Printer sensing structure

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of printers, in particular to a printer sensing structure. The light guide plate comprises an upper cover and a middle frame which are hinged to each other, the upper cover is provided with a first paper passing end, the first paper passing end is provided with a C-shaped light guide part, the C-shaped light guide part is provided with a light inlet and a light outlet, and the light inlet is provided with a light gathering part; the middle frame is provided with a second paper passing end, and the second paper passing end is provided with a light emitter and a light receiver; the upper cover covers the middle frame, the first paper passing end directly faces the second paper passing end, a paper passing channel is formed between the first paper passing end and the second paper passing end, the light inlet directly faces the light reflector, and the light outlet directly faces the light receiver; according to the sensing structure, the light inlet is provided with the light gathering piece, the light gathering piece gathers light beams which are emitted by the light emitter, penetrate through the release base material and are scattered, the loss of light quantity is reduced, the energy of light entering the light receiver is increased, and the positioning sensitivity and the sensing precision of the thermosensitive label are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of printers, in particular to a printer sensing structure. Background Art

[0002] In existing thermal printers, the location of thermal labels is generally determined by optical sensors and optical receivers. Since thermal labels are generally adhered to transparent or translucent release substrates, when they are rolled, there is a certain distance between two adjacent labels, that is, a gap. The light transmittance at the gap is higher than the light transmittance at the label. The light beam emitted by the optical sensor cannot pass through the label, but can pass through the gap. The light that passes through the gap passes through the release substrate and is reflected back to the optical receiver to determine the position of the label. However, the light beam emitted by the optical transmitter penetrates the release substrate, and the intensity of the light beam is reduced due to reflection or refraction of the release substrate, which reduces the sensitivity of the optical receiver, resulting in reduced detection accuracy and affecting the printer's printing positioning accuracy.

[0003] In order to increase the detection accuracy, the existing solution increases the emission energy of the light emitter, which will cause the light emitter to continue to work at high intensity and easily age, thereby reducing its service life. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to overcome the above problems, the utility model provides a printer sensor structure. The technical solution adopted by the utility model to solve the technical problem is:

[0005] A printer sensing structure comprises an upper cover and a middle frame which are hinged to each other, wherein the upper cover has a first paper feeding end, the first paper feeding end is provided with a C-shaped light guide, the C-shaped light guide has a light inlet and a light outlet, and the light inlet is provided with a light focusing element; the middle frame has a second paper feeding end, the second paper feeding end is provided with a light emitter and a light receiver; the upper cover covers the middle frame, the first paper feeding end faces the second paper feeding end, and a paper feeding channel is formed between the first paper feeding end and the second paper feeding end, the light inlet faces the light reflector, and the light outlet faces the light receiver.

[0006] Furthermore, the paper passage width is 0.3 mm-1.5 mm.

[0007] Furthermore, a detachable bracket is provided at the second paper feeding end of the middle frame, a PCB board is provided on the bracket, the optical transmitter and the optical receiver are both provided on the bracket, and the optical transmitter and the optical receiver are both electrically connected to the PCB board.

[0008] Furthermore, a retaining rib is provided on the bracket, and the retaining rib protrudes between the light emitter and the light receiver to prevent interference between the emitted light and the received light.

[0009] Furthermore, the light concentrator covers the light entrance, and the surface area of ​​the light concentrator is larger than the area of ​​the tube entrance so as to converge more light to the light entrance.

[0010] Furthermore, the focusing element is a hemispherical convex lens, and the diameter of the hemisphere is greater than or equal to the diameter of the light outlet.

[0011] The beneficial effects of the utility model are:

[0012] The printer sensing structure includes an upper cover and a middle frame which are hinged to each other, the upper cover has a first paper feeding end, the first paper feeding end is provided with a C-shaped light guide, the C-shaped light guide has a light inlet and a light outlet, and the light inlet is provided with a light focusing member; the middle frame has a second paper feeding end, and the second paper feeding end is provided with a light emitter and a light receiver; the upper cover covers the middle frame, the first paper feeding end faces the second paper feeding end, and a paper feeding channel is formed between the first paper feeding end and the second paper feeding end, the light inlet faces the light reflector, and the light outlet faces the light receiver; the sensing structure is provided with a light focusing member at the light inlet, and the light focusing member gathers scattered light beams emitted by the light emitter and passing through the release substrate, thereby reducing the loss of light quantity, increasing the light energy incident on the light receiver, and improving the sensitivity and accuracy of the sensing structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, wherein:

[0014] Figure 1 It is an exploded view and a partial enlarged view of the sensor structure of the printer of the utility model;

[0015] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view and a partial enlarged view of the sensor structure of the printer of the utility model.

