Printer and printing method

Abstract

The invention discloses a printer and a printing method. The printer comprises a printer body and a switching piece. The machine body is provided with a printing channel, a paper feeding channel and a film cutting channel, a printing medium carries out printing in the printing channel and extends into the paper feeding channel in the multi-color printing process, and the printing medium carries out film cutting in the film cutting channel; the switching piece moves between a first position and a second position relative to the machine body, when the switching piece is located at the first position, the printing channel is communicated with the paper feeding channel, and when the switching piece is located at the second position, the printing channel is communicated with the film cutting channel. According to the printing method of the printer, during continuous multi-color printing, when at least one printing medium is subjected to film cutting, the next printing medium is used for printing. Compared with the prior art, the printer is smaller in size, the printing process and the film cutting process can be conducted in parallel through the printing method, and the continuous printing time is shortened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of printers, and more specifically to a printer for multi-color printing on printing media and having a film-cutting function, and a printing method of the printer. Background Technology

[0002] In the existing technology, there is a combination printer used for multi-color printing on a printing medium consisting of a substrate and a release film. It also has the function of film-cutting the printing medium after the multi-color printing process is completed. That is, the printer can form closed or open cutting contours on the release film according to a preset pattern, so that the release film within the cutting contour area can be peeled off from the substrate after the printing medium is output from the printer. This type of printer generally consists of a main body, a printing section, and a film-cutting section. The main body has a paper tray for storing the printing medium, which is generally designed to be removable for replacing the printing medium. The printing section is used for printing on the printing medium and generally includes a ribbon unit, a paper feed roller, a printing unit, and a paper feed roller. The ribbon unit supplies multi-color ribbons, the paper feed rollers extract the printing medium from the paper tray to the paper feed roller, the printing unit performs multi-color printing on the printing medium, and the paper feed roller pulls the printing medium along the paper feed direction during printing in the printing unit. During single-color printing, the paper feed roller pulls the printing medium along the paper feed direction to the paper feed channel. Before printing the next color, the paper feed roller retracts the printing medium away from the paper feed direction back to the paper ejection channel inside the machine. After the last color is printed, the printing medium is conveyed to the film cutting section. The film cutting section includes a film cutting unit, which includes a film cutting roller and a film cutting assembly. The film cutting roller reciprocates within the film cutting channel so that the film cutting assembly can cut the printing medium. The film cutting assembly includes a body, a blade holder, and a film cutting blade. The body moves along the extension direction of the rotation axis of the film cutting roller, the blade holder reciprocates perpendicular to the printing medium, and the film cutting blade is fixed to the blade holder. When the blade holder is close to the printing medium, it cuts the release film; when the blade holder is away from the printing medium, it retracts. After film cutting, the printing medium is conveyed by the film cutting roller and leaves the printer from the paper output outlet. The above-mentioned printers in the prior art have a relatively long continuous printing time.

[0003] The printers mentioned above in the prior art are relatively large in size. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The applicant discovered that in the prior art, the printing medium needs to reciprocate into the paper feed channel and the paper ejection channel during the printing process, and during the film cutting process, the printing medium needs to reciprocate in the film cutting channel. Therefore, the prior art often connects the film cutting channel with the paper feed channel or the paper ejection channel in series, which increases the size of the printer along the paper feed direction.

[0005] The purpose of this application is to overcome the aforementioned defects or problems in the prior art and to provide a printer and printing method, wherein the printer is smaller in size than the printers in the prior art; the printing method of the printer of this application can also realize the printing process and the film cutting process in parallel, thereby shortening the continuous printing time.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the following technical solution is adopted: The printer disclosed in this application includes: a body having a printing channel, a paper feeding channel, and a film cutting channel, wherein the printing medium is printed in the printing channel and extends into the paper feeding channel during multi-color printing, and the printing medium is film-cut in the film cutting channel; and a switching member that moves relative to the body between a first position and a second position, wherein when the switching member is in the first position, the printing channel is connected to the paper feeding channel, and when the switching member is in the second position, the printing channel is connected to the film cutting channel.

