Printing apparatus

Abstract

The utility model discloses printing equipment, which comprises a base part provided with a stepping motor and an upper cover part provided with a control device, the upper cover part can be rotatably connected with the base part between a cover opening state and a cover closing state, the stepping motor is provided with at least two phases of windings, each phase of winding is provided with a pair of wiring terminals, and the wiring terminals are connected with the upper cover part. The control device comprises an MCU (Microprogrammed Control Unit) module, a motor driving IC (Integrated Circuit) module, an adapter plate and a cover closing detection circuit; the cover closing detection circuit comprises a first voltage input circuit, a second voltage input circuit and a voltage output circuit, the first voltage input circuit is provided with a high level access end and a first connecting end, the second voltage input circuit is provided with a low level access end and a second connecting end, and the voltage output circuit is connected with the first voltage input circuit and is provided with a voltage output end. The voltage output end is electrically connected with the input port of the MCU module; and the first connecting end and the second connecting end are configured to be electrically connected with a pair of wiring terminals of a phase winding respectively when the upper cover part is in a cover closing state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of printing equipment. Background Art

[0002] Printing devices are widely used as tools to convert digital data (such as text, images, etc.) in computers or other electronic devices into paper documents. Printing device cover detection is an indispensable function of open-cover printing devices, which can effectively avoid the loss of printed content due to improper cover closure of the printing device; for thermal printing devices, improper cover closure can also cause the TPH to overheat, resulting in damage or even fire.

[0003] At present, the common lid closing detection scheme is to add a mechanical detection switch or a photoelectric sensor device, and then realize the lid closing detection function by identifying the state change of the switch. The detection scheme of the mechanical switch or photoelectric sensor requires adding a separate lid closing detection identification signal to the MCU on the mainboard of the printing device, and judging the opening and closing state of the device by the change of the signal; and the printing device needs to be structurally modified, such as adding a trigger component to trigger the mechanical detection switch, etc. The mechanical detection switch or photoelectric sensor needs to be placed in a fixed position, which affects the integrity and appearance of the printing device to varying degrees; not only does it increase the cost of the equipment, but it also reduces the user experience to a certain extent. Utility Model Content

[0004] Based on the above technical problems, the purpose of this application is to provide a printing device with a simple and easy-to-implement cover closing detection solution, which can detect whether the upper cover part is in a closed state without adding specific sensor devices.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present application provides a printing device, comprising a base portion having a rubber roller device and an upper cover portion equipped with a control device, wherein the upper cover portion can be rotatably connected to the base portion between an open cover state and a closed cover state, wherein the rubber roller device comprises a rubber roller and a stepper motor for driving the rubber roller to rotate, wherein the stepper motor is provided with at least two-phase windings, wherein each phase of the windings has a pair of connection terminals, wherein the control device comprises an MCU module, a motor drive IC module, an adapter board and a closed cover detection circuit, wherein the adapter board is constructed so as to electrically connect each pair of the connection terminals of the stepper motor with the motor drive IC module when the upper cover portion is in the closed cover state; The cover closing detection circuit includes a first voltage input circuit, a second voltage input circuit and a voltage output circuit, the first voltage input circuit has a high level access terminal and a first connection terminal, the second voltage input circuit has a low level access terminal and a second connection terminal, the voltage output circuit is connected to the first voltage input circuit and has a voltage output terminal, the voltage output terminal is electrically connected to the input port of the MCU module, the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal are respectively electrically connected to a pair of connection terminals of a winding when the upper cover part is in the closed state, and the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal are respectively disconnected from the pair of connection terminals when the upper cover part is in the open state.

[0006] In the technical solution of the present application, the structural design status of the printing device is cleverly combined, and the characteristics of the phase of the stepper motor are combined without adding specific sensor devices. The characteristics of the same phase signal conduction of the stepper motor are utilized to realize the cover closing detection of the upper cover part of the printing device.

[0007] In the above technical solution, in some specific implementations, the high-level access terminal is connected to a 3.3V power signal output terminal, and the low-level access terminal is a ground terminal.

