A printer

Abstract

This application relates to a printer, specifically to the field of automatic printer structure technology. The printer includes a support section providing equipment support; a feeding section conveying printing material to the printing area and integrating a material locking structure to secure the material; a printing section performing the printing operation; and a printing section cleaning structure cleaning and protecting the printhead area after printing. This application ensures stable material fixation during printing and achieves automatic printhead cleaning and protection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This technical solution relates to the field of automatic printer structure, and more specifically, to a type of printer. Background Technology

[0002] Consumers access the printing service interface by scanning the device's unique QR code with their mobile devices. After completing operations such as product model selection, image file upload, content editing and adjustment, and payment confirmation, the system automatically starts the printing process, automating a series of actions including material selection, material retrieval, printing, unloading, and resetting. In existing technologies, printing equipment uses an automatic feeding mechanism composed of a motor and photoelectric sensors to transport materials. A dual-clamp structure driven by a shared Y-axis motor completes the automatic material retrieval and placement. A mechanical holding mechanism combining gears, racks, and springs ensures material fixation during printing without external force. Combined with an X-axis UV inkjet system, this achieves fully automated personalized product customization. The entire process, from material input to finished product output, requires no on-site intervention from professional personnel.

[0003] However, in existing technologies, the selection of material types, loading, and unloading during the printing process are all done manually, and the printing software and equipment operation require professionally trained personnel to operate on-site. The difficulty in recruiting staff is the biggest obstacle to project launch; often, a great cultural tourism IP idea is difficult to implement and promote quickly due to the specialized nature of the equipment and personnel. This invention manufactures a self-service printing system that can recognize customer selections and has automatic loading and unloading functions, perfectly solving this practical pain point. Furthermore, the equipment's periodic automatic cleaning and protection device for the printhead area allows the equipment to operate normally and excellently for extended periods without manual maintenance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a small-scale flatbed UV printer that addresses the pain point of existing small-scale flatbed UV printers that cannot automatically select, load, and complete printing. The device includes an automatic, periodic cleaning and protection system for the printhead area, ensuring long-term maintenance-free operation, consistent print quality, and effective guarantee of the device's longevity and stability.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution: This application provides a printer, including a support section to support the printer; a feeding section to feed the material to be printed to the printing area for printing by the printing section; the feeding section also includes a locking structure; the locking structure fixes the printing material in the printing area; the printing section prints on the material; and a printing section cleaning structure cleans and protects the print head area of ​​the printing section after the printing section has finished working.

[0006] In one optional embodiment, the locking structure includes a first locking plate and a second locking plate opposite to the first locking plate. The distance between the first locking plate and the second locking plate is variable. A locking device A is provided between the first locking plate and the second locking plate, and the locking device A keeps the distance between the first locking plate and the second locking plate stable.

[0007] In one optional embodiment, the locking device A consists of a toothed fixed plate and a rocking ratchet; the fixed plate is fixedly connected to the first locking plate, and the rocking ratchet is rotatably connected to the second locking plate.

[0008] In one alternative embodiment, the distance between the first locking plate and the second locking plate can be varied by a transmission mechanism.

[0009] In one alternative embodiment, the printing unit cleaning structure includes a cleaning unit and a movable plate on which the cleaning unit is placed; the movable plate is capable of moving up and down.

[0010] In one optional embodiment, a travel plate is fixedly provided on the movable plate, and a guide post is fixedly provided on the travel plate. The guide post cooperates with a guide cavity on the movable plate, and the guide post moves within the guide cavity to enable the movable plate to move up and down.

[0011] In one alternative embodiment, the travel plate and the moving plate are parallel to each other.

[0012] In one alternative embodiment, there is at least one cleaning section on the active plate.

[0013] In one alternative embodiment, the feeding section feeds at least one specification of printing material.

[0014] This application provides a printer whose overall structural stability is achieved through a support structure. The feeding unit delivers the material to be printed to the printing area, ensuring precise material positioning. Furthermore, the integrated locking structure in the feeding unit secures the material within the printing area, effectively preventing material displacement during printing. The printing unit then prints the image from the material. Finally, a cleaning structure cleans and protects the printhead area after printing, preventing printhead contamination and ink drying. This design solves the problem of automated material loading and unloading during physical product printing, and also addresses the lack of regular automatic cleaning and protection of the printhead area, thus significantly improving printing accuracy and extending equipment lifespan. Through the synergistic effect of these technical features, this application effectively overcomes the key challenges of automated material loading and unloading and printhead maintenance in existing technologies while ensuring a fully automated printing process. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The technical solution will be further explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a printer according to the present technical solution.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding section structure of a printer according to the present technical solution.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the isometric structure of the feeding section of a printer according to the present technical solution.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning structure of the printing section of a printer according to the present technical solution.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a side view schematic diagram of the cleaning structure of the printing section of a printer according to the present technical solution.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a top view schematic diagram of the cleaning structure of the printing section of a printer according to the present technical solution.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the printing section structure of a printer according to the present technical solution.

[0023] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Schematic diagram of locking device A.

[0024] In the figure: support part 100; printing material 101; feeding screw 102; feeding guide rail 103; clamping tray 104; position feedback sensor 105; feeding motor 106; printing part 200; feeding part 300; Locking structure 400; fixing plate 401; first locking plate 402; second locking plate 403; rocking ratchet 404; transmission screw 410; screw nut 411; stepper motor 413; support part 500; printing part cleaning structure 1; cleaning motor 2; upright plate 3; upright plate guide rail 31; upright plate slider 32; cleaning part 4; stroke plate 5; cleaning screw 6; moving plate 7; guide cavity 71; guide post 8; movable plate 9 Detailed Implementation The following will combine Figure 1-8 A further detailed description of this technical solution is provided below. It is understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0025] Example 1: After the user scans a QR code to access the printing mini-program, selects the printer model, uploads and edits images, and completes payment, the system triggers a fully automated printing process. Currently, the printer does not support manual material positioning and printhead maintenance, resulting in ink drying and clogging in the printhead area, which affects subsequent print quality and the lifespan of the equipment.

[0026] Based on the above issues, see Figure 1 As shown, this application provides a printer, including: a support part 500, which provides support for the printer; a feeding part 100, which feeds the material to be printed 101 to the printing area 300 for printing by the printing part 200; the feeding part 100 also includes a locking structure 400, which fixes the printing material 101 in the printing area 300; a printing part 200, which prints the material to be printed 101; and a printing part cleaning structure 1, which cleans and protects the printhead area of ​​the printing part 200 after the printing part 200 has finished working.

