Thermal printer

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of printers, and discloses a thermal printer, which ensures the structural stability and weight of the printer and reduces the vibration in the printing process through the fixation of a middle frame and a shell and the use of a weighting block and an anti-skid foot. And secondly, user friendliness is considered in the design of the bill flip cover and the operation panel, so that a user can conveniently check the interior of the printer and maintain the printer. In addition, smooth operation of the paper is kept through the design of the roll paper and the bill baffle. The design of the machine core seat drives the rubber roller through the gear set, so that stable movement of paper and stability of the continuous printing process are ensured. Precise cutting of printing paper is guaranteed through the design of the cutter assembly, and high-quality character and image printing is achieved through current control through the design of the thermal printing component. The micro switch and the sensor are installed to monitor the motion state of the printer and the position of the thermosensitive sheet, so that the fault detection capability and the printing quality are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of printers, and in particular relates to a thermal printer. Background Art

[0002] The function of a thermal printer is to produce text and images on thermal paper through thermal printing technology. This printing method does not rely on ink or toner, but heats a specific print head and transfers heat to the thermal paper, causing the chemical coating on the paper to react chemically, thereby forming black or colored text and images. Thermal printers are very popular in a variety of application scenarios because of their speed, convenience and environmental protection.

[0003] Thermal printers in the prior art may not fully consider the fixing method of the housing, middle frame and movement seat, resulting in loose structure or wear during long-term use or transportation, affecting the stability and durability of the printer. Lack of user-friendly design, such as lack of clear operation panel or inconvenient cover opening mechanism, makes users feel confused or inconvenient during use. Lack of effective maintenance interface, such as lack of clear fault indicator light or parts that are not easy to replace, increases the difficulty for users to perform troubleshooting and maintenance.

[0004] In addition, current thermal printers may have defects in the heating control of the print head, the paper feeding system or the adjustment of the cutter, resulting in unstable printing quality and prone to problems such as misaligned printing or uneven paper cutting. Utility Model Content

[0005] The utility model aims to solve the technical problems that the thermal printers in the above-mentioned prior art may malfunction or wear out after long-term use or frequent operation, the structure is not stable enough, it is difficult for users to perform complex settings or troubleshooting, the printing clarity and image quality are not as good as modern printers, and they are easily affected by the environment.

[0006] In order to achieve the above purpose, the utility model provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] A thermal printer comprises a shell and a middle frame located inside the shell, the middle frame and the shell provide a space for installing and working a core seat, and are fixed together by screws and other connecting parts, a paper shaft and a core seat are arranged inside the middle frame, and a roll of paper is arranged between two symmetrical bill baffles in the middle frame and is sleeved on the outer side of the paper shaft;

[0008] The upper end of the movement seat is rotatably mounted with a rubber roller driven by a gear set, a cutter assembly for cutting printing paper and printing text and images through thermal effects, and a thermal printing component;

[0009] The gear set includes a rubber roller gear installed at one end of the rubber roller, a paper feed motor fixed on the movement seat, and a first gear, a second gear, and a third gear rotating on the movement seat. The paper feed motor drives the pinion gear thereon to rotate, the pinion gear meshes with the third gear, the third gear meshes with the first gear, the first gear meshes with the second gear, and the second gear meshes with the rubber roller gear, thereby driving the rubber roller to rotate; the rubber roller on the movement seat is driven by the gear set and driven by the paper feed motor to drive the printing paper to move.

[0010] The cutter assembly includes a bill rubber roller bracket fixedly connected to the surface of the movement seat, a cutter group installed on the upper surface of the bill rubber roller bracket, a flat knife fixing frame fixedly connected to the movement seat, and a flat knife installed on the flat knife fixing frame; it is used to cut printed paper.

[0011] The thermal printing component includes a thermal sheet support arranged inside the core seat, a thermal sheet shaft and a thermal sheet arranged on the thermal sheet support, a grounding spring sleeved on the thermal sheet shaft, a first screw inserted in the grounding spring, and a ground wire sleeved on the first screw. It is used to generate text and images on the printing paper through the action of heat.

[0012] Preferably, the housing is provided with a sound-permeable hole so that the sound emitted by the speaker can be transmitted.

[0013] Preferably, a bill flip cover is rotatably connected to the middle frame, a bill surface cover is provided on the top of the bill flip cover, and a cover opening button is passed through the bill surface cover.

[0014] Preferably, a mainboard is arranged in the shell, and the middle frame is located above the mainboard, and the mainboard is buckled with an interface baffle located in a notch at the bottom of the shell and buckled below the middle frame.

