Thermal printer optocoupler identification system

Abstract

The utility model discloses an optocoupler identification system of a thermal printer, which comprises an optocoupler identification unit and a main control chip, the optocoupler identification unit comprises an optocoupler, an optocoupler adjusting circuit and a paper signal circuit, and the optocoupler is respectively connected with the optocoupler adjusting circuit and the paper signal circuit; the optocoupler adjusting circuit is used for adjusting optocoupler parameters of the printer; and the paper signal circuit is used for detecting information such as existence, position and state of paper and is matched with the optocoupler to work so as to ensure that the printer can correctly process the paper. The chip controls the optocoupler adjusting circuit to change the parameters of the optocoupler through PWM waves, senses the paper output of the printer, judges the paper feeding condition of the printer, and detects the existence, position and state of paper through the paper signal circuit, so that the state of the printer can be effectively monitored, and a user can use the printer more conveniently.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of printers, in particular to an optical coupler identification system for a thermal printer. Background Art

[0002] Small thermal printers are used to print smaller sticky notes. These small sticky notes are attached to a translucent paper roll and fed into the printer for printing. The thermal printer print head is equipped with a semiconductor heating element. By controlling the heating temperature at different positions of the print head and contacting the thermal paper, the required text and patterns can be printed. Since the printer needs to replenish paper when it is out of paper, the newly placed paper roll may not be aligned, which will cause the print on the small sticky note to be skewed. The user needs to manually adjust the position of the paper roll. Alternatively, part of the print head may not contact the thermal paper after heating, resulting in a certain amount of loss, affecting the user experience and effect. Utility Model Content

[0003] In order to overcome the defects of the existing technology, the technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to propose a thermal printer optocoupler identification system, which senses the printer paper output through the optocoupler and judges the printer paper feed status through the optocoupler adjustment circuit, which can effectively prevent the printed text from being skewed and make it more convenient for users to use.

[0004] To achieve this purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] The utility model provides a thermal printer optocoupler identification system, including an optocoupler identification unit and a main control chip U10, characterized in that: the optocoupler identification unit includes an optocoupler U9, an optocoupler adjustment circuit and a paper signal circuit, the optocoupler adjustment circuit and the paper signal circuit are connected to the optocoupler U9 and the main control chip U10; the optocoupler U9U9 includes a light-emitting diode and a phototransistor, and the light-emitting diode and the phototransistor are coupled.

[0006] The preferred technical solution of the present utility model is that the optocoupler adjustment circuit includes a resistor R22, a resistor R23, a capacitor C41 and a transistor Q3, the second end of the resistor R22 is connected to the main control chip U10, the first end of the resistor R22 and the capacitor C41 are connected to the base of the transistor Q3, the second end of the capacitor C41 is grounded, the collector of the transistor Q3 is connected to an external power supply, the emitter of the transistor Q3 is connected to the first end of the resistor R23, and the second end of the resistor R23 is connected to the second end of the optocoupler U9U9 for VF output.

[0007] The preferred technical solution of the present utility model is that the paper signal circuit includes a paper sensor, a resistor R25 and a capacitor C42, the second end of the resistor R25 is connected to an external power supply, the first end of the resistor R25 and the third end of the optocoupler U9U9 are connected to the paper sensor, the first end of the capacitor C42 is connected to the first end of the resistor R25, the second end of the capacitor C42 is grounded, and the paper sensor is connected to the main control chip U10.

[0008] A preferred technical solution of the present invention is that the external power supply for the collector of the transistor Q3 and the second end of the resistor R25 is a +3.3V power supply.

[0009] The beneficial effects of the utility model are:

[0010] The printer includes an optocoupler identification unit and a main control chip U10. The optocoupler identification unit includes an optocoupler U9, an optocoupler adjustment circuit, and a paper signal circuit. Optocoupler U9 is connected to the optocoupler adjustment circuit and the paper signal circuit, respectively. Optocoupler U9 is used to isolate the input and output circuits, and the signal can be transmitted in the form of light. The optocoupler adjustment circuit is used to adjust the printer's optocoupler parameters. The paper signal circuit is used to detect information such as the presence, position, and status of paper, and works in conjunction with the optocoupler to ensure that the printer can properly handle paper. The chip controls the optocoupler adjustment circuit through PWM waves to change the optocoupler parameters, sense the printer's paper output, and determine the printer's paper feed status. The paper signal circuit detects information such as the presence, position, and status of paper, effectively monitoring the printer's status and making it more convenient for users. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the printing paper provided in a specific embodiment of the utility model;

[0012] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of a thermal printer optical coupler recognition system provided in a specific embodiment of the utility model;

[0013] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of the optical coupling identification unit provided in a specific embodiment of the present utility model; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and through specific implementation methods.

