodiment is described by taking a MOS tube as an example, the gate of the MOS tube is electrically connected to the main control module 400, and the source and drain of the MOS tube are electrically connected to the variable resistance module 310. The main control module 400 can control the connection of the circuit between the source and drain through the gate of the MOS tube to adjust the resistance of the variable resistance module 310.

[0039] Please continue reading Figure 2In this embodiment, the variable resistance resistor 312 is connected in series with the control element 320 and in parallel with the fixed resistor 311. The control element 320 and the fixed resistor 311 are connected in parallel to form a current limiting circuit 300. When the control element 320 is disconnected, only the fixed resistor 311 is connected to the current limiting circuit 300. At this time, the input current limiting drive current is the standard current, and the torque output by the motor 100 is the standard torque. When the control element 320 is connected, the variable resistance resistor 312 in the current limiting circuit 300 is also connected to the circuit. Since the variable resistance resistor 312 and the fixed resistor 311 are in a parallel relationship, after the variable resistance resistor 312 is connected, the total resistance value of the current limiting current becomes smaller, the input current limiting drive current becomes larger, and the torque output by the motor 100 also increases accordingly.

[0040] Please continue reading Figure 3 In this embodiment, the variable resistance resistor 312 is connected in parallel with the series fixed resistor 311 and the control element 320, and the control element 320 and the fixed resistor 311 are connected in series to form a current limiting circuit 300. When the control element 320 is disconnected, the variable resistance resistor 312 and the fixed resistor 311 of the current limiting circuit 300 are connected to the circuit at the same time. At this time, the input current limiting drive current is the standard current, and the torque output by the motor 100 is the standard torque. When the control element 320 is connected, the variable resistance resistor 312 is short-circuited, and only the fixed resistor 311 of the current limiting circuit 300 is connected to the circuit, and the variable resistance resistor 312 and the fixed resistor 311 are in parallel relationship, the total resistance value of the current limiting current becomes smaller, the input current limiting drive current becomes larger, and the torque output by the motor 100 also increases accordingly.

[0041] In other embodiments, the variable resistor module 310 may also include a digital variable resistor, a sliding variable resistor, a photoresistor, a temperature-sensitive resistor, a varistor, etc. In this case, the control element 320 may include a microcontroller, a driving structure (such as a driving motor 100, a driving cylinder, an electromagnetic driving rod, etc.), a light generator, a temperature changer, and a pressure structure, etc.

[0042] Taking a digital rheostat as an example, the control element 320 includes a microcontroller. The microcontroller (such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc.) or PLC sends a variable resistance signal. After the SPI or I2C interface of the digital rheostat receives the variable resistance signal, the resistance is adjusted according to the variable resistance signal to achieve the change of the resistance value of the current limiting circuit 300. The digital rheostat can provide very precise resistance adjustment and can realize remote control. It does not require a mechanical drive system and is fully electronic. It has the advantages of simple control, fast response speed and high precision.

[0043] It should be noted that the current limiting circuit 300 may be a multi-phase circuit. The specific phase design of the current limiting circuit 300 is related to the specifications of the motor 100 and its drive circuit 200. Figures 1 to 3In the example, a two-phase circuit including phase A and phase B is used for demonstration.

[0044] In the above embodiment, on the one hand, the current of the motor 100 is precisely controlled by the cooperation of the current limiting circuit 300 and the variable resistance module 310 to prevent the motor 100 from generating excessive temperature rise due to long-term operation. On the other hand, the main control module 400 adjusts the motor output torque according to different printing conditions to ensure that the motor 100 can provide sufficient torque under various working conditions without excessively consuming electricity or generating unnecessary heat. At the same time, by dynamically adjusting the working state of the motor 100, the temperature rise of the motor 100 is reduced, and the damage to the motor 100 and other components caused by overheating is reduced, thereby improving the long-term stability and reliability of the thermal printer.