[0007] In the above design, the paper path can be either an infeed path or an eject path. Because the printing path selectively connects to either the paper path or the die-cutting path via a switching mechanism, the die-cutting and paper paths are no longer connected in series, thus reducing the printer size compared to existing technologies. Furthermore, the design, through the movement of the switching mechanism, allows the printing medium to enter different paths at different stages, providing a material basis for parallel printing and die-cutting processes to shorten continuous printing time.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the printer has a paper tray for accommodating printing media, which moves along the paper feed direction when being printed; the printing media is defined with its vertical direction perpendicular to the paper tray; the printing channel and the paper feed channel are arranged along the paper feed direction; the paper feed channel and the film cutting channel at least partially overlap along the paper feed direction on a projection plane perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0009] In the above design, since the paper feeding channel and the film cutting channel at least partially overlap along the paper feeding direction on the projection plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, the paper feeding channel and the film cutting channel can be designed side by side, which is a preferred embodiment of this application.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the paper tray, the paper feed channel, and the film cutting channel at least partially overlap along the paper feed direction on a projection plane perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0011] In the above design, the paper tray, paper feed channel, and film cutting channel at least partially overlap along the paper feed direction on the projection plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, further reducing the length of the printer along the paper feed direction.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the film cutting channel includes a film cutting segment and an extension segment arranged along the paper feeding direction, the film cutting segment and the extension segment being connected when the switching member is in a first position; the paper feeding channel and the film cutting segment at least partially overlap along the paper feeding direction on a projection plane perpendicular to the up and down direction; the printing channel and the extension segment at least partially overlap along the paper feeding direction on a projection plane perpendicular to the up and down direction.

[0013] In the above design, the paper feed channel and the film cutting section overlap at least partially along the paper feed direction on the projection plane perpendicular to the vertical direction; the printing channel and the extension section overlap at least partially along the paper feed direction on the projection plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, so that the length of the film cutting channel is approximately equal to the sum of the lengths of the printing channel and the paper feed channel, which is more conducive to shortening the size of the printer along the paper feed direction, and also more conducive to making the film cutting process and the printing process run in parallel.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the printer further includes a film cutting assembly; a switching member rotates about a first axis extending in a first direction; the film cutting assembly has a film cutting stroke in the first direction for film cutting the printing medium; the film cutting assembly also moves from one end of the film cutting stroke to a driven position outside the film cutting stroke to drive the switching member to rotate from the first position to a second position.

[0015] In the above design, by moving the film-cutting assembly from one end of the film-cutting stroke to a driving position located outside the film-cutting stroke, the switching element is rotated from the first position to the second position. This eliminates the need for an additional drive motor to move the switching element, in addition to the existing drive motor. Furthermore, because the film-cutting assembly uses a driving position outside the film-cutting stroke to rotate the switching element, it avoids erroneously changing the switching element's position during the film-cutting process. Instead, it can reach the driving position before the film-cutting process begins, allowing the switching element to rotate from the first position to the second position, thereby transferring the printing medium from the printing channel to the film-cutting channel.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the printer further includes an elastic element disposed between the body and the switching element to drive the switching element to rotate from a second position to a first position when the film-cutting assembly leaves the driven position.

[0017] In the above design, when the film cutting assembly returns from the driving position to the film cutting stroke, the elastic element automatically drives the switching element to reset from the second position to the first position, thereby ensuring that the switching element is always in the first position during the film cutting process, which is more conducive to the parallel operation of the film cutting process and the printing process.

[0018] In one specific implementation, when the film cutting assembly moves to the driving position, it drives the switching component to rotate from the first position to the second position through the inclined surface cooperation.

[0019] In one specific implementation, the printer also includes a pusher that slides perpendicular to the first direction; when the film cutting assembly moves to the driven position, it drives the pusher to slide through the inclined surface, and the pusher drives the switching component to rotate from the first position to the second position.

[0020] In one specific embodiment, the printer also includes a pusher, which rotates about a second axis perpendicular to the first direction and has a first arm and a second arm; when the film cutting assembly moves to the driving position, it pushes against the first arm, causing the second arm to drive the switching member to rotate from the first position to the second position.

