CN113954540A

CN113954540A - Print drive mechanism and thermal transfer printer

Info

Publication number: CN113954540A
Application number: CN202111206903.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 吴秋亮
Original assignee: Shanghai Dikai Coding Industry Co ltd
Current assignee: Shanghai Dikai Coding Industry Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-10-15
Filing date: 2021-10-15
Publication date: 2022-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2041-10-15
Also published as: CN113954540B

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of thermal transfer printers, and discloses a printing transmission mechanism and a thermal transfer printer. The printing transmission mechanism comprises a first sliding rail, a supporting plate, a sliding block, a cam, a connecting rod and a printing head. The printing transmission mechanism drives the sliding block to slide on the first sliding rail in a reciprocating mode through the cam connecting rod mechanism, and therefore the printing head slides along the supporting plate. And in the sliding process, the printing head rotates around the sliding block when passing through the feeding boss, and meanwhile, the color belt is pressed to the surface of the substrate, so that the printing function is realized. Compared with a pneumatic structure and an electromagnet structure in the prior art, the thermal transfer printer is not limited by an air source, has a simple structure, low energy consumption and a small volume, and can ensure long-time continuous operation of the thermal transfer printer.

Description

Print drive mechanism and thermal transfer printer

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of thermal transfer printers, in particular to a printing transmission mechanism and a thermal transfer printer.

Background

The thermal transfer printer is one of printers, and can print patterns, bar codes or time information on a packaging label or a smooth card made of a soft and thin material. The thermal transfer printer presses the ribbon to the surface of the substrate using a print head, and then melts the ink on the ribbon by heat generated by a heating element on the print head and imprints the ink on the substrate to complete printing.

The working process of the existing thermal transfer printer is as follows: the printer receives the printing signal, and the control system controls the air cylinder or the electromagnet device to drive the printing head to press downwards until the printing head presses the ribbon onto the substrate. Subsequently, the control system controls the print head to generate heat, melts the ink on the ribbon, and transfers the ink onto the substrate by pressure to form a printed pattern. After printing is finished, the control system releases the air cylinder or the electromagnet is powered off, so that the printing head is lifted, and the used ribbon is wound at the winding end to finish one-time printing.

The control mode of the current printing head is usually realized by adopting a pneumatic control mode or a mode of combining an electromagnet with a mechanical device. The pneumatic control mode has high cost, more accessories and complex installation, and the running time is limited by the storage capacity of the gas source and cannot be continuously run for a long time; although the electromagnet control mode does not need an air source, the electromagnet is difficult to achieve the pressure required by work. The pressure required by work drives the printing head to act, the electromagnet with larger power is required, and meanwhile, the size of the electromagnet is larger, the energy consumption is high, and the practicability is poor.

Disclosure of Invention

Based on the above, the invention aims to provide a printing transmission mechanism and a thermal transfer printer, which can continuously operate for a long time, and have the advantages of low energy consumption, small volume and strong practicability.

In order to achieve the purpose, the invention adopts the following technical scheme:

a print actuator comprising:

one end of the first sliding rail is fixedly connected with the base plate, and the other end of the first sliding rail is connected with the supporting plate; a switching block is arranged on the supporting plate, a feeding boss is arranged at one end of the switching block, and the feeding boss is convexly arranged on the surface of the supporting plate;

the sliding block is connected with the first sliding rail in a sliding manner;

the cam is connected with the sliding block through a connecting rod and is configured to drive the sliding block to slide along the first sliding rail in a reciprocating mode;

the printing head is arranged to rotate around the sliding block and press the color belt to the surface of the substrate.

As an alternative of the printing transmission mechanism, the switching block is provided with a reset plane, and the reset plane is flush with the surface of the supporting plate; the cam is configured to move the second connection end along the reset plane.

As an alternative of the printing transmission mechanism, the supporting plate is provided with a second sliding rail, and the switching block is connected with the second sliding rail in a sliding manner; the cam is configured to push the switching block to slide along the second slide rail, so that the reset plane is located in the motion range of the second connecting end.

As an alternative scheme of the printing transmission mechanism, the supporting plate is provided with a traction rod, the traction rod is fixedly connected with the switching block, and one end of the traction rod is provided with a butting column;

a traction boss and a transition boss are circumferentially arranged on the end surface of the cam and connected with each other; the traction boss is abutted against the abutting column, so that the switching block slides along the second slide rail; the transition boss is abutted to the abutting column, so that the second connecting end moves along the reset plane.

As an alternative scheme of a printing transmission mechanism, a rolling bearing is sleeved outside the abutting column, and the traction boss and the transition boss are both abutted to the rolling bearing.

As an alternative of the printing transmission mechanism, two traction bosses are circumferentially arranged on the end surface of the cam and are respectively connected to two ends of the transition boss.

As an alternative to the printing drive mechanism, the support plate is provided with a first elastic member having one end connected to the switching block and the other end connected to the second slide rail, the first elastic member being configured to enable the feeding boss to be located within a range of motion of the second connecting end.

As an alternative to the print actuator, a second elastic member configured to enable the second connection end of the print head to abut against the support plate is further included.

As an alternative to the print actuator, the second connecting end comprises a roller, which abuts against the support plate.