[0045] Please refer to Figure 4 The above-mentioned main control module 400 adjusts the resistance value of the variable resistance module through the control element 320, and then controls the output torque of the motor. The specific method includes at least the following steps:

[0046] S100, in response to a trigger of a printing instruction, obtaining paper information of a paper to be printed, wherein the paper information includes a paper specification and a target printing speed.

[0047] S200, determining the motor output torque according to the paper information.

[0048] S300, controlling the resistance value of the variable resistance module according to the output torque of the motor.

[0049] In an embodiment of the present application, by obtaining the paper specifications and the target printing speed, it is ensured that the printer can make corresponding motor control adjustments according to the physical properties of different papers (such as thickness, softness, etc.) and the desired printing speed. Specifically, based on the paper information, the printer control system calculates the required motor output torque. Papers of different specifications and target printing speeds may require different motor torques to maintain optimal printing performance. Once the motor output torque is determined, the control system controls the current by adjusting the resistance of the variable resistance module 310, thereby accurately adjusting the working state of the motor 100. Through the action of the variable resistance module 310, the current regulation is more accurate and efficient, ensuring that the motor 100 outputs with optimal torque and power, avoiding motor overload or inefficiency, and also slowing down the temperature rise of the motor.

[0050] In S100, when the user sends a print command, the printer control system first triggers a response mechanism. At this point, the printer will enter a ready-to-print state and is ready to obtain all parameters related to the print task. The printer obtains paper specifications (e.g., paper thickness, width, etc.) and target printing speed (such as printing speed settings or file requirements) through sensors or user setting interfaces. The above information can determine the final output of the motor 100, because the physical properties of different papers have a direct impact on the load and operating speed of the motor 100.

[0051] Specifically, in some embodiments, the specific implementation of step S100 can be found in Figure 5 . Figure 5 is based on Figure 4 The detailed description of step S100 in the printer control method shown in the corresponding embodiment, in the printer control method, step S100 may include the following steps:

[0052] S110, acquiring parameter setting information, wherein the parameter setting information includes paper information.

[0053] S120, parsing the parameter setting information to obtain the paper information.

[0054] In this embodiment, by obtaining parameter setting information, it is ensured that the printer can obtain all relevant printing parameters in advance, including paper specifications and other printing task information. By obtaining and parsing this information, the system can accurately adjust the output torque of the motor 100 according to the characteristics of the paper (such as thickness, material, size, etc.) and the target printing speed. After parsing this information, the printer can flexibly adapt to the needs of different papers, avoiding problems such as motor overload and unstable operation caused by unclear or inaccurate information.

[0055] By acquiring paper information and flexibly parsing parameters, the printer can make corresponding adjustments under different paper specifications and printing requirements in this embodiment, avoiding performance fluctuations caused by paper changes. At the same time, accurate paper information helps the motor control system to accurately adjust the output torque, ensuring that the motor 100 always runs in the best state, thereby improving the printing quality and speed. Avoiding excessive load or excessive current fluctuations on the motor 100 due to mismatched paper information can effectively reduce equipment failures and extend the service life of the printer.

[0056] In S110, after the printer is started and receives a print task, the printer first obtains parameter setting information from the user input or the print task. This parameter setting information contains all settings related to the print task, including but not limited to paper type, paper size, print speed, etc. This information can usually be obtained through user settings, software configuration, or sensors. The parameter setting information may include different printing options, such as paper specifications (such as A4, A3, B5, etc.), paper materials (such as plain paper, glossy paper, label paper, etc.), and target print speed, etc.

[0057] Specifically, in some embodiments, the specific implementation of step S110 can refer to the following embodiments. Figure 5 The detailed description of step S110 in the printer control method shown in the corresponding embodiment, in the printer control method, step S110 may include the following steps:

[0058] A parameter setting instruction from a user is received, where the parameter setting instruction includes the parameter setting information.

[0059] The parameter setting instruction is parsed to obtain the parameter setting information.

