A thermal printer for medical dry film

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of medical printing equipment technology, and more particularly to a thermal printer for medical dry films, which solves the problem in existing technologies where the lack of dry hot air during printer standby causes the film to become damp and stick together. A thermal printer for medical dry films includes a film cassette and a connecting cover. The film cassette has a flip-top, a film outlet on one bottom side, and an opening on the other side. The connecting cover is detachably connected to the side wall of the film cassette and communicates with the opening. This utility model, by independently setting up a blower and heating wire, can actively deliver dry hot air into the film cassette during equipment operation or standby, effectively preventing the film from sticking together due to moisture, and improving storage stability and printing reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical printing equipment technology, and in particular to a thermal printer for medical dry film. Background Technology

[0002] A thermal printer is a precision device that uses a thermal printhead to heat thermal materials, printing images or text by controlling the temperature and time of the heating point. Due to its compact structure, high printing speed, inkless operation, and ease of maintenance, it is widely used in various fields such as medical, financial, and logistics. Medical dry film, as an important medium for modern medical image output, is widely used for printing and archiving medical images such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. Its image quality directly affects the accuracy of clinical diagnosis. Compared to traditional wet film, dry film does not require chemical washing, is environmentally friendly and convenient, and has become the mainstream choice for medical image output.

[0003] Utility model patent CN 211106405 U discloses a medical dry thermal film printer, which utilizes the radiant heat generated by the thermal printhead during operation to guide the film into the film cassette system via a drying hot air flow channel, thereby achieving film drying and preventing sticking. While this solution achieves some utilization of waste heat, it has significant technical drawbacks: the drying system relies on the heat generated by the printhead during printing, providing drying hot air only when the printer is running; when the device is in standby or has not been used for a long time, the printhead is not working and cannot generate sufficient heat, causing the drying system to fail, the humidity inside the film cassette to rise, and the film may still become damp and stick together.

[0004] Therefore, to address the shortcomings of existing technologies, we urgently need a thermal printer for medical dry film to solve this problem. This new type of thermal printer should be able to continuously provide a drying environment both during operation and standby, possessing an independently controllable drying function. This would significantly improve the stability of film storage and the reliability of print quality, while better meeting the demands of modern medical environments for highly stable and available imaging output equipment, thus providing strong support for the continued development of the medical imaging industry. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a thermal printer for medical dry films, which solves the problem in the prior art where the drying system relies on the heat generated by the print head during the printing process, and can only provide drying hot air when the printer is running; when the device is in standby or has not been used for a long time, the print head does not work and cannot generate enough heat, causing the drying system to fail, the humidity inside the film cassette to rise, and the film may still become damp and stick together.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A thermal printer for medical dry film includes a film cassette and a connecting cover. The top of the film cassette has a placement opening, and the top of the placement opening is provided with a flip cover that is rotatably connected to the top of the film cassette. The bottom of one side of the film cassette has a film outlet, and the other side of the film cassette has an opening. The connecting cover is detachably connected to the side wall of the film box and communicates with the opening. One side of the connecting cover is connected to a blower through a docking cylinder. The air inlet of the blower is connected to a filter structure. The blower and the docking cylinder are connected through a support structure. The interior of the docking cylinder is connected to a mounting frame, and the interior of the mounting frame is connected to several heating wires.

[0007] The film box has a partition inside, near the opening, and a number of air ducts are provided on one side of the partition.

[0008] The film cassette has positioning plates connected to both sides, and the connecting cover has side plates fixedly connected to both sides. Each side plate has a positioning screw with one end threaded through the side plate, and one end of the positioning screw is connected to the positioning plate.

[0009] The supporting structure includes an installation sleeve, with one end of the connecting cylinder connected to the inner side of the installation sleeve, and the blower connected to the other side of the installation sleeve.

[0010] The diameter of the connecting cover on the side closer to the film cassette is larger than the diameter on the other side, and the side of the connecting cover closer to the film cassette is adapted to the side wall of the film cassette.

[0011] The filter structure includes an air inlet duct and a cylinder. One end of the air inlet duct is connected to the air inlet of the blower, and the other end is connected to the cylinder. One end of the cylinder has an external thread on its outer ring, and one side of the cylinder has an internal thread cylinder. A filter plate is connected to one side of the internal thread cylinder.

