Printer and its paper type detection structure, paper feeding mechanism

Abstract

This disclosure provides a printer and its paper type detection structure and paper feeding mechanism. The paper type detection structure is applied in a printer that centrally feeds paper. The paper type detection structure includes a paper tray and a paper detection component disposed on the target side of the paper tray. A plurality of paper detection units are disposed at different positions on the paper detection component. Detection holes are opened on the target side of the paper tray at positions corresponding to the paper detection units, and the paper detection units detect the paper type through the detection holes. This disclosure achieves the detection of different paper types while ensuring that the size of the paper detection component is small enough to reduce the space occupied by the paper tray, and does not affect the drive gear and control circuit on the other side of the paper tray, which is beneficial for further miniaturization of the printer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of printing equipment technology, and in particular to a printer and its paper type detection structure and paper feeding mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] With the surge in diverse demands from consumers for portable office and personalized home printing, businesses for new retail receipt printing, logistics "last mile" waybill printing, and embedded record output in special industries such as medical and industrial sectors, printer miniaturization has become a clear and irreversible development trend in the industry.

[0003] As printers become smaller, to meet diverse customer printing needs, they require the ability to accept various paper sizes, and the accompanying mechanisms within the printer must effectively detect the type of paper inserted. However, the paper size detection components in existing printers occupy a significant portion of the printer's space, thus limiting the printer's overall size. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this disclosure is to overcome the defects of the prior art and provide a printer and its paper type detection structure and paper feeding mechanism.

[0005] This disclosure solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0006] A first aspect of this disclosure provides a paper type detection structure applied in a printer that centrally feeds paper, the paper type detection structure including a paper feed tray and a paper detection component disposed on the target side of the paper feed tray;

[0007] The paper detection component has several paper detection units at different locations;

[0008] A detection hole is provided on the target side of the paper tray at a position corresponding to the paper detection unit, and the paper detection unit detects the paper type through the detection hole.

[0009] Optionally, the front of the paper tray contacts the paper;

[0010] The paper detection component is located on the reverse side of the paper dispensing tray, and the paper detection unit detects the paper type of the paper passing through the paper dispensing tray via the detection hole.

[0011] Optionally, the paper detection component includes a circuit board and a plurality of paper detection units disposed on the circuit board.

[0012] Optionally, the paper detection unit includes an emitting light source and a receiver disposed opposite to each other;

[0013] The light source is used to emit detection light;

[0014] The receiver is used to receive reflected signals reflected by the paper.

[0015] Optionally, the different paper detection units are positioned to correspond to the size of different paper types.

[0016] Optionally, the paper detection assembly is provided with three paper detection units.

[0017] Optionally, the paper detection component is located on the left side of the paper dispensing tray.

[0018] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a paper feeding mechanism, which includes the paper type detection structure described in the first aspect of this disclosure.

[0019] Optionally, the paper feeding mechanism further includes a paper tray and a control device, as well as a paper position adjustment structure disposed on the paper tray. The control device is electrically connected to the paper position adjustment structure and the paper detection unit in the paper type detection structure.

[0020] The control device is used to drive the paper position adjustment structure to adjust the paper center to coincide with the center of the paper type detection structure.

[0021] The control device is used to drive the paper detection unit in the paper position adjustment structure to detect the paper type and receive the detection result of the paper detection unit to determine the paper type based on the detection result.

[0022] A third aspect of this disclosure provides a printer that includes the paper feed mechanism described in the second aspect of this disclosure.

[0023] The positive and progressive effects of this disclosure are as follows: by uniformly setting the paper detection component with several paper detection units on the target side of the paper feed tray, it can not only detect different paper types, but also ensure that the size of the paper detection component is small enough to reduce the space occupied by the paper feed tray, and does not affect the drive gear and control circuit on the other side of the paper feed tray, which is conducive to further reduction of printer size. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a front structural diagram of the paper type detection structure disclosed in this paper model.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the reverse side of the paper type detection structure disclosed herein;

[0026] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the paper detection component in the paper type detection structure disclosed herein;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the paper feeding mechanism disclosed herein;

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0029] 1. Paper tray;

[0030] 11. Inspection hole;

[0031] 2. Paper detection component;

[0032] 21 (21a, 21b, 21c), Paper detection unit;

[0033] 211. Emitting light source;

[0034] 212. Receiver;

[0035] 22. Circuit board;

[0036] 3. Paper tray;

[0037] 4. Paper position adjustment structure. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The present disclosure is further illustrated below by way of embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited to the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0039] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" used in this disclosure are merely for distinguishing different descriptive objects and do not limit the position, order, priority, quantity, or content of the described objects. The use of ordinal numbers and other prefixes used to distinguish descriptive objects in this disclosure does not constitute a limitation on the described objects. The description of the described objects is given in the context of the embodiments, and the use of such prefixes should not constitute unnecessary restrictions. Furthermore, in the description of this embodiment, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0040] Example 1

[0041] In one specific embodiment, a paper type detection structure is provided, which is applied in a printer that centrally feeds paper, such as... Figure 1-3 As shown, the paper type detection structure includes a paper tray 1 and a paper detection component 2 located on the target side of the paper tray 1.