[0021] This application also discloses a printing method for the above-mentioned printer, wherein the switching component moves from a first position to a second position after the printing medium begins printing the last color, and moves from the second position to the first position after the printing medium leaves the printing channel, so that when continuous multi-color printing is performed, at least one printing medium is being cut before the next printing medium is being printed.

[0022] The above printing method, by having the switching component move from the first position to the second position after the last color printing of the printing medium begins, and then move from the second position to the first position after the printing medium leaves the printing channel, ensures that the printing medium in the film cutting process and the printing medium in the printing process do not interfere with each other, thereby enabling the parallel operation of the film cutting process and the printing process, which is beneficial for shortening the continuous printing time. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments, the accompanying drawings used are briefly described below: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the printer structure when the printing media in the paper tray is transported to the printing channel in Example 1; Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the switching component, the film cutting unit, and the elastic component in Embodiment 1; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the printer structure when the paper feeding unit delivers the printing medium to the paper feeding path in Embodiment 1; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the printer structure when the paper feeding unit delivers the printing medium to the cutting channel in Embodiment 1; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the printer structure when the film cutting process and the printing process are carried out in parallel in Example 1; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the switching element and the membrane cutting unit in Example 2; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the switching element and the membrane cutting unit in Example 3.

[0024] Explanation of key figure labels: 100. Printer; 110. Machine body; 111. Paper tray; 112. Printing channel; 113. Paper feed channel; 114. Film cutting channel; 114a. Film cutting section of film cutting channel; 114b. Extension section of film cutting channel; 120. Paper lifting mechanism; 130. Printing unit; 140. Paper feed unit; 141. Paper feed roller; 142. Paper feed roller; 150. Switching component; 151. First rotating shaft; 152. Actuating end; 153. Paper receiving end; 160. Film cutting unit; 161. Film cutting assembly; 162. Pushing component; 163. Film cutting roller; 164. First driving component; 165. Second rotating shaft; 166. First arm; 167. Second arm; 168. Body; 169. Knife holder; 170. Elastic component. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Unless otherwise specified, the terms “first,” “second,” or “third,” etc., in the claims and description are used to distinguish different objects and not to describe a particular order.

[0026] Unless otherwise specified, in the claims and description, the terms “center,” “lateral,” “longitudinal,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “clockwise,” “counterclockwise,” etc., indicating orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation and positional relationship shown in the drawings and are only for the purpose of simplifying the description, and do not imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0027] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the terms "fixed connection" or "fixed connection" shall be interpreted broadly to mean any connection in which there is no displacement or relative rotation relationship between the two parties, including non-removable fixed connection, detachable fixed connection, integral connection, and fixed connection by other means or components.

[0028] Unless otherwise specified, in the claims and description, the terms "comprising," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to."

[0029] In the claims and description, unless otherwise specified, the term "have" means that a technical feature that follows is part of a technical feature that precedes it.

[0030] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "printing medium extending into the paper path during printing" means that the printing medium needs to extend into the paper path at least in some steps of the entire printing process.

[0031] Unless otherwise specified in the claims and description, the term "paper feed direction" refers to the direction in which the printing medium travels when it is printed by the printing unit.