[0008] In the above technical solution, in some specific implementations, the first voltage input circuit is electrically connected to a first switch circuit, and the first switch circuit is configured to control the on and off of the first voltage input circuit. The second voltage input circuit is electrically connected to a second switch circuit, and the second switch circuit is configured to control the on and off of the second voltage input circuit. The MCU module is electrically connected to the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit respectively and controls their operation.

[0009] In the above technical solution, in some specific implementations, the first switch circuit includes a PNP transistor.

[0010] In the above technical solution, in some specific implementations, the second switch circuit includes an NPN transistor.

[0011] In the above technical solution, in some specific embodiments, the base portion is provided with a docking portion that can be plug-connected with the adapter plate, and a pair of connection terminals of each group of windings are provided at the docking portion.

[0012] In the above technical solution, in some specific implementations, the docking portion is a recessed portion.

[0013] In the above technical solution, in some specific embodiments, the cover closing detection circuit includes a cover closing status display light, and the cover closing status display light is configured to be lit when the potential output from the voltage output end to the input port of the MCU chip changes from high to low.

[0014] In the above technical solution, in some specific implementations, the stepper motor is a two-phase four-wire stepper motor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 A structural diagram of a thermal printing device provided in an embodiment of the present application, with the upper cover portion in a closed state;

[0016] Figure 2 A structural diagram of a thermal printing device provided in an embodiment of the present application, with the upper cover portion in an open state;

[0017] Figure 3 An exploded view of a thermal printing device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 4 A structural diagram of an adapter board provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the electrical connection between the control mainboard and the stepper motor provided in the embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the principle of a cover closing detection circuit provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 7 A circuit diagram of a cover closing detection circuit provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 8 A flowchart for detecting the status of the upper cover part when the printing device provided in an embodiment of the present application is turned on. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] To describe the technical content, structural features, achieved purpose and effect of the utility model in detail, the technical scheme in the embodiment of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiment of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiment is only a part of the embodiment of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, many specific details are set forth to provide a detailed description of various exemplary embodiments or implementations of the utility model. However, various exemplary embodiments may also be implemented without these specific details or in the case of one or more equivalent arrangements. In addition, various exemplary embodiments may be different, but not necessarily exclusive. For example, without departing from the concept of the utility model, the specific shape, structure and characteristics of the exemplary embodiment may be used or implemented in another exemplary embodiment.

[0024] In the following, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features.

[0025] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 , which illustrates a printing device 100 of the present application, the printing device 100 is a thermal printer and includes an upper cover portion 1 and a base portion 2. The upper cover portion 1 can be in a closed state (see Figure 1 ) and open cover state (see Figure 2 ) are rotatably connected to the base portion 2.

[0026] See also Figure 3 The upper cover 1 includes an upper shell 11, an upper bracket 12 on which a print head assembly 14 is mounted, and a control device 13. The print head assembly 14 includes a thermal film 141. The control device 13 includes a control main board 130 and an adapter board 133 electrically connected to the control main board 130. A protrusion 121 is provided at the lower portion of the upper bracket 12, and the adapter board 133 is provided at the protrusion 121. Figure 4 , a plurality of connection terminals 1331 are provided on the adapter board 133 .

[0027] The base portion 2 includes a lower shell 21, a lower bracket 22 and a rubber roller device 23. The rubber roller device 23 includes a rubber roller 231 and a stepper motor 232 for driving the rubber roller 231 to rotate. The stepper motor 232 is provided with at least two-phase windings. A motor terminal board 233 is configured on the stepper motor 232. The motor terminal board 232 is arranged in the recess 221 of the lower bracket 22. The recess 221 is adapted to the protrusion 121. The motor terminal board 233 is provided with a connection terminal 2331 electrically connected to the connection terminals of each winding of the stepper motor 232.

[0028] When the upper cover 1 is in the closed state, the multiple connection terminals 1331 of the adapter plate 133 are electrically connected to the multiple connection terminals 2331 of the motor terminal board 233. When the upper cover 1 is in the open state, the connection terminals 1331 of the adapter plate 133 are disconnected from the connection terminals 2331 of the motor terminal board 233.

