Printing head driving device of glass slide writing instrument

Abstract

According to the printing head driving device of the glass slide writing instrument, a printing head and a pressing roller are oppositely arranged up and down, a printing motor drives a driving plate to ascend and descend through a lead screw nut pair, the driving plate drives a sliding plate to descend through a driving spring, the sliding plate drives the printing head to descend through a fixing base, an adjusting spring and an adjusting base, and a thermal transfer ribbon is pressed on the pressing roller; the compression roller is driven by the conveying motor to rotate, codes on the thermal transfer ribbon are gradually printed on the glass slides, and the glass slides are conveyed to the discharging device at the same time, so that printing operation is completed. According to the printing head driving device of the glass slide writing instrument, the printing head presses the thermal transfer ribbon on the glass slide under the dual effects of the driving spring and the adjusting spring, printing can be carried out through automatic adaptation of the pressing force, and the printing quality can be effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a slide writer, and more particularly to a drive device for driving a thermal transfer printhead on a slide writer. Background Technology

[0002] A glass slide is a thin sheet made of glass or quartz, commonly used in various laboratory and medical tests. When preparing a sample, cell or tissue sections are placed on the slide, followed by a coverslip for observation. To accurately track sample information, a printed area is provided at one end of the slide. A laser printer or thermal transfer printer then prints a coded information onto this area. This code corresponds to the sample's origin, ensuring traceability throughout the process. A slide writer is a device specifically designed for printing codes on glass slides.

[0003] A thermal transfer slide writer is a device that prints codes onto a slide using a thermal transfer process. The writer is equipped with a thermal transfer printhead. During use, a ribbon cartridge is placed into the writer, with the ribbon wrapped around the printhead. Next, a feeding device transports the slide to the printing station, opposite the printhead. Then, a drive unit moves the printhead to press the ribbon onto the slide, and heating transfers the code onto the slide. After printing, the drive unit moves the printhead away, and an ejector device removes the slide from the printing station. Existing writers have relatively complex printhead drive mechanisms, and the pressure applied when pressing the ribbon onto the slide is difficult to control. Excessive pressure can damage the slide, while insufficient pressure can result in unclear printing. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a simple and stable slide writer printhead drive device to simplify the device structure and improve work efficiency and print quality.

[0005] The slide writer printhead driving device of the present invention includes a printhead, pressure rollers arranged vertically opposite to the printhead, and a conveyor motor for driving the pressure rollers to rotate; there are also vertically arranged first and second slide rails, on which a liftable sliding plate and a drive plate are respectively installed, and the drive plate is located below the sliding plate; a drive spring is connected between the top of the drive plate and the sliding plate, and a push rod is also installed on the drive plate to push the sliding plate upward; the bottom of the drive plate is connected to the printhead motor through a screw and nut pair; a fixed seat is fixedly installed on the sliding plate, and an adjusting seat is connected to the fixed seat through an adjusting spring, and the printhead is fixedly installed on the adjusting seat.

[0006] The slide writer's printhead drive device of the present invention comprises a first slide rail, a second slide rail, and a print motor all mounted within the body of the writer. A sliding plate and a drive plate are slidably mounted on the first and second slide rails, respectively. The output shaft of the print motor is a lead screw or connected to a lead screw, while the drive plate is fitted with a lead screw nut screwed to the lead screw. The lead screw and lead screw nut form a lead screw-nut pair for transmitting force. During writer operation, the feeding device delivers the slide to the printing station, moving the printing area on the slide to the pressure roller and below the printhead. Then, the print motor drives the drive plate downwards via the lead screw-nut pair. The drive plate, in turn, pulls the sliding plate and its fixed seat downwards via a drive spring. The fixed seat, through an adjusting spring, drives the printhead downwards, pressing the carbon ribbon onto the slide. At this point, the contact area between the printhead and the pressure roller is small, and the edge of the coding on the carbon ribbon is pressed onto the pressure roller by the printhead. Then, while the conveyor motor drives the pressure roller to rotate, the printhead heats up... The code on the ribbon is transferred onto the glass slide. As the pressure roller continues to rotate, the glass slide and ribbon gradually move forward, and the print head gradually transfers the complete code from the ribbon onto the glass slide. At the same time, the end of the glass slide is fed into the subsequent discharge device. After the code printing is completed, the print head rises and leaves the glass slide under the drive of the printing motor, and the glass slide is sent out by the discharge device to the next process. During the process of the print head rising, the drive plate uses the push rod to lift the sliding plate, the fixed seat, the adjusting seat and the print head, thereby avoiding damage to the drive spring due to excessive pressure. This type of slide writer's printhead drive device allows the printhead to elastically press the carbon ribbon onto the slide under the combined action of a drive spring and an adjusting spring. This avoids problems caused by excessive or insufficient pressure and automatically adjusts the pressing force as the pressure roller moves the slide, ensuring that the printhead maintains a stable and appropriate pressure on the slide throughout the process, effectively improving print quality. Furthermore, the printing of codes is completed by moving the slide while printing, which not only improves work efficiency but also allows the pressure roller to function as both part of the printing mechanism assisting the printhead in thermal transfer and part of the dispensing device for slide transport. This simplifies the equipment structure, shortens the transport stroke, and reduces the required equipment size.