[0027] The support unit 500 is a rigid frame structure used to support the various functional modules of the whole machine. It is an integral base made of welded metal profiles or die-cast aluminum alloy, or a split assembly sheet metal bracket. The shape, size and material of the support unit 500 are set according to the overall layout and load-bearing requirements of the printer. It is made of cold-rolled steel plate with a thickness of 2-4 mm and bent into shape. Its bottom is equipped with anti-slip rubber pads to enhance placement stability. The support unit 500 provides a common mounting reference surface for the feeding unit 100, the printing unit 200 and the printing unit cleaning structure 1, and bears the dynamic load and vibration transmission path during the operation of the whole machine. It is reliably fixed to the feeding unit 100 and the printing unit 200 by bolt connection or embedded buckle cooperation.

[0028] The feeding unit 100 is a mechanical actuator used to automatically feed, position, and temporarily store the printed material 101. It includes a feeding screw 102, a feeding guide rail 103, a feeding tray, and a drive motor. The feeding screw 102 is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor, which drives the feeding tray to rise vertically and push the printed material 101 to a preset height in the printing area 300. The feeding unit 100 is fixedly connected to the support unit 500, and its movement trajectory is perpendicular to the printing plane. The feeding unit 100 responds to the control signal and accurately feeds the printed material 101 of different specifications, such as hard cards, flexible labels, or irregularly shaped sheets, to the designated station below the printing unit 200, providing the preconditions for the clamping action of the locking structure 400. It works in conjunction with the locking structure 400 to form a continuous action chain of conveying, positioning, and clamping, ensuring that the printed material 101 is in a relatively static state during the printing process.

[0029] The material locking structure 400 is a mechanical clamping component integrated inside the feeding unit 100, used to securely limit the printing material 101 before printing begins. It includes a first locking plate 402 and a second locking plate 403 arranged opposite each other, with an adjustable distance between them and self-locking capability. The material locking structure 400 moves synchronously with the feeding tray and immediately activates after the printing material 101 arrives at the printing area 300. It applies positive pressure from the top and bottom sides through the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403, clamping the printing material 101 between them. The material locking structure 400 suppresses the translation of the printing material 101 in the X / Y axis direction and the slight rotation around the Z axis, preventing pixel shift caused by material floating during UV inkjet printing. It forms a position closed loop with the feeding unit 100: after the feeding unit 100 completes its displacement, it triggers the action of the material locking structure 400. The clamping signal of the material locking structure 400 is fed back to the control system before the printing unit 200 can be started.

[0030] The printing unit 200 is the core execution unit for performing UV inkjet printing tasks. It is an X-axis moving inkjet module, including a linear guide rail, a stepper motor 413, a printhead bracket, and multiple UV printheads arranged in parallel. The printing unit 200 is fixedly mounted on the support unit 500, and its printhead array faces the center of the printing area 300. The printing unit 200 receives image data streams and controls each printhead to eject ink according to a predetermined path and droplet frequency, forming high-precision images on the surface of the printed material 101. It forms a rigid constraint relationship with the locking structure 400: the printing unit 200 only starts the inkjet action when the locking structure 400 confirms that the clamping state is effective, thereby avoiding dry printing or misaligned printing.

[0031] The printing unit cleaning structure 1 is an auxiliary actuator located beside the printing unit 200, used to physically wipe and seal the printhead surface after a single printing task. It includes a cleaning unit 4 and a movable plate 9. The movable plate 9 is controlled by a drive mechanism to move vertically up and down, moving the cleaning unit 4 to the front of the printhead and into contact with the nozzle end face. The cleaning unit 4 is made of absorbent non-woven fabric or microporous sponge material, and its surface is coated with a low-volatility cleaning solution. The printing unit cleaning structure 1 removes residual UV ink stains on the edge of the nozzle, preventing them from curing and clogging during the stop interval. It forms a time-linked relationship with the printing unit 200: after the printing unit 200 completes all inkjet operations and returns to the initial position, the control system issues a cleaning command, the movable plate 9 rises to make the cleaning unit 4 fit against the printhead surface, performs reciprocating wiping, and then falls back to its original position, ready for the next printing task.

[0032] The core innovation of this application is to construct a four-stage closed-loop automated operation architecture of feeding, locking, printing, and cleaning: the feeding unit 100 completes the spatial positioning of the material, the locking structure 400 establishes a rigid connection between the material and the equipment, the printing unit 200 performs high-precision imaging under a stable benchmark, and the cleaning structure 1 of the printing unit intervenes to complete the nozzle maintenance during task intervals; all modules operate collaboratively under the unified benchmark of the support unit 500, and can complete the entire closed-loop process from material input to finished product output without relying on external manual intervention.

[0033] The working process and principle of this application are as follows: When the user completes the order placement through the mini-program, the control system sends a feeding instruction to the feeding unit 100. The feeding screw 102 drives the feeding tray to rise, pushing the material to be printed 101 to the printing area 300. The locking structure 400 responds synchronously, and the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 close and clamp the material. After the control system detects the locking structure 400 in place, it starts the printing unit 200. The X-axis module drives the UV printhead to scan and spray ink along the set path. After printing is completed, the printing unit 200 returns to its original position. The control system triggers the cleaning structure 1 of the printing unit after a delay. The movable plate 9 rises and drives the cleaning unit 4 to contact the printhead surface and perform wiping. After cleaning is completed, the movable plate 9 descends and resets, and the whole machine enters the standby state, waiting for the next task to be triggered.

[0034] As an optional embodiment, the solution of this application is implemented as follows: Taking the printing of a standard-sized PVC card as an example, the feeding unit 100 lifts the card to the printing area 300, which is 2 mm below the printhead array, through the feeding screw 102; the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 in the locking structure 400 close under the action of spring preload, clamping the card between them; the printing unit 200 starts the X-axis stepper motor 413, driving 6 parallel UV printheads to scan line by line with a step size of 0.05 mm, completing the full-width image printing; the printing takes about 18 seconds; 3 seconds after the task ends, the movable plate 99 of the printing unit cleaning structure 1 rises under the drive of the micro motor, so that the fluororubber pad of the cleaning unit 44 lightly presses against the printhead end face, performs two round-trip wiping, and then descends to reset; the whole process does not require manual intervention, the repeatability positioning accuracy is better than ±0.1 mm, and the printhead cleaning coverage is greater than 95%.

[0035] Through the above technical solutions, this application achieves the following beneficial effects: Since the support unit 500 serves as a common installation reference for the entire machine, each functional module has a unified spatial reference system, improving system assembly consistency and long-term operational stability; Because the feeding unit 100 and the locking structure 400 are integrated and form a position-action coupling relationship, the printed material 101 can be clamped immediately after being conveyed to the correct position, avoiding time delays and error accumulation caused by additional positioning processes in traditional solutions, thus improving printing efficiency and image registration accuracy; Since the printing unit cleaning structure 1 is independently located beside the printing unit 200 and equipped with a liftable movable plate 9, it can automatically intervene for cleaning after each printing task, avoiding nozzle clogging caused by ink drying, extending the service life of the printing unit 200, and reducing equipment maintenance frequency; The overall structure is compact and the action logic is clear, providing a reliable hardware foundation for achieving unattended personalized rapid printing.

