A thermal printer with a light guide that is easy to install

Abstract

The utility model provides a simple and easy installation light guide piece's thermal printer, including base, lid, rubber roll, thermosensitive sheet and light guide piece, the side wall of base is provided with mounting hole, is provided with main control circuit board in the base, main control circuit board is welded with pilot lamp, the inboard of side wall of base is provided with two positioning columns, and the assembly position is formed between two positioning columns, and the positioning groove is formed between two positioning columns respectively with the side wall, the light guide piece made of the light -transmitting material, utilize the light column to receive the light of pilot lamp, then transmission to the light guide column department of side wall, to the user is convenient and understanding printer state observes, and because pilot lamp is directly welded on main control circuit board, it needs socket or interface again, moreover through the clearance fit of flat plate department and positioning groove, and the light guide column is installed in the mounting hole, not only simple and easy realization light guide piece's assembly positioning, and also convenient realization pilot lamp's arrangement and light conduction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of thermal printing, and in particular to a thermal printer with an easy-to-install light guide component. Background Technology

[0002] With the widespread application of thermal printers, they are used not only in bank ATMs, supermarket checkouts, the catering industry, and e-commerce shipping points, but also in thermal transfer printers that use thermal paper for thermal imaging. With the rapid growth of printing in the e-commerce and express delivery industries, there are higher requirements for the stability and ease of use of thermal printers.

[0003] Thermal printers typically consist of a base, cover, rollers, and a thermal sheet. Paper enters the space between the rollers and the thermal sheet, where heating of the sheet creates the image or text. The printer's real-time status is displayed to the user via indicator lights, indicating conditions such as paper shortage, paper jam, connection failure, or normal printing.

[0004] Existing indicator lights are usually separated from the main control circuit board and set on the outer wall of the printer, connected by jumpers. This type of connection not only makes the wiring complex, but also requires cables and interface sockets, which is not conducive to the integration of electronic equipment, cost control, or improving assembly efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a thermal printer with an easy-to-install light guide component.

[0006] To achieve the purpose of this utility model, a thermal printer with an easy-to-install light guide component is provided, including a base, a cover, a rubber roller, and a thermal sheet. One of the rubber roller and the thermal sheet is disposed on the base, and the other is disposed on the cover, with the thermal sheet and the rubber roller facing each other. A mounting hole is horizontally provided through the side wall of the base. A main control circuit board is disposed inside the base, arranged horizontally. An indicator light is soldered to the upper surface of the main control circuit board, near the side wall. Two positioning posts are provided on the inner side of the side wall of the base, with a [missing information - likely a shape or feature] between the two positioning posts. The assembly position has two positioning posts forming positioning grooves with the side walls respectively; the thermal printer also includes a light guide, which is made of light-transmitting material. The light guide has a flat plate, a light-receiving post, and a light-guiding post. The flat plate is parallel to the side walls, the light-guiding post extends outward in the horizontal direction and is connected to the outer surface of the flat plate, and the light-receiving post extends inward in the horizontal direction and is connected to the inner surface of the flat plate; the light-guiding post is installed in the mounting hole, the flat plate is fitted in the positioning groove with clearance, and the light-receiving post is installed in the assembly position. The light-receiving post is located above the indicator light, which is used to output indicator light to the light-receiving post.

[0007] A further solution involves soldering two indicator lights onto the main control circuit board, and setting two light-receiving pillars and two light-guiding pillars in the light guide component. The two light-receiving pillars and two light-guiding pillars are arranged horizontally, with one light-receiving pillar located above the corresponding indicator light on one side.

[0008] A further solution is to install a baffle on the base, with the baffle located between the two light-receiving columns.

[0009] A further solution is to have two baffles on the base, each located between two light-receiving columns, with each baffle close to an indicator light on the same side.

[0010] A further solution is to provide two inner limiting posts for the light guide, both of which extend inward in the horizontal direction and are connected to the inner surface of the flat plate. Both inner limiting posts are located between two light-receiving posts, and a baffle is located between the light-receiving post and the inner limiting post on the same side, with the baffle adjacent to the inner limiting post.

[0011] A further solution is to have a positioning notch on the main control circuit board, with two indicator lights located on either side of the positioning notch, and two baffles installed inside the positioning notch.

[0012] A further improvement is to have a clearance groove at the bottom of the light-receiving column, with the indicator light located inside the clearance groove. The top surface of the clearance groove is opposite to the indicator light, and the top surface is tilted towards one side of the light guide column.