[0007] Preferably, the discharge device includes several pressure roller groups, the pressure rollers and all pressure roller groups are connected by a gear set, and the conveyor motor drives the pressure roller groups to rotate and drives the pressure rollers to rotate.

[0008] Preferably, the adjusting seat is detachably mounted on the fixed seat.

[0009] Preferably, the fixed base has a horizontally arranged through hole, a sleeve is installed in the through hole, and a positioning ring with an outer wall that can be embedded in the inner wall of the sleeve is installed on the adjusting base. The positioning ring has a stud with a screw hole, the stud passes through the sleeve and is screwed with a locking screw.

[0010] Preferably, the fixed seat and the adjusting seat are arranged in a “7” shape and an “L” shape, respectively. The bottom of the top edge of the “7” shape of the fixed seat and the top of the bottom edge of the “L” shape of the adjusting seat are arranged in opposite directions and positioning grooves are provided on both sides. Two adjusting springs are installed in the positioning grooves on both sides, and a leveling mechanism for changing the extension and contraction of the adjusting springs is installed in the positioning groove on one side.

[0011] Preferably, a positioning pin with one end abutting against the end of the adjusting spring and the other end extending into the adjusting spring is installed in the positioning groove of the fixed seat and the adjusting seat.

[0012] Preferably, the leveling mechanism includes a positioning nut fixedly installed on a fixed base, an adjusting screw that passes through the fixed base and is screwed to the positioning nut, and the other end of the adjusting screw is fixedly connected to a positioning post.

[0013] Preferably, two parallel drive springs are connected between the sliding plate and the drive plate, and the push rod is disposed between the two drive springs.

[0014] By setting up the above-mentioned slide writer printhead drive device, the printing quality can be further improved, and the levelness of the printhead can be easily adjusted, thus improving the ease of operation. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the printhead drive device of a slide writer.

[0016] Figure 2 , 3 This is a partial structural diagram of the printhead drive device of a slide writer.

[0017] Figure 4 , 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the fixed seat and the adjusting seat. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, top, bottom, inside, outside, vertical, horizontal, longitudinal, counterclockwise, clockwise, circumferential, radial, axial, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0020] If the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," such descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0021] This invention proposes a printing head driving device for a glass slide writer.

[0022] The slide writer printhead drive device of this embodiment includes a printhead 1, a pressure roller 2, and a conveyor motor 3 that drives the pressure roller to rotate, which are arranged opposite each other at the top and bottom. There is also a first slide rail 4 and a second slide rail 5 arranged vertically. A liftable sliding plate 6 and a drive plate 7 are respectively installed on the first slide rail and the second slide rail, and the drive plate is located below the sliding plate. A drive spring 8 is connected between the top of the drive plate and the sliding plate. A push rod 9 that pushes the sliding plate to move upward is also installed on the drive plate. The bottom of the drive plate is connected to the print motor 11 through a screw and nut pair 10. A fixed seat 12 is fixedly installed on the sliding plate. An adjusting seat 14 is connected to the fixed seat through an adjusting spring 13. The printhead is fixedly installed on the adjusting seat.

