Printer

Abstract

The printer comprises a shell, a thermal transfer ribbon box, a locking structure and a supporting seat, the shell is provided with a mounting cavity, the outer surface of the shell comprises a bottom wall surface, and the bottom wall surface is provided with a first opening communicating with the mounting cavity; the thermal transfer ribbon box is arranged in the mounting cavity; one part of the locking structure is arranged in the mounting cavity and movably mounted on the shell, the other part of the locking structure penetrates through the first opening and extends out of the shell, the locking structure is provided with a first position and a second position, the locking structure is connected with the thermal transfer ribbon box to limit the position of the thermal transfer ribbon box relative to the shell at the first position, and the locking structure is connected with the thermal transfer ribbon box at the second position. The locking structure unlocks the thermal transfer ribbon box so that the thermal transfer ribbon box can move relative to the shell; the supporting seat is arranged on the bottom wall face and provided with a supporting face deviating from the bottom wall face, the distance between the supporting face and the locking structure is L in the direction perpendicular to the supporting face, and L is larger than or equal to 0.1 mm and smaller than or equal to 3 mm. According to the technical scheme, mistaken touch of the locking structure can be reduced, and it is guaranteed that the thermal transfer ribbon box can be stably located in the installation cavity.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of printing equipment, and particularly relates to a printer. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the field of printing technology, a printer is usually composed of a host and a ribbon cartridge. In order to perform a consumable printing operation, a user needs to correctly place the ribbon cartridge in the host, and then execute a printing task to meet the basic printing requirement.

[0003] However, in actual application, when the printer is in an unstable environment or is subjected to external impact, the ribbon cartridge may be accidentally ejected from the host, so that the printer cannot normally cooperate with the host to complete the printing task. Once the ribbon cartridge is automatically ejected, not only the printing task being performed is interrupted, but also problems such as a decline in printing quality and waste of consumables may occur. In addition, frequent reinstallation of the ribbon cartridge increases the operation complexity and time cost of the user, and reduces the overall work efficiency. CONTENT OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[0004] Embodiments of the present application provide a printer which can effectively reduce the problem of accidental ejection of a ribbon cartridge.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a printer, which comprises: a housing having a mounting cavity, an outer surface of the housing comprising a bottom wall surface, the bottom wall surface being provided with a first opening in communication with the mounting cavity; a ribbon cartridge arranged in the mounting cavity; a locking structure, one part of the locking structure being arranged in the mounting cavity and movably mounted to the housing, the other part of the locking structure penetrating the first opening and extending to the outside of the housing, the locking structure having a first position and a second position, in the first position, the locking structure is connected with the ribbon cartridge to limit the position of the ribbon cartridge relative to the housing, in the second position, the locking structure releases the locking of the ribbon cartridge so that the ribbon cartridge can move relative to the housing; and a support seat arranged on the bottom wall surface, the support seat having a support surface facing away from the bottom wall surface, wherein, in a direction perpendicular to the support surface, the distance from the support surface to the locking structure is L, and 0.1mm≤L≤3mm.

[0006] In some embodiments, in a direction perpendicular to the support surface, the farthest distance from the bottom wall surface to the part of the locking structure extending to the outside of the housing is D, and 1.5mm≤D≤3mm.

[0007] In some embodiments, the locking structure comprises: a rotating shaft movably mounted to the housing in an axial direction; a clamping block arranged on an outer circumferential wall surface of the rotating shaft; and a handle connected to the clamping block, the handle penetrating the first opening and part of the handle extending to the outside of the housing, the handle being used for a user to hold so that the handle and the clamping block are rotated around the rotating shaft, thereby switching the locking structure between the first position and the second position, in the first position, the clamping block is in clamping engagement with the ribbon cartridge.

[0008] In some embodiments, the carbon tape cartridge has a limiting part, the limiting part has a clamping groove, and the limiting part also has a guide wall that is inclined from a groove opening to a groove bottom of the clamping groove; during movement of the locking structure from the second position to the first position, the guide wall is in contact with the clamping block to guide the clamping block into the clamping groove, and at the first position, the clamping block is clamped in the clamping groove.

[0009] In some embodiments, the bottom wall surface is provided with a buffer groove in communication with the first opening, the buffer groove is arranged around the outer periphery of the first opening; one part of the handle passes through the first opening, another part of the handle is arranged in the buffer groove, and the remaining part of the handle is located outside the shell.

[0010] In some embodiments, the handle includes a first segment and a second segment, one end of the first segment is connected to the clamping block, the other end of the first segment is connected to the second segment, the first segment passes through the first opening, and at least part of the second segment extends outside the shell; the printer further includes a sensor assembly arranged in the mounting cavity, the sensor assembly includes a sensor probe, at the first position, the first segment is in contact with the sensor probe, and at the second position, the first segment is separated from the sensor probe.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first segment is provided with a clearance space, at the first position, part of the sensor assembly is arranged in the clearance space, and the wall surface of the first segment defining the clearance space is in contact with the sensor probe.

[0012] In some embodiments, the handle has a first plane and a second plane, the first plane and the second plane are arranged at an included angle; at the first position, the first plane of the handle is located outside the shell, and the first plane is parallel to the support surface; at the second position, the second plane of the handle is located outside the shell, and the second plane is parallel to the support surface.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first plane and the second plane are respectively provided with a plurality of anti-skid protrusions, the plurality of anti-skid protrusions are arranged side by side along an axial direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft.

