Thermal printer

Abstract

The utility model discloses a thermal printer, comprising a paper cabin used for accommodating a paper roll; the at least one limiting plate is arranged in the paper bin and can reciprocate in the axial direction of the paper bin; the locking mechanism is connected with the limiting plate and used for locking the limiting plate in the axial direction of the paper bin. The thermal printer has the advantages of being simple and reliable in limiting structure and convenient to use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of thermal printers. Background Art

[0002] Thermal printers can print on various types of paper rolls, such as label paper rolls and ticket paper rolls. In order to adapt to paper rolls of different widths and prevent the paper rolls from shifting during printing, a limit plate that can move along the axial direction of the paper roll is usually provided in the paper bin in the prior art. When the limit plate moves to a predetermined position abutting against the paper roll, the axial limit of the paper roll is achieved.

[0003] Furthermore, in order to keep the limit plate in the paper bin at a predetermined position, one solution is to form a friction fit between the limit plate and the paper bin to keep the limit plate at the predetermined position. Although the use of such a limit plate simplifies the structure, the limit plate is easily offset under the action of external force, resulting in the inability to stably limit the paper roll. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the deficiencies in the prior art, the main purpose of the utility model is to provide a thermal printer with a simple paper roll limiting structure and capable of achieving stable limiting.

[0005] In order to achieve the above main purpose, the utility model provides a thermal printer, comprising:

[0006] A paper bin for accommodating paper rolls;

[0007] At least one limiting plate is arranged in the paper bin and can reciprocate along the axial direction of the paper bin;

[0008] A locking mechanism is connected to the limit plate and is used to lock the limit plate in the axial direction of the paper bin.

[0009] Further, the locking mechanism includes a protrusion and a limiting structure that cooperate with each other, one of the protrusion and the limiting structure is arranged on the limiting plate, and the other of the protrusion and the limiting structure is arranged on the paper bin.

[0010] Furthermore, the protrusion is arranged on the limit plate, and the paper bin is correspondingly provided with a strip-shaped concave-convex limit structure extending along the moving direction of the limit plate, and the concave portion of the strip-shaped concave-convex limit structure engages with the protrusion to keep the limit plate in a predetermined position.

[0011] Furthermore, the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure is a sawtooth structure or a wavy structure.

[0012] According to a specific implementation of the utility model, the limiting plate includes a limiting baffle and a movable bottom plate for limiting the paper roll, and the protrusion is arranged on the movable bottom plate and / or the limiting baffle.

[0013] Furthermore, the movable bottom plate is movably connected to the paper bin; an arc-shaped groove is provided in the paper bin, and the movable bottom plate is movably arranged in the arc-shaped groove; and an avoidance groove for accommodating the limit baffle is also provided in the paper bin.

[0014] Furthermore, a slide rail is provided on the limiting plate, and a slide groove cooperating with the slide rail is correspondingly provided on the paper bin.

[0015] Furthermore, the thermal printer further comprises a movable baffle; the movable baffle is detachably mounted in the paper bin in a use state, and cooperates with the limiting plate to limit the paper roll in the paper bin.

[0016] Furthermore, the paper bin includes a first side wall, a second side wall and a bottom wall, the first side wall and the second side wall are arranged opposite to each other in the axial direction of the paper bin, and the bottom wall is connected to the first side wall and the second side wall and has an arc-shaped inner surface adapted to the paper roll.

[0017] Furthermore, the bottom wall of the paper bin is provided with an insertion slot, and the front end of the movable baffle in its installation direction is provided with a snap-on portion connected to the insertion slot when in use; a limiting slot is provided on the second side wall, and the rear end of the movable baffle is provided with a limiting hook connected to the limiting slot when in use; and a accommodating slot is provided on the second side wall, and the movable baffle can be inserted into the accommodating slot for temporary storage when not in use.

[0018] The technical solution of the utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] In the thermal printer of the utility model, the limiting plate is reciprocatably arranged and locked in the axial direction of the paper bin by a locking mechanism, so that not only the paper roll limiting structure is simple, but also the paper roll can be reliably positioned to achieve stable paper roll limiting.

