A dual-channel thermal printhead and thermal printer

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of double-channel thermal printing head and thermal printer, comprising: thermal printing component, for printing print medium;First printing channel and second printing channel, print medium respectively through first printing channel or second printing channel and gather at thermal printing component place to print, first printing channel is along horizontal direction and is set, second printing channel is set in the bottom of thermal printing head and it is angle relative to first printing channel and is set;First upper guide and first lower guide, respectively above and below first printing channel, for guiding print medium through first printing channel;Second upper guide and second lower guide, respectively above and below second printing channel, for guiding print medium through second printing channel. By double-channel design, so that same printing head component can be adapted to install on different types of printer, provide more installation mode selection, two channels can be adapted to different specifications of print medium, greatly improve the versatility and compatibility of product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of thermal printing technology, and in particular to a dual-channel thermal printhead and a thermal printer. Background Technology

[0002] Thermal printing technology, as an important printing method, is widely used in commercial point-of-sale (POS) systems, logistics labels, and invoice printing. Traditional thermal printheads typically employ a single printing channel design, meaning the printing media can only enter the printhead from a fixed direction for printing. While the single-channel design is relatively simple in structure, scenarios requiring adaptation to different printer types or processing of various media sizes often necessitate the design of dedicated printhead products for different application needs. This not only increases product development costs but also limits the product's market adaptability.

[0003] With the diversification of printing applications, the market demands higher compatibility and flexibility from printing equipment. Existing thermal printheads, due to limitations in their print channel design, struggle to adapt to different printer layouts and paper feeding methods simultaneously. When used on different types of printers, the mechanical structure and installation method of the printhead often need to be redesigned. Furthermore, a single channel cannot effectively handle the switching needs of different widths and types of printing media, reducing equipment efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0004] To overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides a dual-channel thermal printhead and thermal printer with stronger compatibility and adaptability.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is: A dual-channel thermal printhead includes: a thermal printing assembly for printing on a printing medium; a first printing channel and a second printing channel, wherein the printing medium passes through the first printing channel or the second printing channel respectively and converges at the thermal printing assembly for printing; the first printing channel is arranged horizontally, and the second printing channel is arranged at the bottom of the thermal printhead at an angle relative to the first printing channel; a first upper guide and a first lower guide, respectively located above and below the first printing channel, for guiding the printing medium through the first printing channel; and a second upper guide and a second lower guide, respectively located above and below the second printing channel, for guiding the printing medium through the second printing channel.

[0006] Furthermore, it also includes: a base; a pressing assembly that engages with the base, the pressing assembly having a pressure roller; a driving assembly disposed on the base for driving the pressure roller to rotate; wherein, the first upper guide member is disposed on the pressing assembly, and the first lower guide member, the second upper guide member, and the second lower guide member are sequentially disposed on the base; the thermal printing assembly has a heating plate with a heating wire disposed on the heating plate; the pressure roller is disposed opposite to the heating wire for pressing the printing medium from the first printing channel or the second printing channel onto the heating wire and driving the printing medium to move.

[0007] Furthermore, the thermal printing assembly includes a mounting frame with guide protrusions at both ends; the base is correspondingly provided with a movable guide groove, and the guide protrusions are slidably engaged within the movable guide groove; an elastic element is disposed at the end of the mounting frame away from the heating element, and the elastic element presses against the mounting frame to move the heating element toward the pressure roller and abut against the pressure roller; the length direction of the movable guide groove is consistent with the abutment direction between the heating element and the pressure roller, so as to guide the movement direction of the mounting frame.

[0008] Furthermore, the drive assembly includes a motor and a gear set, the gear set including multi-stage gears; a driven gear is provided at the end of the pressure roller; the output shaft of the motor meshes with the driven gear through the gear set to drive the pressure roller to rotate; the gear set is used to adjust the rotational speed of the pressure roller to control the movement speed of the printing medium.

