Adaptive printhead structure for portable printers

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of self-adapting print head structure for portable printer: including mounting plate, the floating plate is movably connected in the mounting plate lower, the print head support is installed in the floating plate lower, the print head piece is installed in the print head support lower, at least one limit block is slidably connected in the mounting plate upper, the mounting plate is opened in the limit block upper limit block and is provided with the gap slot. The utility model design is reasonable, through the switching between the gap between the mounting plate and the print head mounting bracket of printer between the two stops of limit block sliding into gap and limit block, the distance between print head and printer rubber roll is adjusted, the switching between flexible label and conventional transfer label paper can be adapted by printer, and multiple equipment is not needed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to an adaptive printhead structure for a portable printer. Background Technology

[0002] The ribbon printhead is a key component of portable printers, and also a fragile and easily damaged device. It is responsible for transferring the ink from the ribbon onto labels or paper to achieve information printing. In industrial production, its performance directly affects printing quality and efficiency.

[0003] Label paper is widely used in industrial and commercial environments, such as product identification, traceability, logistics management, information classification and recording. For different environments, the types and thicknesses of label paper vary considerably. For example, there are common thermal transfer label paper and flexible RFID label paper. Flexible RFID labels are RFID electronic tags encapsulated with special anti-magnetic and wave-absorbing materials, solving the problem that ordinary labels cannot work stably on metal surfaces. However, the thickness of flexible RFID labels is much greater than that of common thermal transfer label paper. Therefore, printing common thermal transfer label paper cannot print flexible RFID labels. Conversely, printers that print flexible RFID labels have excessively large printing gaps and cannot clearly print common thermal transfer label paper. Therefore, different printing equipment is required for both, causing inconvenience to users. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of this utility model is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an adaptive printhead structure for a portable printer. The design is reasonable. By switching between two positions, namely the limit block sliding into the clearance groove and the limit block being stuck between the mounting plate and the printhead mounting bracket of the printer, the gap between the printhead and the printer roller can be adjusted. This allows the printer to adapt to the switching between flexible label and conventional transfer label paper without the need for multiple devices.

[0005] This utility model is achieved by the following scheme: an adaptive printhead structure for a portable printer, including a mounting plate: a floating plate is movably connected to the underside of the mounting plate, a printhead support is installed under the floating plate, a printhead plate is installed under the printhead support, at least one limiting block is slidably connected above the mounting plate, and a clearance groove is provided on the mounting plate corresponding to the limiting block.

[0006] Furthermore, the limiting block includes a limiting slide plate, and an abutting boss is provided at one end of the limiting slide plate in the sliding direction. The abutting boss and the lower surface of the plate body at the other end of the limiting slide plate in the sliding direction are connected by an inclined surface. The limiting slide plate is slidably attached to the printhead mounting bracket of the printer, and the abutting boss is slidably attached to the mounting plate.

[0007] Furthermore, L-shaped floating plate fixing frames are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides under the mounting plate. The horizontal part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame is on top and the vertical part is on the bottom. The horizontal part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame is fixed to the bottom of the mounting plate, and the floating plate is movably connected between the vertical parts of the two L-shaped floating plate fixing frames.

[0008] Furthermore, floating flaps are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the floating plate, and the floating flaps slide onto the vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame on the same side. The floating plate and the mounting plate are connected by at least one spring.

[0009] Furthermore, a limiting post is provided under the mounting plate corresponding to the spring, and a limiting hole is provided on the floating plate corresponding to the spring. One end of the spring is sleeved on the limiting post and fixed to the mounting plate, and the other end is sleeved in the limiting hole and fixed to the floating plate.

[0010] Furthermore, the floating flap has a U-shaped groove corresponding to the printer roller.

[0011] Furthermore, an extension plate is provided on the front or rear side of the floating flap, and a tension roller is rotatably connected between the extension plates of the two floating flaps.

[0012] Furthermore, a sliding block is provided on the outer side of the floating folding ear, and a sliding groove is provided on the vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame corresponding to the sliding block.

[0013] Furthermore, an inner hook is installed on the vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame, and an inner notch is provided on the floating folding ear corresponding to the inner hook.