[0015] Preferably, a weight block is provided at the bottom of one side of the middle frame and is located inside the shell, and the shell, the weight block and the middle frame are fixed together by a cross countersunk flat tail screw passing through the shell, thereby increasing the stability of the printer and the feel when in use.

[0016] Preferably, the bottom of the middle frame is connected to anti-skid feet that penetrate the outer shell through screws.

[0017] Preferably, a gear baffle is installed on the left side of the movement seat; a shaft sleeve is provided at one end of the rubber roller away from the rubber roller gear, and the shaft sleeve is placed on the movement seat.

[0018] Preferably, a micro switch is installed on one side of the movement seat, and the micro switch is in contact with the shaft sleeve at one end of the rubber roller; the micro switch is used to detect certain states during the printing process, such as whether the paper is stuck.

[0019] The surface of the core seat is provided with a first sensor and a second sensor, and the first sensor and the second sensor are located at the side of the thermal sheet. The first sensor and the second sensor are used to detect the position of the printing paper or other parameters in the printing process.

[0020] Preferably, a hook is installed inside the movement seat, and the hook is located below the rubber roller, and the first screw and the ground wire are installed between the hook and the movement seat.

[0021] Preferably, a gasket is sleeved on the left end of the rubber roller, and the gasket is located on the inner wall of the bill rubber roller bracket.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the technical effects and advantages of the utility model are:

[0023] The middle frame and outer shell in this thermal printer provide space for the movement seat to install and work, and are fixed together by screws and other connectors to ensure the structural stability and durability of the printer. The design of the bill flap and bill cover allows users to easily open the top cover of the printer for maintenance or paper replacement, and the setting of the operation panel allows users to directly interact with the printer to set and monitor the printing progress. The design of the roll paper and bill baffle allows the printer to print with roll paper, keeping the paper running smoothly and reducing paper wrinkles. The speaker emits sound prompts through the sound-permeable holes on the shell to improve user work efficiency and avoid potential errors.

[0024] The weighted blocks and non-slip feet increase the stability and weight of the printer, reduce vibration during printing, ensure print quality, and improve the durability of the printer. The gear set and rubber roller are driven by the paper feed motor to ensure smooth movement of the paper and provide power for the printing process. The cutter assembly cuts the paper after printing is completed, providing a neat printout. The thermal printing component generates heat through electric current, forming text and images on the thermal paper to achieve the printing function.

[0025] The micro switch monitors the movement of the rubber roller and can trigger an alarm if a paper jam occurs. The hook fixes the first screw and the ground wire to ensure the stability of the circuit. The sensor monitors the position and status of the thermal film to ensure that the paper position is accurate during printing. The gasket on the rubber roller provides additional protection and support to prevent the rubber roller from directly contacting the bill rubber roller bracket, reducing wear and extending the service life of printer components.

[0026] The combination of these components ensures the stable operation of the printer, improves printing quality and user experience, while also taking into account the convenience of maintenance and reducing the maintenance cost and time of the printer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 This is a first perspective view of the present utility model;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a second viewing angle diagram of the present utility model;

[0029] Figure 3 It is an exploded view of the utility model.

[0030] Figure 4 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the movement seat of the utility model;

[0031] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the movement seat of the utility model;

[0032] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first gear connected to the movement seat of the utility model;

[0033] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the micro switch and the rubber roller connected to the utility model;

[0034] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the connection between the thermal sheet shaft and the thermal sheet of the utility model;

[0035] Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the utility model after the shell is removed.

[0036] In the figure: 1. first sensor; 2. second sensor; 3. micro switch; 7. cover opening button; 8. thermal film; 9. bushing; 10. bill cover; 11. bill rubber roller bracket; 12. bill flip cover; 13. electric cutter; 14. middle frame; 16. bill baffle; 17. interface baffle; 20. main board; 21. weight block; 22. paper shaft; 13. cross countersunk flat tail screw; 24. shell; 26. rubber roller; 29. ​​rubber roller gear; 30. speaker; 31. thermal film bracket; 33. anti-skid foot; 34. hook; 35. paper feed motor; 36. gear baffle; 38. first gear; 39. second gear; 40. third gear; 42. ground wire; 43. movement seat; 44. first screw; 45. ground spring; 47. thermal film shaft; 48. flat knife fixing bracket; 49. flat knife; 52. gasket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the utility model to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in 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.

