Medium detection module and printing device
By setting up a mating projection on the detection bracket of the media detection module to define the side edge of the paper-trapping channel, the problem of paper jamming caused by entering the gap in the prior art is solved, and the smooth paper-trapping of the printing medium is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202420758990.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-28
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-04-12
AI Technical Summary
The existing media detection modules can easily cause paper jams when the edges of the printing media enter the gap, affecting the normal operation of the printer.
By providing mating protrusions on the detection bracket, one side edge of the paper-trapping channel is defined to avoid the formation of gaps, thereby preventing the edge of the printing medium from entering the gaps.
It effectively avoids paper jams caused by the edges of the printing media entering the gap, and ensures smooth paper removal of the printing media.
Smart Images
Figure CN222682080U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of printing equipment, in particular to a medium detection module capable of detecting printing media and a printing device equipped with the medium detection module. Background Art
[0002] In order to help the print head obtain information about the printing medium, conventional printers are provided with a medium detection module for detecting the printing medium.
[0003] The existing media detection module includes a U-shaped detection bracket and a photoelectric pair mounted on the detection bracket and arranged opposite to each other. The detection bracket can be arranged in the printer in a manner that it can move along the width direction of the printing medium and is located upstream of the print head to adapt to printing media of different widths or detection methods. This type of media detection module has the following technical problems in actual use: the existing detection bracket is generally formed by a base and a top cover plugged into the base along the width direction of the printing medium. There is inevitably a gap extending along the width direction of the printing medium between the base and the top cover. If the edge of the printing medium enters the gap, it will cause a paper jam and the printer will be unable to continue feeding paper. Utility Model Content
[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the purpose of the utility model is to provide a medium detection module and a printing device which can effectively avoid paper jams when detecting printing media.
[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, in a first aspect, the present application provides a medium detection module, which is suitable for a printing device, wherein the printing device also includes a housing and a print head, wherein the medium detection module can be arranged in the housing in a manner that it can move along the width direction of the printing medium and is located upstream of the print head, wherein the medium detection module includes a detection bracket and a paper detector mounted on the detection bracket, wherein the detection bracket includes a base and a top cover, wherein the base and the top cover are engaged with each other and jointly define a paper feeding channel for the printing medium to pass through, wherein the paper detector is constructed to be able to detect the printing medium entering the paper feeding channel and includes an upper photoelectric sensor and a lower photoelectric sensor that are arranged opposite to each other in the upper and lower directions; a mating protrusion is provided on one of the base and the top cover, and a mating groove adapted to the mating protrusion is provided on the other, wherein the height of the mating protrusion measured in the upper and lower directions is greater than the height of the paper feeding channel measured in the upper and lower directions, wherein the mating protrusion defines a side edge of the paper feeding channel, and the paper feeding channel has an open side end portion that is laterally opposite to the mating protrusion.
[0006] In the technical solution of the present application, a side edge of the paper feeding channel is defined by utilizing matching protrusions; thus, a gap extending along the width direction of the printing medium will not be formed on the detection bracket, and paper jams caused by the edge of the printing medium entering the gap will not occur, and the printing medium feeds more smoothly.
[0007] In the technical solution of the first aspect above, in some specific embodiments, the base and the top cover are respectively provided with a lower chamber and an upper chamber, the base and the top cover jointly define a wiring channel connecting the lower chamber and the upper chamber, the upper photoelectric sensor and the lower photoelectric sensor are respectively installed in the upper and lower chambers, the wiring channel has an outlet located at the bottom of the base, and the signal connection lines between the upper and lower photoelectric sensors and the control board of the printing device are arranged along the wiring channel and pass through the outlet.
[0008] In the technical solution of the first aspect above, in some specific implementations, the detection bracket further includes a side cover, and the side cover is plugged into the top cover and the base and closes the upper and lower chambers.
[0009] In the technical solution of the first aspect above, in some specific embodiments, the side cover has an inner surface, the inner surface defines an extension channel, and the extension channel is adjacent to the paper feeding channel.
[0010] In the technical solution of the first aspect above, one of the paper feeding channel and the extension channel defines a passageway for the printing medium to pass into the media detection module, and the other defines a passageway for the printing medium to pass out of the media detection module, and the upper boundary of the passageway is higher than the upper boundary of the passageway.
[0011] In the technical solution of the first aspect above, with respect to the paper feeding direction of the printing medium, the side cover is located downstream of the base and the top cover at the same time, the paper feeding channel defines the through-port, the extension channel defines the through-port, and the height of the extension channel measured in the up-down direction is greater than the height of the paper feeding channel measured in the up-down direction.