[0032] The technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Example 1 See Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 and Figure 2 The printer 100 of this embodiment is shown. Wherein, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the printer structure when the printing media in the paper tray is transported to the printing channel in the embodiment. Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the switching element, the membrane cutting unit, and the elastic element in the embodiment. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, printer 100 includes a body 110, a paper lifting mechanism 120, a printing unit 130, a paper feeding unit 140, a switching element 150, a film cutting unit 160, and an elastic element 170. The red portion in the attached diagram represents the printing medium. The direction of travel of the printing medium when printed by the printing unit 130 is defined as the "paper feeding direction," such as... Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the paper feed direction is to the right.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the machine body 110 includes a paper tray 111, a printing channel 112, a paper feed channel 113, and a film-cutting channel 114. The film-cutting channel 114 can be further divided into a film-cutting section 114a on the right and an extension section 114b on the left. The paper tray 111 stores the printing media to be printed and is generally designed to be removable for media replacement. The printing media is printed within the printing channel 112. During the printing process, the printing media extends into the paper feed channel 113; that is, the printing media needs to extend into the paper feed channel 113 at least in a portion of the entire printing process. The printing media is also film-cut within the film-cutting channel 113. In this embodiment, the paper feed channel 113 is specifically a paper infeed channel. In this embodiment, a paper ejection channel is formed on the left side of the printing channel 112. The paper ejection channel is used to eject the paper during the printing process so that the printing media reaches the printing position. In other embodiments, the paper feed channel 113 can also be a paper ejection channel. In this embodiment, the printing channel 112 and the paper feeding channel 113 are arranged along the paper feeding direction.

[0035] like Figure 1As shown, in this embodiment, the direction perpendicular to the printing medium inside the paper tray 111 is defined as the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the paper outlet of the paper tray 111 is on the left side of the paper tray 111, that is, the printing medium inside the paper tray 111 moves out of the paper tray 111 in a leftward direction. In this embodiment, on the projection plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, the projections of the paper feed channel 113 and the film-cutting channel 114's film-cutting segment 114a at least partially overlap in the paper feed direction; and the projections of the paper tray 111 and the film-cutting channel 113 and the film-cutting channel 114's film-cutting segment 114a also at least partially overlap in the paper feed direction. In this embodiment, the film-cutting segment 114a of the film-cutting channel 114 is located above the paper feed channel 113, and the paper feed channel 113 is located above the paper tray 111. In this embodiment, on the projection plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, the projections of the printing channel 112 and the extension segment 114b of the film-cutting channel 114 at least partially overlap in the paper feed direction. In this embodiment, the extension 114b of the film-cutting channel 114 is located above the printing channel 112. In this embodiment, the printing channel 112 and the extension 114b of the film-cutting channel 114 are located on the left side of the printer 100, while the paper tray 111, the paper feed channel 113, and the film-cutting segment 114a of the film-cutting channel 114 are located on the right side of the printer 100. Therefore, the paper tray 111 and the paper feed channel 113 are both located on the same side of the printing channel 112 along the paper feed direction.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, the paper lifting mechanism 120 is partially located within the paper tray 111 and below the printing media. The paper lifting mechanism 120 is used to lift or lower the printing media within the paper tray 111. Since the structure of the paper lifting mechanism 120 is well known to those skilled in the art, it will not be described in detail further.

[0037] like Figure 1 As shown, the printing unit 130 is located on the left side of the paper tray 111. The printing unit 130 includes a printing roller and a heating element, and the printing channel 112 passes between the printing roller and the heating element.