[0014] In some embodiments, the printer further includes a bracket arranged in the mounting cavity, the bracket has a guide hole; the carbon tape cartridge has a limiting part, at the first position, the limiting part passes through the guide hole and is connected with the locking structure, and the wall surface of the limiting part is fitted with the wall surface of the guide hole.

[0015] In some embodiments, the support seat is a rubber pad, a silica gel pad or a plastic pad; the shell is provided with a mounting groove, the part of the support seat away from the support surface is arranged in the mounting groove and fixedly installed on the shell, the part of the support seat with the support surface extends out of the mounting groove, and the support surface is parallel to the bottom wall surface.

[0016] In some embodiments, the shell includes a support body protruding from the bottom wall surface, and the support body has the mounting groove.

[0017] In some embodiments, the number of the support seats is multiple, and the multiple support seats are distributed along the periphery of the bottom wall surface; at least part of the first opening is located outside the support seats in a first direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the ribbon cartridge.

[0018] In some embodiments, the number of the support seats is four, and each support seat is distributed along the periphery of the bottom wall surface; the ribbon cartridge is inserted into the mounting cavity along the first direction, and two support seats are distributed along a direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the bottom wall surface, and the first opening extends along the direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the bottom wall surface.

[0019] In some embodiments, the number of the support seats is multiple, and the multiple support seats are distributed along the periphery of the bottom wall surface; the first opening is located between two support seats.

[0020] In some embodiments, the printer further comprises a sensor assembly arranged in the mounting cavity, and the sensor assembly comprises a sensor probe, in the first position, the locking structure and the sensor probe are in contact to trigger the sensor probe to generate a contact signal, and in the second position, the locking structure and the sensor probe are separated to trigger the sensor probe to generate a separation signal; a control assembly electrically connected with the sensor assembly, and the control assembly is configured to control the operating state of the printer according to the contact signal and the separation signal transmitted by the sensor probe.

[0021] In some embodiments, the ribbon cartridge comprises a base, an unwinding roller connected to the base and configured to accommodate unused ribbon, and a winding roller connected to the base and configured to accommodate used ribbon, the winding roller and the unwinding roller are arranged on the same side of the base and side by side; wherein the printer further comprises a bracket arranged in the mounting cavity and mounted to the housing, the bracket has a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole, when the ribbon cartridge is mounted to the housing, the unwinding roller passes through the first mounting hole and is in contact with the wall surface of the bracket defining the first mounting hole, and the winding roller passes through the second mounting hole and is in contact with the wall surface of the bracket defining the second mounting hole.

[0022] In the present application, a locking structure is introduced to fix the position of the carbon ribbon cassette relative to the shell, and the two states of the locking structure in the first position and the second position correspond to the locking and unlocking functions respectively, thereby ensuring that the carbon ribbon cassette can be quickly installed and removed, and the support seat can ensure the stability of the printer placed on the support platform. The support surface of the support seat and the locking structure are arranged in a spaced manner to ensure that a certain size gap is formed between the support surface and the locking structure. When the printer is placed on the platform, the support surface and the platform are in contact and used to bear the entire weight of the printer. At this time, there is a certain gap between the locking structure and the platform, and the gap is the distance L from the support surface to the locking structure, wherein 0.1mm≤L≤3mm. Within the above range, the risk of false touch caused by the contact between the locking structure and the external structure can be effectively reduced, thereby ensuring that the carbon ribbon cassette can be stably installed in the installation cavity during the use of the printer and reducing the risk of ejection of the carbon ribbon cassette. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or the prior art description will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and other drawings can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor.

[0024] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer in one embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a side view of the printer in FIG. 1; Figure 1

[0026] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of A in FIG. 1; Figure 3 Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a split structure schematic view of the printer in FIG. 1;

[0027] Figure 4 Figure 1 FIG. 5 is a schematic view of part of the structure of the printer in one embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 5 FIG. 6 is a sectional view of B-B in FIG. 1;

[0029] Figure 6 FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a locking structure of the printer in one embodiment of the present application; Figure 5

[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a carbon ribbon cassette in one embodiment of the present application; Figure 7

[0031] Figure 8

[0032] ​​​​Figure 9 For Figure 8 An enlarged schematic view at C;

[0033] Figure 10 A perspective structural schematic view of the printer in an embodiment of the present application from another angle.

[0034] Reference signs:

[0035] 100, printer;

[0036] 1, housing; 1a, mounting cavity; 13, locking structure; 131, rotating shaft; 132, clamping block; 133, handle; 133a, first plane; 133b, second plane; 1331, first section; 1332, second section; 134, anti-slip protrusion; 14, bottom wall surface; 14a, first opening; 14b, buffer groove; 15, support main body; 15a, mounting groove;

[0037] 2, carbon tape box; 21, limiting part; 211, clamping groove; 212, guide wall; 22, base; 23, unwinding drum; 24, winding drum;

[0038] 4, support; 41, guide hole; 42, first mounting hole; 43, second mounting hole;

[0039] 5, support seat; 5a, support surface;

[0040] 6, sensor assembly; 61, sensor probe;

[0041] X, first direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the present application clearer, the present application will be further described in detail below in combination with the drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and do not limit the present application.

[0043] In the field of printing technology, a printer is usually composed of a host and a carbon tape box. In order to perform consumable printing operation, the user needs to correctly place the carbon tape box inside the host, and then execute the printing task to meet the basic printing requirement.

[0044] However, in actual application process, when the printer is in unstable environment or subjected to external impact, the carbon tape box may be accidentally ejected from the inside of the host, resulting in that it cannot normally cooperate with the host to complete the printing work. Once the carbon tape box is automatically ejected, not only the ongoing printing task will be interrupted, but also problems such as decline of printing quality and waste of consumables may be caused. In addition, frequent reinstallation of the carbon tape box also increases the operation complexity and time cost of the user, and reduces the overall work efficiency.