[0042] Several paper detection units 21 are provided at different positions on the paper detection component 2;

[0043] A detection hole 11 is provided on the target side of the paper tray 1 at a position corresponding to the paper detection unit 21, and the paper detection unit 21 performs paper type detection through the detection hole 11.

[0044] Specifically, for printers that feed paper in the center, for example, Figure 4 As shown, the paper tray 3 in the printer is equipped with a paper position adjustment structure 4. When paper needs to be fed, the paper position adjustment structure moves towards the center through the paper guides on the left and right sides, adjusting the center of the paper to be fed to coincide with the center of the paper tray 1.

[0045] Since all types of paper pass through the front of the paper tray 1 in a centered manner, in order to minimize the area occupied by the paper type detection structure while performing paper type detection, so as to meet the development needs of small printer size and reduce the structural complexity of the printer, paper detection components 2 for different paper types can be centrally set on one side (left or right) of the back of the paper tray 1.

[0046] The paper detection component 2 is equipped with paper detection units 21 for detecting different paper types. The positions of the different paper detection units 21 are matched with the sizes of different paper types. A detection hole 11 matching each paper detection unit 21 is opened on the paper tray 1, so that the paper detection unit 21 can detect the paper type of the paper passing through the front of the paper tray 1 through the detection hole 11.

[0047] For example, the paper detection component 2 is provided with three paper detection units 21a, 21b and 21c, which are used to detect A4, A5 and A6 paper sizes respectively. The setting position of the paper detection unit 21a for detecting A6 paper size needs to be located in the area of ​​the paper tray 1 through which A6 paper size passes (area 12a); the setting position of the paper detection unit 21b for detecting A5 paper size needs to be located outside the area of ​​the paper tray 1 through which A6 paper size passes, but inside the area of ​​the paper tray 1 through which A5 paper size passes (area 12b); the setting position of the paper detection unit 21c for detecting A4 paper size needs to be located outside the area of ​​the paper tray 1 through which A5 paper size passes, but inside the area of ​​the paper tray 1 through which A4 paper size passes (area 12c).

[0048] When A4 paper is inserted, it passes through the paper tray 1 covering the detection holes 11 corresponding to 21a, 21b, and 21c. Paper detection units 21a, 21b, and 21c will all detect the paper signal. When A5 paper is inserted, it passes through the paper tray 1 covering the detection holes 11 corresponding to 21a and 21b. Only paper detection units 21a and 21b will detect the paper signal, while paper detection unit 21c will not. When A6 paper is inserted, it passes through the paper tray 1 covering the detection hole 11 corresponding to 21a. Therefore, only paper detection unit 21a will detect the paper signal. If paper detection units 21a, 21b, and 21c do not detect the paper signal, it indicates that there is no paper at that time. This achieves paper type detection.

[0049] This specific embodiment sets up a paper detection component with several paper detection units on the target side of the paper dispensing tray. This not only enables the detection of different paper types, but also ensures that the size of the paper detection component is small enough to reduce the space occupied by the paper dispensing tray.

[0050] In one specific implementation, such as Figure 3 As shown, the paper detection component 2 includes a circuit board 22 and a plurality of paper detection units 21 disposed on the circuit board 22.

[0051] Specifically, multiple paper detection units 21 can be integrated on a circuit board 22. Each paper detection unit 21 can consist of a set of oppositely arranged light sources 211 and receivers 212, with the set of light sources 211 and receivers 212 disposed in the same detection hole 11.

[0052] A light source 211 (e.g., a light-emitting diode, LED) is used to emit detection light, and a receiver 212 is used to receive the reflected signal reflected by the paper. When the paper passes through the paper tray 1 and the detection hole 11 is covered, the detection light emitted by the light source 211 in the detection hole 11 is reflected by the paper and received by the receiver 212 in the detection hole 11, thereby detecting the corresponding paper signal.

[0053] In one specific implementation, such as Figure 1-2 As shown, the paper detection component 2 is located on the left side of the paper dispensing tray 1.

[0054] Specifically, since the right side of the paper tray 1 is usually equipped with structures such as drive gears and control circuits, the paper detection component 2 can be set on the left side (target side) of the front of the paper tray 1. This will not affect the drive gears and control circuits on the right side of the paper tray 1, but will also help to further reduce the size of the printer.