[0038] like Figure 1As shown, the paper feeding unit 140 includes a paper feeding roller 141 and a paper feed roller 142. In this embodiment, the printing channel 112 is formed on the left side of the paper feed roller 142, and the paper feeding roller 141 is located in the printing channel 112 and on the right side of the printing unit 130. The paper feeding roller 141 is used to pull the printing medium along the rightward paper feeding direction when the printing unit 130 prints the printing medium. In this embodiment, when the printing unit 130 prints all colors except the last color, the printing medium needs to be conveyed by the paper feeding roller 141 along the paper feeding direction, passing through the paper feed roller 142 and entering the paper feeding channel 113. The paper feed roller 142 is passively rotated by the friction force with the printing medium during the process of the printing medium entering the paper feeding channel 113. Before each color printing begins, the paper feeding roller 141 also conveys the printing medium to the paper ejection channel to the left, away from the paper feeding direction, so that the printing medium can enter the printing position. In this embodiment, the printing medium is also conveyed by the paper feed roller 141 and then through the paper feed roller 142 into the film cutting channel 114. The paper feed roller 142 rotates passively due to friction with the printing medium as it enters the film cutting channel 114. In other embodiments, the printing medium can also be conveyed by the paper feed roller 142 to the paper feed channel 113 and / or the film cutting channel 114. In this embodiment, after printing the last color of the printing medium, if film cutting is not required, the paper feed roller 141 first conveys the printing medium through the paper feed roller 142 to the paper feed channel 113, and then, after the printing medium leaves the paper feed roller 141, the paper feed roller 142 conveys it out of the printer 100 from the paper outlet on the right side of the paper feed channel 113. In this embodiment, the paper feed roller 142 is also used to convey the printing medium in the paper tray 111 to the left, away from the paper feeding direction, to the paper feed roller 141 in the printing channel 112. The paper feed roller 142 moves between the paper feed position and the far-from-paper position relative to the printing media in the paper tray 111. When in the paper feed position, the paper feed roller 142 conveys the printing media from the paper tray 111 to the printing channel 112; when in the far-from-paper position, the paper feed roller 142 disengages from the printing media in the paper tray 111. In this embodiment, the rotation axis of the paper feed roller 142 is fixed relative to the machine body 110. The paper lifting mechanism 120 moves the printing media in the paper tray 111 closer to the paper feed roller 142 to the paper feed position, and the paper lifting mechanism 120 moves the printing media in the paper tray 111 away from the paper feed roller 142 to the far-from-paper position, thereby achieving the switching of the paper feed roller 142 between the paper feed position and the far-from-paper position. In other embodiments, the paper feed roller 142 may also switch between the paper feed position and the far-from-paper position by raising and lowering relative to the machine body 110.

[0039] See Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 The switching element 150 in this embodiment is shown. Wherein, Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the printer structure when the paper feed unit delivers the printing medium to the paper feed path in the embodiment; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the printer structure when the paper feed unit delivers the printing medium to the cutting channel in an embodiment. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the switching element 150 and the printing channel 112 are located on opposite sides of the paper feed roller 142 along the paper feeding direction. In this embodiment, the switching element 150 is located on the right side of the paper feed roller 142. The switching element 150 moves relative to the machine body 110. Figure 3 The first position shown and Figure 4 Between the second positions shown. The left end of the switching piece 150 near the paper feed roller 142 is the paper receiving end 153. (As shown) Figure 3 As shown, when the switching element 150 is in the first position, the paper receiving end 153 moves upward away from the paper feed roller 142, so that the printing channel 112 is connected to the paper feed channel 113 through the paper feed roller 142, and the extension 114b of the film cutting channel 114 is connected to the film cutting section 114a of the film cutting channel 114 through the upper surface of the switching element 150. Figure 4 As shown, when the switching element 150 is in the second position, the paper receiving end 153 moves downwards towards the paper feed roller 142, so that the printing channel 112 is connected to the film cutting section 114a of the film cutting channel 114 through the upper surface of the switching element 150. At this time, the printing channel 112 cannot be connected to the paper feeding channel 113. Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the switching member 150 rotates relative to the machine body 110 about a first axis perpendicular to the paper feeding direction, and the first axis extends along a first direction. Specifically, the switching member 150 has a first rotating shaft 151, which is mounted on the machine body 110 and extends along the front-rear direction to form the first axis. The first direction is the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, in addition to the paper receiving end 153, the switching member 150 also has a lever end 152, and the paper receiving end 153 and the lever end 152 are respectively located on both sides of the first rotating shaft 151.

