Thermal printer paper exhaustion detection device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a thermal printer paper exhaustion detection device which comprises a first photoelectric detection sensor arranged in a machine body paper bin, the bottom of the paper bin is in a smooth arc shape matched with the surface of a paper roll, the side wall of the paper bin is perpendicular to the bottom of the paper bin, and the first photoelectric detection sensor is arranged on the side wall of the paper bin; a groove is formed in the center of the bottom of the paper bin in a downwards-sunken mode, the groove is used for containing a paper roll, a second photoelectric detection sensor is arranged at the bottom of the groove, and the second photoelectric detection sensor is lower than the paper roll in the groove. The detection results of the second photoelectric detection sensor and the first photoelectric detection sensor are integrated, so that misjudgment is reduced, and the detection accuracy is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of printers, and in particular to a paper end detection device for thermal printers. Background Art

[0002] Thermal printers are usually provided with a device for detecting when the paper roll is about to be exhausted. When the paper roll is about to be printed, the device is used to inform the user that the paper roll is about to be exhausted and to prepare to change the paper.

[0003] Regarding the paper end detection technology, traditional printers install a photoelectric detection sensor on the side of the printer body. When the paper roll is about to run out, the photoelectric detection sensor will report a paper out signal to the printer, and the printer will send a paper out signal to the user.

[0004] However, this technology has certain limitations for small paper rolls. The problems are: ① The inner core of a small paper roll is relatively large, resulting in a relatively small outer diameter of the effective paper. The photoelectric detection sensor may trigger a paper shortage signal when there is still a lot of paper left because the exposed part is reduced, causing a false alarm. ② The jitter of the paper during the printing process may cause the sensor to read the paper edge position inaccurately, especially on small paper rolls. Due to the small support area, the jitter may be more obvious, further increasing the inaccuracy of the detection.

[0005] Taking all these factors into consideration, the traditional photoelectric detection sensor method may report paper shortage too early when detecting small paper rolls, affecting the user's printing experience and work efficiency. Improvements are needed to increase the accuracy and reliability of detection. Utility Model Content

[0006] To this end, the present application provides a thermal printer paper end detection device to solve the problem of inaccurate paper end detection of small paper rolls in the prior art.

[0007] In order to achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solutions:

[0008] A thermal printer paper end detection device comprises a first photoelectric detection sensor arranged in a paper bin of a machine body, the bottom of the paper bin is a smooth arc shape adapted to the surface of a paper roll, the side wall is perpendicular to the bottom of the paper bin, and the first photoelectric detection sensor is arranged on the side wall of the paper bin; a groove is recessed downward at the center of the bottom of the paper bin, the groove is used to place a paper roll, a second photoelectric detection sensor is arranged at the bottom of the groove, and the second photoelectric detection sensor is lower than the paper roll in the groove.

[0009] Optionally, the side walls of the groove are two symmetrical inclined surfaces, and the height of the inclined surfaces gradually decreases from both sides to the middle.

[0010] Further optionally, rollers are provided on both side walls of the groove and the installation positions of the rollers are symmetrical, the axes of the rollers are perpendicular to the side walls of the paper bin, and the rollers can rotate freely relative to the side walls of the groove; the tops of the rollers extend beyond the side wall surfaces of the grooves to support the paper rolls.

[0011] Further optionally, a roller groove adapted to the roller is opened downward on the side wall of the groove.

[0012] Optionally, at least two groups of rollers are arranged in the direction of their own axes.

[0013] Optionally, the second photoelectric detection sensor is arranged at the center position of the bottom of the groove.

[0014] Optionally, a curved plate adapted to the paper roll is provided on the top of the paper bin.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, this application has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0016] 1. The groove can form a space at the bottom of the paper bin for accommodating small-diameter paper rolls. The second photoelectric detection sensor at the bottom can not only avoid the influence caused by the ratio of the inner core of the small paper roll to the effective paper outer diameter, but also reduce the error in detecting the edge of the paper roll when the small paper roll shakes. The remaining paper amount of the small paper roll can be detected more accurately, and the paper can be detected when the paper roll is at its smallest, providing the printer with a paper-end signal. Combined with the original first photoelectric detection sensor, the two signals can be combined to more accurately judge the paper-end signal, reduce the probability of misjudgment, solve the problem of inaccurate detection of small paper rolls, and give users a more accurate and good experience.