[0009] Furthermore, it also includes a quick-release locking mechanism for detachably connecting the pressing assembly to the base. The quick-release locking mechanism includes: a locking group disposed on the base and distributed along the width direction of the first printing channel, including a first locking and a second locking with opposite opening directions; a locking post movably disposed on the pressing assembly, with its two ends corresponding to the first locking and the second locking respectively; a locking post support member disposed on the pressing assembly, including a protruding post with a through hole, the locking post passing through the through hole; and an operating switch disposed at one end of the locking post and rotatably connected to the pressing assembly, having a sliding channel inside; wherein the locking post moves within the sliding channel via the operating switch to lock and disengage its two ends from the locking group.

[0010] Furthermore, it also includes black mark sensor mounting positions, which are respectively set on the upper and lower sides of the first printing channel and the second printing channel for mounting black mark sensors; the black mark sensor mounting position includes a fixing part and a detection part, and the detection part is provided with a through hole; the black mark sensor is mounted on the black mark sensor mounting position, fixedly installed by the fixing part, and detects the black mark on the printing medium through the through hole of the detection part.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes: a first mechanical lifting lever sensor, disposed on the side of the first lower guide member away from the first printing channel; a first sensing rod, connected to the first mechanical lifting lever sensor; a first guide rod channel, formed on the first lower guide member, with the first sensing rod passing through and movable within the first guide rod channel; a second mechanical lifting lever sensor, disposed on the side of the second upper guide member away from the second printing channel; a second sensing rod, connected to the second mechanical lifting lever sensor; a second guide rod channel, formed on the second upper guide member, with the second sensing rod passing through and movable within the second guide rod channel; wherein, when printing media is placed into the corresponding printing channel, the printing media pushes the corresponding sensing rod, causing it to move towards the corresponding mechanical lifting lever sensor, and the mechanical lifting lever sensor detects the presence of printing media based on the position change of the sensing rod; when printing media is used up or not placed, the sensing rod returns to its initial position under the action of elastic restoring force.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes: a scanning component, which is disposed at the discharge end after the first printing channel and the second printing channel converge; after the printing medium is printed by the thermal printing component, it continues to move to the scanning component for scanning and detection.

[0013] Furthermore, a width limiting element is provided on at least one side of the first printing channel and the second printing channel to adjust the width of the corresponding printing channel to accommodate printing media of different specifications.

[0014] A thermal printer includes a dual-channel thermal printhead as described above.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: This utility model discloses a dual-channel thermal printhead, including a thermal printing assembly for printing on printing media; a first printing channel and a second printing channel, through which the printing media converges at the thermal printing assembly for printing; the first printing channel is horizontally positioned, and the second printing channel is located at the bottom of the thermal printhead and angled relative to the first printing channel; a first upper guide and a first lower guide are located above and below the first printing channel, respectively, for guiding the printing media through the first printing channel; a second upper guide and a second lower guide are located above and below the second printing channel, respectively, for guiding the printing media through the second printing channel. This utility model, through its dual-channel design, allows the same printhead assembly to be adapted to different types of printers, providing more installation options. The two channels can accommodate different specifications of printing media, greatly improving the product's versatility and compatibility. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the present invention - 1; Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the present invention - 2; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of the upper guide member and the lower guide member of this utility model; Figure 6 This is a structural schematic diagram of the upper guide member of this utility model; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the positions of the first mechanical lifting lever sensor and the second mechanical lifting lever sensor of this utility model; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the heating element of this utility model.

[0018] 100. Thermal printing assembly; 110. Heating element; 111. Heating wire; 120. Mounting bracket; 121. Guide post; 200a, First printing channel; 200b, Second printing channel; 210, Width limiting component; 300, Pressing assembly; 310, Pressure roller; 311, Driven gear; 320, First upper guide member; 400, base; 410a, first lower guide; 410b, second upper guide; 410c, second lower guide; 420, movable guide groove; 430, elastic element; 500. Black mark sensor mounting position; 510. Fixing part; 520. Detection part; 600. Drive assembly; 610. Motor; 620. Gearbox; 700. Quick-release locking mechanism; 710. Locking assembly; 711. First locking latch; 712. Second locking latch; 720. Locking pin; 730. Locking pin support; 740. Operating switch; 741. Sliding channel; 800a, First mechanical lifting rod sensor; 810a, First sensing rod; 820a, First guide rod channel; 800b, Second mechanical lifting rod sensor; 810b, Second sensing rod; 820b, Second guide rod channel; 900. Scanning component. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following will clearly and completely describe the concept, specific structure, and technical effects of this utility model in conjunction with embodiments and accompanying drawings, so as to fully understand the purpose, features, and effects of this utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, not all of them. Other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this utility model without creative effort are all within the scope of protection of this utility model. Furthermore, all connections / linkages involved in the patent do not simply refer to direct contact between components, but rather to the ability to form a better connection structure by adding or reducing connecting accessories according to specific implementation conditions. The various technical features in this utility model can be combined interactively without contradicting each other.