[0038] The following is combined with Figure 1-9 To further explain this application in detail,

[0039] The embodiment of the present application discloses a thermal printer, including a housing 24, a middle frame 14 located above a mainboard 20 is provided in the housing 24, and the mainboard 20 is buckled with an interface baffle 17 located in a notch at the bottom of the housing 24 and buckled under the middle frame 14; the middle frame 14 and the housing 24 provide a space for the movement seat 43 to be installed and work, and are fixed together by screws and other connectors. This helps to ensure the structural stability and durability of the printer. The benefit is that the overall reliability of the printer is improved and the wear caused by vibration or use is reduced.

[0040] The middle frame 14 is rotatably connected to a bill cover 12, a bill cover 10 is arranged on the top of the bill cover 12, and a cover opening button 7 is passed through the bill cover 10 and the bill cover 12; an operation panel is arranged on the housing 24 and located on the front side of the bill cover 10 and the bill cover 12.

[0041] The design of the bill cover 12 allows the user to easily view the inside of the printer, for example, to change paper or perform maintenance. The opening button 7 on the bill cover 10 and the bill cover 12 provides a convenient way to open the top cover of the printer, which helps to improve user experience and operational convenience.

[0042] The operation panel setting allows users to intuitively interact with the printer to make settings, monitor printing progress or perform other operations without connecting additional devices, which improves the printer's ease of use and user-friendliness.

[0043] A roll of paper is provided between two symmetrical bill baffles 16 in the middle frame 14 and is sleeved on the outer side of a paper shaft 22. The two ends of the paper shaft 22 rotate inside the two ends of the middle frame 14.

[0044] The roll paper arrangement between the ticket baffles 16 means that the printer can conveniently use the roll paper for printing, which is very useful for continuous printing or batch printing tasks. The design of the two ends of the paper shaft 22 rotating inside the two ends of the middle frame 14 helps to keep the paper running smoothly and reduce paper wrinkles.

[0045] A speaker 30 is installed on one side of the middle frame 14, and the sound emitted by the speaker 30 is emitted through the sound-permeable hole on the housing 24;

[0046] The speaker 30 is used to connect to the main board 20. The setting of the speaker 30 allows the printer to issue sound prompts, such as printing completion prompts, error warnings, etc., which helps to improve the user's work efficiency and avoid potential errors.

[0047] A weight block 21 is provided at the bottom of one side of the middle frame 14 and is located inside the outer shell 24. The outer shell 24, the weight block 21 and the middle frame 14 are fixed together by a cross countersunk flat tail screw 23 passing through the outer shell 24.

[0048] The use of the weight block 21 and the cross countersunk flat tail screw 23 increases the stability and weight of the printer, which helps to reduce vibration during printing, ensures printing quality, and also helps to improve the durability of the printer.

[0049] The bottom of the middle frame 14 is connected to an anti-skid foot 33 penetrating the outer shell 24 by screws;

[0050] The design of the anti-skid feet 33 helps ensure that the printer remains stable during printing, prevents wrinkles in printed paper or print quality problems caused by sliding, and improves printing accuracy and reliability.

[0051] The upper end of the movement seat 43 is rotatably mounted with a rubber roller 26 driven by a gear set, a cutter assembly for cutting printing paper and printing text and images through thermal effects, and a thermal printing component;

[0052] The gear set includes a rubber roller gear 29 installed at one end of the rubber roller 26, a paper feed motor 35 fixed to a movement base 43, and a first gear 38, a second gear 39, and a third gear 40 rotating on the movement base 43. The paper feed motor 35 drives the pinion thereon to rotate, the pinion meshes with the third gear 40, the third gear 40 meshes with the first gear 38, the first gear 38 meshes with the second gear 39, and the second gear 39 meshes with the rubber roller gear 29, thereby driving the rubber roller 26 to rotate; the rubber roller 26 on the movement base 43 is driven by the gear set and driven by the paper feed motor 35 to drive the printing paper to move.

[0053] The cutter assembly includes a bill rubber roller bracket 11 fixedly connected to the surface of the movement seat 43, a cutter group 13 installed on the upper surface of the bill rubber roller bracket 11, a flat knife fixing frame 48 fixedly connected to the movement seat 43, and a flat knife 49 installed on the flat knife fixing frame 48; it is used to cut printed paper.

[0054] The thermal printing component includes a thermal sheet support 31 disposed inside a core seat 43, a thermal sheet shaft 47 and a thermal sheet 8 disposed on the thermal sheet support 31, a grounding spring 45 sleeved on the thermal sheet shaft 47, a first screw 44 inserted in the grounding spring 45, and a ground wire 42 sleeved on the first screw 44. It is used to generate text and images on printing paper through the action of heat.