[0013] A further proposed solution is to have an outer limiting post on the outside of the light-receiving post near the positioning post, and a positioning step between the outer limiting post and the flat plate. The outer limiting post is adjacent to the positioning post, and the positioning post is located within the positioning step.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: A light guide made of translucent material receives the light from the indicator lights via a light-receiving column and then transmits it to the light guide column on the side wall, allowing users to easily observe and understand the printer status. Since the indicator lights are directly soldered onto the main control circuit board, they no longer require sockets or interfaces. Furthermore, the gap fit between the flat plate and the positioning groove, and the installation of the light guide column within the mounting hole, not only simplifies the assembly and positioning of the light guide but also facilitates the arrangement of the indicator lights and the transmission of light. Moreover, by soldering two indicator lights, different status information can be displayed. The arrangement of the baffle effectively isolates the light interference between the two indicator lights within one light guide. Combined with the limiting position of the inner limiting post and the baffle, and the positioning of the baffle and the positioning notch, the indicator lights can be precisely aligned with the light-receiving column during the assembly of the main control circuit board. The inclined top surface allows the indicator light to be efficiently transmitted to the light guide column, and the assembly and positioning of the outer limiting post, the positioning step, and the positioning post ensure precise positioning and installation of the light guide, also enabling efficient transmission of the indicator light. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of an embodiment of the thermal printer of this utility model.

[0016] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of an embodiment of the thermal printer of this utility model.

[0017] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of an embodiment of the thermal printer of this utility model from another perspective.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the light guide component in an embodiment of the thermal printer of this utility model.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the light guide component in an embodiment of the thermal printer of this utility model from another perspective.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view along the front-to-back direction of an embodiment of the thermal printer of this utility model.

[0021] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the thermal printer of this utility model along the left-right direction.

[0022] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Reference Figures 1 to 7 The thermal printer includes a base 11, a cover 12, a rubber roller, and a thermal sheet. One of the rubber roller and the thermal sheet is disposed on the base 11, and the other of the rubber roller and the thermal sheet is disposed on the cover 12. The thermal sheet and the rubber roller are opposite each other and form a paper feeding channel. A paper output port 10 is formed between the base 11 and the cover 12, and the paper feeding channel is connected to the paper output port 10.

[0024] The base 11 includes a housing 111 and a bottom cover 112. The housing 111 is located above the bottom cover 112. The housing 111 has a side wall 110 on the front side. The side wall 110 has two mounting holes 15 that run horizontally through it. A main control circuit board 13 is installed inside the base 11. The main control circuit board 13 is mounted on the bottom cover 112 and is arranged horizontally. Two indicator lights 131 are soldered to the upper surface of the main control circuit board 13. The indicator lights 131 can be surface-mount LEDs or through-hole LEDs. The main control circuit board 13 has a positioning notch 132 at its front edge. The two indicator lights 131 are located on the left and right sides of the positioning notch 132, respectively. Two baffles 113 are provided on the edge of the bottom cover 112. The baffles 113 extend vertically and are installed in the positioning notch 132.

[0025] The indicator light 131 is close to the side wall 110. The base 11 has two positioning posts 141 on the inner side of the side wall 110. An assembly position is formed between the two positioning posts 141, and positioning grooves 142 are formed between the two positioning posts 141 and the side wall 110 respectively.

[0026] The thermal printer also includes a light guide 2, which is made of a light-transmitting material. The light guide 2 is provided with a flat plate 21, two light-receiving pillars 23, two light-guiding pillars 22, two inner limiting pillars 24, and two outer limiting pillars 25. The flat plate 21 is parallel to the side wall 110. The light-guiding pillars 22 extend outward in the horizontal direction and are connected to the outer surface of the flat plate 21. The light-receiving pillars 23 extend inward in the horizontal direction and are connected to the inner surface of the flat plate 21. The two light-receiving pillars 23 and the two light-guiding pillars 22 are arranged horizontally. The inner limiting pillars 24 all extend inward in the horizontal direction and are connected to the inner surface of the flat plate 21. The two inner limiting pillars 24 are located between the two light-receiving pillars 23.

[0027] The light guide post 22 is installed in the mounting hole 15, and the flat plate 21 is fitted into the positioning groove 142 with clearance. The light receiving post 23 is installed in the assembly position, with one side of the light receiving post 23 located above the corresponding side indicator light 131. The indicator light 131 is used to output indicator light to the light receiving post 23. Two baffles 113 are located between the two light receiving posts 23. Each baffle 113 is close to the indicator light 131 on the same side. One side of the baffle 113 is located between the light receiving post 23 and the inner limiting post 24 on the same side, and the baffle 113 is adjacent to the inner limiting post 24.