[0036] Example 2: In another alternative embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, this application also provides a printer, wherein the locking structure 400 includes a first locking plate 402 and a second locking plate 403 opposite to the first locking plate 402. The distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 is variable, and a locking device A is provided between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403. The locking device A makes the distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 remain stable.

[0037] The material locking structure 400 is a set of mechanical clamping units located at the front end of the feeding section 100 and at the entrance of the printing area 300. It is used to apply a clamping force perpendicular to the conveying direction to the material 101 after it enters the printing area 300, so as to prevent it from being displaced or warped during the X-axis UV inkjet printing process. The material locking structure 400 is rigidly connected to the feeding section 100 in the whole machine structure, and the overall positioning and force balance are achieved through the support section 500.

[0038] The first locking plate 402 is a rectangular metal plate structure. Its surface facing the second locking plate 403 is flat or has micro-textures to increase the static friction coefficient between it and the printed material 101. The first locking plate 402 can reciprocate along a straight path perpendicular to the feeding direction. Its stroke can be adjusted from 0.1 mm to 5 mm according to the thickness of the printed material 101. When the working surface of the first locking plate 402 is in contact with the printed material 101 in the clamping state, it forms a constraint on the upper surface of the material. Its function is to provide the main clamping reference surface and to work with the second locking plate 403 to form a closed clamping space.

[0039] The second locking plate 4034 is a corresponding plate arranged parallel to the first locking plate 402. The side of the second locking plate facing the first locking plate 402 is also a flat or anti-slip contact surface, used to constrain the lower surface of the printed material 101. The second locking plate 403 is fixedly mounted on the base of the feeding part 100, or configured as a micro-floating structure, allowing elastic clearance to be generated in the initial stage of clamping to accommodate the material thickness tolerance. The relative positional relationship between the second locking plate 403 and the first locking plate 402 determines the clamping gap of the printed material 101 in the Z direction, i.e. the thickness direction. The variability of this gap allows the locking structure 400 to adapt to printing media with different weights, thicknesses and stiffnesses, such as coated paper, matte photo paper, PET film or flexible fabric.

[0040] The distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 is variable. This means that the two plates can actively adjust their distance through a drive mechanism before the clamping action is performed. This adjustment process does not rely on manual intervention, but is automatically completed by the control system based on preset parameters or sensor feedback. The purpose of this variable distance design is to enable the locking structure 400 to have the ability to adapt to the thickness of the printed material 101. During the clamping process, the first locking plate 402 moves closer to the second locking plate 403 until it contacts the material and applies a preset pressure. At this time, the distance between the two plates is the actual thickness of the material plus the reserved compression margin. The path of this distance change is constrained by the guide structure to ensure smooth movement without deflection.

[0041] A locking device A is provided between the first locking plate 4024 and the second locking plate 403. The locking device A is a mechanical self-locking structure, which is used to immediately establish an irreversible or highly damped displacement constraint after the first locking plate 402 moves into position, to prevent the first locking plate 402 from rebounding due to equipment vibration, motor power failure or external disturbance. The locking device A, together with the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403, constitute a clamping-locking linkage system: the clamping action triggers the locking to be activated, and the locking state maintains a constant clamping force. Its action path is as follows: when the first locking plate 402 moves to the target position, the meshing elements inside the locking device A, such as ratchet teeth and pawls, complete the engagement, thereby rigidly locking the position of the first locking plate 402 at the clamping gap required for the current working condition. The locking device A does not participate in the active application of clamping force, but only undertakes the position holding function in the clamping state.

[0042] Locking device A ensures that the distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 remains stable. This means that during the entire printing process, including printhead reciprocating scanning, platform vibration, and fluctuations in ambient temperature and humidity, the change in the distance between the two is controlled within ±0.02 mm. This stability is ensured by the structural rigidity, engagement depth, and anti-loosening design of locking device A. Its function is to transform the dynamic clamping process into a static constraint state, so that the locking structure 400 changes from requiring continuous power to maintain clamping to a one-time locking that is effective for a long time. This reduces system energy consumption, improves operational reliability, and avoids image misalignment or ink leakage defects caused by the attenuation of clamping force.

[0043] The working process and principle of the locking structure 400 are as follows: When the material to be printed 101 is conveyed to the predetermined position of the printing area 300 by the feeding part 100, the control system issues a clamping command to drive the first locking plate 402 to translate along the guide axis towards the second locking plate 403; during the process of approaching the second locking plate 403, if a material thickness signal is detected, for example through a pressure sensor or photoelectric feedback, the first locking plate 402 is controlled to stop at the corresponding position; then the locking device A is activated to complete the mechanical engagement; thereafter, regardless of whether the printing part 200 is in working state, the relative position between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 is rigidly locked to ensure that the material to be printed 101 maintains Z-axis positioning accuracy throughout the entire printing cycle.

[0044] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves the following: Since the distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 is variable, it can adapt to printing materials 101 of various thicknesses, thus improving the media compatibility of the equipment; Since a locking device A is provided and the device can keep the distance between the two stable after clamping in place, clamping failure caused by vibration or power interruption during the printing process is avoided, thereby ensuring the positioning stability of the printing material 101 in the Z direction, reducing the probability of image shift, ghosting and edge ink leakage, and improving the consistency and yield of printed products.

[0045] Example 3: In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, this application also provides a locking device A consisting of a toothed fixed plate 401 and a rocking ratchet 404; the fixed plate 401 is fixedly connected to the first locking plate 402, and the rocking ratchet 404 is rotatably connected to the second locking plate 403.

[0046] The toothed fixing plate 401 can refer to a rigid plate-shaped component with uniformly distributed toothed structures along its length. The teeth are rectangular, trapezoidal, or triangular, with a tooth pitch ranging from 0.5mm to 3mm and a tooth height ranging from 0.3mm to 1.5mm. The function of the fixing plate 401 is to provide a rigid toothed surface that meshes with the rocker ratchet 404. Its name is based on the toothed structure and its positioning and stopping functions in the locking structure 400. The fixing plate 401 is fixedly connected to the first locking plate 402 by screws, welding, or as a single unit. The rigid connection is achieved by a type of mechanism, thereby ensuring that the fixed plate 401 remains in a stable position synchronously with the first locking plate 402 during the movement of the second locking plate 403. This allows the rocker ratchet 404 to always slide or engage on its tooth surface, thus forming a one-way limiting path. Through this engagement, when the second locking plate 403 drives the rocker ratchet 404 to move in the locking direction, the tip of the ratchet tooth slides into the adjacent tooth groove along the slope of the tooth surface, completing a step advance. When the second locking plate 403 has a tendency to loosen in the opposite direction, the root of the ratchet tooth abuts against the vertical sidewall of the tooth surface, preventing retraction, thereby achieving a self-holding state of the locking material spacing.