[0020] Furthermore, the locking mechanism includes a protruding portion and a strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure extending along the moving direction of the limiting plate. The protruding portion cooperates with the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure. After the user moves the limiting plate to a predetermined position, the protruding portion engages with the concave portion of the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure to keep the limiting plate at the predetermined position. When in use, the user only needs to move the limiting plate without performing additional positioning operations of the limiting plate, which has the advantage of convenient operation of adjusting the position of the limiting plate. Among them, the protruding portion of the locking mechanism is preferably arranged on the limiting plate to reduce the space occupied by the movement of the limiting plate.

[0021] Furthermore, the thermal printer may be provided with a movable baffle used in combination with a limit plate to meet the paper roll positioning requirements in different printing application scenarios and expand the application scope of the thermal printer.

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 is a structural diagram of the thermal printer in the embodiment after the paper bin cover is removed;

[0024] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A local enlarged structural diagram;

[0025] Figure 3 is a structural diagram showing a paper bin structure of a thermal printer in an embodiment;

[0026] Figure 4 is a structural diagram of a limit plate in an embodiment;

[0027] Figure 5 is a structural diagram showing the positions of the limit plate and the movable baffle in an exemplary use state;

[0028] Figure 6 is a structural diagram of a movable baffle in an embodiment;

[0029] Figure 7 1 is a structural diagram showing the temporary storage and use installation structure of the movable baffle in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In the following description, many specific details are explained in combination with the embodiments to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention, but it should be understood that the following embodiments and detailed descriptions are only for illustrative purposes and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] like Figure 1-Figure 2 As shown, the thermal printer of the embodiment includes a paper bin 10 for accommodating a paper roll, at least one limit plate 20 and a locking mechanism, wherein the limit plate 20 is disposed in the paper bin 10 and can reciprocate along the axial direction of the paper bin 10, and the locking mechanism is used to lock the limit plate 20 in the axial direction of the paper bin 10.

[0032] In the present application, the locking mechanism includes a protrusion 24 that cooperates with each other and a strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 as an example of a limiting structure. The positions of the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 and the protrusion 24 are not specifically limited, and the cooperation between the two can lock the limiting plate 20 to move freely on the paper bin 10. For example, the protrusion 24 can be set on the limiting plate 20, and the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 that cooperates with the protrusion 24 can be set on the paper bin 10; or, the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 can be set on the limiting plate 20, and the protrusion 24 can be set on the paper bin 10. That is, one of the protrusion 24 and the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 is set on the limiting plate 20, and the other of the protrusion 24 and the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 is correspondingly set on the paper bin 10. Preferably, the protrusion 24 is set on the limiting plate 20, and the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 is set on the paper bin 10 to reduce the space occupied by the movement of the limiting plate 20.

[0033] Furthermore, one or more protrusions 24 can be provided. When the protrusion 24 is provided on the limiting plate 20, it can be provided on at least one side in the width direction of the limiting plate 20, or on the bottom side; preferably, the protrusion 24 is provided on opposite sides in the width direction of the limiting plate 20, so that the force is more balanced during the pushing process and a better positioning effect is achieved. Similarly, when the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 is provided on the limiting plate 20, it can be provided on at least one side in the width direction of the limiting plate 20, or on the bottom side. In the embodiment, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the limiting plate 20 is provided with protrusions 24 on two opposite sides in the width direction thereof, and the paper bin 10 is correspondingly provided with a strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 extending along the moving direction of the limiting plate 20. The strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 can be a serrated structure or a wavy structure, and a wavy structure with an arc-shaped protrusion and an arc-shaped recessed portion is preferred.

[0034] Specifically, Figure 2 As shown, the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 includes alternately distributed concave portions 151 and convex portions 152, and both the concave portions 151 and convex portions 152 are arc-shaped to facilitate the pushing of the limiting plate 20 and improve its positioning accuracy. Among them, the concave portion 151 of the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 can be engaged with the convex portion 24 to keep the limiting plate 20 at a predetermined position. When in use, the user can manually push the movable limiting plate 20 to overcome the resistance of the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15 to move. When the limiting plate 20 moves to the predetermined position, the convex portion 24 of the limiting plate 20 engages with the concave portion 151 of the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15, so that the limiting plate 20 can be stably maintained at the predetermined position.