[0020] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 4 This invention provides a dual-channel thermal printhead, including a thermal printing assembly 100, a first printing channel 200a and a second printing channel 200b, a first upper guide 320 and a first lower guide 410a, a second upper guide 410b and a second lower guide 410c, and a black mark sensor mounting position 500. The thermal printing assembly 100 is used to print on printing media, which pass through either the first printing channel 200a or the second printing channel 200b and converge at the thermal printing assembly 100 for printing. The first printing channel 200a is horizontally oriented, and the second printing channel 200b is located at the bottom of the dual-channel thermal printhead and is angled relative to the first printing channel 200a. The first upper guide 320 and the first lower guide 410a are located above and below the first printing channel 200a, respectively, and are used to guide the printing media through the first printing channel 200a. The second upper guide 410b and the second lower guide 410c are located above and below the second printing channel 200b, respectively, and are used to guide the printing medium through the second printing channel 200b.

[0021] The thermal printing assembly 100 heats and prints the printing media. The first printing channel 200a and the second printing channel 200b form two independent media transport paths, giving the dual-channel thermal printhead greater compatibility and allowing it to be installed on different types of printers, providing more installation options. The first printing channel 200a is horizontally positioned to facilitate media feeding from the front or side of the printer, while the second printing channel 200b is located at the bottom and angled to accommodate media feeding from the bottom of the printer. This dual-channel design allows the same printhead to adapt to different printer layouts and paper feeding methods, greatly improving the product's versatility and market adaptability. Furthermore, the two channels can print media of different widths. When handling multiple printing tasks, selecting the appropriate channel can improve printing efficiency and equipment utilization. Simultaneously, the first upper guide 320 and the first lower guide 410a, the second upper guide 410b, and the second lower guide 410c form upper and lower guiding structures for their respective channels, guiding the printing media to maintain the correct position and orientation as it passes through the corresponding printing channel.

[0022] Reference Figure 5 , 6 The black mark sensor mounting positions 500 are respectively set on the upper and lower sides of the first printing channel 200a and the second printing channel 200b. Along the width direction of each printing channel, the corresponding upper guide and lower guide are provided with two end mounting positions and a middle mounting position, so that the mounting positions can be adapted to install the black mark sensor. In practical applications, the black mark sensor is installed at the corresponding black mark sensor mounting position 500 according to the position of the black mark on the printing medium. This allows the black mark on the printing medium in the first printing channel 200a and the second printing channel 200b to be accurately detected whether it is located on the left, right, or middle position, or on both sides of the printing medium. This significantly improves the compatibility and adaptability of the equipment.

[0023] For example, when the first printing channel 200a uses a courier waybill with a black mark positioned on the left, while the second printing channel 200b uses a product label with a black mark positioned on the right, corresponding black mark sensors can be installed at the left end mounting position of the first upper guide 320 or the first lower guide 410a, and at the right end mounting position of the second upper guide 410b or the second lower guide 410c, respectively, to achieve independent black mark detection for the two channels. For cash register receipts with a central black mark positioned, a black mark sensor can be installed at the middle mounting position of the corresponding channel. Similarly, when the black mark on the printing medium is printed on both the front and back sides, black mark sensors can be installed simultaneously at the corresponding mounting positions of the upper and lower guides of the corresponding channels, ensuring accurate detection regardless of which side of the printing medium the black mark is located on. By flexibly configuring the mounting positions, the same dual-channel thermal printhead can be compatible with printing media with various black mark position designs, greatly improving the equipment's versatility and market adaptability.

[0024] In one specific embodiment, refer to Figure 5 , 6 The black mark sensor mounting position 500 includes a fixing part 510 and a detection part 520, the detection part 520 being provided with a through hole. The black mark sensor is fixedly mounted via the fixing part 510 and detects black marks on the printing medium through the through hole of the detection part 520.