[0012] In the technical solution of the first aspect above, in some specific embodiments, the base and the top cover have side portions and a lower portion adjacent to the side cover, and the side portions and the lower portion are both sloped surfaces inclined away from the paper feeding path.
[0013] In the technical solution of the first aspect above, in some specific embodiments, the top cover has a lower surface, the base has an upper surface, the lower surface defines the upper edge of the paper feeding channel, and the upper surface defines the lower edge of the paper feeding channel.
[0014] In the technical solution of the first aspect above, in some specific embodiments, the matching protrusion is formed by extending upward from one side edge of the upper surface or extending upward from one side edge of the upper surface.
[0015] In a second aspect, the present application provides a printing device, which is equipped with the medium detection module of the first aspect.
[0016] In the technical solution of the second aspect, in some specific embodiments, the shell of the printing device includes a supporting wall for supporting the media detection module, and the supporting wall is provided with a mounting groove extending along the width direction of the printing medium, and the media detection module can be slidably supported on the supporting wall along the mounting groove.
[0017] In the technical solution of the second aspect, in some specific embodiments, a positioning mechanism for maintaining the media detection module in its current position is arranged between the support wall and the media detection module, and the positioning mechanism includes a limit bar arranged on the support wall and extending along the width direction of the printing medium, and a pair of elastic support arms arranged at the bottom of the base, and the elastic support arms are constructed to be able to contact the limit bar.
[0018] In the technical solution of the second aspect, in some specific implementations, the limit strip is provided with a plurality of positioning recesses distributed along the width direction of the printing medium, and each of the elastic support arms is provided with a positioning protrusion, and the positioning protrusion can fall into the positioning recess and generate resistance to hinder the movement of the medium detection module along the width direction of the printing medium. Other advantages of the utility model will be described in detail in the subsequent specific implementation part in conjunction with the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the cover removed to reveal the interior of the bottom shell;
[0021] Figure 3 A structural schematic diagram of a medium detection module according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A rear view schematic diagram of a medium detection module in some embodiments;
[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 3A schematic diagram of a medium detection module in some embodiments;
[0024] Figure 6 for Figure 3 A front view schematic diagram of a medium detection module with a side cover removed in some embodiments;
[0025] Figure 7 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the medium detection module after removing the side cover in some embodiments;
[0026] Figure 8 A schematic structural diagram of a support wall according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] Fig. 9 for Figure 3 A bottom view schematic diagram of a medium detection module in some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] The technical solution of the utility model will be clearly described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.
[0029] The terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing the specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.
[0030] See also Figure 1 , which schematically shows a printing device 100, the printing device 100 includes a housing 1 consisting of a bottom housing 11 and a cover 12, a paper moving channel 2 formed between the bottom housing 11 and the cover 12 and having a paper outlet 21 (see Figure 2 The printing medium moves in the paper moving passage 2 in a paper feeding direction from back to front, and the paper outlet 21 is located at the frontmost side of the paper moving passage 2. A print head (not shown in the figure) is arranged on the cover 12. When the printing medium moves along the paper moving passage 2, the print head prints on it and outputs it from the paper outlet 21.
[0031] See also Figure 2, the paper roll 200 for printing is stored at the rear part of the bottom shell 11. A paper width adjustment module 3, a medium detection module 4 and a rubber roller 5 are respectively arranged along the paper moving channel 2 in the bottom shell 11. The paper width adjustment module 3 is used to constrain the width of the paper moving channel 2 at this point. The medium detection module 4 is arranged in the bottom shell 11 in a manner that it can move along the width direction of the printing medium. The rubber roller 5 is close to the paper outlet 21. The print head in the cover body 12 is located directly above the rubber roller 5. In terms of the paper feeding direction of the printing medium, the paper width adjustment module 3 and the medium detection module 4 are both located upstream of the print head, and the medium detection module 4 is located downstream of the paper width adjustment module 3. In this example, the medium detection module 4 is located in front of the paper width adjustment module 3, and the rubber roller 5 is located in front of the medium detection module 4.
[0032] See also Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The media detection module 4 includes a detection bracket 6 and a paper detector mounted on the detection bracket 6. The detection bracket 6 includes a base 61, a top cover 62 and a side cover 63. The base 61 and the top cover 62 are fixedly connected via bolts 8. The side cover 63 is clamped at the front of the base 61 and the top cover 62. The base 61 and the top cover 62 are engaged with each other and jointly define a paper feed channel 64 for the printing medium to pass through, and the paper feed channel 64 constitutes a part of the paper moving channel 2. The paper detector includes an upper photoelectric sensor 71 and a lower photoelectric sensor 72 arranged opposite to each other, and the paper detector can detect the printing medium entering the paper feed channel 64.