[0047] The rocking ratchet 404 can refer to a wheel-shaped component with an eccentric rotating shaft, capable of reciprocating around the shaft at a small angle, and possessing unidirectional meshing teeth. Its main body material is engineering plastic, stainless steel, or brass, with a wheel diameter ranging from 8mm to 25mm and a thickness ranging from 2mm to 6mm. The function of the rocking ratchet 404 is to convert the linear displacement of the second locking plate 403 into tooth meshing action, and to adapt to changes in the gap of the teeth on the fixed plate 401 through its oscillating characteristics. Its name is based on its micro-oscillation behavior during force application and its control over unidirectional motion. The rocking ratchet 404 is rotatably connected to the second locking plate 403, and the connection method is... The ratchet mechanism can be configured as follows: a bearing seat is provided on the second locking plate 403 and the ratchet shaft is supported by a deep groove ball bearing; or a bushing + pin structure is adopted, allowing the ratchet to swing freely around the pin without axial movement; or a swingable hinge is achieved by limiting the movement with an elastic snap ring. In this rotational connection, the swing ratchet 404 can automatically adjust the meshing angle during the movement of the second locking plate 403, avoiding dry friction of the tooth surface or tooth skipping failure. Through this engagement, the swing ratchet 404 can overcome the spring preload to complete the inter-tooth transition under forward push, while under reverse load, it is locked due to the tooth surface normal constraint, thus forming a mechanical one-way self-locking mechanism in conjunction with the fixed plate 401.

[0048] Specifically, when the second locking plate 403 is driven to approach the first locking plate 402 to clamp the printed material 101, it drives the rocking ratchet 404 to slide along the tooth surface of the fixed plate 401. At this time, the ratchet swings slightly after contacting the tooth surface slope, causing the tooth to pass over the current tooth tip and fall into the next tooth groove, completing a step locking action. If an external force attempts to retract the second locking plate 403, the root of the ratchet tooth forms a rigid contact with the vertical sidewall of the tooth surface of the fixed plate 401, preventing relative displacement, thereby maintaining the set distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 unchanged. This process does not rely on external power supply or control signals, but only on the geometric constraints and contact mechanics of the pure mechanical structure to achieve reliable locking.

[0049] As an optional embodiment, the solution of this application is specifically implemented as follows: When the printer performs the printing preparation action, the feeding part 100 drives the second locking plate 403 to move horizontally along the guide rail towards the first locking plate 402, and the rocking ratchet 404 moves synchronously against the tooth surface of the fixed plate 401; when the printed material 101 enters between the two locking plates, the second locking plate 403 continues to move forward, and the rocking ratchet 404 jumps tooth by tooth until it reaches the preset clamping position; at this time, even if there is vibration or slight impact during the printing process, the meshing state between the rocking ratchet 404 and the fixed plate 401 can still effectively prevent the locking plate from rebounding, ensuring that the printed material 101 is always in a stable positioning state during the X-axis UV inkjet printing process; after printing is completed, the system issues an unlocking command, forcing the rocking ratchet 404 to overcome the static friction of the tooth surface and the elastic preload, complete a one-time overall retraction, and release the printed material 101.

[0050] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves the following: Since the locking device A is formed by the toothed fixing plate 401 and the rocking ratchet 404, and the fixing plate 401 is rigidly connected to the first locking plate 402 and the rocking ratchet 404 is rotatably connected to the second locking plate 403, unidirectional step-locking and reverse mechanical self-locking can be realized during the adjustment of the second locking plate 403. This solves the technical problem proposed in this application of how to achieve unidirectional controllable adjustment of the spacing between the locking plates in the locking structure 400 and prevent reverse slippage, thereby ensuring the positioning stability and repeated clamping reliability of the printed material 101 in the printing area 300.

[0051] Example 4: In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, this application also provides a printer, wherein the distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 can be changed by a transmission mechanism.

[0052] The distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 can be changed by a transmission mechanism. This means that the transmission mechanism can convert the rotational or linear motion output by the drive source into the relative displacement of the first locking plate 402 or the second locking plate 403, thereby dynamically adjusting the clamping distance between them to adapt to printing materials 101 of different thicknesses or sizes. The transmission mechanism is set in the installation space between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403. Its input end is connected to the control unit, and its output end is rigidly connected to at least one of the first locking plate 402 or the second locking plate 403, so that after receiving the adjustment command, it can drive the corresponding locking plate to translate in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the locking plate.

[0053] The distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 can be changed by a transmission mechanism, such as a gear and rack transmission structure or a synchronous belt pulley transmission structure; the slider is linked with the first locking plate 402, and the linear displacement of the slider is converted by the pulley rotation angle. All three transmission methods can achieve controllable displacement of the first locking plate 402 relative to the second locking plate 403, and none of them change the original locking function and mechanical stability of the locking structure 400. The specific selection can be configured according to the overall machine space layout, precision requirements, and cost constraints; this application embodiment does not impose any special limitations on this.

[0054] The distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 can be changed by the transmission mechanism, such as... Figure 8 The transmission mechanism works in conjunction with the locking device in this application: after the transmission mechanism completes the spacing adjustment, the locking device A, namely the toothed fixing plate 401 and the rocking ratchet 404, immediately actuates, so that the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 maintain a stable clamping state under the newly set spacing; wherein, the transmission mechanism is responsible for adjusting the spacing, and the locking device A is responsible for locking. The two are decoupled in function and connected in timing, together forming an adjustable-self-locking dual-stage locking mechanism; this mechanism avoids the redundant operation of applying additional fastening force after traditional manual adjustment, and improves the repeatability and consistency of the locking action.

[0055] Specifically, when the printer receives the specification information of the new batch of printing material 101, the controller analyzes its thickness parameters through the action logic of the motor and the electro-optic sensor, and sends the corresponding displacement command to the transmission mechanism; the transmission screw 410 rotates under the drive of the stepper motor 413, driving the screw nut 414 and the first locking plate 402 fixed thereto to move along the linear guide rail 412 toward the second locking plate 403 until the distance between the two reaches the preset value; at this time, the rocking ratchet 404 swings slightly under the drive of the second locking plate 403, and is embedded in the tooth groove 405 of the fixed plate 401 to form a mechanical self-lock; the whole process does not require manual intervention and is executed in a closed loop by the control system.

[0056] Through the above technical solution, this application realizes the automatic, precise and programmable adjustment of the distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403, solving the technical problems of low efficiency, poor accuracy and difficulty in adapting to multiple specifications of materials when manually adjusting the locking plate spacing; since a programmable transmission mechanism is introduced and forms a functional collaboration with the original locking device A, the clamping gap can be adjusted in real time according to the physical size of different printed materials 101, thereby improving the reliability of feeding and positioning, reducing the risk of material deviation, and enhancing the equipment's compatibility with flexible production lines.