[0025] The fixing part 510 has a threaded hole structure, and the detection part 520 has a through hole. The black mark sensor is fixedly connected through the threaded hole of the fixing part 510 to achieve a stable mechanical installation, and the black mark sensor identifies the black mark through the through hole of the detection part 520, thereby completing the detection of the black mark on the printing medium in the first printing channel 200a and the second printing channel 200b.

[0026] The fixing part 510 adopts a threaded hole structure, which allows the black mark sensor to be firmly installed through a threaded connection, avoiding the problem of sensor loosening due to vibration during printing. At the same time, the threaded connection also facilitates the adjustment of the sensor position and subsequent maintenance and replacement. The through hole setting of the detection part 520 ensures the unobstructed detection optical path, allowing the beam of the black mark sensor to pass through the through hole and reach the surface of the printing medium without obstruction, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of black mark detection. The separate design of the fixing part 510 and the detection part 520 forms a modular installation method, which facilitates the adaptation and use of black mark sensors of different specifications and types.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, refer to Figure 4The dual-channel thermal printhead also includes a base 400, a pressing assembly 300, and a drive assembly 600. The base 400 serves as the supporting foundation for the entire device. The pressing assembly 300 is snapped into the base 400 and has a pressure roller 310. The drive assembly 600 is mounted on the base 400 and drives the pressure roller 310 to rotate. A first upper guide 320 is mounted on the pressing assembly 300, and a first lower guide 410a, a second upper guide 410b, and a second lower guide 410c are sequentially mounted on the base 400. The thermal printing assembly 100 has a heating element 110, as shown in the figure. Figure 8 Heating plate 110 is provided with heating wire 111. Pressure roller 310 is arranged opposite to heating wire 111 and is used to press the printing medium from the first printing channel 200a or the second printing channel 200b onto heating wire 111 and drive the printing medium to move.

[0028] Reference Figure 1 , 4 The snap-fit ​​structure between the pressing assembly 300 and the base 400 facilitates the disassembly and maintenance of the equipment; the relative arrangement of the pressure roller 310 and the heating wire 111 ensures that the printing media from both channels can be tightly attached to the heating wire 111, guaranteeing the printing effect; the drive assembly 600 enables automatic delivery of the printing media. The first upper guide 320 is set on the pressing assembly 300 to facilitate opening together with the pressing assembly 300, while the first lower guide 410a, the second upper guide 410b, and the second lower guide 410c are sequentially set on the base 400 to form a stable guiding foundation.

[0029] Snap-fit ​​connections can include, but are not limited to: snap-fit ​​connections, plug-in connections, and rotary locking connections. Snap-fit ​​connections achieve quick installation and removal through elastic snaps; plug-in connections achieve precise positioning through the cooperation of guide grooves and guide posts; and rotary locking connections achieve reliable fixation through rotation.

[0030] Specifically, in a preferred embodiment, referring to Figure 3The dual-channel thermal printhead also includes a quick-release locking mechanism 700 for detachable connection between the pressing assembly 300 and the base 400. The quick-release locking mechanism 700 includes a latch assembly 710, a locking pin 720, a locking pin support 730, and an operating switch 740. The latch assembly 710 is disposed on the base 400 and distributed along the width direction of the first printing channel 200a, including a first latch 711 and a second latch 712 with opposite opening directions. The locking pin 720 is movably disposed on the pressing assembly 300, with its two ends corresponding to the first latch 711 and the second latch 712, respectively. The locking pin support 730 is disposed on the pressing assembly 300 and includes a protruding pin with a through hole, the locking pin 720 passing through the through hole. The operating switch 740 is disposed at one end of the locking pin 720 and rotatably connected to the pressing assembly 300, and has an internal sliding channel 741. The locking pin 720 moves within the sliding channel 741 via the operating switch 740, thereby locking and disengaging both ends of the locking pin 720 from the latch assembly 710.