[0033] The base 61 has an upper surface 611, and the top cover 62 has a lower surface 621; the upper surface 611 of the base 61 defines the lower edge of the paper feed passage 64, and the lower surface 621 of the top cover 62 defines the upper edge of the paper feed passage 64. The paper feed passage 64 has a height H1 measured in the up-down direction, which is the vertical distance between the lower surface 621 and the upper surface 611.
[0034] The top cover 62 is provided with a matching protrusion 622 at one end, and the corresponding end of the base 61 is provided with a matching groove 612 adapted to the matching protrusion 622. The matching groove 612 is located below the upper surface 611, and the lower end of the matching protrusion 622 extends below the upper surface 611 and is inserted into the matching groove 612. In some embodiments of the present application, the top cover 62 is an integral component, and the matching protrusion 622 is formed by extending downward from one side edge of the lower surface 621.
[0035] The mating protrusion 622 has a height H2 measured in the vertical direction, which is greater than the height H1 of the paper feed passage 64 measured in the vertical direction. The mating protrusion 622 defines a side edge of the paper feed passage 64. In this way, no transverse gap extending in the width direction of the printing medium and intersecting with the paper feed passage 64 is formed on the detection bracket 6, which will avoid paper jams caused by the edge of the printing medium entering the transverse gap. The paper feed passage 64 has an open side end 641 laterally opposite to the mating 621. In other embodiments, the setting positions of the mating protrusion and the mating groove can be reversed.
[0036] See also Figure 6 , Figure 7 , a lower chamber 615 is provided at the base 61, and an upper chamber 625 is provided at the top cover 62. An upper photoelectric sensor 71 and a lower photoelectric sensor 72 are installed in the upper chamber 625 and the lower chamber 615, respectively. The upper photoelectric sensor 71 and the lower photoelectric sensor 72 are arranged opposite to each other up and down and can detect the printing medium entering the paper feeding channel 64. The base 61 and the top cover 62 jointly define a wiring channel 65 (the passage along the way indicated by the black arrow) connecting the lower chamber 615 and the upper chamber 625. The wiring channel 65 has an outlet 651 located at the bottom of the base 61, and the signal connection lines between the upper photoelectric sensor 71 and the lower photoelectric sensor 72 and the control board (not shown in the figure) of the printing device are arranged along the wiring channel 65 and pass through the outlet 651.
[0037] In some embodiments of the present application, the side cover 63 is located in front of the top cover 62 and the base 61 and is also plugged into the front of the top cover 62 and the base 61 along the paper feeding direction. After the side cover 63 is plugged into the top cover 62 and the base 61, the lower chamber 615 and the upper chamber 625 are closed.
[0038] Continue to see Figure 4 In order to achieve the connection with the base 61 and the top cover 61, the rear part of the side cover 63 is provided with an upper positioning column 631, a plurality of upper hooks 632, a lower positioning column 633 and a plurality of lower hooks 634. Figure 6 The front portion of the base 61 is provided with a plurality of lower engaging grooves 613 and lower positioning holes 614 adapted to the plurality of lower hooks 634 ; the front portion of the top cover 62 is provided with a plurality of upper engaging grooves 623 and upper positioning holes 624 adapted to the plurality of upper hooks 632 .
[0039] After the side cover 63 is joined with the top cover 62 and the base 61, the upper positioning column 631 is inserted into the upper positioning hole 624, the lower positioning column 633 is inserted into the lower positioning hole 614, each upper hook 632 is respectively engaged with the corresponding upper engagement groove 623, and each lower hook 634 is respectively engaged with the corresponding lower engagement groove 613.
[0040] The side cover 63 has an inner surface 635 , and the inner surface 631 defines an extension channel 636 , which also constitutes a part of the paper moving channel 2 .
[0041] When the detection bracket 6 is actually installed on the bottom shell 11, the lower boundary of its paper feed channel 65 (in this embodiment, the upper surface 611 of the base 61) should not be higher than the upper surface of the bottom shell 11 to avoid interfering with paper feeding. Limited by the height of the printing device 100, the height H1 of the paper feed channel 65 should not be too large. However, the contact position between the rubber roller 5 and the print head is significantly higher than the upper surface of the bottom shell 11. Therefore, the printing medium will have an upward movement trend after leaving the detection bracket 6. This movement trend makes the printing medium often scratch the front upper part of the detection bracket 6, which is easy to cause adverse effects such as damage to the surface of the printing medium. In some usage scenarios using a printing medium composed of a base paper and a label with a rubber surface, the label is also easily peeled off due to being scratched by the detection bracket and adheres to the detection bracket 6, thereby causing paper jams.