[0045] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 To solve the above technical problems, the printer 100 provided by the embodiments of the present application comprises a shell 1, a carbon ribbon cartridge 2, a locking structure 13 and a support seat 5.

[0046] The shell 1 has a mounting cavity 1a, and the outer surface of the shell 1 comprises a bottom wall surface 14 provided with a first opening 14a in communication with the mounting cavity 1a. The carbon ribbon cartridge 2 is arranged in the mounting cavity 1a. One part of the locking structure 13 is arranged in the mounting cavity 1a and movably mounted on the shell 1, and the other part of the locking structure 13 penetrates the first opening 14a and extends to the outside of the shell 1. The locking structure 13 has a first position and a second position. In the first position, the locking structure 13 is connected with the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 to limit the position of the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 relative to the shell 1. In the second position, the locking structure 13 releases the locking of the carbon ribbon cartridge 2, so that the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 can move relative to the shell 1. The support seat 5 is arranged on the bottom wall surface 14 and has a support surface 5a facing away from the bottom wall surface 14. In the direction perpendicular to the support surface 5a, the distance between the support surface 5a and the locking structure 13 is L, and 0.1mm≤L≤3mm.

[0047] In the embodiments of the present application, the locking structure 13 is introduced to fix the position of the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 relative to the shell 1, and the two states of the locking structure 13 in the first position and the second position correspond to the locking and unlocking functions respectively, thereby ensuring that the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 can be quickly installed and disassembled. The support seat 5 can ensure the stability of the printer 100 placed on the support platform. The support surface 5a of the support seat 5 and the locking structure 13 are arranged in a spaced manner, and the support surface 5a is farther away from the bottom wall surface 14 relative to the locking structure 13, so as to ensure that a gap with a certain size is formed between the support surface 5a and the locking structure 13. When the printer 100 is placed on the platform, the support surface 5a is in contact with the platform and is used to bear the whole weight of the printer 100. At this time, there is a certain gap between the locking structure 13 and the platform, and the gap is the distance L between the support surface 5a and the locking structure 13. Please refer to Figure 3 In the above range, the risk of false touch caused by the contact between the locking structure 13 and the external structure can be effectively reduced, thereby ensuring that the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 can be stably installed in the mounting cavity 1a during the use of the printer 100 and reducing the risk of the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 being ejected.

[0048] Specifically, the mounting cavity 1a of the shell 1 is used to accommodate the disassembly and assembly of the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 and other components of the printer 100. The bottom wall surface 14 of the shell 1 is provided with the first opening 14a for the locking structure 13 to penetrate. The locking structure 13 partially penetrates the first opening 14a and protrudes from the bottom wall surface 14. The support seat 5 is mounted on the bottom wall surface 14 and arranged on the same side as the part of the locking structure 13 exposed to the first opening 14a.

[0049] The carbon tape box 2 is the main carrier of the printing consumables (i.e. carbon tape) for providing carbon powder or ink required for printing, and is detachably installed in the installation cavity 1a of the shell 1, and the carbon tape box 2 is mainly locked in position by the locking structure 13.

[0050] Part of the locking structure 13 is installed in the installation cavity 1a, and part of it is exposed to the shell 1, which is convenient for the user to directly operate the locking structure 13 to switch between the first position and the second position, thereby achieving locking and unlocking of the carbon tape box 2, and facilitating the printer 100 to enter the working state or disassemble and replace the carbon tape box 2.

[0051] Correspondingly, the support seat 5 protrudes from the bottom wall surface 14, and the support surface 5a of the support seat 5 is farther away from the bottom wall surface 14 relative to the locking structure 13, so as to support the shell 1, and at the same time, the support seat 5 enables the locking structure 13 to form a certain interval with the external plane, thereby effectively reducing the probability of the carbon tape box 2 being ejected due to failure of the locking structure 13.

[0052] Further, please refer to Figure 3 In the direction perpendicular to the support surface 5a, the farthest distance from the part of the locking structure 13 extending outside the shell 1 to the bottom wall surface 14 is D, and 1.5mm≤D≤3mm. It can be understood that the minimum limit of the farthest distance D ensures that the locking structure 13 can provide sufficient operation space for the user to manually control (such as unlocking or locking the carbon tape box 2) when it extends outside the shell 1, and the maximum value of the farthest distance D ensures that the locking structure 13 will not increase the risk of accidental collision with the outside world due to excessive extension, thereby further reducing the risk of accidental touch of the locking structure 13. Therefore, the farthest distance D from the part of the locking structure 13 extending outside the shell 1 to the bottom wall surface 14 is limited to the range of 1.5mm to 3mm, which can not only ensure the intuitiveness and convenience of user operation, but also take into account the compactness and stability of the structure of the printer 100.

[0053] Specifically, please refer to Figures 5 to 7 The locking structure 13 includes a rotating shaft 131, a clamping block 132, and a handle 133. The rotating shaft 131 is rotatably installed in the shell 1 about its axial direction. The clamping block 132 is arranged on the outer peripheral wall surface of the rotating shaft 131. The handle 133 is connected to the clamping block 132, penetrates the first opening 14a, and part of it extends outside the shell 1. The handle 133 is used for the user to hold to make the handle 133 and the clamping block 132 rotate around the rotating shaft 131, thereby switching the locking structure 13 between the first position and the second position. In the first position, the clamping block 132 is in clamping engagement with the carbon tape box 2.

