Thermal printer
By designing the linkage mechanism and elastic resetting parts in the thermal printer, the relative positions of the print head and the conveying roller are automatically adjusted, and the complex operation problems in the prior art are solved and the user's convenience is improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421655033.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-13
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-18
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-07-13
AI Technical Summary
When installing imaging media in existing thermal printers, the print head and conveyor roller need to switch relative positions, resulting in complex operation and inconvenient rapid installation.
A linkage mechanism is designed, including a pushing part and a moving member. The relative positions of the print head and the conveying roller are automatically adjusted by opening and closing the cover body, and the elastic reset member is used to achieve mutual proximity and distance between the print head and the conveying roller.
It realizes rapid switching between the print head and the conveying roller position, simplifies the installation process of the imaging medium, and improves the user's convenience.
Smart Images
Figure CN222769162U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of printers, and in particular to a thermal printer. Background Art
[0002] When a thermal printer is performing a printing job, the imaging medium, such as thermal paper, is clamped between the print head and the conveyor roller. The conveyor roller conveys the imaging medium forward by relying on the friction between the imaging medium and the print head equipped with a semiconductor heating element heats and contacts the thermal imaging medium to print out the required pattern.
[0003] In some prior art, the print head and the conveying roller are both installed in the main body of the thermal printer. When installing the imaging medium, the front end of the imaging medium needs to pass between the print head and the conveying roller. Preferably, the two are separated from each other to form an appropriate distance, so that the user can quickly pass the imaging medium between the two. In other words, the print head and the conveying roller need to be able to switch between a position close to each other and a position far away from each other. Utility Model Content
[0004] The main purpose of the utility model is to provide a thermal printer which can simply and quickly switch the relative positions of a print head and a conveying roller.
[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned main purpose, the utility model discloses a thermal printer, including a main body and a cover body which can be opened and closed and connected to the main body; the main body is provided with a print head, a conveying roller and an elastic reset member, a linkage mechanism is provided between the print head or the conveying roller and the cover body, the linkage mechanism includes a forced pushing portion arranged on the cover body and a moving member arranged on the main body, the print head or the conveying roller is mounted on the moving member, and the elastic reset member acts on the moving member; wherein, when the cover body is closed, the forced pushing portion abuts against and pushes the moving member to bring the print head and the conveying roller closer to each other; when the cover body is opened, the elastic reset member resets the moving member, and the print head and the conveying roller move away from each other.
[0006] In some embodiments, the print head is mounted on the moving member and is movable between a position close to the conveying roller and a position away from the conveying roller.
[0007] According to a specific embodiment of the utility model, the movable member is a sliding member, and the sliding member is provided with a base, and the base has a sliding groove that forms a sliding fit with a support plate installed in the main body; when the cover body is closed, the pushing part pushes the sliding member to translate, so that the print head is close to the conveying roller.
[0008] According to another specific embodiment of the utility model, the movable member is a rotating member, and the rotating member is rotatably mounted on the support plate in the main body; when the cover is closed, the pushing portion pushes the rotating member to rotate, so that the print head is close to the conveying roller.
[0009] Exemplarily, the rotating member is a lever, one end of the lever is connected to the print head, and the other end of the lever is provided with a force-bearing portion that cooperates with the forced pushing portion.
[0010] In some embodiments, the conveying roller is mounted on the moving member and is movable between a position close to the print head and a position far from the print head.
[0011] According to a specific implementation of the utility model, the movable member is a sliding member, and the sliding member forms a sliding fit with a support plate installed in the main body; when the cover body is closed, the forced pushing part pushes the sliding member to translate, so that the conveying roller is close to the print head.
[0012] According to another specific embodiment of the utility model, the movable member is a rotating member, and the rotating member is rotatably mounted on the support plate in the main body; when the cover is closed, the pushing portion pushes the rotating member to rotate, so that the conveying roller is close to the print head.
[0013] Exemplarily, the rotating member is a swing arm.
[0014] Exemplarily, the elastic return member is a spring, such as a torsion spring or a tension spring.
[0015] The technical solution of the utility model has the following beneficial effects:
[0016] In the utility model, a linkage mechanism is provided between the print head or the conveying roller and the cover body. When the cover body is closed, the linkage mechanism overcomes the force of the elastic reset member to bring the print head and the conveying roller closer to each other so that printing can be performed; when the cover body is opened, the elastic reset member resets the movable member so that the print head and the conveying roller are separated from each other to facilitate the installation of the imaging medium. In other words, the position of the print head or the conveying roller can be automatically adjusted when the cover body is opened and closed, so that the relative position of the print head and the conveying roller can be switched simply and quickly, which not only has a simple structure, but also greatly improves the convenience of use for users.