[0035] like Figure 3As shown, the paper bin 10 has a first side wall 11, a second side wall 12 and a bottom wall 13. The first side wall 11 and the second side wall 12 are arranged opposite to each other in the axial direction of the paper bin 10. The bottom wall 13 is connected to the first side wall 11 and the second side wall 12 and has an arc-shaped inner surface adapted to the paper roll. Figure 4 As shown, the limiting plate 20 includes a limiting baffle 21 and a movable bottom plate 22. The limiting baffle 21 is used to limit the paper roll; the movable bottom plate 22 is movably connected to the paper bin 10, for example, movably connected to the bottom wall 13 of the paper bin 10, and forms an arc structure or a non-arc structure adapted to the paper roll. The protrusion 24 can be arranged on the movable bottom plate 22 and / or the limiting baffle 21, for example, arranged at the connection between the movable bottom plate 22 and the limiting baffle 21. The shape of the protrusion 24 is not limited, as long as it can be snap-fitted with the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15; preferably, the protrusion 24 is a convex portion or other shape adapted to the shape of the concave portion 151 of the strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure 15.

[0036] In the embodiment, Figure 5 As shown, the limiting plate 20 can move from the first side wall 11 of the paper bin 10 to the second side wall 12 to a predetermined position, so as to abut against the paper roll and cooperate with the second side wall 12 to axially limit the paper roll in the paper bin 10. Further, the paper bin 10 is also provided with an escape groove 111 for accommodating the limiting baffle 21; preferably, the first side wall 11 is provided with an escape groove 111, and the limiting baffle 21 can be retracted into the escape groove 111 on the first side wall 11. A recessed portion 112 can be provided on the outer side of the escape groove 111 to facilitate the user to push the limiting plate 20.

[0037] In some application scenarios, such as when printing receipt paper, the limit baffle 21 can be retracted into the avoidance groove 111. When printing label paper of different widths or customized receipt paper of special width, the user can push the limit plate 20 to a predetermined position toward the second side wall 12, so that the limit baffle 21 abuts against the paper roll to axially limit the paper roll, thereby preventing the paper roll from shifting during the use of the thermal printer.

[0038] Furthermore, if Figure 4 As shown, the limiting plate 20 is provided with slide rails 23 on both sides of the width direction thereof; Figure 3As shown, a slide groove 16 cooperating with the slide rail 23 is correspondingly provided on the bottom wall 13 to guide the stable movement of the limit plate 20; wherein, the slide groove 16 can be a through groove penetrating the bottom wall 13, and one lateral side of the slide rail 23 is arranged to pass through the slide groove 16 to form a sliding engagement with it. Further, an arc-shaped groove 14 is provided in the paper bin 10, and the movable bottom plate 22 is movably arranged in the arc-shaped groove 14, so as not to occupy the effective space of the paper bin 10; preferably, the arc-shaped groove 14 is arranged on the bottom wall 13 of the paper bin 10. The slide rail 16 and the strip-shaped concave-convex limit structure 15 can be arranged on opposite sides of the arc-shaped groove 14. The surface of the arc-shaped groove 14 can be provided with a scale ruler 17 indicating the position of the limit plate 20, so as to facilitate the user to judge the moving position of the limit plate 20.

[0039] As a variation of the embodiment, the limiting plate 20 may be provided with a slide rail 23 only on one side in its width direction; in addition, the positions of the slide rail 23 and the slide groove 16 can be interchangeable without affecting the implementation of the utility model, that is, the slide rail 23 can be provided on the paper bin 10, and the slide groove 16 can be provided on the limiting plate 20.

[0040] In the present application, the number of the limiting plates 20 can be set to one as shown in the embodiment, and can also be set to two in other variations. The specific setting can be based on needs, and the present application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0041] Furthermore, the thermal printer of the embodiment may further include a movable baffle 30. Figure 6 and 7 As shown, the second side wall 12 of the paper bin 10 has a receiving groove 121, and the movable baffle 30 can be inserted into the receiving groove 121 for temporary storage when not in use (such as when printing receipt paper) (see Figure 1 or Figure 3 The movable baffle 30 is detachably fixed in the paper bin 10 in the use state, and cooperates with the limiting plate 20 to limit the axial position of the paper roll from both axial sides of the paper roll (see Figure 5 Preferably, the movable baffle 30 is fixed at a position in the paper bin 10 close to or in contact with the second side wall 12 when in use.

[0042] In order to fix the movable baffle 30 in the use state, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown, the bottom wall 13 of the paper bin 10 is provided with an insertion slot 18, and the insertion slot 18 is arranged close to the second side wall 12, and the second side wall 12 is provided with a limit slot 122. Figure 6As shown, the front end of the movable baffle 30 in the installation direction is provided with a buckle portion 31, and the rear end of the movable baffle 30 is provided with a limit hook 32. When the movable baffle 30 is used, the buckle portion 31 forms a snap fit with the insertion slot 18, and the limit hook 32 enters the limit slot 122 and hooks on the second side wall 12, so that the movable baffle 30 is detachably fixed in the paper bin 10.