[0054] It can be understood that the rotating shaft 131 provides a stable rotating fulcrum for the clamping block 132 and the handle 133, ensures that the locking structure 13 is switched between the first position and the second position in a rotating manner, at the same time, the clamping block 132 moves with the rotating shaft 131, and the fixing of the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 is realized through the clamping cooperation with the carbon ribbon cartridge 2. Specifically, when the locking structure 13 is in the first position, the clamping block 132 is embedded in the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 to lock the carbon ribbon cartridge 2, so as to prevent the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 from being displaced; when the locking structure 13 is in the second position, the clamping block 132 is separated from the carbon ribbon cartridge 2, so as to facilitate the user to take out or replace the carbon ribbon cartridge 2. The handle 133 is used for the user to operate, and the user only needs to hold the handle 133 and rotate, so as to drive the clamping block 132 to rotate around the rotating shaft 131, so as to quickly switch the locking structure 13 between the first position and the second position.

[0055] In the embodiment of the present application, the rotating shaft 131, the clamping block 132 and the handle 133 are integrally arranged, so as to drive the clamping block 132 to move when the handle 133 is operated, so as to cooperate and unlock the clamping block 132 and the carbon ribbon cartridge 2, which reduces the operation steps and also ensures the integrity of the locking structure 13.

[0056] Please refer to Figure 8 and Figure 9 , the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 has a limiting portion 21, the limiting portion 21 has a clamping groove 211, and the limiting portion 21 also has a guide wall 212, the guide wall 212 is inclined from the groove opening to the groove bottom of the clamping groove 211; during the movement of the locking structure 13 from the second position to the first position, the guide wall 212 is in contact with the clamping block 132 to guide the clamping block 132 to enter the clamping groove 211, and at the first position, the clamping block 132 is clamped in the clamping groove 211. Specifically, the limiting portion 21 is used in cooperation with the locking structure 13, the limiting portion 21 ensures that the clamping block 132 can accurately and reliably complete the clamping cooperation with the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 through the arrangement of the clamping groove 211 and the guide wall 212, the clamping groove 211 is used to accommodate the clamping block 132 in the locking structure 13, when the locking structure 13 is in the first position, the clamping block 132 is embedded in the clamping groove 211, so as to fix the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 inside the shell 1, which ensures the stability of the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 during printing and avoids the problem of accidental ejection caused by external impact.

[0057] At the same time, the guide wall 212 is inclined from the groove opening to the groove bottom of the clamping groove 211, during the movement of the locking structure 13 from the second position to the first position, the guide wall 212 is in contact with the clamping block 132 and guides it to smoothly enter the clamping groove 211, thereby reducing the operation difficulty of the user, even if there is a certain angle deviation when installing the carbon ribbon cartridge 2, the guide wall 212 can automatically correct the position of the clamping block 132 to ensure that it is accurately clamped into the clamping groove 211.

[0058] Please refer to Figure 1The bottom wall surface 14 is provided with a buffer groove 14b in communication with the first opening 14a, and the buffer groove 14b is arranged around the outer periphery of the first opening 14a. One part of the handle 133 passes through the first opening 14a, another part is arranged in the buffer groove 14b, and the remaining part of the handle 133 is located outside the shell 1. It should be noted that the buffer groove 14b is arranged around the first opening 14a and is used to accommodate part of the structure of the handle 133. When the locking structure 13 switches between the first position and the second position, the groove bottom surface of the buffer groove 14b is in contact with part of the structure of the handle 133, thereby limiting the position of the handle 133 relative to the first opening 14a, so that the handle 133 can rotate flexibly in the buffer groove 14b, while avoiding jamming or damage caused by excessive rotation of the handle 133.

[0059] It can be understood that the arrangement of the buffer groove 14b can improve the durability of the locking structure 13. Specifically, when the user rotates the handle 133, the buffer groove 14b provides a bearing surface for the handle 133, avoiding direct contact and friction between the handle 133 and the shell 1, thereby effectively reducing mechanical wear and prolonging the service life of the handle 133 and its related components. Moreover, the buffer groove 14b ensures the stability and consistency of the handle 133 during rotation. Even if the user applies a larger operating force, the buffer groove 14b can limit and guide the movement of the handle 133, preventing it from deviating from the predetermined trajectory or causing unnecessary shaking, which not only improves the user's operation experience, but also enhances the overall stability of the locking structure 13.

[0060] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The handle 133 includes a first segment 1331 and a second segment 1332. One end of the first segment 1331 is connected to the clamping block 132, and the other end is connected to the second segment 1332. The first segment 1331 passes through the first opening 14a, and at least part of the second segment 1332 extends outside the shell 1. The printer 100 further includes a sensor assembly 6 arranged in the mounting cavity 1a. The sensor assembly 6 includes a sensor probe 61. In the first position, the first segment 1331 is in contact with the sensor probe 61. In the second position, the first segment 1331 is separated from the sensor probe 61.

[0061] Specifically, the handle 133 is divided into a first segment 1331 and a second segment 1332. The first segment 1331 is connected to the clamping block 132 and passes through the first opening 14a to transmit user operations to the clamping block 132 and other structures. The second segment 1332 at least partially extends outside the shell 1 for the user to directly hold. The segmented design makes the function of the handle 133 more explicit.