[0060] In this embodiment, users usually have different printing requirements, such as the size of the printed paper, the printing speed, the printing quality, etc. By receiving the user's parameter setting instructions, the printer can be adjusted according to the specific needs of different users. The system can determine the parameter setting according to the instructions input by the user to ensure that the printer can execute accurately. The control system of the printer achieves higher customization. The user only needs to enter simple instructions to set the paper type, print quality, etc., and the printer can adjust the working parameters according to this information. This greatly improves the user experience and makes the printing process more efficient and flexible. Traditional printer control methods may rely on complex operating steps or manual settings, which increases the difficulty of operation and time consumption. By receiving the user's parameter setting instructions, the printer can automatically obtain all necessary parameters and reduce the user's operating burden. Through the simplified input of the user's instructions, the printer can automatically parse and obtain relevant parameter setting information, thereby reducing the complexity of the operation and improving the printing efficiency. The received user setting instructions need to be processed by the correct parsing algorithm to ensure that the acquired parameter setting information is correct. The accuracy of this process directly affects the performance of the printer, especially when adjusting the motor torque and current, incorrect parameter settings may cause the motor 100 to be overloaded or the printing effect to be poor. By accurately parsing the user's parameter setting instructions, the control system can accurately extract parameter setting information, ensure the accuracy of motor control, and avoid equipment failure, print quality problems or performance degradation caused by parameter errors.

[0061] Specifically, the user can input the paper specification parameters such as width, thickness, and paper material through a dedicated webpage or application on a mobile phone, computer, watch, etc. The user can directly or indirectly set the target printing speed through a dedicated webpage or application on a mobile phone, computer, watch, etc. Indirect setting of the target printing speed refers to determining the corresponding target printing speed based on the settings of parameters such as printing density and printing quality.

[0062] In order to ensure better printing effect, the printer will match an optimal printing speed according to the set printing density and print quality. If the speed is too fast, the printing effect will be reduced. At this time, a corresponding printing speed will be matched according to the printing density.

[0063] After acquiring and parsing the parameter setting information, the control system transmits these parameters to the main control module 400. Based on this information, the main control module 400 can adjust the torque and current of the motor 100 to ensure that the various mechanical parts work together during the printing process to avoid problems such as paper jams and printing errors caused by paper mismatch.

[0064] Specifically, in some embodiments, the specific implementation of step S110 can refer to the following embodiments. Figure 5 The detailed description of step S110 in the printer control method shown in the corresponding embodiment, in the printer control method, step S110 may include the following steps:

[0065] The label on the paper is scanned to obtain label information, wherein the label information includes the parameter setting information.

[0066] The tag information is parsed to obtain the parameter setting information.

[0067] In this embodiment, by scanning the label on the paper, the parameter setting information contained therein is automatically read, thereby avoiding user input errors and significantly improving work efficiency through automatic recognition. The label can contain important parameters such as paper type, print quality requirements, number of pages, paper thickness, etc. By scanning the label, the printer can directly obtain this information and adjust the motor control and other settings accordingly. The scanned label information will be parsed, and the printer system can automatically understand and obtain the printing requirements of the paper without additional user intervention.

[0068] This embodiment obtains setting information by scanning the label. The printer can automatically identify and adapt to the printing requirements of the paper without relying on manual input, which greatly improves the convenience of operation. Label information is generally set by the printer manufacturer or the user. The scanning process can ensure that the acquired parameter information is accurate and avoids errors that may occur during manual input. Accurate parameter settings can help the printer adjust the motor control more accurately and avoid printing problems caused by incorrect parameter settings, such as paper jams, poor print quality, printer damage, etc.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the label on the paper can be in various forms such as RFID label, QR code and bar code. If the label is a QR code or bar code, the printer will extract the information encoded in the QR code or bar code through the QR code decoder or bar code decoder, and obtain the parameter setting information after parsing. If the label is in other forms such as RFID, the printer will use the corresponding reading mechanism to obtain the corresponding data according to the corresponding decoding algorithm.