[0014] Furthermore, the vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame is provided with a clearance slot, and an external hook is provided in the clearance slot.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. By switching between two positions—the limit block sliding into the clearance groove and the limit block being stuck between the mounting plate and the printer's printhead mounting bracket—the gap between the printhead and the printer's rollers can be adjusted, allowing the printer to adapt to switching between flexographic labels and regular transfer label paper without requiring multiple devices. 2. The cooperation between the spring, the floating folding lug sliding block, and the sliding groove on the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame helps to ensure that the print head adapts to the thickness of the label paper during printing, ensuring the tension between the print head plate, the ribbon, and the label paper. At the same time, the U-shaped groove ensures that the printing line on the print head plate is always parallel to the axis of the rubber roller, ensuring clear printing. 3. The external hooks on the L-shaped floating plate holder facilitate quick assembly and disassembly of the printhead, making it easy to clean the printhead. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the assembly state of this utility model; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional illustration of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 4 This is a side sectional view of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional illustration of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged view of point B in the middle; Figure 7 This is an exploded view of the present invention.

[0017] In the diagram: 1-Mounting plate; 2-Floating plate; 3-Print head support; 4-Print head plate; 5-Limiting block; 6-Leaning groove; 7-Limiting slide plate; 8-Abutting boss; 9-Inclined surface; 10-Guide bracket; 11-Groove; 12-L-shaped floating plate fixing bracket; 13-Spring; 14-Limiting post; 15-Limiting hole; 16-Floating folding ear; 17-Sliding block; 18-Slide groove; 19-Inner hook; 20-Inner notch; 21-U-shaped groove; 22-Extension plate; 23-Tension roller; 24-Leaning groove hole; 25-Outer hook; 1a-Print head mounting bracket; 1b-Guide groove; 1c-Protrusion; 1d-Glue roller; 1f-Slot. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0019] It should be noted that the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation of this application. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains.

[0020] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this patent. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms “comprising” and / or “including” are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0021] like Figure 1-7As shown, an adaptive printhead structure for a portable printer includes a mounting plate 1, a floating plate 2 movably connected below the mounting plate, a printhead support 3 mounted below the floating plate, a printhead plate 4 mounted below the printhead support, and at least one limiting block 5 slidably mounted above the mounting plate. The mounting plate has clearance grooves 6 corresponding to the limiting blocks. Preferably, two limiting blocks and two corresponding clearance grooves are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides. Through the adaptive movement of the floating plate corresponding to the printing roller 1d during use, the printhead plate can adaptively fine-tune according to the movement of the label paper, ensuring close contact between the printhead plate and the label paper, guaranteeing print clarity. Simultaneously, the sliding of the limiting blocks on the mounting plate allows the limiting blocks to be positioned between the mounting plate and the printer. The gap between the printhead mounting bracket and the printer head mounting bracket allows the limiting block to fall into the clearance groove or slide out from the clearance groove into the gap between the mounting plate and the printer head mounting bracket, thereby switching the spacing between the printhead structure and the lower printer roller. When the limiting block falls into the clearance groove, the printer can print thicker labels such as flexible labels, with a thickness range including but not limited to 1.0mm-1.5mm. When the limiting block is located in the gap between the mounting plate and the printer head mounting bracket, the printer can print regular thinner thermal transfer paper, with a thickness range including but not limited to 0.2mm~1.0mm. When the limiting block does not fall into the clearance groove, the bottom surface of the limiting block abuts against or is close to the top surface of the mounting plate.