[0040] See Figure 2 , Figure 2 The membrane cutting unit 160 in this embodiment is shown. For example... Figure 2As shown, the film cutting unit 160 includes a film cutting assembly 161, a pusher 162, a film cutting roller 163, and a first drive 164. The film cutting assembly 161 has a film cutting stroke in a first direction (i.e., the front-to-back direction), which is used to film cut the printing medium. The film cutting assembly 161 also has a driving position outside the film cutting stroke in the first direction. When the film cutting assembly 161 moves from one end of the film cutting stroke to the driving position, it drives the switching member 150 to rotate from the first position to the second position. In this embodiment, the driving position is located behind the film cutting stroke. Specifically, in this embodiment, the film cutting assembly 161 includes a body 168, a blade holder 169, and a film cutting blade. The body 168 is driven by a belt to move along the extension direction of the first axis. The blade holder 169 moves relative to the body 168 in a vertical direction perpendicular to the printing medium. The film cutting blade is mounted on the blade holder 169 and is used to cut the release film. The pusher 162 is located behind the belt of the drive body 168 and rotates relative to the machine body 110 about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Specifically, the pusher 162 is provided with a second rotating shaft 165, a first arm 166, and a second arm 167. The second rotating shaft 165 is mounted on the machine body 110 and extends in the left-right direction to form the second axis. The first arm 166 and the second arm 167 are located on both sides of the second rotating shaft 165. The first arm 166 is adapted to be pushed backward by the body 168 along the extension direction of the first axis. The second arm 167 is positioned below the lever end 152 of the switching member 150. When the film cutting assembly 161 moves to the pushing position outside the film cutting stroke, the body 168 pushes the first arm 166, causing the pusher 162 to rotate, and the second arm 167 lifts up, causing the switching member 150 to rotate from the first position to the second position. The film-cutting roller 163 is located within the film-cutting section 114a of the film-cutting channel and is used to reciprocate the printing medium in a left-right direction perpendicular to the first axis during the film-cutting process. During this process, the printing medium extends into the extension section 114b of the film-cutting channel 114. After completing the film-cutting process, the film-cutting roller 163 also rotates to feed the printing medium out of the printer 100 from the paper outlet on the right side of the film-cutting section 114a of the film-cutting channel 114. The first drive unit 164 drives the film-cutting assembly 161 to move in the first direction via a gear assembly and a belt.

[0041] See Figure 2 , Figure 2 The elastic element 170 in this embodiment is shown. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the elastic element 170 is positioned between the body 110 and the switching element 150, and tends to keep the switching element 150 in the first position. When the film cutting assembly 161 leaves the driven position, the elastic element 170 drives the switching element 150 to reset from the second position to the first position. In this embodiment, the elastic element 170 is a torsion spring.

[0042] See Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 , Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The printing method of the printer 100 in this embodiment is illustrated. Wherein, Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the printer structure when the film-cutting process and the printing process are carried out in parallel in this embodiment. In the printing method of this embodiment, the switching component 150 only moves from the first position to the second position after the last color of the printing medium begins printing, and moves from the second position to the first position after the printing medium leaves the printing channel. This ensures that during continuous printing, at least one printing medium is being film-cut while the next printing medium is being printed. In this embodiment, during continuous printing, except for the last printing medium, the next printing medium is being printed while the previous one is being film-cut.

[0043] Specifically, Figure 1 The process of the paper feed roller 142 conveying printing media from the paper tray 111 to the paper feed roller 141 is illustrated. Figure 1 As shown, during this process, the paper lifting mechanism 120 lifts the printing medium in the paper tray 111, causing the paper feed roller 142 to be in the paper feed position. The paper feed roller 142 rotates away from the paper feed direction to deliver the printing medium to the paper feed roller 141, so that the left end of the printing medium enters the printing channel 112 located to the left of the paper feed roller 142. Until most of the printing medium has entered the paper ejection channel, the right end of the printing medium is located in the printing position between the paper feed roller 141 and the paper feed roller 142, thus preparing to start the first color printing. During this process, the switching component 150 is always in the first position.

[0044] Figure 3 This shows the state of the printing medium during printing of each color except the last one, as follows: Figure 3 As shown, during this process, the paper lifting mechanism 120 lowers the printing medium in the paper tray 111, causing the paper feed roller 142 to be in the far-from-paper position. During the printing process of the printing unit 130 for each color except the last color, the switching element 150 remains in the first position. The printing medium is conveyed by the paper feed roller 141 and extends into the paper feed channel 113 via the paper feed roller 142.

[0045] After each color except the last color is printed, the printing medium is conveyed by the paper feed roller 141 into the paper ejection channel until it reaches the position to be printed.