[0012] This utility model has at least the following beneficial effects: By incorporating an active drying system that combines a blower and heating wire independent of the printhead, the technical problem of insufficient continuous drying in standby mode due to reliance on printhead waste heat is effectively solved. This allows the equipment to actively supply hot drying air to the film cassette as needed, whether in operation or standby, significantly improving the stability of the film storage environment. The detachable connection between the connecting cover and the film cassette side wall not only facilitates installation and maintenance but also ensures flexible configuration and sealing of the drying airflow channel. The heating wire inside the connecting cylinder instantly heats the incoming air, and combined with the filter structure at the front of the blower, it not only heats the air entering the film cassette but also effectively removes dust particles. The dual-layer design ensures both film surface cleanliness and dryness, further reducing the risk of film adhesion or printing defects caused by moisture and contamination. The flip-top design, which rotates to connect with the top of the film cassette, facilitates film replacement while keeping the cassette closed when not in use to minimize moisture intrusion. The film outlet is located at the bottom of one side of the film cassette, conforming to the logic of film falling by gravity and facilitating stable gripping by the automated film retrieval mechanism. The overall structure, through the cooperation of the connecting cover and the docking cylinder, connects the external heating air source to the film storage space, breaking through the traditional passive drying mode that relies on the residual heat of the printhead. This enables independent and controllable drying function, enhancing the equipment's adaptability to different environmental humidity conditions, making it particularly suitable for use in humid areas or scenarios with significant seasonal changes. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the docking cylinder and the blower structure of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the film box and partition structure of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal threaded cylinder and filter plate structure of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the mounting sleeve and support frame structure of this utility model.

[0015] In the diagram: 1. Film outlet; 2. Film box; 3. Flip cover; 4. Connecting cover; 5. Air inlet; 6. Cylinder; 7. Connecting cylinder; 8. Mounting sleeve; 9. Blower; 10. Positioning plate; 11. Partition plate; 12. Positioning screw; 13. Side plate; 14. Heating wire; 15. External thread; 16. Internal thread cylinder; 17. Filter plate; 18. Support frame. Detailed Implementation

[0016] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model.

[0017] Example 1 Please see Figure 1-5 As shown, a medical dry film thermal printer of this embodiment includes a film cassette 2 and a connecting cover 4. The top of the film cassette 2 has a placement opening, and the top of the placement opening is provided with a flip cover 3 that is rotatably connected to the top of the film cassette 2. A film outlet 1 is provided on the bottom of one side of the film cassette 2, and an opening is provided on the other side of the film cassette 2. The connecting cover 4 is detachably connected to the side wall of the film box 2 and communicates with the opening. One side of the connecting cover 4 is connected to the blower 9 through the docking cylinder 7. The air inlet of the blower 9 is connected to the filter structure. The blower 9 and the docking cylinder 7 are connected by a support structure. The interior of the docking cylinder 7 is connected to the mounting frame, and the interior of the mounting frame is connected to several heating wires 14.

[0018] Workflow: When storing or preparing medical dry films for printing, first open the flip cover 3 on top of the film cassette 2, and place the stacked dry films into the film cassette 2 through the placement port. Then close the flip cover 3 to reduce the entry of external moisture. When the equipment is in standby or ready state, even if the thermal print head is not working, the blower 9 can be started as needed. External air first passes through a filter structure for dust removal and purification to ensure that the air entering the system is clean and to prevent dust from adhering to the film surface and affecting print quality. The purified air enters the air inlet of the blower 9 and is driven by it to be delivered to the inside of the connecting cover 4 through the docking cylinder 7. During the air flow through the docking cylinder 7, several heating wires 14 on its internal mounting frame are energized and heated to actively heat the flowing air, forming dry hot air. The heated dry hot air enters the connecting cover 4, which is detachably connected to the side wall of the film cassette 2, through the docking cylinder 7. The cover 4 is connected to the opening on the other side of the film cassette 2, allowing hot air to flow evenly into the interior space of the film cassette 2. During the flow of hot air inside the film cassette 2, the relative humidity of the internal environment is effectively reduced, continuously drying the stored dry film and preventing the films from sticking together due to moisture accumulation. After use, the blower 9 and the docking cylinder 7 can be stably connected through the support structure to ensure the reliability of airflow delivery. At the same time, the detachable connection between the cover 4 and the film cassette 2 facilitates internal cleaning or maintenance. When the printing task is started, the film is taken out one by one from the film outlet 1 by the film taking mechanism and sent into the printing area by the film conveying system. The thermal print head and the printing roller complete the image printing. Throughout the process, the film maintains a good separation state due to the pre-processing and continuous drying, avoiding carding or ghosting, thereby ensuring the continuity of the printing process and the stability of the image quality.