[0062] The sensor assembly 6 is arranged in the mounting cavity 1a, and the sensor assembly 6 includes a sensor probe 61 for detecting the position state of the first section 1331 of the handle 133: when the locking structure 13 is in the first position, the first section 1331 is in contact with the sensor probe 61; when the locking structure 13 is in the second position, the first section 1331 is separated from the sensor probe 61. In this way, the sensor assembly 6 can monitor the working state of the locking structure 13 in real time and feed back the relevant information to the control system of the printer 100, so as to realize feedback control of the function of the printer 100.

[0063] Specifically, when the locking structure 13 is in the second position, the sensor probe 61 cannot detect the first section 1331 of the handle 133, indicating that the ribbon cartridge 2 has been unlocked and can be replaced or maintained. This real-time monitoring method not only improves the intelligent level of the equipment, but also provides data support for subsequent fault diagnosis and maintenance. At the same time, through the feedback mechanism of the sensor assembly 6, the printer 100 can issue a warning when the locking structure 13 is not correctly switched to the first position, reminding the user to re-operate, which can effectively reduce the problem of accidental ejection of the ribbon cartridge 2 due to loose locking, and significantly improve the safety and reliability of the printer 100.

[0064] In addition, the first section 1331 is provided with a clearance space. In the first position, part of the sensor assembly 6 is arranged in the clearance space, and the wall surface of the clearance space in contact with the sensor probe 61. The main function of the clearance space is to provide accommodation space for part of the structure of the sensor assembly 6 when the locking structure 13 is in the first position, so as to ensure that the sensor probe 61 can accurately detect the state of the locking structure 13, and avoid functional failure caused by interference between components. In addition, the wall surface of the clearance space is in contact with the sensor probe 61 in the first position, which clearly defines the detection point of the sensor probe 61, provides more accurate signal feedback through physical contact, enhances the reliability of the sensor assembly 6, and enables the sensor to stably monitor the state of the locking structure 13.

[0065] It can be understood that the clearance space facilitates the embedding of part of the sensor assembly 6 therein, thereby saving space resources in the mounting cavity 1a, improving the overall layout efficiency of the interior of the printer 100, and providing more flexibility for the arrangement of other components.

[0066] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7, the handle 133 has a first plane 133a and a second plane 133b, the first plane 133a is arranged at an angle with the second plane 133b; in the first position, the first plane 133a of the handle 133 is located outside the shell 1, and the first plane 133a is parallel to the support surface 5a; in the second position, the second plane 133b of the handle 133 is located outside the shell 1, and the second plane 133b is parallel to the support surface 5a. The first plane 133a and the second plane 133b of the handle 133 are arranged at an angle, and the handle 133 can form a parallel relationship with the support surface 5a through the exposed first plane 133a or the second plane 133b in different positions. Specifically, when the printer 100 is placed on the platform surface, the first surface or the second surface of the handle 133 is also arranged in parallel with the platform surface, thereby minimizing the probability of contact between the outside and the surface of the handle 133, preventing accidental rotation of the handle 133, and further reducing the probability of accidental touch of the handle 133.

[0067] To further enhance the stability of the operation of the handle 133, the first plane 133a and the second plane 133b are respectively provided with a plurality of anti-skid protrusions 134, which are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotating shaft 131. It should be noted that the plurality of anti-skid protrusions 134 can increase the friction of the surface of the handle 133. The anti-skid protrusions 134 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotating shaft 131, which ensures that the contact area between the user's fingers and the surface of the handle 133 is maximized when the user rotates the handle 133. This arrangement not only improves the comfort of user operation, but also reduces the operation errors caused by hand sliding.

[0068] The anti-skid protrusions 134 are distributed on the surface of the gripping portion, and the shape and size thereof can be designed according to actual needs (for example, circular, strip-shaped or other geometric shapes), which are not limited herein.

[0069] In some embodiments, reference can be made to Figure 4 The printer 100 further comprises a bracket 4, which is arranged in the mounting cavity 1a and has a guide hole 41; the carbon tape box 2 has a limiting portion 21, which is arranged to pass through the guide hole 41 and be connected with the locking structure 13 in the first position, and the wall surface of the limiting portion 21 is attached to the wall surface of the guide hole 41. It can be understood that the bracket 4 is arranged in the mounting cavity 1a of the shell 1 to assist in positioning and fixing the carbon tape box 2, and the bracket 4 is provided with the guide hole 41 to provide accurate path guidance for the limiting portion 21. When the locking structure 13 is in the first position, the portion of the limiting portion 21 passing through the guide hole 41 is connected with the locking structure 13, and in addition, at least part of the limiting portion 21 is attached to the hole wall of the guide hole 41, thereby forming hard guidance for the movement of the limiting portion 21 and limiting the swing of the carbon tape box 2 in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, so as to ensure that the carbon tape box 2 can always move along the preset path.

[0070] Further, during the installation of the carbon tape cartridge 2, the user pushes the carbon tape cartridge 2 so that the limiting portion 21 extends into the inside of the installation cavity 1a along the guide hole 41, at this time, the locking structure 13 is further moved to switch the locking structure 13 from the second position to the first position, and the fixing of the limiting portion 21 is completed.