[0017] 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
[0018] Figure 1 is a structural diagram of the thermal printer in Example 1 in an open cover state;
[0019] Figure 2 is a diagram of the installation structure of the print head and the conveying roller in Example 1;
[0020] Figure 3 The relative positions of the print head and the conveying roller when the cover is closed in Embodiment 1 are shown;
[0021] Figure 4 is a structural diagram of the linkage mechanism in Example 2;
[0022] Figure 5 is a diagram of the installation structure of the print head and the conveying roller in Example 2;
[0023] Figure 6 The relative positions of the print head and the conveying roller when the cover is opened in Embodiment 2 are shown;
[0024] Figure 7 is a structural diagram of the thermal printer in Example 3 in an open cover state;
[0025] Figure 8 is a front view of the thermal printer in Example 3 after the cover is removed;
[0026] Fig. 9 is a diagram of the installation structure of the conveying roller in Example 3;
[0027] Fig.10 is a diagram of the matching structure of the conveying roller and the sliding member in Example 3;
[0028] Fig.11 The relative positions of the print head and the conveying roller when the cover is closed in Embodiment 3 are shown;
[0029] Fig.12 This is a diagram of the installation structure of the print head and the conveying roller in Example 4. 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] Example 1
[0032] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the thermal printer of Embodiment 1 includes a main body 10 and a cover 20 , the cover 20 is rotatably connected to the main body 10 , and the cover 20 can be rotated between an open position and a closed position to be openably and closably connected to the main body 10 .
[0033] The main body 10 is provided with a medium holding bin 11, a print head 12 and a conveying roller 13; the conveying roller 13 is rotatably mounted on a support plate 16 located inside the main body 10, and is connected to a motor (not visible in the figure) via a gear train 17. When the motor rotates, the conveying roller 13 can deliver the imaging medium in the medium holding bin 11 from the discharge port 14.
[0034] In the first embodiment, a linkage mechanism is provided between the print head 12 and the cover body 20, and the linkage mechanism includes a forced pushing portion 32a provided on the cover body 20 and a rotating member 31a provided on the main body 10. Specifically, the rotating member 31a is rotatably mounted on the support plate 16 and can rotate around a rotating fulcrum 312a. The rotating member 31a as an example of a moving member can be a lever, and the rotating fulcrum 312a is provided between the two ends of the rotating member 31a. The first end 31a1 of the rotating member 31a is provided with the print head 12, and the second end 31a2 is provided with a force receiving portion 311a cooperating with the forced pushing portion 32a.
[0035] Furthermore, the main body 10 is provided with a torsion spring 40a as an example of an elastic reset member, and the torsion spring 40a can also be installed on the support plate 16, and the two ends of the torsion spring 40a can be respectively connected to the rotating member 31a and the support plate 16. When the cover 20 is in the initial state of opening, the rotating member 31a can be kept in the initial state under the action of the torsion spring 40a, so that the print head 12 is away from the conveying roller 13, and a predetermined gap is formed between the print head 12 and the conveying roller 13 (see Figure 2 status shown).
[0036] When the cover 20 is closed, the Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the forced pushing portion 32a on the cover body 20 passes through the avoidance hole 15 on the main body 10 (see Figure 1 ) enters the interior of the main body 10 and abuts against the force-bearing portion 311a of the rotating member 31a (see Figure 3 The rotating member 31a overcomes the force of the torsion spring 40a and rotates in the direction of R11. At this time, the print head 12 approaches and presses against the conveying roller 13, thereby pressing the imaging medium onto the conveying roller 13. The print head 12 contacts the imaging medium and completes thermal printing. At the same time, the imaging medium generates friction with the conveying roller 13 and is conveyed forward.
[0037] When the cover 20 is opened from the closed state, the rotating member 31a can be rotated and reset in the direction R12 opposite to the direction R11 under the action of the torsion spring 40a, so that the print head 12 is away from the conveying roller 13, and a predetermined gap is formed between the print head 12 and the conveying roller 13 (see Figure 2 The state shown in the figure) is to facilitate the front end of the imaging medium to pass through between the print head 12 and the conveying roller 13 when installing the imaging medium.