[0019] Example 2 Please see Figure 1-5 As shown in this embodiment, a thermal printer for medical dry films has a partition 11 inside the film cassette 2 near the opening. Several air ducts are provided on one side of the partition 11. Specifically, through the partition 11 and the several air ducts on one side, after the hot air enters the film cassette 2 from the connecting cover 4, it is guided by the partition 11 and the airflow is evenly distributed to various areas of the film cassette 2 through the air ducts. This avoids the hot air directly impacting the film stacking surface, causing displacement or damage, and at the same time promotes the even distribution of temperature and humidity in the entire storage space, thereby improving drying uniformity and preventing localized dampness and film deformation.

[0020] The support structure includes a mounting sleeve 8, with one end of the outer ring of the docking cylinder 7 connected to the inner side of the mounting sleeve 8, and the blower 9 connected to the other side of the inner side of the mounting sleeve 8. Support frames 18 are connected to both sides of the bottom of the mounting sleeve 8. Specifically, through the arrangement of the mounting sleeve 8, the docking cylinder 7, and the blower 9, one end of the outer ring of the docking cylinder 7 is connected to the inner side of the mounting sleeve 8, and the blower 9 is connected to the other side of the inner side of the mounting sleeve 8, forming an integrated support and connection unit. The mounting sleeve 8 serves as a common mounting base, effectively bearing and positioning the relative position between the blower 9 and the docking cylinder 7, reducing vibration transmission, ensuring coaxial connection of the airflow channel, and achieving the effects of improving component assembly accuracy, enhancing operational stability, and simplifying the external support structure.

[0021] Example 3 Please see Figure 1-5 As shown in this embodiment, a thermal dry film printer for medical use has positioning plates 10 connected to both sides of the film cassette 2, and side plates 13 fixedly connected to both sides of the connecting cover 4. Each side plate 13 has a positioning screw 12 with one end threaded through it. One end of the positioning screw 12 is connected to the positioning plate 10. Specifically, through the arrangement of the positioning plates 10, side plates 13, and positioning screw 12, when the connecting cover 4 is aligned with the film cassette 2, the side plates 13 on both sides correspond to and fit with the positioning plates 10 on the film cassette 2. Rotating the positioning screw 12 causes one end to screw into the positioning plate 10, thereby firmly fixing the connecting cover 4 to the side wall of the film cassette 2. This achieves a detachable and stable mechanical connection between the connecting cover 4 and the film cassette 2, enhancing the reliability of the structural connection, preventing loosening and falling off during operation, and facilitating quick disassembly and maintenance.

[0022] The diameter of the connecting cover 4 on the side near the film box 2 is larger than the diameter on the other side, and the side of the connecting cover 4 near the film box 2 is adapted to the side wall of the film box 2. Specifically, by setting the diameter of the connecting cover 4 on the side near the film box 2 to be larger than the diameter on the other side, and the side adapting to the side wall of the film box 2, the connecting cover 4 has a gradually expanding structure, which can better fit the outer contour of the film box 2, increase the contact sealing area, and after being installed in conjunction with the positioning plate 10, the side plate 13 and the positioning screw 12, it effectively reduces the leakage of hot air from the connection, and at the same time guides the airflow to diffuse smoothly into the interior of the film box 2, thereby achieving the effects of improving airflow sealing, improving hot air utilization efficiency and optimizing the internal airflow distribution.