[0071] Specifically, the support seat 5 is a rubber pad, a silica gel pad or a plastic pad; the shell 1 is provided with an installation groove 15a, and the part of the support seat 5 away from the support surface 5a is arranged in the installation groove 15a and fixedly installed on the shell 1, and the part of the support seat 5 with the support surface 5a protrudes out of the installation groove 15a, and the support surface 5a is parallel to the bottom wall surface 14. The support seat 5 is made of rubber pad, silica gel pad or plastic pad, which has good elasticity, wear resistance and shock absorption performance. During the operation of the printer 100, the support seat 5 can effectively absorb external impact and vibration, prevent the carbon tape cartridge 2 from being deviated or damaged due to vibration, especially in unstable working environment such as mobile office scene or industrial production site, which can ensure the stable operation of the printer 100 under various conditions, not only improve the durability of the support seat 5, but also enhance the support stability of the carbon tape cartridge 2. In addition, the shell 1 is provided with the installation groove 15a, and the part of the support seat 5 away from the support surface 5a is fixedly installed in the installation groove 15a, while the support surface 5a part protrudes out of the installation groove 15a and is parallel to the bottom wall surface 14, which ensures the stability of the support seat 5 in the shell 1, and provides a flat and reliable support surface 5a for the carbon tape cartridge 2.

[0072] Please continue to refer to Figure 10 The shell 1 includes a support body 15 protruding from the bottom wall surface 14, and the support body 15 has the installation groove 15a. The support body 15 protrudes from the bottom wall surface 14 and provides installation space for the support seat 5. By arranging the installation groove 15a of the support seat 5 in the support body 15, the support seat 5 is installed in the installation groove 15a, so that the side wall of the installation groove 15a can limit the radial displacement of the support seat 5, not only enhancing the installation stability of the support seat 5, but also the installation of the support seat 5 will not occupy the internal space of the shell 1, thereby optimizing the space layout inside the shell 1. In addition, the protruding arrangement of the support body 15 can enhance the bending strength of the local shell 1, thereby improving the strength performance of the whole shell 1.

[0073] Further, the number of the support seats 5 is multiple, and the multiple support seats 5 are distributed along the periphery of the bottom wall surface 14; at least part of the first opening 14a is located outside the support seats 5 in the first direction X perpendicular to the insertion direction of the carbon ribbon cartridge 2. Specifically, the number of the support seats 5 includes 2, 3, or 4 or more, which is not limited herein, and in some embodiments, the multiple support seats 5 can form a polygonal multi-point support such as a triangle or a quadrilateral, so as to uniformly distribute the weight of the printer 100, avoid excessive local stress, keep the center of gravity of the printer 100 inside the polygon, reduce the probability of overturning of the printer 100, and have a better support effect.

[0074] Correspondingly, since at least part of the first opening 14a is located outside the support seats 5 in the first direction X, the layout of the operation area and the support area is separated, the operation space of the locking structure 13 and the support space of the support seats 5 are independent of each other, and the mutual interference of the two is reduced.

[0075] In other embodiments, the number of the support seats 5 is four, and each support seat 5 is distributed along the periphery of the bottom wall surface 14; the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 is inserted into the mounting cavity 1a in the first direction X, wherein two support seats 5 are distributed along a direction perpendicular to the first direction X and parallel to the bottom wall surface 14, and the first opening 14a extends along the direction perpendicular to the first direction X and parallel to the bottom wall surface 14.

[0076] It can be understood that in some embodiments, the four support seats 5 are distributed in a rectangular shape, and this layout ensures uniform stress of the printer 100 placed on a plane, thereby enhancing the stability of the overall structure of the printer 100.

[0077] The first opening 14a extends along the direction perpendicular to the first direction X and parallel to the bottom wall surface 14, so that the moving direction of the locking structure 13 and the direction of mounting the carbon ribbon cartridge 2 are perpendicular, facilitating single-handed operation of the user. Specifically, when the user presses the carbon ribbon cartridge 2, the index finger applies force in the first direction X, and at this time, the middle finger can be used to move the locking structure 13 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction X, so as to switch the position of the locking structure 13. This operation can avoid mutual interference between the two simultaneous operations and facilitate single-handed operation of the user.

[0078] In some other embodiments, the number of the support seats 5 is multiple, and the multiple support seats 5 are distributed along the periphery of the bottom wall surface 14; the first opening 14a is located between two of the support seats 5. Specifically, the number of the support seats 5 includes 2, 3, or 4 or more, which is not limited herein, and in some embodiments, the multiple support seats 5 can form a polygonal multi-point support such as a triangle or a quadrilateral, so as to uniformly distribute the weight of the printer 100, avoid excessive local stress, keep the center of gravity of the printer 100 inside the polygon, reduce the probability of overturning of the printer 100, and have a better support effect.

[0079] In addition, the first opening 14a is located between the two support seats 5, which can reduce the mis-touch or access of the external group to the first opening 14a, and the locking structure 13 is located in the first opening 14a, which ensures that the operation range of the locking structure 13 is between the two support seats 5, so as to fully utilize the gap between the support seats 5 while reducing the interference between the locking structure 13 and the support seats 5.

[0080] In addition, the printer 100 further comprises a sensor assembly 6 arranged in the mounting cavity 1a, and the sensor assembly 6 comprises a sensor probe 61, which is in contact with the locking structure 13 at a first position to trigger the sensor probe 61 to generate a contact signal, and is separated from the locking structure 13 at a second position to trigger the sensor probe 61 to generate a separation signal; and a control assembly electrically connected with the sensor assembly 6, which is used to control the running state of the printer 100 according to the contact signal and the separation signal transmitted by the sensor probe 61.

[0081] Please refer to Figure 6 , the sensor probe 61 in the sensor assembly 6 can detect the position of the locking structure 13, and the control assembly controls the running of the printer 100 according to the position of the locking structure 13, wherein the position state of the locking structure 13 relates to the unlocking or locking state of the ribbon cartridge 2, the sensor assembly 6 can detect the corresponding state of the locking structure 13, and the two different states are directly related to the electrical control signal. Specifically, the control assembly is used to forcibly require the locking state of the ribbon cartridge 2 as a prerequisite for running, so as to reduce the mis-start of the printer 100 in the unlocked state, and a closed-loop system is formed between the state detection and the control execution.