[0038] In the first embodiment, the position where the torsion spring 40a contacts the rotating member 31a can be as follows: Figure 2 As shown, it is located between the rotation fulcrum 312a of the rotating member 31a and the first end 31a1 of the rotating member 31a, and can also be located between the rotation fulcrum 312a of the rotating member 31a and the second end 31a2 of the rotating member 31a, as long as the rotating member 31a can be rotated and reset along the R12 direction away from the conveying roller 13, and the utility model does not limit this. As a variation of embodiment 1, the elastic reset member can be other elastic reset structures such as a tension spring, as long as the rotating member 31a can be reset.
[0039] Example 2
[0040] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, in Embodiment 2, a linkage mechanism is provided between the print head 12 and the cover body 20, and the linkage mechanism includes a pushing portion 32b provided on the cover body 20 and a sliding member 31b provided on the main body 10. The sliding member 31b as an example of a moving member can be installed on the support plate 16 in a translational manner, and is connected to a tension spring 40b as an example of an elastic reset member. One end of the tension spring 40b is connected to the sliding member 31b, and the other end is connected to other components in the main body 10.
[0041] like Figure 5 As shown, the support plate 16 is provided with a mounting groove 162 , the sliding member 31b has a base 312b , and two opposite sides of the base 312b are provided with sliding grooves 313b , the middle part of the base 312b is arranged in the mounting groove 162 , and the sliding groove 313b forms a sliding fit with the support plate 16 .
[0042] The print head 12 is mounted on the sliding member 31b and can move closer to or farther from the conveying roller 13 as the sliding member 31b moves in translation. Specifically, when the cover 20 is opened, the sliding member 31b moves in translation along the direction L22 under the action of the tension spring 40b to reset the print head 12 away from the conveying roller 13, and a predetermined gap is formed between the print head 12 and the conveying roller 13 (see FIG. Figure 6 When the cover 20 is closed, the pushing portion 32b on the cover 20 abuts against the force-bearing portion 311b of the sliding member 31b and pushes the sliding member 31b, so that the sliding member 31b overcomes the force of the tension spring 40b and moves in the direction L21 opposite to the direction L22, so that the print head 12 is close to the conveying roller 13 and the imaging medium can be elastically pressed against the conveying roller 13.
[0043] Example 3
[0044] like Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, in Embodiment 3, a linkage mechanism is provided between the conveying roller 13 and the cover body 20, and the linkage mechanism includes a pushing portion 32c provided on the cover body 20 and a sliding member 31c provided on the main body 10, and the sliding member 31c as an example of a moving member is connected to a tension spring 40c as an example of an elastic reset member. The conveying roller 13 is mounted on the sliding member 31c, and can approach or move away from the print head 12 as the sliding member 31c translates. The conveying roller 13 can be directly mounted on the sliding member 31c, or can be indirectly mounted on the sliding member 31c through an intermediate connecting member, as long as the conveying roller 13 can move with the sliding member 31c, and the utility model does not limit this.
[0045] Specifically, Figure 8 As shown, when the cover 20 is opened, the slide member 31c is translated and reset along the direction L32 under the action of the tension spring 40c, so that the conveying roller 13 is away from the print head 12, and a predetermined gap is formed between the print head 12 and the conveying roller 13. Figure 8 and Fig.11 As shown, the sliding member 31c is provided with a force-bearing portion 311c, and when the cover 20 is closed (see Fig.11 ), the pushing portion 32c on the cover 20 contacts the force-bearing portion 311c of the sliding member 31c and pushes the sliding member 31c, so that the sliding member 31c overcomes the force of the tension spring 40c and moves in the direction L31 opposite to the direction L32, and the conveying roller 13 approaches the print head 12 and elastically presses the imaging medium against the print head 12. At the same time, the conveying roller gear 131 (see FIG. 10 ) connected to the conveying roller 13 is Fig.10 ) resumes meshing with other gears in the gear train 17, and the motor can drive the conveying roller 13 to rotate normally.