[0023] like Figure 1-3As shown, the first slide rail, the second slide rail, and the printing motor are all installed inside the writing device. The sliding plate and the drive plate are slidably mounted on the first and second slide rails, respectively. The output shaft of the printing motor is a lead screw or connected to a lead screw, while the drive plate is equipped with a lead screw nut screwed to the lead screw. The lead screw and lead screw nut form a lead screw and nut pair for transmitting force. When the writing device is working, the feeding device delivers the glass slide to the printing station and moves the printing area on the glass slide to the pressure roller and below the print head. Then, the printing motor drives the drive plate to descend through the lead screw and nut pair. The drive plate, in turn, pulls the sliding plate and its fixed seat to descend through the drive spring. The fixed seat, in turn, drives the print head to descend through the adjusting spring, causing the print head to press the carbon ribbon onto the glass slide. At this time, the contact area between the print head and the pressure roller is small, and the edge of the coding on the carbon ribbon is pressed onto the pressure roller by the print head. Then, while the conveyor motor drives the pressure roller to rotate, the print head is heated to... The code on the ribbon is transferred onto the glass slide. As the pressure roller continues to rotate, the glass slide and ribbon gradually move forward, and the print head gradually transfers the complete code from the ribbon onto the glass slide. At the same time, the end of the glass slide is fed into the subsequent discharge device. After the code printing is completed, the print head rises and leaves the glass slide under the drive of the printing motor, and the glass slide is sent out by the discharge device to the next process. During the process of the print head rising, the drive plate uses the push rod to lift the sliding plate, the fixed seat, the adjusting seat and the print head, thereby avoiding damage to the drive spring due to excessive pressure.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, the discharge device includes several pressure roller groups. The pressure rollers and all pressure roller groups are connected by gear sets. The conveyor motor drives the pressure roller groups to rotate, thereby driving the pressure rollers to rotate. Its structure is simple and its operation is stable. Figure 3 As shown, two parallel drive springs 8 connect the sliding plate 6 and the drive plate 7, and the push rod 9 is positioned between the two drive springs. This improves the smoothness and accuracy of the transmission. Additionally, the roller 2 is a rubber roller covered with a rubber layer. The rubber layer has a certain elasticity, which can protect the glass slide and allow the glass slide to be pressed more tightly and accurately between the print head and the pressure roller.

[0025] The aforementioned slide writer's printhead drive device has an adjusting seat 14 detachably mounted on a fixed seat 12. This is because during the thermal transfer process, the printhead's level must be consistent with the surface of the pressure roller; otherwise, the pressure exerted by the printhead on the ribbon will be uneven, resulting in uneven printing or even some unclear printing. Therefore, before printing begins, the level of components such as the fixed seat, adjusting seat, and printhead must be adjusted to ensure that the printhead is parallel to the pressure roller and can make full contact. However, the printhead has a limited lifespan and is a consumable part that needs to be replaced periodically. To reduce the difficulty and necessity of readjustment after replacement, the adjusting seat is detachably mounted on the fixed seat. This ensures that the level of the fixed seat does not change during printhead replacement, and its level relative to the fixed seat remains essentially unchanged after printhead replacement. This also ensures that the level of the printhead and pressure roller remains constant, reducing the difficulty of readjustment or even eliminating the need for readjustment, thereby improving work efficiency. Specifically, a horizontally oriented through hole can be made on the fixed base 12, and a sleeve 15 is installed in the through hole. A positioning ring 16 with its outer wall embedded in the inner wall of the sleeve is installed on the adjusting base 14. A stud 17 with a screw hole is on the positioning ring. The stud passes through the sleeve and is screwed with a locking screw 18, thereby detachably installing the adjusting base on the fixed base. This structure is relatively simple and stable in operation. The adjusting base can also rotate relative to the fixed base through the sleeve, which facilitates the adjustment of the level of the adjusting base. When replacing the printhead, as long as the required adjusting spring remains unchanged, the level will not be changed when the printhead is replaced, as long as the adjusting spring provides a fixed elastic force. When it is necessary to readjust the level, such as Figure 4 , 5As shown, the fixed seat 12 and the adjusting seat 14 are arranged in a "7" shape and an "L" shape, respectively. The bottom of the top edge of the "7" shape of the fixed seat and the top of the bottom edge of the "L" shape of the adjusting seat are opposite each other and are provided with positioning grooves 19 on both sides. Two adjusting springs 13 are respectively installed in the positioning grooves on both sides, and a leveling mechanism for changing the extension and contraction of the adjusting spring is installed at one of the positioning grooves. The inner sides of the "7" shaped fixed seat and the "L" shaped adjusting seat are opposite each other, forming a U-shaped structure. The top and bottom of the U-shaped structure are provided with two sets of opposite positioning grooves. The line connecting the two positioning grooves on the fixed seat is parallel to the printing end of the print head and the axis of the pressure roller. When it is necessary to adjust the level of the print head, the extension and contraction of the adjusting spring on one side is adjusted by the leveling mechanism, thereby driving one side of the print head to move up and down, so that the print head is adjusted to be consistent with the pressure roller, thereby ensuring the printing quality. The adjustment operation is convenient and quick. A positioning post 20, with one end abutting against the end of the adjusting spring 13 and the other end extending into the adjusting spring, can be installed in the positioning groove 19 of the fixed seat 12 and the adjusting seat 14 to improve the stability of the adjusting spring installation. The leveling mechanism includes a positioning nut 21 fixedly installed on the fixed seat 12, an adjusting screw 22 passing through the fixed seat and screwed to the positioning nut, and the other end of the adjusting screw fixedly connected to the positioning post. Since the positioning nut is fixed, rotating the adjusting screw will drive the positioning post to rise and fall, thereby changing the distance between the end of the positioning post and the adjusting seat, thus compressing the adjusting spring or extending the adjusting spring, realizing the adjustment of the spring extension and contraction. This type of adjusting mechanism has a simple structure and is convenient and quick to operate. The adjustment accuracy of the screw is also high, which can effectively meet the adjustment needs.