[0082] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 8 , the ribbon cartridge 2 comprises a base 22, a pay-off drum 23 and a take-up drum 24, the pay-off drum 23 is connected to the base 22 and is used to accommodate unused ribbon, the take-up drum 24 is connected to the base 22 and is used to accommodate used ribbon, and the take-up drum 24 and the pay-off drum 23 are located on the same side of the base 22 and are arranged side by side; wherein the printer 100 further comprises a bracket 4 located in the mounting cavity 1a and mounted on the housing 1, the bracket 4 has a first mounting hole 42 and a second mounting hole 43, when the ribbon cartridge 2 is mounted on the housing 1, the pay-off drum 23 passes through the first mounting hole 42 and is in contact with the wall surface of the first mounting hole 42 defined by the bracket 4, and the take-up drum 24 passes through the second mounting hole 43 and is in contact with the wall surface of the second mounting hole 43 defined by the bracket 4.

[0083] Specifically, during the installation of the carbon tape cartridge 2, the unwinding drum 23 and the winding drum 24 are aligned with the first mounting hole 42 and the second mounting hole 43 on the support 4 respectively, and as the carbon tape cartridge 2 is gradually inserted into the installation cavity 1a, the unwinding drum 23 and the winding drum 24 enter the first mounting hole 42 and the second mounting hole 43 respectively, and after the installation is completed, the unwinding drum 23 and the winding drum 24 are in close contact with the wall surface of the first mounting hole 42 and the second mounting hole 43 respectively, forming a stable limiting relationship.

[0084] And during the printing process, the support 4 supports and restricts the unwinding drum 23 and the winding drum 24 through the wall surface of the first mounting hole 42 and the second mounting hole, ensuring that the carbon tape can be stably transmitted, thereby reducing the shaking or deviation of the unwinding drum 23 and the winding drum 24 during operation, and improving the printing quality.

[0085] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the orientations or positional relationships indicated by the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and therefore cannot be understood as indicating or implying that the devices or elements indicated must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present application.

[0086] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined with "first" and "second" can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present application, the meaning of "a plurality of" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically limited.

[0087] In the present application, unless otherwise specifically defined and limited, the terms "installation", "connection", "connection", "fixing" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be fixedly connected, or it can be detachably connected, or it can be integrated; it can be mechanically connected, or it can be electrically connected; it can be directly connected, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium; it can be the communication or interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise specifically limited. For ordinary skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0088] In the present application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the first feature is "on" or "under" the second feature, which can be direct contact between the first and second features, or indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature "above", "above" and "above" the second feature can be directly above or obliquely above the first feature, or only indicate that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The first feature "below", "below" and "below" the second feature can be directly below or obliquely below the first feature, or only indicate that the horizontal height of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.

[0089] In the description of the present application, the description of the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example" or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In the present application, the illustrative description of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or features of different embodiments or examples described in the present application without contradiction.

[0090] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and cannot be understood as limiting the present application, and those skilled in the art can change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A printer (100), characterized by, The printer (100) comprises: a housing (1) having a mounting cavity (1a), an outer surface of the housing (1) comprising a bottom wall surface (14) provided with a first opening (14a) in communication with the mounting cavity (1a); a carbon tape cartridge (2) arranged in the mounting cavity (1a); a locking structure (13), one part of the locking structure (13) being arranged in the mounting cavity (1a) and movably mounted on the housing (1), the other part of the locking structure (13) penetrating the first opening (14a) and extending to the outside of the housing (1), the locking structure (13) having a first position and a second position, in the first position, the locking structure (13) is connected with the carbon tape cartridge (2) to limit the position of the carbon tape cartridge (2) relative to the housing (1), in the second position, the locking structure (13) releases the locking of the carbon tape cartridge (2) so that the carbon tape cartridge (2) can move relative to the housing (1); and a support seat (5) arranged on the bottom wall surface (14), the support seat (5) having a support surface (5a) away from the bottom wall surface (14), wherein in the direction perpendicular to the support surface (5a), the distance from the support surface (5a) to the locking structure (13) is L, 0.1mm≤L≤3mm.

2. The printer (100) of claim 1, characterized in that, In the direction perpendicular to the support surface (5a), the farthest distance from the part of the locking structure (13) extending to the outside of the housing (1) to the bottom wall surface (14) is D, 1.5mm≤D≤3mm.

3. The printer (100) of claim 1, characterized in that, The locking structure (13) comprises: a rotating shaft (131) movably mounted on the housing (1) around its axis; a clamping block (132) arranged on the outer peripheral wall surface of the rotating shaft (131); and a handle (133) connected to the clamping block (132), the handle (133) penetrating the first opening (14a) and part of the handle (133) extending to the outside of the housing (1), the handle (133) being used for the user to hold so that the handle (133) and the clamping block (132) are rotated around the rotating shaft (131), thereby making the locking structure (13) switch between the first position and the second position; In the first position, the clamping block (132) is in clamping cooperation with the carbon tape cartridge (2).

4. The printer (100) of claim 3, characterized in that, The carbon tape cartridge (2) has a limiting part (21), the limiting part (21) has a clamping groove (211), the limiting part (21) further has a guide wall (212), the guide wall (212) is inclined from the slot opening to the slot bottom of the clamping groove (211); During the movement of the locking structure (13) from the second position to the first position, the guide wall (212) is in contact with the clamping block (132) to guide the clamping block (132) into the clamping groove (211), and in the first position, the clamping block (132) is clamped in the clamping groove (211).