[0031] The locking pin 720 is movably mounted on the pressing assembly 300, with its two ends corresponding to the first latch 711 and the second latch 712, respectively, thus forming a fit between the locking pin 720 and the latch assembly 710. Meanwhile, the locking pin support 730 is mounted on the pressing assembly 300 and includes a protruding pin structure with a through hole, allowing the locking pin 720 to pass through the through hole and slide within it. The operating switch 740 is mounted on one end of the locking pin 720 and rotatably connected to the pressing assembly 300. Its internal sliding channel 741 provides a guide path for the movement of the locking pin 720. The locking pin 720 can move within the sliding channel 741 via the operating switch 740, thereby realizing the locking and unlocking operations of both ends of the locking pin 720 with the latch assembly 710. The entire process can complete the detachable connection between the pressing assembly 300 and the base 400 without the use of tools.

[0032] In another preferred embodiment, refer to Figure 1 , 4 The thermal printing assembly 100 includes a mounting frame 120 with guide protrusions 121 at both ends. A corresponding movable guide groove 420 is provided on the base 400, and the guide protrusions 121 are slidably engaged within the movable guide groove 420. An elastic element 430 is located at the end of the mounting frame 120 away from the heating element 110. The elastic element 430 presses against the mounting frame 120, causing the heating element 110 to move towards the pressure roller 310 and abut against it. The length direction of the movable guide groove 420 is consistent with the abutment direction between the heating element 110 and the pressure roller 310, thus guiding the movement direction of the mounting frame 120.

[0033] The elastic element 430 allows the heating plate 110 to apply appropriate pressure to the pressure roller 310, ensuring good print quality for printing media from both channels; the cooperation between the guide post 121 and the moving guide groove 420 ensures the accuracy and stability of the movement of the mounting bracket 120; the pressure adjustable design adapts to printing media of different thicknesses.

[0034] The elastic element 430 can preferably be a compression spring, which provides a stable compressive force.

[0035] In one specific embodiment, refer to Figure 2 The drive assembly 600 includes a motor 610 and a gear set 620, which includes multi-stage gears. A driven gear 311 is provided at the end of the pressure roller 310. The output shaft of the motor 610 meshes with the driven gear 311 through the gear set 620 to drive the pressure roller 310 to rotate. The gear set 620 is used to adjust the rotational speed of the pressure roller 310 to control the speed of the printing medium.

[0036] The variable speed gear set 620 enables speed control to meet the needs of different printing speeds; the multi-stage gear configuration improves transmission efficiency and reduces noise; the integrated design of the driven gear 311 and the pressure roller 310 simplifies the structure and improves reliability. Due to the dual-channel design, it needs to be able to adapt to the speed requirements of different types of printing media from the two channels.

[0037] The speed reduction gear set 620 may include: a two-stage reduction gear set (reduction ratio 1:10-1:50), a three-stage reduction gear set (reduction ratio 1:50-1:200), a planetary gear reducer, etc. Different reduction ratios are suitable for different printing speed requirements, and the planetary gear reducer has the characteristics of compact structure and high load-bearing capacity.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, refer to Figure 5 , 7The dual-channel thermal printhead also includes a first mechanical lift-up sensor 800a, a first sensing rod 810a, a first guide rod channel 820a, a second mechanical lift-up sensor 800b, a second sensing rod 810b, and a second guide rod channel 820b. The first mechanical lift-up sensor 800a is located on the side of the first lower guide member 410a away from the first printing channel 200a. The first sensing rod 810a is connected to the first mechanical lift-up sensor 800a. The first guide rod channel 820a is formed on the first lower guide member 410a, and the first sensing rod 810a passes through and can move within the first guide rod channel 820a. The second mechanical lift-up sensor 800b is located on the side of the second upper guide member 410b away from the second printing channel 200b. The second sensing rod 810b is connected to the second mechanical lift-up sensor 800b. The second guide rod channel 820b is formed on the second upper guide member 410b, and the second sensing rod 810b passes through and can move within the second guide rod channel 820b. When printing media is placed into the corresponding printing channel, the media pushes the corresponding sensing rod, causing it to move towards the corresponding mechanical lifting sensor. The mechanical lifting sensor detects the presence of printing media based on the positional change of the sensing rod. When the printing media is used up or not placed in the channel, the sensing rod returns to its initial position under the action of elastic restoring force.