[0026] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A slide writer printhead driving device, comprising a printhead (1), characterized in that: There are pressure rollers (2) arranged opposite to the print head, and a conveyor motor (3) that drives the pressure rollers to rotate; there are also a first slide rail (4) and a second slide rail (5) arranged vertically. A sliding plate (6) and a drive plate (7) that can be raised and lowered are respectively installed on the first slide rail and the second slide rail, and the drive plate is located below the sliding plate; a drive spring (8) is connected between the top of the drive plate and the sliding plate, and a push rod (9) that pushes the sliding plate to move upward is also installed on the drive plate. The bottom of the drive plate is connected to the print motor (11) through a screw and nut pair (10); a fixed seat (12) is fixedly installed on the sliding plate, and an adjusting seat (14) is connected to the fixed seat through an adjusting spring (13). The print head is fixedly installed on the adjusting seat.

2. The slide writer printhead driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure roller (2) rotates and drives the glass slide to move. During the movement of the glass slide, the print head (1) gradually transfers the code on the carbon ribbon to the glass slide.

3. The slide writer printhead driving device according to claim 2, characterized in that: After the coding is printed, the end of the glass slide is fed into the subsequent discharge device used to output the glass slide from the printing station.

4. The slide writer printhead driving device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The discharge device includes several pressure roller groups. The pressure roller (2) and all pressure roller groups are connected by a gear group. The conveyor motor (3) drives the pressure roller group to rotate and drives the pressure roller to rotate.

5. The slide writer printhead driving device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that: The adjusting seat (14) can be detachably installed on the fixed seat (12).

6. The slide writer printhead driving device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The fixed seat (12) has a horizontally arranged through hole, and a sleeve 15 is installed in the through hole. The adjusting seat (14) has a positioning ring (16) whose outer wall can be embedded in the inner wall of the sleeve. The positioning ring has a stud (17) with a screw hole. The stud passes through the sleeve and is screwed with a locking screw (18).

7. The slide writer printhead driving device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The fixed seat (12) and the adjusting seat (14) are arranged in a "7" shape and an "L" shape respectively. The bottom of the top edge of the "7" shape of the fixed seat and the top of the bottom edge of the "L" shape of the adjusting seat are opposite each other and positioning grooves (19) are provided on both sides respectively. Two adjusting springs (13) are installed in the positioning grooves on both sides respectively, and a leveling mechanism for changing the extension and contraction of the adjusting spring is installed in the positioning groove on one side.

8. The slide writer printhead driving device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A positioning pin (20) with one end abutting against the end of the adjusting spring (13) and the other end extending into the adjusting spring is installed in the positioning groove (19) of the fixed seat (12) and the adjusting seat (14).

9. The slide writer printhead driving device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The leveling mechanism includes a positioning nut (21) fixedly installed on the fixed seat (12), an adjusting screw (22) passing through the fixed seat and screwed to the positioning nut, and the other end of the adjusting screw being fixedly connected to the positioning post.

10. The slide writer printhead driving device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that: Two parallel drive springs (8) are connected between the sliding plate (6) and the drive plate (7), and the push rod (9) is located between the two drive springs.

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