[0046] Figure 4 This shows the state of the printing media after the last color printing has begun. (Example) Figure 4As shown, after the printing medium begins printing the last color, the switching element 150 moves from the first position to the second position. In this embodiment, the switching element 150 reaches the second position by the movement of the film-cutting assembly 161 to the driven position. During the printing of the last color, the printing medium is conveyed by the paper feed roller 141 from the printing channel 112 through the paper feed roller 142 and the upper surface of the switching element 150 to the film-cutting section 114a of the film-cutting channel. After the printing medium leaves the printing channel 112, the film-cutting assembly 161 retracts into the film-cutting stroke, and the switching element 150 is driven by the elastic element 170 to reset to the first position.

[0047] Figure 5 This illustrates the state during continuous printing, where, except for the last print media, the next print media is being printed while the previous one is being cut. For example... Figure 5 As shown. During the film cutting process, the printing medium can also extend from the film cutting section 114a of the film cutting channel into the film cutting channel extension section 114b via the upper surface of the switching member 150. At this time, the printing channel 112 is connected to the paper feeding channel 113, and the next printing medium can be printed, so that the film cutting process and the printing process are parallel.

[0048] Example 2 See Figure 6 , Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the switching element and the membrane cutting unit in Embodiment 2 is shown. Figure 6 As shown, the only difference between Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 1 is that the pushing member 162 slides relative to the machine body 110 in the vertical direction and is adapted to engage with the inclined surface of the film-cutting assembly 161. When the film-cutting assembly 161 moves from front to back to the driven position, it engages with the inclined surface of the pushing member 162 to move the pushing member 162 downward, thereby driving the paper receiving end 153 of the switching member 150 downward, and causing the switching member 150 to move from the first position to the second position. In Embodiment 2, the switching member 150 does not need to be designed with a lever end 152. The rest of Embodiment 2 is the same as Embodiment 1. Of course, in other embodiments, when the film-cutting assembly 161 moves from front to back to the driven position, it engages with the inclined surface of the pushing member 162 to move the pushing member 162 downward, thereby driving the lever end 162 of the switching member 150 upward, thereby driving the paper receiving end 153 of the switching member 150 downward, and causing the switching member 150 to move from the first position to the second position.

[0049] Example 3 See Figure 7 , Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the switching element and the membrane cutting unit in Embodiment 3 is shown. Figure 7As shown, the only difference between Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 2 is that Embodiment 3 no longer has a pusher. Instead, the film cutting assembly 161 and the inclined surface of the switching member 150 cooperate directly, so that when the film cutting assembly 161 moves from front to back to the driving position, it drives the paper receiving end 153 to move downward, and the switching member 150 moves from the first position to the second position.

[0050] In the above embodiments, since the printing channel 112 selectively connects to the paper feed channel 113 or the film cutting channel 114 via the switching element 150, the film cutting channel 114 and the paper feed channel 113 are no longer connected in series, thus shortening the size of the printer 100 compared to the prior art. The above design also allows the printing medium to enter different channels at different stages through the movement of the switching element 150, providing a material basis for parallel printing and film cutting processes to shorten continuous printing time.

[0051] In the above embodiments, since the paper feeding channel 113 and the film cutting channel 113 overlap at least partially along the paper feeding direction on the projection plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, the paper feeding channel 113 and the film cutting channel 114 can be designed side by side, which is a preferred embodiment of this application.

[0052] In the above embodiments, the paper tray 111, the paper feed channel 113, and the film cutting channel 114 at least partially overlap along the paper feed direction on the projection plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, further reducing the length of the printer 100 along the paper feed direction.

[0053] In the above embodiments, the paper feeding channel 113 and the film cutting segment 114a overlap at least partially along the paper feeding direction on the projection plane perpendicular to the up and down direction; the printing channel 112 and the extension segment 114b overlap at least partially along the paper feeding direction on the projection plane perpendicular to the up and down direction, so that the length of the film cutting channel 114 is approximately equal to the sum of the lengths of the printing channel 112 and the paper feeding channel 113, which is more conducive to the parallel execution of the film cutting process and the printing process.