[0015] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, a thermal printer optical coupler identification system includes an optical coupler identification unit and a main control chip U10, the optical coupler identification unit includes an optical coupler U9, an optical coupler adjustment circuit and a paper signal circuit, the optical coupler adjustment circuit and the paper signal circuit are connected to the optical coupler U9 and the main control chip U10, further, the optical coupler U9 includes a light emitting diode and a phototransistor, the light emitting diode and the phototransistor are coupled; Figure 1 The printing paper shown in the figure is a small piece of sticky note attached to a translucent paper roll. This results in different light transmittance between the sticky note and the gap between two adjacent sticky notes during the printing process. In this way, the optocoupler U9 can be used to detect the paper feeding status of the printing paper. At the same time, under the processing of the main control chip U10, the optocoupler adjustment circuit actively adjusts the sensitivity of the optocoupler U9, and uses the paper signal circuit to detect information such as the presence, position and status of the printing paper.

[0016] Preferably, Figure 2 As shown, the optocoupler adjustment circuit includes a resistor R22, a resistor R23, a capacitor C41 and a transistor Q3, the second end of the resistor R22 is connected to the main control chip U10, the first end of the resistor R22 and the capacitor C41 are connected to the base of the transistor Q3, the second end of the capacitor C41 is grounded, the collector of the transistor Q3 is connected to an external power supply, the emitter of the transistor Q3 is connected to the first end of the resistor R23, and the second end of the resistor R23 is connected to the second end of the optocoupler U9U9 for VF output; the paper signal circuit includes a paper sensor, a resistor R25 and a capacitor C42, the second end of the resistor R25 is connected to an external power supply, the first end of the resistor R25 and the third end of the optocoupler U9U9 are connected to the paper sensor, the first end of the capacitor C42 is connected to the first end of the resistor R25, the second end of the capacitor C42 is grounded, the paper sensor is connected to the main control chip U10, and the external power supply of the collector of the transistor Q3 and the second end of the resistor R25 is a +3.3V power supply.

[0017] To summarize, when the printer is ejecting paper normally, the paper covers the LED, the phototransistor is cut off, and CE is blocked (emitter E and collector C). When there is no thermal paper in the printer, the LED emits light through current, and the phototransistor generates current after being illuminated by light, and CE is turned on. In this way, through the optocoupler U9, the optocoupler adjustment circuit and the paper signal circuit cooperate with each other to determine the paper position so that the printer can adjust it later.

[0018] The optocoupler identification system is connected to the main control chip U10. The main control chip U10 sends a PWM wave through the optocoupler adjustment circuit to adjust the optocoupler parameters, and then adjust the sensitivity of the optocoupler U9. That is, for papers with different transparencies, the brightness of the light-emitting diode is adjusted so that the phototransistor generates current after being exposed to light; the optocoupler adjustment circuit is connected to the paper signal circuit to jointly judge the paper output status of the printer. If it is judged that there is no paper, the main control chip U10 controls the printer to remind it to add paper; if it is judged that the paper position is incorrect, the main control chip U10 controls the printer to adjust the position of the thermal paper; if it is judged that the paper output is normal, the printer can work normally.

[0019] The present invention is described through preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate 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. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and other embodiments falling within the scope of the claims of this application are also within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A thermal printer optocoupler recognition system, including an optocoupler recognition unit and a main control chip U10, characterized by: The optocoupler identification unit includes an optocoupler U9, an optocoupler adjustment circuit, and a paper signal circuit. The optocoupler adjustment circuit and the paper signal circuit are connected to the optocoupler U9 and the main control chip U10.

2. The thermal printer optical coupler recognition system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optocoupler U9U9 includes a light emitting diode and a phototransistor, and the light emitting diode and the phototransistor are coupled.

3. The thermal printer optical coupler recognition system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The optocoupler adjustment circuit includes a resistor R22, a resistor R23, a capacitor C41 and a transistor Q3. The second end of the resistor R22 is connected to the main control chip U10, the first end of the resistor R22 and the capacitor C41 are connected to the base of the transistor Q3, the second end of the capacitor C41 is grounded, the collector of the transistor Q3 is connected to an external power supply, the emitter of the transistor Q3 is connected to the first end of the resistor R23, and the second end of the resistor R23 is connected to the second end of the optocoupler U9U9 for VF output.

4. The thermal printer optical coupler recognition system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The paper signal circuit includes a paper sensor, a resistor R25 and a capacitor C42. The second end of the resistor R25 is connected to an external power supply. The first end of the resistor R25 and the third end of the optocoupler U9U9 are connected to the paper sensor. The first end of the capacitor C42 is connected to the first end of the resistor R25. The second end of the capacitor C42 is grounded. The paper sensor is connected to the main control chip U10.

5. The thermal printer optical coupler recognition system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The external power supply for the collector of the transistor Q3 and the second end of the resistor R25 is a +3.3V power supply.

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