[0022] In this embodiment, to achieve the switching of the gap between the printhead structure and the lower printer roller, the specific limiting block structure is as follows: the limiting block includes a limiting slide plate 7, one end of which has an abutment boss 8 in the sliding direction. The abutment boss and the lower surface of the plate body at the other end of the sliding direction of the limiting slide plate are connected by an inclined surface 9. The limiting slide plate slides onto the printhead mounting bracket 1a of the printer. The printhead mounting bracket may have a guide groove 1b corresponding to the limiting slide plate. A guide bracket 10 is provided on the upper part of the limiting slide plate, and the guide bracket slides into the guide groove. At the same time, grooves 11 are provided on the upper surfaces of both ends of the limiting slide plate in the sliding direction. The printhead mounting bracket has protrusions 1c at the positions where the limiting block slides into the clearance groove and at the extreme positions of the limiting block in the gap between the mounting plate and the printer's printhead mounting bracket. The groove and the protrusion cooperate to lock the position. The abutment boss slides on the mounting plate, that is, the bottom surface of the abutment boss abuts against or is close to the top surface of the mounting plate. In use, the sliding guide bracket is used to slide the limiting slide plate, thereby realizing the abutment boss sliding into or out of the clearance groove, realizing the switching of the gap between the printhead structure and the lower printer roller. The inclined surface is used for the transition between the edge of the abutment boss and the edge of the clearance groove when sliding in or out.

[0023] In this embodiment, to achieve the installation of the floating plate, L-shaped floating plate fixing frames 12 are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides under the mounting plate. The horizontal part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame is on top and the vertical part is on the bottom. The horizontal part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame is screwed to the left and right ends of the mounting plate. The floating plate is movably connected between the vertical parts of the two L-shaped floating plate fixing frames. The floating plate is movably connected by vertically lifting between the vertical parts of the two L-shaped floating plate fixing frames. The floating plate and the mounting plate are connected by at least one spring 13. In this embodiment, two springs are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides. Of course, more springs are also possible. The floating plate is adjusted by the springs. The spacing between the printhead plate mounted on the floating plate and the printer roller is adaptively fine-tuned. Since the thickness of different printed papers in the same position is also within a range, spring adjustment is required to achieve adaptive fine-tuning of the spacing between the printhead plate mounted on the floating plate and the printer roller. More specifically, the structure is as follows: a limiting post 14 is provided under the mounting plate corresponding to the spring, and a limiting hole 15 is provided on the floating plate corresponding to the spring. One end of the spring is sleeved on the outside of the limiting post and fixed to the mounting plate, and the other end is sleeved in the limiting hole and fixed to the floating plate. The positioning of the spring is achieved by the cooperation of the limiting hole and the limiting post. The two springs on the left and right can ensure balanced force.

[0024] In this embodiment, to achieve the lifting and lowering of the floating plate, floating flaps 16 are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the floating plate. The floating flaps slide and connect to the vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame on the same side. Specifically, a sliding block 17 is provided on the outer side of the floating flap, and a sliding groove 18 is provided on the vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame corresponding to the sliding block. The lifting and lowering of the floating plate and the limiting of the extreme position are achieved through the cooperation between the sliding block and the sliding groove. Furthermore, for assistance, an inner hook 19 is installed on the vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame. The hook head of the inner hook faces inward, and an inner notch 20 is provided on the floating flap corresponding to the inner hook. The vertical length of the inner notch is longer than the vertical thickness of the hook head of the inner hook to avoid interference when the floating plate slides.

[0025] In this embodiment, in order to ensure that the top surface of the printing roller used to feed label paper inside the printer is always tangent to the print head plate, the floating folding ear is provided with a U-shaped groove 21 with an opening facing downwards corresponding to the printing roller. The U-shaped groove is fastened to the roller, so that the printing line on the print head plate is always parallel to the axis of the roller, ensuring clear printing.

[0026] In this embodiment, an extension plate 22 is provided on the front or rear side of the floating flap, and a tensioning roller 23 is rotatably connected between the extension plates of the two floating flaps so as to guide the carbon ribbon and realize the tensioning and flattening of the carbon ribbon.

[0027] In this embodiment, to facilitate the connection between the printhead and the printer's printhead mounting bracket and to enable quick assembly and disassembly of the printhead, a clearance slot 24 is provided on the vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing bracket. An external hook 25 is provided in the clearance slot, with the hook head facing outward. The printhead is installed by engaging with the slot 1f on the printer's printhead mounting bracket. The printhead is disassembled from the printhead mounting bracket by pressing the external hook inward and disengaging it from the slot. Of course, due to the changing gap between the printhead structure and the lower printer roller, the slot on the printhead mounting bracket needs to allow for the vertical movement of the hook head.