[0057] Example 5: In another alternative embodiment, such as Figure 5 As shown, this application also provides a printer: the printing unit cleaning structure 1 includes a cleaning unit 4 and a movable plate 9 for placing the cleaning unit 4; the movable plate 9 is capable of moving up and down.

[0058] The printing section cleaning structure 1 is located beside the printing section 200 and is used to clean and protect the print head area of ​​the printing section 200 after printing is completed. This cleaning structure does not participate in the material delivery or positioning action during the printing process. It only performs cleaning and protection operations during the idle period after the printing task is completed. Its operation is uniformly scheduled by the printer's main control system and is strictly staggered from the working sequence of the printing section 200.

[0059] The cleaning unit 4 can be a flexible wiping component, such as a silicone squeegee, microfiber cloth, or absorbent sponge. Its material has low abrasion resistance, high adsorption capacity, and chemical compatibility, and is compatible with UV ink components to avoid residual solvent corrosion or fiber shedding that contaminates the printhead. The cleaning unit 44 can be fixedly connected to the side surface of the movable plate 9 facing the printing unit 200, or it can be detached and installed by means of snaps, magnetic attraction, or elastic clamping, which is convenient for replacement and maintenance. The shape and size of the cleaning unit 4 can be adapted to the width and height of the printhead array of the printing unit 200. For example, it can be a strip, a rectangular block, or an arc-shaped fitting structure. The number of cleaning units 4 can be set according to the actual situation. For example, it can be a continuous strip or multiple discrete units. This application embodiment does not make any special limitation in this regard.

[0060] The movable plate 99 can be a rigid flat plate structure, made of engineering plastics such as POM or PC, aluminum alloy or stainless steel sheet, with sufficient flatness and structural rigidity to ensure the stability of the movement path of the cleaning section 44; the vertical movement direction of the movable plate 99 is perpendicular to the plane of the printing platform, that is, it moves along the Z-axis; the stroke range of the movable plate 99 can be set according to the installation height of the print head module of the printing section 200 and the cleaning contact requirements, for example, it can be adjusted between 5mm and 20mm, and the specific value can be determined according to the spatial layout and response speed requirements of the actual model; the driving method of the movable plate 99 can be a motor-driven lead screw pair, a stepper motor 413 driving a synchronous belt, an electromagnetic push rod or a pneumatic lifting mechanism, and its power source is electrically connected to the printer main control system and receives lifting command signals from the control module; the movable plate 9 and the printing section 200 maintain a non-contact relative movement relationship. After rising to the position, the cleaning section 4 and the print head surface maintain a micro-gap contact or light pressure contact state, which ensures effective cleaning and avoids mechanical damage.

[0061] The coordination between the movable plate 9 and the printing unit 200 is as follows: When the printing task is completed, the printhead stops emitting ink and enters standby mode, the main control system outputs a rising command, and the movable plate 9 rises vertically to a preset height, causing the cleaning unit 44 to move to the corresponding position directly in front of or below the printhead; the cleaning unit 4 performs wiping, adsorption, or sealing actions on the printhead surface at this position; after the cleaning action is completed, the movable plate 9 descends and resets to the initial clearance position to ensure that the printing area 300 has unobstructed space and does not affect the next loading and printing operation; this up-and-down movement process constitutes a functional closed loop of the cleaning structure, and its action path, start and end positions and triggering timing are all judged and executed in real time by the control system based on the printing task status.

[0062] Specifically, the vertical movement of the movable plate 9 is guided and constrained by the sliding engagement of the guide post 8 and the guide cavity 71. The guide post 8 is fixed on the stroke plate 5, and the stroke plate 5 is rigidly connected to the movable plate 9. The guide cavity 71 is located inside the fixed movable plate 7. When the guide post 8 slides axially in the guide cavity 71, it restricts the movable plate 9 to only vertical translation, preventing swaying, tilting or rotation, thereby ensuring the relative posture stability between the cleaning part 4 and the nozzle. A low-friction bushing or a lubricating coating can be provided between the guide post 8 and the guide cavity 71 to reduce movement resistance and extend service life. The stroke plate 5 and the movable plate 7 are arranged in parallel to each other, further enhancing the guiding accuracy and structural stability.

[0063] As an optional embodiment, the solution of this application is implemented as follows: After a printing task is completed, the UV inkjet printing unit 200 completes the final image curing and stops ink supply, the main control system delays for 2 seconds to confirm that the printhead temperature and ink path pressure are stable, and then issues a cleaning start signal; the drive motor rotates forward, driving the movable plate 9 to rise at a constant speed along the Z-axis, the guide post 8 slides smoothly in the guide cavity 71, and the stroke plate 5 rises synchronously; when the movable plate 9 rises to 1.5mm from the printhead surface, it stops, the X-axis motor drives the printhead to move to the left by a fixed distance, the scraper completes one wiping task, the movable plate 9 descends by a fixed distance, and the X-axis motor moves to the right back to the zero position. The movable plate 9 returns to its original height, and the gap between the cleaning unit 4 and the printhead is -1; at this time, the printing unit 200 enters the sleep mode, and the cleaning unit 4 forms a physical shield during non-working periods, preventing environmental dust and volatile gases from entering the printhead micropores.

[0064] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves the following: because of the movable plate 9 that can move up and down, the cleaning unit 4 can actively approach the printhead area to perform cleaning actions after the printing task is completed; because the movable plate 9 achieves high-precision vertical guidance through the guide post 8 and the guide cavity 71, the relative position between the cleaning unit 4 and the printhead is controllable and has good repeatability; because the movable plate 9 automatically descends and resets after cleaning, it avoids spatial interference with subsequent printing operations; thus solving the technical problems that fixed cleaning structures cannot dynamically adapt to the printhead position, have low cleaning efficiency, and are prone to secondary pollution, and improving the automation level of printhead maintenance and long-term operational reliability.

[0065] Example 6: In one alternative embodiment, such as Figure 5 As shown, this application also provides that the movable plate 9 is fixedly provided with a travel plate 5, the travel plate 5 is fixedly provided with a guide post 8, the guide post 8 cooperates with the guide cavity 71 on the movable plate 7, and the guide post 8 moves in the guide cavity 71 to realize that the movable plate 9 can move up and down.

[0066] The movable plate 9 is a rigid flat plate structure that supports the cleaning part 44. It is made of aluminum alloy or engineering plastic and has a thickness of 1.5 mm to 5 mm. The movable plate 9 is driven by a drive mechanism to achieve reciprocating motion in the vertical direction. The drive mechanism is a micro motor that drives a T-nut and a T-screw, and its stroke is 8 mm to 20 mm. The movable plate 9 maintains a stable posture during the lifting and lowering process to avoid tilting or shaking, so as to ensure the consistency of contact between the cleaning part 4 and the nozzle surface.