[0028] A clearance groove 231 is provided at the bottom of the light-receiving column 23. The indicator light 131 is located in the clearance groove 231. The top surface 232 of the clearance groove 231 is opposite to the indicator light 131. The top surface 232 is tilted towards one side of the light guide column 22. Then, the indicator light emitted by the indicator light 131 is refracted by the top surface 232 and transmitted to the light guide column 22, thereby realizing the display of the indicator light on the side wall 110.

[0029] The light guide 2 has an outer limiting post 25 on the outside of the light receiving post 23 near the positioning post 141. A positioning step 211 is provided between the outer limiting post 25 and the flat plate part 21. The outer limiting post 25 is adjacent to the positioning post 141, and the positioning post 141 is located inside the positioning step 211, thereby realizing the fixed assembly of the light guide 2.

[0030] Of course, in addition to the above-mentioned light guide being installed on the mounting hole on the front side wall, the light guide can also be installed on the left and right side walls, or on the rear side wall. As long as the indicator lights on the main control circuit board are soldered in the corresponding positions and the indicator lights are located in the corresponding clearance grooves, the recommended assembly of the light guide and the efficient transmission of the indicator light can be achieved.

[0031] As can be seen above, the light guide made of light-transmitting material receives the light from the indicator light through the light-receiving column and then transmits it to the light guide column on the side wall, so that users can easily observe and understand the printer status. Since the indicator light is directly soldered onto the main control circuit board, it no longer needs a socket or interface. Furthermore, through the gap fit between the flat part and the positioning groove, and the installation of the light guide column in the mounting hole, not only is the assembly and positioning of the light guide simple, but the arrangement of the indicator light and the transmission of light are also convenient.

Claims

1. A thermal printer with an easy-to-install light guide component, comprising a base, a cover, a rubber roller, and a thermal sheet, wherein one of the rubber roller and the thermal sheet is disposed on the base, and the other of the rubber roller and the thermal sheet is disposed on the cover, with the thermal sheet and the rubber roller facing each other; Its features are: The base has a horizontally penetrating mounting hole in its side wall. A main control circuit board is installed inside the base. The main control circuit board is arranged horizontally. An indicator light is soldered to the upper surface of the main control circuit board. The indicator light is close to the side wall. The base has two positioning posts on the inner side of the side wall. An assembly position is formed between the two positioning posts. Positioning grooves are formed between the two positioning posts and the side wall, respectively. The thermal printer also includes a light guide, which is made of a light-transmitting material. The light guide has a flat plate, a light-receiving column, and a light-guiding column. The flat plate is parallel to the side wall. The light-guiding column extends outward in a horizontal direction and is connected to the outer surface of the flat plate. The light-receiving column extends inward in a horizontal direction and is connected to the inner surface of the flat plate. The light guide post is installed in the mounting hole, the flat plate is fitted in the positioning groove with clearance, the light receiving post is installed in the assembly position, the light receiving post is located above the indicator light, and the indicator light is used to output indicator light to the light receiving post.

2. The thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main control circuit board is soldered with two indicator lights. The light guide is provided with two light receiving columns and two light guiding columns. The two light receiving columns and two light guiding columns are arranged horizontally, and the light receiving column on one side is located above the indicator light on the corresponding side.

3. The thermal printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The base is provided with a baffle, which is located between the two light-receiving columns.

4. The thermal printer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The base is provided with two baffles, both of which are located between the two light-receiving columns, with each baffle close to the indicator light on the same side.

5. The thermal printer according to claim 4, characterized in that: The light guide is provided with two inner limiting posts, both of which extend inward in the horizontal direction and are connected to the inner surface of the flat plate. The two inner limiting posts are located between the two light receiving posts. The baffle on one side is located between the light receiving post and the inner limiting post on the same side, and the baffle is adjacent to the inner limiting post.

6. The thermal printer according to claim 5, characterized in that: The main control circuit board is provided with a positioning notch, the two indicator lights are respectively located on both sides of the positioning notch, and the two baffles are installed inside the positioning notch.

7. The thermal printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the light-receiving column is provided with a clearance groove, the indicator light is located in the clearance groove, the top surface of the clearance groove is opposite to the indicator light, and the top surface is tilted to one side of the light guide column.

8. The thermal printer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The light guide has an outer limiting post on the outside of the light receiving post near the positioning post. A positioning step is provided between the outer limiting post and the flat plate. The outer limiting post is adjacent to the positioning post, and the positioning post is located inside the positioning step.

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