[0043] Furthermore, the bottom of the receiving groove 121 may be provided with a second plugging groove (not visible in the figure) that cooperates with the buckle portion 31, and the top of the receiving groove 121 is provided with a second limiting groove 123 that cooperates with the limiting hook 32, so as to realize the detachable fixation of the movable baffle 30 in the receiving groove 121. Preferably, as Figure 7 As shown, the receiving groove 121 may be exposed from the side of the second side wall 12 to facilitate taking out the movable baffle 30 from the receiving groove 121 .

[0044] In the application scenario where the edge of the label paper or ticket paper does not need to form a printed white edge, the movable baffle 30 temporarily stored in the accommodating groove 121 can be taken out and installed in the paper bin 10 at a position close to or in contact with the second side wall 12, and the limit plate 20 and the movable baffle 20 can be used to position the label paper or ticket paper roll in a position where it can be completely printed, so that no white edge will be generated on the edge of the label paper or ticket paper after printing.

[0045] In the application scenario where a white margin needs to be formed on the edge of the label paper or ticket paper, the movable baffle 30 is not used but stored in the accommodating slot 121. At this time, the label paper or ticket paper roll can be positioned by the limiting plate 20 and the second side wall 12 so that the edge thereof contacting the second side wall 12 will not be printed, and a white margin will be generated on the edge of the label paper or ticket paper after printing.

[0046] Although the present invention is described above through embodiments, it should be understood that the above embodiments are only used to exemplarily describe the feasible implementation methods of the present invention, and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. That is, any replacement or change made by those skilled in the art in accordance with the present invention should also be covered by the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A thermal printer, comprising: A paper bin, used to hold paper rolls; At least one limiting plate is arranged in the paper bin and can reciprocate along the axial direction of the paper bin; It is characterized in that it also includes a locking mechanism, which is connected to the limiting plate and is used to lock the limiting plate in the axial direction of the paper bin.

2. The thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking mechanism comprises a protrusion and a limiting structure which cooperate with each other, one of the protrusion and the limiting structure is arranged on the limiting plate, and the other of the protrusion and the limiting structure is arranged on the paper bin.

3. The thermal printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The protrusion is arranged on the limit plate; the paper bin is correspondingly provided with a strip-shaped concave-convex limit structure extending along the moving direction of the limit plate, and the concave portion of the strip-shaped concave-convex limit structure can engage with the protrusion to keep the limit plate in a predetermined position.

4. The thermal printer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The strip-shaped concave-convex limiting structure is a sawtooth structure or a wave-shaped structure.

5. The thermal printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The limiting plate comprises a limiting baffle and a movable bottom plate for limiting the paper roll, and the protruding portion is arranged on the movable bottom plate and / or the limiting baffle.

6. The thermal printer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The movable bottom plate is movably connected to the paper bin; an arc-shaped groove is provided in the paper bin, and the movable bottom plate is movably arranged in the arc-shaped groove; and an avoidance groove for accommodating the limit baffle is also provided in the paper bin.

7. The thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The limiting plate is provided with a slide rail, and the paper bin is correspondingly provided with a slide groove matched with the slide rail.

8. The thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thermal printer further comprises a movable baffle; the movable baffle is detachably mounted in the paper bin in a use state, and cooperates with the limiting plate to limit the paper roll in the paper bin.

9. The thermal printer according to claim 8, characterized in that: The paper bin comprises a first side wall, a second side wall and a bottom wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are arranged opposite to each other in the axial direction of the paper bin, and the bottom wall is connected to the first side wall and the second side wall and has an arc-shaped inner surface adapted to a paper roll.

10. The thermal printer according to claim 9, characterized in that: The bottom wall of the paper bin is provided with an insertion slot, and the front end of the movable baffle in its installation direction is provided with a snap-on portion connected to the insertion slot when in use; a limiting slot is provided on the second side wall, and the rear end of the movable baffle is provided with a limiting hook connected to the limiting slot when in use; and a accommodating slot is provided on the second side wall, and the movable baffle can be inserted into the accommodating slot for temporary storage when not in use.

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