[0054] In the above embodiments, by moving the film-cutting assembly 161 from one end of the film-cutting stroke to a driving position located outside the film-cutting stroke, the switching member 150 is rotated from the first position to the second position. This eliminates the need to add a separate drive motor to the existing drive motor to achieve the movement of the switching member 150. Furthermore, because the film-cutting assembly 161 has a driving position outside the film-cutting stroke to drive the switching member's rotation, it will not mistakenly drive the switching member 150 to switch positions during the film-cutting process. Instead, it can reach the driving position before the film-cutting process begins, allowing the switching member 150 to rotate from the first position to the second position, thereby transferring the printing medium from the printing channel 112 to the film-cutting channel 114.

[0055] In the above embodiments, when the film cutting assembly 161 returns from the driving position to the switching stroke, the elastic element 170 automatically drives the switching element 150 to reset from the second position to the first position, thereby ensuring that the switching element 150 is always in the first position during the film cutting process, which is more conducive to the parallel operation of the film cutting process and the printing process.

[0056] In the above embodiments, the switching member 150 moves from the first position to the second position after the printing medium starts printing the last color, and moves from the second position to the first position after the printing medium leaves the printing channel 112, so that the printing medium in the film cutting process and the printing medium in the printing process will not interfere with each other, thereby realizing the parallel operation of the film cutting process and the printing process, which is beneficial to shorten the continuous printing time.

[0057] The description of the above specification and embodiments is used to explain the scope of protection of this application, but does not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A printer comprising: a body provided with a printing passage, a paper passage and a film cutting passage, a print medium being printed in the printing passage and being extended into the paper passage during multi-color printing, and the print medium being film cut in the film cutting passage; and a switching member moving relative to the body between a first position and a second position, the printing passage being communicated with the paper passage when the switching member is in the first position, and the printing passage being communicated with the film cutting passage when the switching member is in the second position. The printer is provided with a paper tray accommodating the print medium, the print medium being moved in a paper feeding direction when being printed; an up-down direction being defined perpendicular to the print medium in the paper tray; 2. The printer of claim 1, wherein the printing passage and the paper passage are arranged along the paper feeding direction; the paper passage and the film cutting passage at least partially overlap along the paper feeding direction in a projection plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The paper tray, the paper passage and the film cutting passage at least partially overlap along the paper feeding direction in the projection plane perpendicular to the up-down direction.

3. The printer of claim 2, wherein, The film cutting passage comprises a film cutting section and an extension section arranged along the paper feeding direction, the film cutting section and the extension section being communicated when the switching member is in the first position; the paper passage and the film cutting section at least partially overlap along the paper feeding direction in the projection plane perpendicular to the up-down direction; 4. The printer of claim 2, wherein the printing passage and the extension section at least partially overlap along the paper feeding direction in the projection plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The printer further comprises a film cutting assembly; the switching member rotates about a first axis, the first axis extending along a first direction; the film cutting assembly has a film cutting stroke for film cutting the print medium in the first direction; the film cutting assembly further moves from one end of the film cutting stroke to a driving position outside the film cutting stroke to drive the switching member to rotate from the first position to the second position.

5. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The printer further comprises an elastic member arranged between the body and the switching member to drive the switching member to rotate from the second position to the first position when the film cutting assembly leaves the driving position.

6. The printer of claim 5, wherein, The film cutting assembly moves to the driving position to drive the switching member to rotate from the first position to the second position through the slope.

7. The printer of claim 5, wherein The printer further comprises a pushing member sliding perpendicular to the first direction; the film cutting assembly moves to the driving position to drive the pushing member to slide through the slope, and the pushing member drives the switching member to rotate from the first position to the second position.

8. The printer of claim 5, wherein, The printer further comprises a pushing member rotating about a second axis perpendicular to the first direction and provided with a first arm and a second arm; the film cutting assembly moves to the driving position to push the first arm, and the second arm drives the switching member to rotate from the first position to the second position.

9. The printer of claim 5, wherein, The switching member moves from the first position to the second position after the print medium starts the last color printing, and moves from the second position to the first position after the print medium leaves the printing passage, so that at least one of the print media is film cut when the next print medium is printed during continuous multi-color printing.

10. A printing method of the printer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by, ​

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