[0042] In addition, when the printing device 100 performs the paper retracting action, the rubber roller 5 reverses, and the printing medium between the rubber roller 5 and the detection bracket 6 curls (i.e., it cannot maintain a straight line posture). The printing medium is also prone to scratching the front upper part of the detection bracket 6 during the retraction process, causing the above-mentioned adverse effects.
[0043] To this end, in the detection bracket 6 provided by the present invention, the through-inlet for the printing medium to pass into the medium detection module 4 and the through-outlet for the printing medium to pass out of the medium detection module 4 are configured such that the upper boundary of the through-outlet is higher than the upper boundary of the through-inlet, thereby providing an escape space for the printing medium to avoid the printing medium from rubbing against the detection bracket 6. It can be understood that in terms of the paper feeding direction of the printing medium, the through-outlet is located downstream of the through-inlet, that is, located in front of the through-inlet.
[0044] The preferred implementation method provided in this embodiment is as follows:
[0045] In terms of the paper feeding direction of the print medium, the side cover 63 is located downstream of the base 61 and the top cover 62. The side cover 63 has an inner surface 635, and the inner surface 631 defines an extension channel 636, which also constitutes a part of the paper moving channel 2. The extension channel 636 is located downstream of the paper feeding channel 64 and adjacent to the paper feeding channel 64. In some embodiments of the present application, the height H3 of the extension channel 636 measured in the up-down direction is greater than the height H1 of the paper feeding channel 64 measured in the up-down direction. Among them, the through-inlet is formed at the upstream end of the paper feeding channel 64, and the through-outlet is formed at the downstream end of the extension channel 636.
[0046] Continue to see Figure 7The front end of the base 61 and the top cover 62 has an upper edge 651, a side edge 652 and a lower edge 653. The upper edge 651 is defined by the front of the top cover 62. The lower edge 653 is defined by the front of the base 61. The side edge 652 is defined by the front of the mating protrusion 622. The upper edge 651 is a slope surface inclined in a direction away from the paper feeding channel 64, and the upper part of the inner surface 635 of the side cover 63 is substantially horizontal and contacts the upper edge 651, thereby forming an avoidance space on the outlet side of the detection bracket 6 to prevent the printing from directly scratching the detection bracket 6.
[0047] It can also be further that the side edge 652 and the lower edge 653 of the base 61 and the top cover 62 are both inclined surfaces inclined in the direction away from the paper feed path 64. The side and the bottom of the inner surface 635 of the side cover 63 are respectively substantially horizontal and vertical and contact the side edge 652 and the lower edge 653. Thus, the side edge 652 and the lower edge 653 will provide a certain escape space for the printing medium at the intersection of the side cover 63 and the base 61 and the top cover 62. In some embodiments, the upper edge 651 of the base 61 and the top cover 62 is also an inclined surface inclined in the direction away from the paper feed path 64.
[0048] In some embodiments, the side cover 63 may also be snapped onto the base 61 and the top cover 62 from the rear side (i.e., upstream in the paper feeding direction), the inlet is defined by the extension channel inside the side cover 63, and the outlet is defined by the paper feeding channel between the base 61 and the top cover 62. In this case, a clearance space may be formed at the outlet by providing a special-shaped top cover 63, which can ensure that the upper boundary of the outlet is higher than the upper boundary of the inlet. In some other cases, no extension channel is formed in the side cover 63, and the inlet and outlet for the printing medium to enter and exit the media printing module are both defined by the paper feeding channel.
[0049] See also Figure 8 , which shows a support wall 111 constituting the bottom shell 11, and the support wall 111 is configured to support the medium detection module 4. The support wall 111 is provided with a mounting groove 112 extending along the width direction of the printing medium, and the medium detection module 4 can be slidably supported on the support wall 111 along the mounting groove 112.
[0050] In some embodiments of the present application, in order to enable the medium detection module 4 to be positioned at the target position on the support wall 111, a positioning mechanism is provided between the medium detection module 4 and the support wall 111 to keep the medium detection module 4 at the current position. The positioning mechanism includes a limit bar 113 provided on the support wall 111 and extending along the width direction of the printing medium and a pair of elastic support arms 66 provided at the bottom of the base 61 (see Fig. 9), a pair of elastic support arms 66 are configured to be able to contact the limiting strip 113. In some specific embodiments, the limiting strip 113 is provided with a plurality of positioning recesses 1131 distributed along the width direction of the printing medium.