[0070] After parsing the label, the printer will automatically extract the required printing parameter information and transmit the information to the main control module 400. The main control module 400 adjusts various links of the printing process according to the setting information, such as adjusting the paper conveying path, speed and paper strength to adapt to different thicknesses of paper; for example, adjusting the resolution and inkjet volume of the print head to adapt to different printing quality requirements; for example, adapting to the characteristics of different paper materials to avoid paper jams or printing quality problems.

[0071] In S120, once the complete parameter setting information is obtained, the control system will parse the information and extract the paper-related information. This process can be completed by a preset algorithm or parsing rule. For example, the system obtains data such as paper size, thickness or material by reading specific fields. The extracted paper information may include paper size (such as A4, A3, etc.), thickness (such as ordinary paper or thicker cardboard), and material (such as glossy paper, ordinary paper, etc.). This information is crucial for subsequent motor control because different specifications of paper require different motor torques when passing through the printer.

[0072] In some embodiments, after parsing the paper information, the printer control system can pass this data to the motor control module. The control module adjusts the torque output by the motor 100 according to the different specifications of the paper and the requirements of the printing task, and then controls the current through the variable resistance module 310 to achieve precise motor control. For example, if the system parses out that thick paper or glossy paper is used, the control system will adjust the motor 100 to output a larger torque and control the current based on this information to cope with higher mechanical loads. On the contrary, if thinner paper is used, the system may reduce torque and current, thereby optimizing energy efficiency and reducing mechanical wear.

[0073] In S200, the paper specifications directly affect the workload of the motor 100. Thicker paper generally requires a larger motor torque to push the paper through the print head, while thinner paper may require a smaller torque. In addition, the faster the target printing speed, the higher the torque required by the motor 100 to ensure fast and stable pushing of the paper. The system will calculate the appropriate motor output torque based on these factors.

[0074] Specifically, in some embodiments, the specific implementation of step S200 can be found in Figure 6 . Figure 6 is based on Figure 4 The detailed description of step S200 in the printer control method shown in the corresponding embodiment, in the printer control method, step S200 may include the following steps:

[0075] S210, determining whether the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold.

[0076] S220, determining whether the target printing speed is higher than a predetermined speed threshold.

[0077] S230: If the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold and the target printing speed is higher than a predetermined speed threshold, determine that the motor outputs a first gear torque.

[0078] S240: If the paper specification is not lower than a predetermined specification threshold or the target printing speed is not higher than a predetermined speed threshold, determine that the motor outputs a second gear torque, and the second gear torque is less than the first gear torque.

[0079] In this embodiment, the torque that the motor 100 needs to output is determined by monitoring the paper specifications and combining the target printing speed. For thin paper, the motor 100 outputs a smaller torque to meet the printing requirements; for thicker paper, the motor 100 needs to output a larger torque to ensure smooth paper transportation. The motor output torque is adjusted according to the target printing speed. When the target printing speed is high, the motor 100 needs to provide a larger torque to maintain sufficient power; when the target printing speed is low, the torque output by the motor 100 can be appropriately reduced to avoid wasting energy.

[0080] In this embodiment, the motor torque is dynamically adjusted according to the paper specifications and printing speed, which can ensure that the motor 100 always provides appropriate power, thereby ensuring the stability of the printing process, avoiding problems such as paper jams, uneven printing or speed fluctuations, and by adjusting the torque output by the motor 100 according to actual needs, the motor 100 is prevented from outputting excessive power, saving electricity and extending the service life of the motor 100. At the same time, according to different specifications of paper and printing speed requirements, the motor torque is adjusted in time to maximize the printing efficiency while ensuring that the printing quality is not affected.

[0081] In S210, by monitoring the size and thickness of the paper, it is determined whether it is below a predetermined specification threshold (for example, whether the paper thickness is less than a certain standard). If the paper specification is below this threshold, it is considered to be thinner paper, and the motor 100 outputs a smaller torque to meet the demand. Papers of different specifications have different requirements for the load of the motor 100. Thin paper usually does not require too much torque to be smoothly transported, while thick paper may require a larger torque.