[0029] See also Figure 5 The stepper motor 232 is selected as a two-phase four-wire stepper motor and has phases A and B. Phase A has a pair of terminals A and / A, and phase B has a pair of terminals B and / B.

[0030] The control main board 130 includes an MCU module 131, a motor drive IC module 132, and a cover closing detection circuit 134. The motor drive IC module 132 and the cover closing detection circuit 134 are both electrically connected to the connection terminals 2331 on the motor connection board 233 through the adapter board 133. The cover closing detection circuit 134 is electrically connected to the MCU module 131.

[0031] When the upper cover part 1 is in the closed state, the connection terminals A, / A, B and / B of the stepper motor 232 are electrically connected to the motor driver IC module 132 through the connection terminals 1331 on the adapter board 133; when the upper cover part 1 is in the open state, the connection terminals 1331 of the adapter board 133 are disconnected from the connection terminals 2331 of the motor terminal board 233, and the electrical connection between the connection terminals A, / A, B and / B of the stepper motor 232 and the motor driver IC module 132 is interrupted.

[0032] See also Figure 6 , which shows a schematic diagram of the principle of a cover closing detection circuit 134 of the present application. In this example, the cover closing detection circuit 134 includes a first voltage input circuit 1341, a second voltage input circuit 1342 and a voltage output circuit 1343. The first voltage input circuit 1341 has a high-level access terminal 13411 and a first connection terminal 13412. The second voltage input circuit 1342 has a low-level access terminal 13421 and a second connection terminal 13422. The voltage output circuit 1343 is connected to the first voltage input circuit 1341 and has a voltage output terminal 13431, and the voltage output terminal 13431 is electrically connected to the input port of the MCU module 131. In some specific embodiments, the high-level access terminal 13411 is connected to the 3.3V power signal output terminal, and the low-level access terminal 13421 is a ground terminal.

[0033] The first connection end 13412 and the second connection end 13422 are configured to be electrically connected to a pair of connection terminals A and / A of phase A respectively when the upper cover portion 1 is in a closed state (in other embodiments, they can also be electrically connected to a pair of connection terminals B and / B of phase B), and to disconnect from the pair of connection terminals A and / A when the upper cover portion 1 is in an open state.

[0034] In order to facilitate the control of the first voltage input circuit 1341, in some specific embodiments, the first voltage input circuit 1341 is electrically connected to the first switch circuit 13413, and the first switch circuit 13413 is configured to control the on and off of the first voltage input circuit 1341. In some specific embodiments, the first switch circuit 13413 is signal-connected to the MCU module 131 and is controlled to be on and off. In some embodiments, the first switch circuit 13413 includes a PNP transistor.

[0035] Similarly, in order to facilitate the control of the second voltage input circuit 1342, in some specific embodiments, the second voltage input circuit 1342 is electrically connected to the second switch circuit 13423, and the second switch circuit 13423 is configured to control the on and off of the second voltage input circuit 1342. The second switch 13423 can be connected to the MCU module 131 signal and controlled to be on and off. In some embodiments, the second switch circuit 13423 includes an NPN transistor.

[0036] In some specific embodiments, in order to enable the user of the printing device to understand the current working status of the upper cover of the printing device, a cover closing status display light (not shown in the figure) can also be set in the cover closing detection circuit. The cover closing status display light is configured to be lit when the potential signal output from the voltage output terminal 13431 to the input port of the MCU module 131 changes from high to low.

[0037] Continue to see Figure 7 , Figure 7This is a simple implementation circuit diagram of a lid closing detection circuit of the present application. CN1 is a motor terminal board 233. This circuit uses two signals A and / A of phase A for lid closing detection. Q1 is a PNP transistor used as a switch for signal A, and Q2 is an NPN transistor used as a switch for signal / A. SW1 and SW2 are switch control signals of Q1 and Q2 respectively. SW1 and SW2 signals will be sent by the MCU module 131. When the printing device has no printing task, SW1 is pulled low to turn on Q1, and SW2 is pulled high to turn on Q2; PLATEN_SNS is a level signal output by the voltage output terminal 13431, and this signal will be transmitted to the MCU module 131. When the printing device is in the open cover state, the resistor R1 pulls up to the 3.3V level, and the level signal output by the voltage output terminal 13431 is in the high level state; when the printing device is closed, the motor signal of CN1 is connected to the motor. Since A and / A are turned on and the / A signal is grounded, the signal PLATEN_SNS is pulled to the low level state. The MCU module 131 recognizes the level change output by the voltage output terminal 13431 and determines that the current state is "closed". When the printing device is opened, the connection between CN1 and the stepper motor is disconnected, and the PLANTE_SNS signal is pulled high by R1 again. The MCU module 131 determines that the state is "open".