[0051] See also Fig. 9 Each elastic support arm 66 is provided with a positioning protrusion 661. When the medium detection module 4 is installed at the installation slot 112 of the support wall 111, the positioning protrusion 661 can fall into the positioning recess 1131 and generate resistance to hinder the medium detection module 4 from moving along the width direction of the printing medium.
[0052] In the present patent application, the side edge of the paper path is defined by cooperating protrusions to avoid paper jams caused by the edge of the printing medium entering the gap.
[0053] 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 medium detection module, suitable for a printing device, the printing device further comprising a housing and a print head, the medium detection module being arranged in the housing in a manner movable along the width direction of the printing medium and being located upstream of the print head, the medium detection module comprising a detection bracket and a paper detector mounted on the detection bracket, the detection bracket comprising a base and a top cover, the base and the top cover being engaged with each other and jointly defining a paper feeding channel for the printing medium to pass through, the paper detector being constructed to be able to detect the printing medium entering the paper feeding channel and comprising an upper photoelectric sensor and a lower photoelectric sensor arranged opposite to each other; characterized in that: A mating protrusion is provided on one of the base and the top cover, and a mating groove adapted to the mating protrusion is provided on the other part. The height of the mating protrusion measured in the up-down direction is greater than the height of the paper feeding channel measured in the up-down direction. The mating protrusion defines a side edge of the paper feeding channel, and the paper feeding channel has an open side end portion laterally opposite to the mating protrusion.
2. The medium detection module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base and the top cover are respectively provided with a lower chamber and an upper chamber, and the base and the top cover jointly define a wiring channel connecting the lower chamber and the upper chamber, the upper photoelectric sensor and the lower photoelectric sensor are respectively installed in the upper and lower chambers, and the wiring channel has an outlet located at the bottom of the base, and the signal connection lines between the upper and lower photoelectric sensors and the control board of the printing device are arranged along the wiring channel and pass through the outlet.
3. The medium detection module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The detection bracket also includes a side cover, which is plugged into the top cover and the base and closes the upper and lower chambers.
4. The medium detection module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The side cover has an inner surface, and the inner surface defines an extension channel, and the extension channel is adjacent to the paper feeding channel.
5. The medium detection module according to claim 4, characterized in that: One of the paper feeding channel and the extension channel defines a through-port for the printing medium to pass through the medium detection module, and the other defines a through-port for the printing medium to pass through the medium detection module, and the upper boundary of the through-port is higher than the upper boundary of the through-port.
6. The medium detection module according to claim 5, characterized in that: With respect to the paper feeding direction of the printing medium, the side cover is located downstream of the base and the top cover at the same time, the paper feeding channel defines the through-inlet, the extension channel defines the through-outlet, and the height of the extension channel measured in the up-down direction is greater than the height of the paper feeding channel measured in the up-down direction.
7. The medium detection module according to claim 6, characterized in that: The base and the top cover have side portions and a lower portion adjacent to the side cover, and both the side portions and the lower portion are slope surfaces inclined away from the paper feeding passage.
8. The medium detection module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top cover has a lower surface, the base has an upper surface, the lower surface defines the upper edge of the paper feeding passage, and the upper surface defines the lower edge of the paper feeding passage.
9. The medium detection module according to claim 7, characterized in that: The matching protrusion is formed by extending upward from a side edge of the upper surface or by extending upward from a side edge of the upper surface.
10. A printing device, characterized in that: It comprises a medium detection module as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.
11. The printing device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The housing of the printing device includes a supporting wall for supporting the medium detection module. The supporting wall is provided with a mounting groove extending along the width direction of the printing medium. The medium detection module can be slidably supported on the supporting wall along the mounting groove.
12. The printing device according to claim 11, characterized in that: A positioning mechanism is arranged between the support wall and the media detection module to keep the media detection module in a current position. The positioning mechanism includes a limit bar arranged on the support wall and extending along the width direction of the printing medium, and a pair of elastic support arms arranged at the bottom of the base. The elastic support arms are constructed to be able to contact the limit bar.
13. The printing device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The limit bar is provided with a plurality of positioning recesses distributed along the width direction of the printing medium, and each of the elastic support arms is provided with a positioning protrusion, which can fall into the positioning recess and generate resistance to hinder the movement of the medium detection module along the width direction of the printing medium.