[0039] The first mechanical lift sensor 800a and the first sensing rod 810a are responsible for detecting the media status of the first printing channel 200a, while the second mechanical lift sensor 800b and the second sensing rod 810b are responsible for detecting the media status of the second printing channel 200b. This allows the dual-channel thermal printhead to accurately determine the media supply status of the currently selected printing channel. When switching from one channel to another, it can confirm in advance whether the target channel has available media, ensuring the smooth progress of the printing task. The two channels cannot operate simultaneously; an independent sensor system provides reliable status monitoring for channel switching and media management.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, refer to Figure 4 The dual-channel thermal printhead also includes a scanning component 900, located at the discharge end where the first printing channel 200a and the second printing channel 200b converge. After the printing medium is printed by the thermal printing component 100, it continues to move to the scanning component 900 for scanning and detection.

[0041] By positioning the scanning component 900 at the outlet end after the convergence of the first printing channel 200a and the second printing channel 200b, a unified post-printing inspection process is formed. This allows printing media from both channels to continue moving to the scanning component 900 for scanning and inspection after being printed by the thermal printing component 100, thus achieving an integrated workflow of dual-channel printing and scanning. This ensures that each piece of printing media from either channel can be immediately inspected for quality and content verification after printing. The placement of the scanning component 900 at the outlet end after convergence maintains a smooth media flow path, avoiding repeated media handling and additional processing steps.

[0042] In one specific embodiment, refer to Figure 5 Width limiting members 210 are provided on at least one side of the first printing channel 200a and the second printing channel 200b, respectively, for adjusting the width of the corresponding printing channel to accommodate printing media of different specifications.

[0043] Adjustable channel boundaries are formed by setting width limiting elements 210 on at least one side of the first printing channel 200a and the second printing channel 200b. Specifically, the width limiting element 210 is a width limiting plate structure, which can be set on the left, right or both sides of each printing channel. The thickness of the width limiting plate can be different specifications such as 1mm or 2mm, which need to be set according to the specific printing requirements and media specifications. This width limiting plate configuration can be used to adjust the width of the first printing channel 200a and the second printing channel 200b to adapt to different specifications of printing media. At the same time, after setting the width limiting element 210, the position of the black mark detection position of the corresponding channel also needs to be adjusted to ensure that the black mark sensor can be accurately aligned with the adjusted printing media position, so that the black mark on the printing media of each channel can be accurately identified.

[0044] The width limiting plates and black mark detection positions are adjusted synchronously to ensure positioning and detection of media of different widths. For example, when the first printing channel 200a needs to switch from printing 82mm wide express waybills to printing 80mm wide cash receipts, while the second printing channel 200b remains printing 82mm wide labels, firstly, 1mm thick width limiting plates need to be installed on both sides of the first printing channel 200a, reducing the effective width of the first printing channel 200a from 82mm to 80mm, while the second printing channel 200b maintains its original width. Then, the black mark sensor of the first printing channel 200a is adjusted from its original position adapted to 82mm waybills to its position adapted to 80mm receipts, while the black mark sensor of the second printing channel 200b remains unchanged. In this way, the two channels can simultaneously adapt to the needs of different printing media specifications, allowing the same dual-channel thermal printhead to quickly adapt to various combinations of different printing media specifications.

[0045] A thermal printer includes the aforementioned dual-channel thermal printhead. This thermal printer enables high-quality, high-efficiency dual-channel thermal printing, while also possessing good maintainability and versatility. It can simultaneously handle two different types or specifications of printing media, greatly improving work efficiency and equipment utilization.

[0046] The above is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present utility model. However, the present utility model is not limited to the described embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of the present utility model. All such equivalent modifications or substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A dual-channel thermal printhead, characterized in that, include: Thermal printing assembly for printing on printing media; The printing medium passes through the first printing channel or the second printing channel and converges at the thermal printing assembly for printing. The first printing channel is arranged in a horizontal direction, and the second printing channel is arranged at the bottom of the thermal print head and at an angle relative to the first printing channel. The first upper guide and the first lower guide are located above and below the first printing channel, respectively, and are used to guide the printing medium through the first printing channel; The second upper guide and the second lower guide are located above and below the second printing channel, respectively, and are used to guide the printing medium through the second printing channel.