[0017] 2. With the support of the roller, when the small paper roll is pulled by the printer's traction device and rotates, it can drive the roller to rotate, reducing the friction caused by the direct contact between the paper roll and the side wall of the groove, and can effectively prevent the small paper roll from moving around due to its small mass when rotating, ensuring that the small paper roll can output paper stably.

[0018] 3. The side walls of the groove are symmetrical, so that the small paper roll in the groove can be stabilized in the center of the groove to prevent the small paper roll from rolling out of the groove during paper feeding.

[0019] 4. The arc plate on the top of the paper bin is used to contact the paper surface at the top of the large paper roll, and assist in positioning the large paper roll at the top of the large paper roll to prevent the large paper roll from rolling out of the paper bin during paper feeding, ensuring that the large paper roll can feed paper stably. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more intuitively illustrate the prior art and the present application, exemplary drawings are given below. It should be understood that the specific shapes and structures shown in the drawings should not generally be regarded as limiting conditions for implementing the present application; for example, those skilled in the art are capable of easily making conventional adjustments or further optimizations to the addition / reduction / attribution division, specific shapes, positional relationships, connection methods, dimensional ratios, etc. of certain units (components) based on the technical concepts and exemplary drawings disclosed in the present application.

[0021] Figure 1 A front view of a thermal printer paper end detection device provided in an embodiment of the present application (with a paper roll installed);

[0022] Figure 2 A front view of a thermal printer paper end detection device provided in an embodiment of the present application (without paper roll installed);

[0023] Figure 3 A front view of a thermal printer paper end detection device provided in an embodiment of the present application with a small paper roll installed;

[0024] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of a thermal printer paper end detection device from one viewing angle provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Description of reference numerals:

[0026] 1. Paper bin; 2. First photoelectric detection sensor; 3. Arc plate; 4. Groove; 5. Second photoelectric detection sensor; 6. Roller; 7. Roller groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The present application is further described below in detail through specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0028] In the description of this application: unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "plurality" is two or more. The terms "first", "second", "third", etc. in this application are intended to distinguish the objects referred to, and do not have special meanings in terms of technical connotations (for example, they should not be understood as emphasizing the importance or order, etc.). Expressions such as "including", "comprising", "having", etc. also mean "not limited to" (certain units, components, materials, steps, etc.).

[0029] The terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "middle", etc. cited in this application are usually used to indicate the general relative position relationship for the purpose of intuitive understanding by referring to the drawings, and are not absolute limitations on the position relationship in the actual product.

[0030] A thermal printer paper end detection device, referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, which is arranged in the body of the thermal printer, includes a first photoelectric detection sensor 2 arranged in the paper bin 1 of the body. The installation position of the first photoelectric detection sensor 2 is arranged on the inner wall of the paper bin 1, and is close to the paper outlet end of the paper bin 1. In this embodiment, it is preferably installed on the inner wall of the paper bin 1 near the bottom and near the center. Since there is no device for fixing the axis of the paper roll in the paper bin 1, the rotation of the paper roll during the paper feeding process depends on the traction force of the traction device in the body on the paper. As the diameter of the paper roll gradually decreases during use, the axis of the paper roll will gradually drop, but the paper roll will always be in contact with the bottom of the paper bin 1. Therefore, the first photoelectric detection sensor 2 is arranged at a position close to the bottom so that when the remaining amount of the paper roll gradually decreases, the first photoelectric detection sensor 2 can still correspond to the side of the paper roll to smoothly detect the paper end signal.

[0031] In order to prevent the paper from being scratched, the bottom of the paper bin 1 is set to a smooth arc shape that matches the surface of the paper roll, ensuring that the paper roll is always in the paper bin 1 when it rotates and does not roll around. The side wall of the paper bin 1 is perpendicular to the bottom of the paper bin 1. An arc plate 3 that matches the paper roll is set on the top of the paper bin 1, which is suitable for large paper rolls. After the large paper roll is placed in the paper bin 1, the large paper roll is positioned by the bottom and top arc plates 3 of the paper bin 1 at the same time, so that it can remain stable when feeding paper.