[0055] The driving principle of the rubber roller 26: through the meshing of the gear set, the power is transmitted, the paper feed motor 35 drives the small gear to rotate, and then through a series of meshing of gears, the third gear 40 meshes with the first gear 38, the first gear 38 meshes with the second gear 39, and the second gear 39 meshes with the rubber roller gear 29, finally driving the rubber roller 26 to rotate. The role of the rubber roller is to grab the paper and pass it to the core component of the printer.

[0056] Principle of the cutter assembly: The cutter group 13 is installed on the bill rubber roller bracket 11. When the paper passes through, the cutter group cuts the paper through mechanical action to make it break neatly.

[0057] Thermal printing principle: A thermal sheet 8 is mounted on the thermal sheet shaft 47. When current passes through the thermal sheet, a specific area on the thermal sheet is heated, causing a chemical change in the corresponding area on the thermal paper, thereby producing black text or images. This process is achieved by controlling the on / off and size of the current, so that the shape and position of the printed text or image can be controlled.

[0058] Driven by the gear group, the rubber roller 26 can efficiently transmit power to ensure the smooth movement of the paper, thereby ensuring the continuity and stability of the printing process. The design of the cutter assembly can ensure that the printed paper can be accurately cut after printing is completed, thereby improving the overall aesthetics of the printed document. The thermal printing technology can produce clear and clean printing effects, which is suitable for various types of printing needs, especially documents that need to be printed continuously. The design of each component takes into account the convenience of maintenance, such as the replacement of the cutter group and the thermal film 8, which can reduce the maintenance cost and time of the printer. The design of the entire movement seat makes the internal structure of the printer compact, which is conducive to saving space, and also improves the durability and stability of the printer.

[0059] A gear baffle 36 is installed on the left side of the movement seat 43 ; a shaft sleeve 9 is provided at one end of the rubber roller 26 away from the rubber roller gear 29 , and the shaft sleeve 9 is placed on the movement seat 43 .

[0060] A micro switch 3 is installed on one side of the movement seat 43 , and the micro switch 3 is in contact with a shaft sleeve 9 at one end of the rubber roller 26 .

[0061] The installation of the micro switch 3 can monitor the movement state of the rubber roller 26. For example, when the rubber roller encounters an obstacle or paper is stuck, the micro switch will be triggered to notify the user or system that there is a problem with the printer. This helps to improve the fault detection capability of the printer and the user experience.

[0062] A hook 34 is installed inside the movement seat 43, and the hook 34 is located below the rubber roller 26, and the first screw 44 and the ground wire 42 are installed between the hook 34 and the movement seat 43;

[0063] The hook 34 is designed to fix the first screw 44 and the ground wire 42, which helps to keep these components in a fixed position and ensure the stability and reliability of the circuit connection. This is very important for the long-term operation and maintenance of the printer.

[0064] The first sensor 1 and the second sensor 2 are installed on the surface of the movement seat 43 , and the first sensor 1 and the second sensor 2 are located on the side of the thermal sheet 8 .

[0065] The installation of the first sensor 1 and the second sensor 2 can monitor the position and state of the thermal sheet 8 to ensure that the paper position during the printing process is accurate, which helps to improve the printing quality and avoid problems such as paper deviation.

[0066] A gasket 52 is sleeved on the left end of the rubber roller 26 , and the gasket 52 is located on the inner wall of the bill rubber roller bracket 11 .

[0067] The gasket 52 at the left end of the rubber roller 26 can provide additional protection and support to prevent the rubber roller from directly contacting the bill rubber roller bracket 11, reduce wear and tear, and extend the service life of the printer components. At the same time, the gasket 52 can ensure the stability of the rubber roller 26 during movement to prevent the degradation of printing quality caused by vibration or jumping.

[0068] The workflow of using the thermal printer is as follows:

[0069] 1. The user makes settings through the operation panel, such as setting the print speed, paper type, etc.

[0070] 2. The user installs the paper roll inside the printer, and the two ends of the paper shaft rotate inside the two ends of the middle frame 14 to keep the paper running smoothly.

[0071] 3. After the printer is started, the paper feed motor 35 drives the gear set to rotate, and through a series of gear meshing, it finally drives the rubber roller 26 to rotate. The rubber roller 26 grabs the paper and passes it to the core component of the printer.