[0082] In this step, the paper specifications may include parameters such as paper width, paper thickness, and paper roughness, and the corresponding predetermined specification thresholds may include a predetermined width threshold, a predetermined thickness threshold, and a predetermined roughness threshold. Therefore, in the specific execution process of step S210, the following steps may be specifically performed:

[0083] If the paper width is lower than a predetermined width threshold, the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold.

[0084] If the paper thickness is lower than a predetermined thickness threshold, then the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold.

[0085] If the paper roughness is equal to a predetermined roughness threshold, then the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold.

[0086] In some embodiments, when determining paper specifications, only any one of paper width, paper thickness, and paper roughness may be determined, or all of them may be determined. When all of them are determined, if any one of them is lower than the corresponding threshold, it can be determined that the paper specifications are lower than the predetermined specification threshold.

[0087] For paper width, by adding the judgment of paper width, the judgment of paper specifications can be further refined to avoid making a single decision based only on paper thickness, thereby ensuring more accurate adjustment of motor torque and further improving printing stability and efficiency. When the paper width is small (i.e. thin paper or light paper), the system can reduce the torque output of motor 100 to avoid paper damage or energy waste caused by excessive power of motor 100. Similarly, a larger paper width will prompt the system to increase torque output to maintain efficient and stable printing.

[0088] For paper thickness, by judging whether the paper meets the predetermined specification threshold based on the paper thickness, the system can more accurately identify the physical properties of the paper and then adjust the output power of the motor 100. This not only avoids excessive or insufficient motor torque adjustment, but also effectively improves printing stability. Since the motor control of the printer can be accurately adjusted according to the actual thickness of the paper, the printer can operate more efficiently under different paper conditions, reduce problems such as paper jams and paper damage, and improve printing speed and quality. Appropriately reducing the torque output of the motor 100 can not only improve printing efficiency, but also reduce energy waste. Especially when processing thinner paper, unnecessary high power output is avoided, further improving energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

[0089] For paper roughness, by introducing the roughness of the paper as an evaluation criterion, the system can judge the physical properties of the paper at a finer level. Paper with higher roughness usually does not transmit smoothly, which may cause paper jams or unclear printing, so a higher output power of the motor 100 is required; while paper with lower roughness is easier to transmit, the system can reduce the motor torque accordingly, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy waste. At the same time, by considering the roughness and thickness of the paper at the same time, the printer can accurately adjust the torque of the motor 100 according to the comprehensive characteristics of the paper, ensure stability during the printing process, and reduce problems such as paper jams, deviations, and uneven ink distribution. Detecting the roughness of the paper and adjusting the motor torque can effectively reduce the load of the motor 100, avoid excessive energy consumption due to rough paper, and thereby improve the overall efficiency and energy-saving performance of the printer.

[0090] In S220, the printer compares the set target printing speed (which may be determined by user settings or task requirements) with a predetermined speed threshold. If the target speed exceeds the threshold, it means that the task requires a higher speed, and the motor 100 needs to provide a greater torque to ensure smooth paper delivery. A higher printing speed means that the motor 100 needs to output more torque to maintain efficient operation.

[0091] In S230, when the paper is thin and the target printing speed is high, the system considers that the printing task has high requirements for the motor 100. At this time, more torque (i.e., the first gear torque) needs to be provided to ensure smooth paper transportation and meet the requirements of high-speed printing. The first gear torque is large and can provide sufficient power support for the motor 100.

[0092] In S240, when the paper size is thicker or the target printing speed is lower, the system considers that the load requirement of the motor 100 is lower, and thus outputs a smaller torque (i.e., the second gear torque). The second gear torque is smaller than the first gear torque to avoid unnecessary energy waste, and can also reduce the load of the motor 100 and extend the service life of the device.