[0067] The travel plate 5 is fixedly connected to the upper or lower surface of the movable plate 9 by means of screw fastening, snap-fit ​​engagement or adhesive bonding; the travel plate 5 is a rectangular plate structure, the length and width of which are adapted to the size of the movable plate 9 and reserved for installation space; the function of the travel plate 5 is to provide a stable installation reference surface for the guide post 88 and to convert the movement of the movable plate 9 into the directional sliding of the guide post 8; the travel plate 5 and the movable plate 9 form a rigid coupling relationship, and the two move synchronously without relative displacement.

[0068] The guide post 8 is vertically fixed to the side of the stroke plate 5 facing the moving plate 7, and its axis is consistent with the movement direction of the movable plate 9. The guide post 8 is a cylindrical, square or polygonal column with a cross-sectional dimension of diameter Φ4 mm to Φ10 mm. The guide post 8 is made of stainless steel, hard alloy or surface-hardened carbon steel. The guide post 8 and the stroke plate 5 are coupled through a slot. The function of the guide post 88 is to act as a motion guiding element. When the movable plate 9 is raised or lowered, it is inserted and slides along the guide cavity 71, so that the Y-direction movement of the moving plate 7 is converted into the Z-direction movement of the stroke plate 5. The two stroke plates 55 on the left and right and the guide post 8 restrict the degree of freedom of the movable plate 9 in the X and Y directions, and only retain the vertical degree of freedom in the Z direction, thereby improving the straightness of the motion trajectory and the repeatability of the positioning accuracy.

[0069] The movable plate 77 is a support component 500 fixedly mounted on the printer frame, and its position is stationary relative to the printing section 200. The movable plate 77 has a guide cavity 71, which is a through-type long slot structure, and its extension direction is parallel to the movement direction of the movable plate 9. The cross-sectional shape of the guide cavity 71 matches that of the guide post 8. When the guide post 8 is cylindrical, the guide cavity 71 is a circular through hole or an oblong hole. The length of the guide cavity 71 is greater than the maximum stroke of the guide post 8. The inner wall of the guide cavity 71 is precision machined, and the surface roughness Ra value is not greater than 1.6 μm. The movable plate 7 and the stroke plate 5 are arranged in parallel, and the distance between them is 1 mm to 2 mm. The movable plate 7 forms a sliding guide pair with the guide post 8 through the guide cavity 71, which together constitute a mechanical limiting system for the movement of the movable plate 9.

[0070] Specifically, when the movable plate 9 moves upward under the action of the drive mechanism, the guide post 8 moves upward synchronously with the stroke plate 5 and slides axially within the guide cavity 71; the side wall of the guide cavity 71 applies a radial constraint force to the guide post 8, suppressing the lateral sway of the movable plate 9 caused by off-center loading or inertia; when the movable plate 9 moves downward, the guide post 8 slides in the opposite direction along the guide cavity 71, and is also guided and constrained by the guide cavity 71; throughout the entire movement process, the stroke plate 5 and the movable plate 7 always maintain a parallel relationship, and the guide post 8 is always located in the central area of ​​the guide cavity 71, thereby ensuring that the movable plate 9 moves smoothly, without jamming or tilting.

[0071] As an optional embodiment, the solution of this application is implemented as follows: After the printing job is completed, the control system issues a cleaning command, the drive mechanism starts, and the movable plate 9 rises vertically; at this time, the travel plate 5 moves upward accordingly, and the guide post 8 is inserted into the guide cavity 71 and slides smoothly along its inner wall; when the movable plate 9 rises to the preset high position, the cleaning part 44 and the print head array of the printing part 200 are aligned; then the movable plate 9 slowly descends, the cleaning part 44 gently contacts the print head surface and performs a wiping action; the entire lifting process lasts 3-5 seconds, the sliding stroke of the guide post 8 in the guide cavity 71 is 32 mm, and the maximum instantaneous speed is 15 mm / s; after the operation is completed, the movable plate 9 returns to the initial position and waits for the next cleaning command.

[0072] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves the following: a travel plate 5 is set on the movable plate 9 and a guide post 8 is fixed on it, and the guide post 8 and the guide cavity 71 on the movable plate 7 form a sliding fit. The movable plate 9 is rigidly guided and constrained during the lifting and lowering process, which effectively suppresses lateral swaying and rotational swaying. The guide post 88 and the guide cavity 71 are a rolling guide structure, which improves the bending stiffness and repeatability of the motion system compared with single-point cantilever support. The travel plate 5 and the movable plate 7 are arranged in parallel, and the sliding path of the guide post 8 is constant, thereby ensuring the relative positional stability between the cleaning part 4 and the nozzle, and improving the reliability of the cleaning action and long-term operating durability.

[0073] Example 7: In one alternative embodiment, the present application also provides that the travel plate 5 and the movable plate 7 are parallel to each other.

[0074] The parallelism between the travel plate 5 and the moving plate 7 means that after the printer is assembled, the plane of the travel plate 5 and the plane of the moving plate 7 maintain a constant distance and no angle, and their normal directions are consistent, thereby ensuring that the axis of the guide post 8 and the center line of the guide cavity 71 remain coaxially aligned throughout the entire stroke. This parallel relationship is achieved by setting a common reference mounting surface on the frame and positioning and fastening the travel plate 5 and the moving plate 7 with the same process reference. The purpose is to avoid lateral compression or uneven wear of the guide post 8 in the guide cavity 71 due to assembly misalignment.

[0075] The travel plate 5 is a rigid flat plate structure. Its material can be aluminum alloy, stainless steel or engineering plastic. The thickness can be set according to the actual stress conditions, ranging from 1.5 mm to 8 mm. Its surface roughness can be set to Ra0.8 to Ra3.2 according to the guiding accuracy requirements. The flatness tolerance of the travel plate 5 is controlled within 0.02 mm to ensure the parallelism stability between it and the moving plate 7.

[0076] The movable plate 7 is a support component 500 that carries and guides the vertical movement of the movable plate 9. Its main structure can be an L-shaped bracket, a frame base, or an integrally cast plate. Its mating surface opposite to the travel plate 5 is precision machined to match the flatness of the travel plate 5. The two are fixed to the same frame reference surface by bolts or welding. The structural form of the movable plate 7 can be adjusted according to the overall layout requirements of the printer. For example, it can be an independently installed slide rail base plate or part of the support shell of the printing section 200. This application embodiment does not make any special limitation on this.