[0046] In Embodiment 3, the sliding member 31c may be configured to form a sliding fit with the support plate 16. For example, Fig. 9 As shown, the support plate 16 is provided with one or more slide grooves 161, and the sliding member 31c has a guide column 312c that slides with the slide groove 161; wherein the length direction of the slide groove 161 can be parallel to or have an angle with the tension direction of the tension spring 40c. When the length direction of the slide groove 161 has an angle with the tension direction of the tension spring 40c, the number of the slide grooves 161 can be as follows Fig. 9 At least two are provided as shown to prevent the sliding member 31c from deflecting. When one slide slot 161 is provided, the slide slot 161 and the sliding member 31c form a linear sliding fit, that is, the sliding member 31c can only translate along the slide slot 161 but cannot rotate.
[0047] Example 4
[0048] like Fig.12As shown, in Example 4, a linkage mechanism is provided between the conveying roller 13 and the cover body 20, and the linkage mechanism includes a pushing portion (not shown in the figure) arranged on the cover body 20 and a rotating member 31d arranged on the main body 10. The rotating member 31d as an example of a moving member can be a swing arm, one end of which forms a rotating end 312d that rotates with the support plate 16.
[0049] Further, the rotating end 312d is provided with a torsion spring 40d as an example of an elastic reset member, and the two ends of the torsion spring 40d are respectively connected to the rotating member 31d and the support plate 16, and can reset the rotating member 31d. As a variation of embodiment 4, the rotating member 31d can be other rotatable structures such as a lever, and the elastic reset member can be other elastic reset structures such as a tension spring.
[0050] The conveying roller 13 is mounted on the rotating member 31d, and can be moved closer to or farther from the print head 12 as the rotating member 31d rotates. Specifically, when the cover 20 is opened, the rotating member 31d rotates and resets in the direction R42 under the action of the torsion spring 40d, so that the conveying roller 13 is away from the print head 12, and a predetermined gap is formed between the print head 12 and the conveying roller 13. When the cover 20 is closed, the pushing portion of the cover 20 abuts against the force-bearing portion 311d of the rotating member 31d, and the rotating member 31d overcomes the force of the torsion spring 40d and rotates in the direction R41 opposite to the direction R42, so that the conveying roller 13 is close to the print head 12, and the conveying roller 13 can elastically press the imaging medium against the print head 12.
[0051] It should be noted that for the sake of simplicity, some identical descriptions in the above different embodiments are omitted. Unless there are contradictory or exclusive situations, the different embodiments disclosed above can be referenced, referred to or combined with each other, and the technical features / components of different embodiments can also be combined and / or replaced with each other.
[0052] 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 main body and a cover connected to the main body in an openable and closable manner; characterized in that: The main body is provided with a print head, a conveying roller and an elastic reset member, a linkage mechanism is provided between the print head or the conveying roller and the cover body, the linkage mechanism comprises a pushing portion arranged on the cover body and a moving member arranged on the main body, the print head or the conveying roller is mounted on the moving member, and the elastic reset member acts on the moving member; When the cover is closed, the pushing portion abuts against and pushes the movable member to move the print head and the conveying roller closer to each other; when the cover is opened, the elastic reset member resets the movable member and the print head and the conveying roller move away from each other.
2. The thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The print head is mounted on the moving member and is movable between a position close to the conveying roller and a position away from the conveying roller.
3. The thermal printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The movable member is a sliding member, and the sliding member is provided with a base, and the base has a slide groove that forms a sliding fit with a support plate installed in the main body; when the cover body is closed, the forced pushing part pushes the sliding member to move horizontally, so that the print head is close to the conveying roller.
4. The thermal printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The movable member is a rotating member, and the rotating member is rotatably mounted on the support plate in the main body; when the cover is closed, the pushing portion pushes the rotating member to rotate, so that the print head is close to the conveying roller.
5. The thermal printer according to claim 4, characterized in that: The rotating member is a lever, one end of the lever is connected to the print head, and the other end of the lever is provided with a force-bearing portion matched with the forced pushing portion.
6. The thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveying roller is mounted on the moving member and is movable between a position close to the printing head and a position far from the printing head.
7. The thermal printer according to claim 6, characterized in that: The moving member is a sliding member, and the sliding member forms a sliding fit with a support plate installed in the main body; when the cover is closed, the pushing portion pushes the sliding member to translate, so that the conveying roller is close to the print head.
8. The thermal printer according to claim 6, characterized in that: The movable member is a rotating member, and the rotating member is rotatably mounted on the support plate in the main body; when the cover is closed, the forced pushing portion pushes the rotating member to rotate, so that the conveying roller is close to the print head.
9. The thermal printer according to claim 8, characterized in that: The rotating member is a swing arm.
10. The thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic return member is a spring.