[0055] This embodiment achieves the detection of different paper types by uniformly setting the paper detection component with several paper detection units on the target side of the paper tray. It also ensures that the size of the paper detection component is small enough to reduce the space occupied by the paper tray, and does not affect the drive gear and control circuit on the other side of the paper tray, which is conducive to further reduction of printer size.

[0056] Example 2

[0057] In one specific embodiment, a paper feeding mechanism is provided, which includes the paper type detection structure in Embodiment 1.

[0058] Among them, such as Figure 4 As shown, the paper feeding mechanism includes a paper tray 3, a paper type detection structure and a control device (not shown), and a paper position adjustment structure 4 disposed on the paper tray 3. The control device is electrically connected to the paper position adjustment structure 4 and the paper detection unit 21 in the paper type detection structure.

[0059] The control device is used to drive the paper position adjustment structure 4 to adjust the paper center to coincide with the center of the paper type detection structure;

[0060] The control device is also used to drive the paper detection unit 21 in the paper type detection structure to perform paper type detection, and to receive the detection results of the paper detection unit 21 to determine the paper type based on the detection results.

[0061] Specifically, the paper tray 3 is used to place paper, the paper position adjustment structure 4 can be a paper guide set on the left and right sides of the paper tray, and the control device (e.g., controller) is electrically connected to the paper position adjustment structure 4 and the paper detection unit 21 respectively.

[0062] When paper is placed in the paper tray 3, the control device drives the paper guides on the left and right sides of the paper position adjustment structure 4 to move towards the center of the paper tray 3, so that the center of the paper is aligned with the center of the paper type detection structure. Then, the paper moves towards the paper type detection structure under the action of the paper transport component (not shown) to enter the printer for printing.

[0063] When the paper passes through the paper type detection structure, the control device drives the light source 211 in the paper detection unit 21 to emit detection light. When the paper covers the corresponding detection hole 11, the detection light emitted by the light source 211 in the detection hole 11 is reflected by the paper and received by the receiver 212 in the detection hole 11, forming a paper detection signal that is transmitted to the control device. The control device sends the position of the receiver 212 of the paper detection signal to determine the paper type being transported and transmits the paper type to the control center of the printer so that the printer can adjust the printing parameters according to the paper type to ensure print quality.

[0064] This embodiment achieves the detection of different paper types by uniformly setting the paper detection component with several paper detection units on the target side of the paper tray. It also ensures that the size of the paper detection component is small enough to reduce the space occupied by the paper tray, and does not affect the drive gear and control circuit on the other side of the paper tray, which is conducive to further reduction of printer size.

[0065] Example 3

[0066] In one specific embodiment, a printer is provided, which includes the paper feed mechanism described in Embodiment 2.

[0067] This embodiment achieves the detection of different paper types by uniformly setting the paper detection component with several paper detection units on the target side of the paper tray. It also ensures that the size of the paper detection component is small enough to reduce the space occupied by the paper tray, and does not affect the drive gear and control circuit on the other side of the paper tray, which is conducive to further reduction of printer size.

[0068] While specific embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that these are merely illustrative examples, and the scope of protection of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of this disclosure, but all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A paper type detection structure, characterized in that, The paper type detection structure is applied in a printer that feeds paper in the center. The paper type detection structure includes a paper feed tray and a paper detection component located on the target side of the paper feed tray. The paper detection component has several paper detection units at different locations; A detection hole is provided on the target side of the paper tray at a position corresponding to the paper detection unit, and the paper detection unit detects the paper type through the detection hole.

2. The paper type detection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front of the paper tray contacts the paper; The paper detection component is located on the reverse side of the paper dispensing tray, and the paper detection unit detects the paper type of the paper passing through the paper dispensing tray via the detection hole.

3. The paper type detection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The paper detection component includes a circuit board and a plurality of paper detection units disposed on the circuit board.

4. The paper type detection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The paper detection unit includes an emitting light source and a receiver arranged opposite to each other; The light source is used to emit detection light; The receiver is used to receive reflected signals reflected by the paper.

5. The paper type detection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The different paper detection units are positioned to correspond to the dimensions of different paper types.

6. The paper type detection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The paper detection assembly is provided with three paper detection units.

7. The paper type detection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The paper detection component is located on the left side of the paper dispensing tray.

8. A paper feeding mechanism, characterized in that, The paper feeding mechanism includes a paper type detection structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The paper feeding mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that, The paper feeding mechanism also includes a paper tray and a control device, as well as a paper position adjustment structure disposed on the paper tray. The control device is electrically connected to the paper position adjustment structure and the paper detection unit in the paper type detection structure. The control device is used to drive the paper position adjustment structure to adjust the paper center to coincide with the center of the paper type detection structure. The control device is used to drive the paper detection unit in the paper position adjustment structure to detect the paper type and receive the detection result of the paper detection unit to determine the paper type based on the detection result.

10. A printer, characterized in that, The printer includes the paper feed mechanism as described in claim 8 or 9.

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