5. The printer (100) of claim 3, characterized in that, The bottom wall surface (14) is provided with a buffer groove (14b) in communication with the first opening (14a), the buffer groove (14b) is arranged around the outer periphery of the first opening (14a). Part of the handle (133) penetrates the first opening (14a), another part of the handle (133) is arranged in the buffer groove (14b), and the remaining part of the handle (133) is located outside the shell (1).

6. The printer (100) of claim 3, wherein, The handle (133) comprises a first section (1331) and a second section (1332), one end of the first section (1331) is connected to the clamping block (132), the other end of the first section (1331) is connected to the second section (1332), the first section (1331) penetrates the first opening (14a), and at least part of the second section (1332) extends outside the shell (1); The printer (100) further comprises a sensor assembly (6) arranged in the mounting cavity (1a), the sensor assembly (6) comprises a sensor probe (61), in the first position, the first section (1331) is in contact with the sensor probe (61), and in the second position, the first section (1331) is separated from the sensor probe (61).

7. The printer (100) of claim 6, characterized in that, The first section (1331) is provided with a clearance space, in the first position, part of the sensor assembly (6) is arranged in the clearance space, and the wall surface of the first section (1331) defining the clearance space is in contact with the sensor probe (61).

8. The printer (100) of claim 3, wherein, The handle (133) has a first plane (133a) and a second plane (133b), the first plane (133a) and the second plane (133b) are arranged at an angle; In the first position, the first plane (133a) of the handle (133) is located outside the shell (1), and the first plane (133a) is parallel to the support surface (5a); In the second position, the second plane (133b) of the handle (133) is located outside the shell (1), and the second plane (133b) is parallel to the support surface (5a).

9. The printer (100) of claim 8, characterized in that, The first plane (133a) and the second plane (133b) are respectively provided with a plurality of anti-slip protrusions (134), and the plurality of anti-slip protrusions (134) are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotating shaft (131).

10. The printer (100) of claim 1, wherein, The printer (100) further comprises a bracket (4) arranged in the mounting cavity (1a), the bracket (4) has a guide hole (41); The carbon tape cartridge (2) has a limiting portion (21), in the first position, the limiting portion (21) penetrates the guide hole (41) and is connected with the locking structure (13), and the wall surface of the limiting portion (21) is fitted with the wall surface of the guide hole (41).

11. The printer (100) of claim 1, wherein, The support seat (5) is a rubber pad, a silica gel pad or a plastic pad; The shell (1) is provided with a mounting groove (15a), and a part of the support seat (5) away from the support surface (5a) is arranged in the mounting groove (15a) and fixedly arranged on the shell (1), and the support surface (5a) of the support seat (5) protrudes from the mounting groove (15a), and the support surface (5a) is parallel to the bottom wall surface (14).

12. The printer (100) of claim 11, characterized in that, The shell (1) comprises a support body (15) protruding from the bottom wall surface (14), and the support body (15) is provided with the mounting groove (15a).

13. The printer (100) of claim 1, wherein, The number of the support seats (5) is multiple, and the multiple support seats (5) are distributed along the periphery of the bottom wall surface (14) at intervals. At least a part of the first opening (14a) is arranged outside the support seat (5) in the first direction (X) perpendicular to the insertion direction of the carbon tape cartridge (2).

14. The printer (100) of claim 1, wherein, The number of the support seats (5) is four, and each of the support seats (5) is distributed along the periphery of the bottom wall surface (14) at intervals. The carbon tape cartridge (2) is inserted into the mounting cavity (1a) along the first direction (X), wherein two of the support seats (5) are distributed at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the first direction (X) and parallel to the bottom wall surface (14), and the first opening (14a) extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction (X) and parallel to the bottom wall surface (14).

15. The printer (100) of claim 1, wherein, The number of the support seats (5) is multiple, and the multiple support seats (5) are distributed along the periphery of the bottom wall surface (14) at intervals. The first opening (14a) is located between the two support seats (5).

16. The printer (100) of claim 1, wherein, The printer (100) further comprises: A sensor assembly (6) arranged in the mounting cavity (1a), and the sensor assembly (6) comprises a sensor probe (61), in the first position, the locking structure (13) and the sensor probe (61) are in contact, so as to trigger the sensor probe (61) to generate a contact signal, and in the second position, the locking structure (13) and the sensor probe (61) are separated, so as to trigger the sensor probe (61) to generate a separation signal; A control assembly electrically connected with the sensor assembly (6), and the control assembly is used for controlling the running state of the printer (100) according to the contact signal and the separation signal transmitted by the sensor probe (61).

17. The printer (100) of claim 1, wherein, The carbon tape cartridge (2) comprises: A base (22); An unwinding drum (23) connected to the base (22) and used for accommodating unused carbon tape; and A winding drum (24) connected to the base (22) and used for accommodating used carbon tape, and the winding drum (24) is arranged on the same side of the base (22) as the unwinding drum (23) and side by side with the unwinding drum (23). The printer (100) further comprises a support (4) located in the installation cavity (1a) and mounted on the shell (1), the support (4) having a first installation hole (42) and a second installation hole (43), when the carbon ribbon cartridge (2) is mounted on the shell (1), the unwinding roller (23) passes through the first installation hole (42) and contacts with the wall surface of the support (4) defining the first installation hole (42), and the winding roller (24) passes through the second installation hole (43) and contacts with the wall surface of the support (4) defining the second installation hole (43).

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