[0023] The filter structure includes an air inlet duct 5 and a cylinder 6. One end of the air inlet duct 5 is connected to the air inlet of the blower 9, and the other end is connected to the cylinder 6. One end of the cylinder 6 has an external thread 15 on its outer ring, and one side of the cylinder 6 has an internal thread cylinder 16. A filter plate 17 is connected to one side of the internal thread cylinder 16. Specifically, through the arrangement of the air inlet duct 5, cylinder 6, external thread 15, internal thread cylinder 16, and filter plate 17, external air is first introduced into the cylinder 6 through the air inlet duct 5, and then fixed by screwing the internal thread cylinder 16 into the external thread 15 at the end of the cylinder 6, so that the filter plate 17 is stably installed in the airflow path, physically intercepting and removing dust from the incoming air. When cleaning or replacement is required, the internal thread cylinder 16 can be unscrewed to remove the filter plate 17 for maintenance, achieving the effects of efficient air filtration, ensuring the cleanliness of the film surface, preventing dust contamination of the imaging area, and facilitating the later maintenance and replacement of filter elements.

[0024] Workflow: When storing or preparing medical dry films for printing, first open the flip cover 3 on top of the film cassette 2, and place the stacked dry films into the film cassette 2 through the placement port. Then close the flip cover 3 to reduce the intrusion of external moisture. When the equipment is in standby or ready state, even if the thermal print head is not working, the blower 9 can be started as needed. External air first enters the cylinder 6 area through the air inlet duct 5, and is fixed by the internal threaded cylinder 16 engaging with the external thread 15 at the end of the cylinder 6, so that the filter plate 17 is stably positioned in the airflow path, and the air is purified to ensure that the air entering the system is clean. The purified air enters the air inlet of the blower 9, and under the drive of the blower 9, passes through the mounting sleeve 8. The airflow is conveyed to the docking cylinder 7 via a channel; one end of the mounting sleeve 8 is connected to the outer ring of the docking cylinder 7, and the other end is connected to the blower 9, forming an integrated support structure. At the same time, the support frames 18 on both sides of the bottom of the mounting sleeve 8 provide additional support to enhance the overall stability; after the airflow enters the docking cylinder 7, it flows through several heating wires 14 connected to the mounting frame inside. The heating wires 14 are energized and generate heat, actively heating the air to form dry hot air; the heated dry hot air enters the connecting cover 4 through the docking cylinder 7. The diameter of the connecting cover 4 on the side near the film box 2 is larger than that on the other side, and it is adapted to the side wall of the film box 2 to achieve a good fit and seal; the connecting cover 4 is aligned with the positioning plates 10 on both sides of the film box 2 by rotating the positioning screw 1 2. One end of the connecting cover 4 is threaded through the side plate 13 and screwed into the positioning plate 10, thereby detachably and securely connecting the connecting cover 4 to the side wall of the film cassette 2 and communicating with the opening on the other side of the film cassette 2, allowing dry hot air to flow smoothly into the film cassette 2. After the hot air enters the film cassette 2, it first contacts the partition 11 located near the opening. Under the guiding effect of the partition 11, the airflow is evenly distributed to various areas of the film cassette 2 through several air channels opened on one side, avoiding the hot air directly impacting the film stacking surface and causing displacement or damage, while promoting the balanced distribution of temperature and humidity in the entire storage space. The continuously flowing dry hot air effectively reduces the relative humidity of the internal environment of the film cassette 2, continuously drying the stored dry film and preventing moisture accumulation. This can cause the films to stick together. When the printing job starts, the films are taken out one by one from the film outlet 1 at the bottom of the film box 2 by the film taking mechanism. They are then sent into the printing area by the film conveying system, where the thermal print head and printing roller complete the image printing. Throughout the process, the films are kept in good separation due to the pre- and continuous drying process, avoiding carding or ghosting, thus ensuring the continuity of the printing process and the stability of the image quality. After use, the connecting cover 4 can be quickly disassembled by loosening the positioning screw 12, which facilitates the cleaning and maintenance of the inside of the film box 2, the partition 11, the air duct and the connecting area. At the same time, the filter plate 17 can be taken out by unscrewing the inner threaded cylinder 16 for replacement or cleaning, ensuring that the filter structure works effectively for a long time.