[0032] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The center of the bottom of the paper bin 1 is sunken downward to form a groove 4, which is used to place the paper roll, and the position of the groove 4 is directly below the axis of the paper roll. The side walls of the groove 4 are two symmetrical inclined planes, and the height of the inclined planes gradually decreases from both sides to the middle.

[0033] A second photoelectric detection sensor 5 is arranged at the lowest position of the groove 4 . The second photoelectric detection sensor 5 is located at the center of the groove 4 , and the second photoelectric detection sensor 5 is lower than the lowest point of the paper roll in the groove 4 .

[0034] Rollers 6 of the same specifications are arranged on both side walls of the groove 4, and the installation positions of the rollers 6 on both sides are symmetrical, and the axis of the roller 6 is perpendicular to the side wall of the paper bin 1 (consistent with the axis direction of the paper roll). Correspondingly, a roller 6 groove adapted to the roller 6 is opened downward on the side wall of the groove 4, and the depth of the roller 6 groove is less than the diameter of the roller 6, so that after the roller 6 is installed, its top can exceed the side wall surface of the groove 4 to support the paper roll.

[0035] To assist the paper roll in feeding more smoothly, the two ends of the roller 6 are rotatably connected in the roller 6 groove, so that the roller 6 can rotate freely relative to the side wall of the groove 4. When feeding paper, the small paper roll rotates and drives the roller 6 to rotate, which plays a role in reducing friction.

[0036] Reference Figure 4Furthermore, at least two groups of rollers 6 are arranged on each side wall of the groove 4 in the direction of its own axis to jointly support the paper roll.

[0037] The implementation principle of the embodiment of the present application is as follows: the second photoelectric detection sensor 5 detects the paper roll at the bottom of the paper roll, and the ratio of the inner core of the small paper roll to the effective paper outer diameter has a smaller impact on the detection result than the first photoelectric detection sensor 2 on the side. In addition, the small paper roll is effectively supported by the side wall of the groove 4 (or the roller 6), which can reduce the shaking of the paper in the small paper roll, thereby reducing the error rate of the first photoelectric detection sensor 2 reading information at the edge of the paper roll, and combined with the signal of the second photoelectric detection sensor 5 at the bottom, the accuracy of the detection results of the paper rolls of various sizes is effectively improved.

[0038] The technical features of the above embodiments may be arbitrarily combined (as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features). To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described; these embodiments that are not explicitly written should also be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

Claims

1. A thermal printer paper end detection device, comprising a first photoelectric detection sensor (2) arranged in a paper bin (1) of a machine body, the bottom of the paper bin (1) being a smooth arc shape adapted to the surface of a paper roll, the side wall being perpendicular to the bottom of the paper bin (1), the first photoelectric detection sensor (2) being arranged on the side wall of the paper bin (1); characterized in that: A groove (4) is recessed downward at the center of the bottom of the paper bin (1), and the groove (4) is used to place a paper roll. A second photoelectric detection sensor (5) is provided at the bottom of the groove (4), and the second photoelectric detection sensor (5) is lower than the paper roll in the groove (4).

2. The thermal printer paper end detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side walls of the groove (4) are two symmetrical inclined surfaces, the height of the inclined surfaces gradually decreasing from the two sides to the middle.

3. The thermal printer paper end detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that: Rollers (6) are arranged on both side walls of the groove (4) and the installation positions of the rollers (6) are relatively symmetrical. The axis of the rollers (6) is perpendicular to the side wall of the paper bin (1), and the rollers (6) can rotate freely relative to the side wall of the groove (4); the top of the rollers (6) protrudes beyond the side wall surface of the groove (4) to support the paper roll.

4. The thermal printer paper end detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: A roller (6) groove adapted to the roller (6) is provided downwardly on the side wall of the groove (4).

5. The thermal printer paper end detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The rollers (6) are arranged in at least two groups in the direction of their own axes.

6. The thermal printer paper end detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second photoelectric detection sensor (5) is arranged at the center position of the bottom of the groove (4).

7. The thermal printer paper end detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the paper bin (1) is provided with an arc-shaped plate (3) adapted to the paper roll.

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