[0072] 4. The thermal printing component of the print head applies heat to the paper, and specific areas on the thermal sheet 8 are heated, causing chemical changes in the corresponding areas on the thermal paper, producing black text or images.

[0073] 5. As the paper passes through the printing area, the cutter group in the cutter assembly cuts the paper through mechanical action, breaking it neatly.

[0074] 6. After printing is completed, the paper is processed by the rubber roller and cutter assembly and discharged through the paper outlet.

[0075] The micro switch 3 monitors the movement of the rubber roller and triggers an alarm to notify the user if it encounters an obstacle or paper is stuck. The sensor monitors the position and status of the thermal film 8 to ensure that the paper is accurately positioned during printing and improve the print quality. The gasket 52 on the rubber roller 26 provides additional protection and support, reduces wear and tear, and extends the service life of the printer components.

[0076] The above-mentioned thermal printer ensures the continuity and stability of the printing process, while improving the printing quality and user experience.

[0077] Finally, it should be noted that the above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features therein. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A thermal printer, comprising a housing (24) and a middle frame (14) located inside the housing (24), characterized in that: The middle frame (14) is provided with a paper shaft (22) and a movement seat (43), and a roll of paper sleeved on the outer side of the paper shaft (22) is provided between two symmetrical bill baffles (16) in the middle frame (14); The upper end of the movement seat (43) is rotatably mounted with a rubber roller (26) driven by a gear set, a cutter assembly for cutting printing paper and printing text and images through thermal sensitivity, and a thermal printing component; The gear set comprises a rubber roller gear (29) mounted at one end of the rubber roller (26), a paper feed motor (35) fixed on a movement base (43), and a first gear (38), a second gear (39), and a third gear (40) rotating on the movement base (43); the paper feed motor (35) drives the pinion gear on the pinion gear to rotate, the pinion gear meshes with the third gear (40), the third gear (40) meshes with the first gear (38), the first gear (38) meshes with the second gear (39), and the second gear (39) meshes with the rubber roller gear (29), thereby driving the rubber roller (26) to rotate; The cutter assembly comprises a bill rubber roller support (11) fixedly connected to the surface of the movement seat (43), a cutter group (13) mounted on the upper surface of the bill rubber roller support (11), a flat knife fixing frame (48) fixedly connected to the movement seat (43), and a flat knife (49) mounted on the flat knife fixing frame (48); The thermal printing component comprises a thermal film support (31) arranged inside a core seat (43), a thermal film shaft (47) and a thermal film (8) arranged on the thermal film support (31), a grounding spring (45) sleeved on the thermal film shaft (47), a first screw (44) inserted into the grounding spring (45), and a grounding wire (42) sleeved on the first screw (44).

2. A thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing (24) is provided with a sound-permeable hole so that the sound emitted by the speaker (30) can be transmitted.

3. A thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The middle frame (14) is rotatably connected to a bill flip cover (12), the top of which is provided with a bill cover (10) and a cover opening button (7) extending therethrough.

4. A thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A mainboard (20) is arranged in the outer shell (24), and the middle frame (14) is located above the mainboard (20). The mainboard (20) is buckled with an interface baffle (17) located in a notch at the bottom of the outer shell (24) and buckled below the middle frame (14).

5. A thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A weight block (21) located inside the outer shell (24) is provided at the bottom of one side of the middle frame (14); the outer shell (24), the weight block (21) and the middle frame (14) are fixed together by means of a cross countersunk flat tail screw (23) penetrating the outer shell (24).

6. A thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the middle frame (14) is connected to an anti-skid foot (33) which is arranged through the outer shell (24) via screws.

7. A thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A gear baffle (36) is installed on the left side of the movement seat (43); a shaft sleeve (9) is provided at one end of the rubber roller (26) away from the rubber roller gear (29), and the shaft sleeve (9) is placed on the movement seat (43).

8. A thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A micro switch (3) is installed on one side of the movement seat (43), and the micro switch (3) is in contact with a shaft sleeve (9) at one end of the rubber roller (26); A first sensor (1) and a second sensor (2) are mounted on the surface of the movement seat (43), and the first sensor (1) and the second sensor (2) are located on the side of the thermal sheet (8).

9. A thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A hook (34) is installed inside the movement seat (43), and the hook (34) is located below the rubber roller (26), and the first screw (44) and the ground wire (42) are installed between the hook (34) and the movement seat (43).

10. A thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A gasket (52) is sleeved on the left end of the rubber roller (26), and the gasket (52) is located on the inner wall of the bill rubber roller bracket (11).

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