[0025] Beneficial effects: This medical dry film thermal printer effectively solves the technical problem in existing technologies where continuous drying in standby mode is impossible due to reliance on residual heat from the printhead by using an active drying system consisting of a blower 9 and a heating wire 14 that operates independently of the printhead. This allows the device to actively supply dry hot air to the film cassette 2 as needed, whether in operation or standby, significantly improving the stability of the film storage environment. The flip-top 3 on the top of the film cassette 2 is rotatably connected to the cassette body, facilitating film replacement and allowing it to be closed when not in use. To reduce the ingress of external moisture and improve sealing, the film outlet 1 is located at the bottom of one side of the film cassette 2, conforming to the gravity-based film retrieval logic, which facilitates stable gripping by the film retrieval mechanism. The connecting cover 4 is detachably connected to the side wall of the film cassette 2 via a positioning plate 10, a side plate 13, and a positioning screw 12, which not only facilitates installation and disassembly but also ensures the firmness and sealing of the connection, preventing hot air leakage. The connecting cover 4 has a larger diameter on the side closer to the film cassette 2 and is adapted to the side wall of the film cassette 2, increasing the contact area, optimizing airflow transition, reducing turbulence and leakage, and improving hot air efficiency. Efficiency is achieved through the use of heating wires 14 installed inside the docking cylinder 7 to actively heat the air flowing through it. Combined with the filter structure set in front of the blower 9, including the air inlet cylinder 5, cylinder 6, external thread 15, internal thread cylinder 16, and filter plate 17, efficient air purification and heating are realized, providing dual protection for the cleanliness and dryness of the film surface and reducing the risk of adhesion or printing defects caused by contamination or moisture. The mounting sleeve 8 serves as a common base, integrating the blower 9 and docking cylinder 7, and providing additional support through the support frame 18, improving the assembly accuracy of components, reducing operational vibration, and enhancing the overall stability of the system. The partition 11 and the air grooves set near the opening inside the film box 2 effectively guide the uniform distribution of hot airflow, avoiding local overheating or airflow impact that could cause film displacement, thus improving drying uniformity and safety. The overall structure, through an independently controllable drying airflow system, breaks through the traditional passive drying mode that relies on the residual heat of the printhead, realizing the active, continuous, and maintainable drying function, enhancing the equipment's adaptability to different environmental humidity conditions, and is especially suitable for use in humid areas or scenarios with significant seasonal changes.

[0026] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A thermal printer for medical dry film, characterized by, include: The film box (2) and the connecting cover (4) are provided. The top of the film box (2) has a placement opening, and the top of the placement opening is provided with a flip cover (3) that is rotatably connected to the top of the film box (2). The bottom of one side of the film box (2) has a film outlet (1), and the other side of the film box (2) has an opening. The connecting cover (4) is detachably connected to the side wall of the film box (2) and communicates with the opening. One side of the connecting cover (4) is connected to a blower (9) through a docking cylinder (7). The air inlet of the blower (9) is connected to a filter structure. The blower (9) and the docking cylinder (7) are connected through a support structure. The interior of the docking cylinder (7) is connected to an installation frame. The interior of the installation frame is connected to several heating wires (14).

2. A thermal printer for medical dry film according to claim 1, wherein The film box (2) has a partition (11) inside and near the opening, and a number of air ducts are provided on one side of the partition (11).

3. A thermal printer for medical dry film according to claim 1, wherein The film box (2) is connected to positioning plates (10) on both sides, and the connecting cover (4) is fixedly connected to side plates (13) on both sides. Each side plate (13) is provided with a positioning screw (12) with one end threaded through the side plate (13) on one side. One end of the positioning screw (12) is connected to the positioning plate (10).

4. A thermal printer for medical dry film according to claim 2, wherein The support structure includes an installation sleeve (8), one end of the outer ring of the docking cylinder (7) is connected to the inner side of the installation sleeve (8), and the blower (9) is connected to the other side of the inner side of the installation sleeve (8).

5. A medical dry film thermal printer according to claim 3, characterized in that, The diameter of the connecting cover (4) on the side near the film box (2) is larger than the diameter on the other side, and the side of the connecting cover (4) near the film box (2) is adapted to the side wall of the film box (2).

6. A thermal printer for medical dry film according to claim 5, wherein The filter structure includes an air inlet duct (5) and a cylinder (6). One end of the air inlet duct (5) is connected to the air inlet end of the blower (9), and the other end is connected to the cylinder (6). One end of the cylinder (6) has an external thread (15) on its outer ring. An internal thread cylinder (16) is provided on one side of the cylinder (6), and a filter plate (17) is connected to one side of the internal thread cylinder (16).

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