[0093] In S300, after determining the output torque required by the motor 100, the control system adjusts the magnitude of the current of the motor 100 through the variable resistance module 310. The change in resistance directly affects the current of the motor 100, thereby achieving torque regulation. For example, a larger torque requires a higher current supply, and the variable resistance module 310 may reduce its resistance; on the contrary, a smaller torque requirement may cause the variable resistance module 310 to increase the resistance to reduce the current. Through this regulation, the motor 100 can always operate in a suitable working state.

[0094] Specifically, in some embodiments, the specific implementation of step S300 can refer to the following embodiments. Figure 6 The detailed description of step S300 in the printer control method shown in the corresponding embodiment, in the printer control method, step S300 may include the following steps:

[0095] If the motor outputs the first gear torque, the resistance module is controlled to change to the first gear resistance value.

[0096] If the motor outputs the second gear torque, the variable resistance module is controlled to change to a second gear resistance value, and the second gear resistance value is greater than the first gear resistance value.

[0097] In this embodiment, by introducing the variable resistance module 310 and controlling the resistance value according to the different torques output by the motor 100, the output power of the motor 100 can be precisely adjusted. This helps to improve the transmission stability and print quality of the printer. According to the different torque values ​​required by the motor 100, the resistance adjustment of the variable resistance module 310 can help the motor 100 work under different loads, avoiding unnecessary overload or energy waste, thereby improving the overall work efficiency. At the same time, by accurately controlling the resistance value of the variable resistance module 310, the motor 100 can be prevented from being in an overload state for a long time, reducing the risk of overheating and damage, thereby extending the service life of the equipment. Adjusting the resistance value of the variable resistance module 310 according to the output of different torque gears helps to optimize the energy consumption of the motor 100 under different working conditions, so that the motor 100 can maintain the best torque output and temperature rise control under different loads, achieving energy saving effects.

[0098] In some embodiments of the present application, the above-mentioned printer control method further includes:

[0099] The real-time printing speed of the printer is monitored.

[0100] If the real-time printing speed is lower than the target printing speed and the difference is higher than a predetermined difference threshold, the motor voltage is increased.

[0101] In this embodiment, by monitoring the operating speed of the printer in real time, the speed fluctuation during the printing process can be accurately captured, and the situation where the printing speed is lower than the target value can be discovered in time. This monitoring mechanism enables the printer to automatically detect and handle speed abnormalities, reducing manual intervention. A response is only made when the difference between the printer speed and the target speed exceeds a threshold. This can avoid excessive adjustments to small speed fluctuations, improve the stability of the system, and avoid unnecessary voltage adjustments. When it is detected that the printing speed is lower than the target value and the difference is greater than the threshold, the printer accelerates the operating speed of the printer by increasing the motor voltage. This adjustment can immediately increase the power of the motor 100, thereby increasing the printing speed, thereby better meeting the printing needs.

[0102] This embodiment automatically adjusts the motor voltage when the printing speed is detected to be lower than the target speed, without manual intervention, and adjusts the printer performance completely through automatic control, which can quickly increase the working speed of the printer, avoid slow printing progress, and improve printing efficiency, thereby improving the convenience of operation and the intelligence level of the system. At the same time, by setting the difference threshold, the adjustment of the motor voltage is triggered only when the speed difference is significant, effectively avoiding meaningless adjustments to small fluctuations and preventing instability caused by overcompensation.

[0103] In some embodiments, if the difference between the above-mentioned real-time printing speed and the target printing speed is too large (for example, the difference is higher than a predetermined difference threshold), the target printing speed can be replaced by the real-time printing speed when determining the motor output torque, that is, the motor output torque is determined by the real-time printing speed and the paper specification, so that the torque is more matched with the real-time speed, ensuring that the motor 100 outputs with the best torque and power, avoiding motor overload or inefficiency, and also slowing down the temperature rise of the motor.