2. The dual-channel thermal printhead according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Base; A pressing assembly is engaged with the base, and the pressing assembly has a pressure roller; A drive assembly, mounted on the base, is used to drive the pressure roller to rotate; The first upper guide member is disposed on the pressing assembly, and the first lower guide member, the second upper guide member, and the second lower guide member are disposed sequentially on the base. The thermal printing assembly has a heating element, and the heating element is provided with heating wires; The pressure roller is positioned opposite to the heating line and is used to press the printing medium from the first printing channel or the second printing channel onto the heating line and move the printing medium.

3. The dual-channel thermal printhead according to claim 2, characterized in that, The thermal printing assembly includes a mounting frame, and guide protrusions are provided at both ends of the mounting frame; The base is provided with a corresponding movable guide groove, and the guide protrusion is slidably engaged in the movable guide groove; An elastic element is disposed at the end of the mounting frame away from the heating element. The elastic element presses against the mounting frame to move the heating element toward the pressure roller and abut against the pressure roller. The length direction of the movable guide groove is consistent with the contact direction between the heating element and the pressure roller, so as to guide the movement direction of the mounting frame.

4. The dual-channel thermal printhead according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drive assembly includes a motor and a gear set, the gear set including multi-stage gears; The end of the pressure roller is provided with a driven gear; The output shaft of the motor drives the pressure roller to rotate by meshing with the driven gear through the gear set. The variable speed gear set is used to adjust the rotational speed of the pressure roller to control the movement speed of the printing medium.

5. The dual-channel thermal printhead according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a quick-release locking mechanism for enabling a detachable connection between the pressing assembly and the base, the quick-release locking mechanism comprising: A locking assembly, disposed on the base and distributed along the width direction of the first printing channel, includes a first locking assembly and a second locking assembly with opposite opening directions; A locking pin is movably mounted on the pressing assembly, with its two ends corresponding to the first locking buckle and the second locking buckle, respectively. A locking post support is provided on the pressing assembly, including a protruding post with a through hole, the locking post passing through the through hole; An operation switch is located at one end of the locking pin and is rotatably connected to the pressing assembly, and has an internal sliding channel; The locking pin moves within the sliding channel via the operating switch, thereby locking and disengaging both ends of the locking pin from the latch assembly.

6. The dual-channel thermal printhead according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes black mark sensor mounting positions, which are respectively set on the upper and lower sides of the first printing channel and the second printing channel for mounting black mark sensors; The black mark sensor mounting position includes a fixing part and a detection part, and the detection part is provided with a through hole; The black mark sensor is installed in the black mark sensor mounting position and fixedly installed by the fixing part, and detects the black mark on the printing medium through the through hole of the detection part.

7. The dual-channel thermal printhead according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The first mechanical lifting lever sensor is located on the side of the first lower guide that is away from the first printing channel; The first sensing rod is connected to the first mechanical lifting rod sensor; The first guide rod channel is opened on the first lower guide member, and the first sensing rod passes through the first guide rod channel and can move therein; The second mechanical lifting sensor is located on the side of the second upper guide away from the second printing channel; The second sensing rod is connected to the second mechanical lifting rod sensor; The second guide rod channel is opened on the second upper guide member, and the second sensing rod passes through the second guide rod channel and can move therein; When the printing medium is placed into the corresponding printing channel, the printing medium pushes the corresponding sensing rod to move towards the corresponding mechanical lifting rod sensor. The mechanical lifting rod sensor detects the presence of the printing medium based on the position change of the sensing rod. When the printing medium is used up or not inserted, the sensing rod returns to its initial position under the action of elastic restoring force.

8. The dual-channel thermal printhead according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A scanning component is located at the discharge end where the first and second printing channels converge. After the printing medium is printed by the thermal printing component, it continues to move to the scanning component for scanning and detection.

9. The dual-channel thermal printhead according to claim 1, characterized in that, Width limiting elements are provided on at least one side of the first and second printing channels to adjust the width of the corresponding printing channels to accommodate printing media of different specifications.

10. A thermal printer, characterized in that, Includes a dual-channel thermal printhead as claimed in any one of claims 1-9.

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