[0077] The parallel relationship between the travel plate 5 and the moving plate 7 directly determines the cooperation state between the guide post 8 and the guide cavity 71: when the two are strictly parallel, the sliding of the guide post 8 in the guide cavity 71 is a pure axial movement without radial force, thereby avoiding bending deformation of the guide post 8, scratching of the inner wall of the guide cavity 71 and movement stagnation; this geometric constraint relationship, together with the moving plate 9, the guide post 8 and the guide cavity 71, constitutes a vertical guide subsystem with high repeatability positioning accuracy, enabling the cleaning part 4 to stably and accurately reach and cover the print head area of ​​the printing part 200.

[0078] Specifically, during the assembly process of the whole machine, the travel plate 5 and the moving plate 7 use the unified horizontal reference surface on the printer base as the common installation reference. First, the moving plate 7 is fixed to the reference surface according to the design position. Then, the travel plate 5 is adjusted in height by precision shims and locked synchronously. Finally, the parallelism between the two plates is detected by a laser interferometer or dial indicator to ensure that the deviation does not exceed ±0.03 mm / m. This assembly process does not change the original structure of the printer, nor does it require the addition of drive or sensing components. The reliability of guidance is improved only by unifying the mechanical reference and constraining the geometric relationship.

[0079] As an optional embodiment, the specific implementation of the solution in this application is as follows: After the printer is fully assembled, the operator uses standard measuring tools to check the parallelism of the travel plate 5 and the moving plate 7; after confirming that the tolerance requirements are met, the moving plate 9 is inserted into the guide cavity 71 along the guide post 8, and the cleaning action is started - the moving plate 9 drives the cleaning part 4 to rise smoothly to directly below the printhead, stays for a preset time, and then falls back to its original position; during the entire up and down movement, the guide post 8 always slides in the central area of ​​the guide cavity 71 without any abnormal noise or jamming. After 10,000 continuous runs, there are no visible wear marks on the surface of the guide post 8, and the inner wall of the guide cavity 71 is as smooth as new.

[0080] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves the following: since the travel plate 5 and the moving plate 7 remain parallel to each other, the axis of the guide post 8 and the center line of the guide cavity 71 always coincide, thereby eliminating lateral interference forces during the movement process; since there is no lateral force, the contact stress between the guide post 8 and the guide cavity 71 is evenly distributed, reducing the local wear rate; since the wear is balanced and controllable, the up and down movement of the moving plate 9 maintains high repeatability and low maintenance frequency for a long time, ensuring the stable and reliable operation of the printing section cleaning structure 1.

[0081] Example 8: In yet another optional embodiment, the present application also provides at least one cleaning section 4 on the movable plate 9.

[0082] The cleaning part 4 on the movable plate 9 can refer to a functional component on the movable plate 9 for contacting and cleaning the print head area of ​​the printing unit 200. The number of such components can be set according to the actual number of print heads configured in the printing unit 200, their arrangement density, and the cleaning coverage requirements. For example, it can be one, two, four, or more. This application embodiment does not make any special limitation on this.

[0083] The cleaning unit 4 can be a flexible wiping component, such as a silicone scraper, microfiber cloth, or sponge, made of absorbent and low-abrasion material, capable of absorbing residual ink and avoiding scratching the printhead surface; it can also be a microporous sealing cap, used to physically seal the printhead in non-working conditions to prevent ink from drying; or it can be an integrated cleaning unit, including a micro-pump, a suction channel, and a wiping surface, completing cleaning through a combination of negative pressure suction and mechanical wiping. All of the above-mentioned different forms of the cleaning unit 4 can be mounted on the same movable plate 9 and move up and down synchronously with the movable plate 9.

[0084] The cleaning section 4 is fixedly connected to the movable plate 9, and its installation position corresponds to the geometric arrangement of each printhead in the printing section 200. When the movable plate 9 rises to a preset height under the action of the drive mechanism, each cleaning section 4 contacts the ink outlet surface of the corresponding printhead to achieve one-to-one or one-to-many positioning cleaning. The cleaning section 4 applies controllable positive pressure during the contact process. The magnitude of the pressure is controlled by the deformation of the spring installed inside the cleaning section 4 to ensure effective cleaning without damaging the printhead.

[0085] The cleaning section 4 and the movable plate 9 together constitute the functional execution end of the printing section cleaning structure 1. Its movement is controlled by the cleaning command issued by the whole machine control module. After the cleaning command is triggered, the movable plate 9 rises in the vertical direction, the guide post 8 slides and guides in the guide cavity 71, and the stroke plate 5 and the moving plate 7 maintain a parallel posture to ensure that the movement trajectory of the cleaning section 4 is stable and the posture is consistent. After cleaning is completed, the movable plate 9 descends and resets.

[0086] Specifically, during the ascent of the movable plate 9, each cleaning unit 4 simultaneously arrives at the corresponding printhead position. The flexible wiping component adheres to the printhead surface for reciprocating light wiping, or the sealing cover completes the closure and sealing. If the cleaning unit 4 is an integrated unit, the micro pump is simultaneously activated to suck up residual ink and works in conjunction with the wiping surface to complete the final cleaning. The entire process relies on the rigid / flexible connection between the movable plate 9 and the cleaning unit 4, as well as the parallel constraint relationship between the travel plate 5 and the moving plate 7, to ensure that all cleaning units 4 complete coordinated actions within the same motion cycle.

[0087] As an optional embodiment, the solution of this application is specifically implemented as follows: In a printer equipped with two independent six-color UV inkjet printing units 200 containing six independent inkjet channels (C / M / Y / K / lc / lm), two cleaning units 4 are correspondingly arranged on the movable plate 9. Each cleaning unit 4 is a rectangular silicone scraper with dimensions of 8mm×3mm×1.5mm, installed on the bottom surface of the movable plate 9 and aligned with the center of each printhead. The movable plate 9 is driven by a stepper motor 413, which converts the motion into linear motion via a screw-nut mechanism, with an upward stroke of 18mm. When a cleaning command is received, the movable plate 9 rises at a constant speed of 20mm / s. At the 10mm stroke, each silicone scraper begins to contact the corresponding printhead surface. It continues to rise to the 6mm limit position, where the X-axis motor moves to the left, and the silicone scraper moves relative to the printhead surface, completing one complete wipe. Subsequently, the movable plate 9 descends at a constant speed to the zero position. The X-axis reverses to zero, resetting the inkjet printing unit 200. The cleaning section 4 rises to the 10mm mark, sealing itself with the printhead surface with zero gap, isolating the printhead from the surrounding air environment during standby. This ensures the printhead remains in good condition even during extended standby. In this embodiment, the two cleaning sections 4 operate synchronously, covering the entire printhead with no cleaning blind spots.

[0088] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves the following: since at least one cleaning part 4 is provided on the movable plate 9, the cleaning or capping of multiple printheads can be completed simultaneously in a single upward movement; since the number of cleaning parts 4 matches the number of printheads and their positions correspond one-to-one, each printhead receives independent and precise cleaning intervention; since the cleaning parts 4 are installed on the same movable plate 9 and are subject to unified motion control, the problem of asynchronous movement caused by separate drives is avoided, thereby improving the reliability and repeatability of the cleaning process and further ensuring the stability and imaging quality of the printing unit 200 in continuous operation.