[0104] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments of the present application after considering the specification and practicing the embodiments disclosed herein. The present application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the present application, which follow the general principles of the present application and include common knowledge or customary technical means in the art that are not disclosed in the present application.

[0105] It should be understood that the present application is not limited to the precise structures that have been described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A thermal printer, characterized in that: include: Motor; A driving circuit, electrically connected to the motor to drive the motor; A current limiting circuit, electrically connected to the driving circuit, comprising a variable resistance module and a control element connected to the variable resistance module; The main control module is electrically connected to the control end of the control element so as to adjust the resistance value of the variable resistance module through the control element, thereby controlling the output torque of the motor.

2. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein: The variable resistance module comprises: a fixed resistor, electrically connected to the current limiting circuit; a variable resistance resistor, electrically connected to the fixed resistance and connected to the control element; The control element adjusts the resistance value of the variable resistance module by controlling whether the variable resistance resistor is connected to the circuit.

3. The thermal printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: One end of the variable resistance is electrically connected to the current limiting circuit, and the other end is connected in series with the control element. The variable resistance is connected in parallel with the fixed resistance, and the control element and the fixed resistance are connected in parallel.

4. The thermal printer according to claim 2, wherein: The variable resistance resistor is connected in series with the fixed resistance and in parallel with the control element. The control element and the fixed resistance are connected in series.

5. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein: The control element is a MOS tube, the gate of the control element is electrically connected to the main control module, and the source and drain of the control element are electrically connected to the resistance changing module.

6. A printer control method, characterized in that: Applied to the thermal printer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the printer control method comprises: In response to the triggering of the printing instruction, obtaining paper information of the paper to be printed, wherein the paper information includes paper specifications and a target printing speed; Determine the motor output torque according to the paper information; The resistance value of the variable resistance module is controlled according to the output torque of the motor.

7. The printer control method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The obtaining of paper information of the paper to be printed specifically includes: Acquire parameter setting information, wherein the parameter setting information includes paper information; The parameter setting information is parsed to obtain the paper information.

8. The printer control method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The obtaining of parameter setting information specifically includes: Receiving a parameter setting instruction from a user, wherein the parameter setting instruction includes the parameter setting information; The parameter setting instruction is parsed to obtain the parameter setting information.

9. The printer control method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The obtaining of parameter setting information specifically includes: Scanning the label on the paper to obtain label information, wherein the label information includes the parameter setting information; The tag information is parsed to obtain the parameter setting information.

10. The printer control method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The printer control method further includes: Monitoring the real-time printing speed of the printer; If the real-time printing speed is lower than the target printing speed and the difference is higher than a predetermined difference threshold, the motor voltage is increased.

11. The printer control method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The determining the motor output torque according to the paper information specifically includes: Determining whether the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold; determining whether the target printing speed is higher than a predetermined speed threshold; If the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold and the target printing speed is higher than a predetermined speed threshold, determining that the motor outputs a first gear torque; If the paper specification is not lower than a predetermined specification threshold or the target printing speed is not higher than a predetermined speed threshold, it is determined that the motor outputs a second gear torque, and the second gear torque is less than the first gear torque.

12. The printer control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The paper specification includes paper width, and determining whether the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold specifically includes: If the paper width is lower than a predetermined width threshold, the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold.

13. The printer control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The paper specification includes paper thickness, and determining whether the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold specifically includes: If the paper thickness is lower than a predetermined thickness threshold, then the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold.

14. The printer control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The paper specification includes paper roughness, and determining whether the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold specifically includes: If the paper roughness is equal to a predetermined roughness threshold, then the paper specification is lower than a predetermined specification threshold.

15. The printer control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The step of controlling the resistance value of the variable resistance module according to the motor output torque specifically includes: If the motor outputs the first gear torque, the resistance variable module is controlled to change to the first gear resistance value; If the motor outputs the second gear torque, the variable resistance module is controlled to change to a second gear resistance value, and the second gear resistance value is greater than the first gear resistance value.

Images