[0028] Unless otherwise stated, if any of the technical solutions disclosed in this utility model discloses a numerical range, then the disclosed numerical range is a preferred numerical range. Any person skilled in the art should understand that the preferred numerical range is merely one among many feasible numerical values ​​that has a more obvious or representative technical effect. Because there are many numerical values, it is impossible to list them all. Therefore, this utility model discloses only some numerical values ​​to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model. Furthermore, the numerical values ​​listed above should not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0029] If the terms "first" or "second" are used in this document to specify components, those skilled in the art should know that the use of "first" or "second" is merely for the purpose of distinguishing components in description, and unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning.

[0030] If this utility model discloses or relates to mutually fixedly connected parts or structural components, then unless otherwise stated, a fixed connection can be understood as: a detachable fixed connection (e.g., using bolts or screws), or a non-detachable fixed connection (e.g., riveting, welding). Of course, mutually fixed connections can also be replaced by an integral structure (e.g., manufactured by integral molding using a casting process) (except where it is obviously impossible to use an integral molding process).

[0031] Furthermore, the orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "longitudinal," "lateral," "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer" used in any of the technical solutions disclosed in this utility model are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this patent. They are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this patent. In addition, unless otherwise stated, the terms used to indicate shape in any of the technical solutions disclosed in this utility model include shapes that are similar to, close to, or approximate with it.

[0032] Any component provided by this utility model can be assembled from multiple individual components, or it can be a single component manufactured by a one-piece molding process.

[0033] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of this utility model and not to limit it; although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the specific implementation of this utility model or equivalent substitutions can be made to some technical features without departing from the spirit of the technical solution of this utility model, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the technical solution claimed by this utility model.

Claims

1. An adaptive printhead structure for a portable printer, comprising a mounting plate, characterized in that: A floating plate is movably connected to the mounting plate, a printhead support is installed under the floating plate, a printhead plate is installed under the printhead support, and at least one limiting block is slidably connected above the mounting plate, with a clearance groove provided on the mounting plate corresponding to the limiting block.

2. The adaptive printhead structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The limiting block includes a limiting slide plate, and an abutting boss is provided at one end of the limiting slide plate in the sliding direction. The abutting boss and the lower surface of the plate body at the other end of the limiting slide plate in the sliding direction are connected by an inclined surface. The limiting slide plate is slidably attached to the printhead mounting bracket of the printer, and the abutting boss is slidably attached to the mounting plate.

3. The adaptive printhead structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting plate is symmetrically provided with L-shaped floating plate fixing frames on the left and right sides. The horizontal part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame is on top and the vertical part is on the bottom. The horizontal part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame is fixed to the bottom of the mounting plate, and the floating plate is movably connected between the vertical parts of the two L-shaped floating plate fixing frames.

4. The adaptive printhead structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The floating plate is symmetrically provided with floating flaps on its left and right sides. The floating flaps slide onto the vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame on the same side. The floating plate and the mounting plate are connected by at least one spring.

5. The adaptive printhead structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: A limiting post is provided under the mounting plate corresponding to the spring, and a limiting hole is provided on the floating plate corresponding to the spring. One end of the spring is sleeved on the outside of the limiting post and fixed to the mounting plate, and the other end is sleeved in the limiting hole and fixed to the floating plate.

6. The adaptive printhead structure according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that: The floating flap has a U-shaped groove corresponding to the printer roller.

7. The adaptive printhead structure according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that: An extension plate is provided on the front or rear side of the floating flap, and a tension roller is rotatably connected between the extension plates of the two floating flaps.

8. The adaptive printhead structure according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that: A sliding block is provided on the outer side of the floating folding lug, and a sliding groove is provided on the vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame corresponding to the sliding block.

9. The adaptive printhead structure according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that: An inner hook is installed on the vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame, and an inner notch is provided on the floating folding ear corresponding to the inner hook.

10. The adaptive printhead structure according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that: The vertical part of the L-shaped floating plate fixing frame is provided with a clearance slot, and an external hook is provided in the clearance slot.

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