[0089] Example 9: In another embodiment, the present application also provides a feeding unit 100 that feeds at least one specification of printing material 101.

[0090] The feeding unit 100 feeds at least one type of printing material 101. This can mean that the feeding unit 100 is configured to adapt to and feed two or more different sizes, thicknesses or material types of printing materials 101, including but not limited to standard cards such as 85.6 mm × 53.98 mm PVC cards, self-adhesive labels with a width range of 20 mm–100 mm, coaster substrates with a diameter of 70 mm–120 mm circular thin plates, and flexible soft film materials. This adaptability does not depend on replacing a dedicated feeding module, but is achieved through the coordinated structure and control logic of the feeding unit 100 itself.

[0091] The feeding unit 100 can be an electromechanical integrated mechanism including a feeding screw 102, a feeding guide rail 103, a clamping tray 104, and a position feedback sensor 105. The feeding screw 102 is driven by a stepper motor 413, and its pitch and stroke accuracy can be set according to the minimum size variation of the printed material 1010. For example, when adapting to cards, the single-step feed is set to 0.1 mm, and when adapting to thick coasters, it is switched to 0.25 mm. The feeding guide rail 103 adopts a double-sided guide structure, and its groove width supports adaptive adjustment within the range of 15 mm to 120 mm. The surface of the clamping tray 104 is provided with an elastic buffer layer, such as a silicone coating, for stable support and anti-slip conveying of materials with different thicknesses of 0.2 mm to 5 mm. The position feedback sensor 105 includes a combination of photoelectric pairs and Hall elements, which is used to identify the front end position and type feature code of the printed material 101 in real time and transmit the signal to the main control unit to trigger the corresponding feeding parameter call.

[0092] The feeding unit 100 and the locking structure 400 form a linkage and adaptation relationship: when the position feedback sensor 105 identifies that the printed material 101 is a wide label, the main control unit synchronously sends a spacing adjustment command to the locking structure 400, so that the distance between the first locking plate 402 and the second locking plate 403 is expanded to match the width of the label; when it is identified as a standard card, the locking structure 400 is instructed to shrink to the preset narrow distance position; this linkage process does not require manual intervention and is automatically executed based on the material specification-locking distance-feeding parameter mapping table pre-stored in the memory.

[0093] The feeding section 100 may also include a detachable limiting block, which is installed at the end of the feeding guide rail 103 to limit the final positioning reference surface of materials of different specifications. The limiting block is provided with multiple preset mounting holes, and the corresponding hole can be selected for fixing according to the length of the printed material 101, thereby ensuring that all kinds of materials have a uniform X-direction reference starting point when entering the printing area 300. The limiting block can be made of engineering plastic or aluminum alloy, and the surface is anodized to enhance wear resistance. Its structural form can be an L-shaped bending plate, a T-shaped slider or a magnetic quick-change module, and this application embodiment does not make any special limitation on this.

[0094] Specifically, after receiving the printing task instruction, the feeding unit 100 first reads the material specification identification information embedded in the file to be printed through the position feedback sensor 105. If the identification is Label_60mm, the feeding screw 102 rotates under the drive of the feeding motor 106, and the main control unit calls the corresponding parameter group: the feeding screw 102 runs at a speed of 120 rpm for 3.2 revolutions, pushing the clamping plate 104 to a position 60 mm away from the center line of the printing area 300; at the same time, an adjustment signal is sent to the locking structure 400 to drive the transmission mechanism to move the first locking plate 402 outward to a distance of 62 mm from the second locking plate 403; then the clamping plate 104 rises and supports the label material 101 into the printing area 300, completing the positioning; the whole process takes ≤1.8 s, and the repeatability of positioning is better than ±0.15 mm.

[0095] As an optional embodiment, the solution of this application is implemented as follows: After the user selects the self-adhesive label and uploads the image on the mini-program, the system automatically packages a task package, which includes the material type code Label_60mm, printhead path data and cleaning cycle parameters; the printer's main control chip parses the task package and starts the feeding section 100 to execute the above-mentioned 60 mm specification adaptation process; after the material is in place, the locking structure 400 completes the clamping, and the printing section 200 starts the UV inkjet operation; after printing is completed, the printing section cleaning structure 11 starts according to the preset timing, and the movable plate 99 descends to allow the cleaning section 44 to contact the printhead array to complete the wiping; there is no manual adjustment step in the whole process, and it supports seamless switching between three types of materials, namely cards, labels and coasters, within a single power-on cycle.

[0096] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves the following: Since the feeding unit 100 has multi-specification recognition capability and parameter adaptive adjustment mechanism, and forms a closed-loop linkage with the locking structure 400, it can automatically match the feeding stroke, positioning reference and locking distance according to the physical specifications of the printed material 101, thereby solving the technical problems of poor universality, cumbersome user operation and limited customization scenarios of traditional flatbed printers on the market, and expanding the applicable boundaries of the equipment in the field of personalized fast printing.

[0097] Of course, the above description is not intended to limit this technical solution, nor is this technical solution limited to the examples mentioned above. Any changes, modifications, additions, or substitutions made by those skilled in the art within the scope of this technical solution are also within the protection scope of this technical solution.

Claims

1. A printer, characterized in that, include: Support portion, which provides support for the printer; The feeding section delivers the printing material to the printing area for printing by the printing section. The feeding section also includes a locking structure; the locking structure fixes the printing material in the printing area; The printing unit prints on the material to be printed; The printing section cleaning structure cleans and protects the print head area after the printing section has finished working.

2. A printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking structure includes a first locking plate and a second locking plate opposite to the first locking plate. The distance between the first locking plate and the second locking plate is variable. A locking device is provided between the first locking plate and the second locking plate, and the locking device keeps the distance between the first locking plate and the second locking plate stable.

3. A printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The locking device consists of a toothed fixed plate and a rocking ratchet; the fixed plate is fixedly connected to the first locking plate, and the rocking ratchet is rotatably connected to the second locking plate.

4. A printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The distance between the first locking plate and the second locking plate can be changed by the transmission mechanism.

5. A printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The printing unit cleaning structure includes a cleaning unit and a movable plate for placing the cleaning unit; the movable plate is capable of moving up and down.

6. A printer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The movable plate is fixedly provided with a travel plate, and the travel plate is fixedly provided with a guide post. The guide post cooperates with the guide cavity on the movable plate, and the guide post moves within the guide cavity to enable the movable plate to move up and down.

7. A printer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The travel plate and the moving plate are parallel to each other.

8. A printer according to claim 7, characterized in that: At least one cleaning section on the aforementioned active plate.

9. The printer according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that: The feeding section delivers at least one specification of printing material.

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