[0038] See also Figure 8 , which is a flow chart for detecting the status of the upper cover when the printing device is turned on:

[0039] After the start, the system is turned on, and the MCU module 131 controls the SW1 signal to be pulled low and the SW2 signal to be pulled high, so that Q1 and Q2 are turned on; the MCU module 131 determines whether the voltage output by PLATEN_SNS is always in a high level state. If so, it is considered that the upper cover part 1 is in an open state; if not, that is, the voltage output by the signal PLATEN_SNS changes from a high level signal to a low level state, it is considered that the upper cover part 1 is in a closed state; when it is determined that the upper cover part 1 is in a closed state, it is considered that the printing device is ready and the printing job can be started at any time, and the detection process of the closed cover detection circuit 134 is completed.

[0040] The closed-cover identification solution of the present application improves the closed-cover detection method based on the existing structure, and flexibly combines the design of the structural ID to actually solve the problems of the printing device structure, appearance ID consistency, and integrity, bringing greater convenience to users' daily use of printing equipment and providing a new direction for research and development design.

[0041] The above shows and describes the basic principle, main features and advantages of the utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that the utility model is not limited by the above embodiments, and the above embodiments and descriptions are only for explaining the principle of the utility model. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the utility model, the utility model may have various changes and improvements, and the scope of protection required by the utility model is defined by the attached claims, description and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A printing device, comprising a base portion having a rubber roller device and an upper cover portion equipped with a control device, wherein the upper cover portion can be rotatably connected to the base portion between an open cover state and a closed cover state, the rubber roller device comprises a rubber roller and a stepper motor driving the rubber roller to rotate, the stepper motor is provided with at least two-phase windings, each phase of the winding has a pair of terminals, the control device comprises an MCU module, a motor drive IC module, an adapter board and a closed cover detection circuit, the adapter board is constructed to electrically connect each pair of the terminal blocks of the stepper motor with the motor drive IC module when the upper cover portion is in the closed cover state; characterized in that, The cover closing detection circuit includes a first voltage input circuit, a second voltage input circuit and a voltage output circuit, the first voltage input circuit has a high level access terminal and a first connection terminal, the second voltage input circuit has a low level access terminal and a second connection terminal, the voltage output circuit is connected to the first voltage input circuit and has a voltage output terminal, the voltage output terminal is electrically connected to the input port of the MCU module, the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal are respectively electrically connected to a pair of connection terminals of a winding when the upper cover part is in the closed state, and the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal are respectively disconnected from the pair of connection terminals when the upper cover part is in the open state.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The high level access terminal is connected to a 3.3V power signal output terminal, and the low level access terminal is a ground terminal.

3. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first voltage input circuit is electrically connected to a first switch circuit, and the first switch circuit is configured to control the on and off of the first voltage input circuit. The second voltage input circuit is electrically connected to a second switch circuit, and the second switch circuit is configured to control the on and off of the second voltage input circuit. The MCU module is electrically connected to the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit respectively and controls their operations.

4. The printing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first switch circuit includes a PNP transistor.

5. The printing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The second switch circuit includes an NPN transistor.

6. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base portion is provided with a docking portion that can be plugged into the adapter plate, and a pair of connection terminals of each group of windings are arranged at the docking portion.

7. The printing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The butting portion is a recessed portion.

8. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cover closing detection circuit includes a cover closing status display light, and the cover closing status display light is configured to be lit when the potential output from the voltage output end to the input port of the MCU module changes from high to low.

9. The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stepper motor is a two-phase four-wire stepper motor.

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