[0016] Figure number marking:

[0017] 100, upper cover; 101, first paper feeding end; 102, C-shaped light guide; 1021, light inlet; 1022, light outlet; 103, light focusing element;

[0018] 200, middle frame; 201, second paper feeding end; 202, optical transmitter; 203, optical receiver; 204, bracket; 205, PCB board; 206, retaining rib;

[0019] 300. Paper feeding channel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In order to better understand the purpose, structure and function of the utility model, the specific embodiment of the utility model "a printer sensing structure" is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0021] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2In this embodiment, the printer sensing structure includes an upper cover 100 and a middle frame 200 which are hinged to each other. The upper cover 100 has a first paper feeding end 101, and the first paper feeding end 101 is provided with a C-shaped light guide 102. The C-shaped light guide 102 has a light inlet 1021 and a light outlet 1022. The light inlet 1021 is provided with a light focusing member 103; the middle frame 200 has a second paper feeding end 201, and the second paper feeding end 201 is provided with a light emitter 202 and a light receiver 203; the upper cover 100 covers the middle frame 200, the first paper feeding end 101 is opposite to the second paper feeding end 201, and a paper feeding channel 300 is formed between the first paper feeding end 101 and the second paper feeding end 201, and the printed thermal label is turned out from the paper feeding channel 300, the light inlet 1021 is opposite to the light reflector, and the light outlet 1022 is opposite to the light receiver 203. The light emitted by the light emitter 202 passes through the transparent / translucent release substrate of the thermal label and is scattered. The scattered light is captured by the focusing element 103 and focused toward the light inlet 1021. The light is then emitted from the light outlet 1022 to the light receiver 203. The focusing element 103 reduces the light loss rate to a minimum, thereby improving the sensitivity and speed of the sensing structure without increasing the light intensity and ensuring that the life of the light emitter is not reduced.

[0022] See also Figure 2 In this embodiment, the width of the paper passage 300 is designed to be 0.3 mm-1.5 mm, which can not only ensure the normal passage of the thermal label, but also reduce the scattering degree of the light beam and reduce the loss of light energy.

[0023] See also Figure 1 In this embodiment, the second paper feeding end 201 of the middle frame 200 is provided with a detachable bracket 204, a PCB board 205 is provided on the bracket 204, the optical transmitter 202 and the optical receiver 203 are both provided on the bracket 204, and the optical transmitter 202 and the optical receiver 203 are both electrically connected to the PCB board 205; this facilitates the installation and replacement of the optical receiver 203 and the optical transmitter 202, and facilitates the connection with the PCB board 205 and signal transmission.

[0024] It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, the upper cover 100 is small in size, and it is not convenient to set up multiple components. The C-shaped light guide 102 is set on the upper cover 100, and the C-shaped light guide 102 is used to change the direction of the light beam; the middle frame 200 is large in size, and the light transmitter 202 and the light receiver 203 are both set on the middle frame 200, and a PCB board 205 can be set on the middle frame 200; through the design of the C-shaped light guide 102, the problem that the upper cover 100 is small in size and the light receiver 203 cannot be directly set is solved.

[0025] More specifically, in this embodiment, a retaining rib 206 is disposed on the bracket 204 , and the retaining rib 206 protrudes between the light emitter 202 and the light receiver 203 to prevent interference between the emitted light and the received light.

[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the light concentrator 103 covers the light inlet 1021, and the surface area of ​​the light concentrator 103 is larger than the area of ​​the inlet port to converge more light to the light inlet 1021; the light concentrator 103 is preferably a hemispherical convex lens, and the hemispherical diameter is greater than or equal to the diameter of the light outlet 1022. Of course, in some other embodiments, the light concentrator 103 can be other light concentrators that can converge light and are suitable for the assembly space, as long as it can converge the divergent light to the light inlet 1021.

[0027] It is understood that the present invention is described by some embodiments, and those skilled in the art are aware that various changes or equivalent substitutions may be made to these features and embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, under the teachings of the present invention, these features and embodiments may be modified to adapt to specific circumstances and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims of this application are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

Claims

1. A printer sensing structure, characterized in that: It comprises an upper cover (100) and a middle frame (200) which are hinged to each other, wherein: The upper cover (100) has a first paper feeding end (101), the first paper feeding end (101) is provided with a C-shaped light guide (102), the C-shaped light guide (102) has a light entrance (1021) and a light exit (1022), and the light entrance (1021) is provided with a light focusing element (103); The middle frame (200) has a second paper feeding end (201), and the second paper feeding end (201) is provided with a light transmitter (202) and a light receiver (203); The upper cover (100) covers the middle frame (200), the first paper feeding end (101) faces the second paper feeding end (201), and a paper feeding channel (300) is formed between the first paper feeding end (101) and the second paper feeding end (201), the light inlet (1021) faces the light transmitter (202), and the light outlet (1022) faces the light receiver (203).

2. A printer sensing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The paper passage (300) has a width of 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm.

3. A printer sensing structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second paper feeding end (201) of the middle frame (200) is provided with a detachable bracket (204), a PCB board (205) is provided on the bracket (204), the optical transmitter (202) and the optical receiver (203) are both provided on the bracket (204), and the optical transmitter (202) and the optical receiver (203) are both electrically connected to the PCB board (205).

4. A printer sensing structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The support (204) is provided with a retaining rib (206), and the retaining rib (206) protrudes between the light emitter (202) and the light receiver (203) to prevent interference between the emitted light and the received light.

5. A printer sensing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The light concentrator (103) covers the light entrance (1021); the surface area of ​​the light concentrator (103) is larger than the area of ​​the light entrance (1021) so as to converge more light to the light entrance (1021).

6. A printer sensing structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The light focusing element (103) is a hemispherical convex lens, and the diameter of the hemisphere is greater than or equal to the diameter of the light outlet (1022).

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