A thermal transfer printer comprises the printing transmission mechanism, a motor, a coil conveying device and a color ribbon, wherein the motor is used for driving the printing transmission mechanism, and the coil conveying device is used for conveying and recovering the color ribbon.

The invention has the beneficial effects that:

the invention provides a printing transmission mechanism and a thermal transfer printer. And in the sliding process, the printing head rotates around the sliding block when passing through the feeding boss, and meanwhile, the color belt is pressed to the surface of the substrate, so that the printing function is realized. Compared with a pneumatic structure and an electromagnet structure in the prior art, the thermal transfer printer is not limited by an air source, is simple in structure, low in energy consumption and small in size, can ensure long-time continuous operation of the thermal transfer printer, and is high in practicability.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of the present invention will be briefly described below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained according to the contents of the embodiments of the present invention and the drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a print actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at A-A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a print actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure:

1. a first slide rail;

2. a support plate; 21. a switching block; 211. feeding a boss; 212. resetting the plane; 22. a second slide rail; 23. a draw bar; 231. a butting post; 2311. a rolling bearing; 24. a first elastic member;

3. a slider;

4. a cam; 41. drawing the boss; 42. a transition boss;

5. a connecting rod;

6. a print head; 61. a first connection end; 62. a second connection end; 621. a roller; 63. a printing end; 64. a peeling roller;

7. a second elastic member;

100. a substrate; 200. a color band; 300. a substrate.

Detailed Description

In order to make the technical problems solved, technical solutions adopted and technical effects achieved by the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a printing actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in fig. 1, the embodiment provides a printing actuator including: first slide rail 1, backup pad 2, slider 3, cam 4, connecting rod 5 and print head 6. One end of the first slide rail 1 is fixedly connected with the substrate 100, and the other end of the first slide rail 1 is connected with the support plate 2; the supporting plate 2 is provided with a switching block 21, one end of the switching block 21 is provided with a feeding boss 211, and the feeding boss 211 is convexly arranged on the surface of the supporting plate 2. The sliding block 3 is connected with the first sliding rail 1 in a sliding mode. The cam 4 is connected with the driving device and is connected with the sliding block 3 through the connecting rod 5, and the cam 4 rotates to drive the sliding block 3 to slide back and forth along the first sliding rail 1. The print actuator of the present invention is not limited to the driving device. The driving device can be a motor or a rotary cylinder, and even a hand wheel. The first connecting end 61 of the print head 6 is rotatably connected to the slider 3, the second connecting end 62 of the print head 6 abuts against the support plate 2, and the print head 6 is configured to be rotatable around the slider 3 to press the ink ribbon 200 onto the surface of the substrate 300.

The printing transmission mechanism drives the sliding block 3 to slide on the first sliding rail 1 in a reciprocating manner through the cam 4 and the connecting rod 5, so that the printing head 6 slides along the supporting plate 2, when the second connecting end 62 of the printing head 6 passes through the feeding boss 211 in the sliding process, the printing head 6 rotates around the sliding block 3 through the first connecting end 61, and meanwhile, the color ribbon 200 is pressed on the surface of the substrate 300, so that the printing function is realized.

Specifically, the printing transmission mechanism further comprises a second elastic component 7, one end of the second elastic component 7 is connected with the sliding block 3 or the supporting plate 2, and the other end of the second elastic component 7 is connected with the printing head 6. The second elastic member 7 applies a pulling force to the print head 6, so that the second connection end 62 of the print head 6 abuts against the support plate 2.

Preferably, the second elastic component 7 is a torsion spring, the torsion spring is arranged at the rotary joint of the printing head 6 and the sliding block 3, one end of the torsion spring is connected with the sliding block 3, and the other end of the torsion spring is connected with the printing head 6. The arrangement is simple in structure and strong in interchangeability.

More specifically, the printhead 6 further includes a printing end 63 and a peeling roller 64, and the printing end 63 is capable of generating heat to melt ink on the ink ribbon 200. The peel-off roller 64 positions the printed ink ribbon 200 at an angle to the printhead 6 to facilitate peeling the printed ink ribbon 200 off the surface of the substrate 300. When the second connecting end 62 of the print head 6 abuts against the feeding boss 211 during the movement of the print head 6 with the slider 3, the print head 6 rotates around the slider 3 through the first connecting end 61, and the printing end 63 of the print head 6 presses the ink ribbon 200 to the surface of the substrate 300. The printhead 6 can then generate heat under the control of the control system, melting the ink on the ribbon 200, transferring the ink by pressure to the substrate 300, forming a printed pattern.

Optionally, in this embodiment, the second connecting end 62 includes a roller 621, and the roller 621 abuts against the supporting plate 2, so that sliding friction generated when the second connecting end 62 moves along the supporting plate 2 can be converted into rolling friction, and transmission efficiency is improved.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line a-a in fig. 1. referring to fig. 2, as a preferred embodiment, the switch block 21 is provided with a reset flat 212, and the reset flat 212 is flush with the surface of the support plate 2. The feed and return motions of the print head 6 are realized by switching the feed boss 211 and the reset plane 212 to be respectively fitted to the print head 6.

Specifically, the printing transmission mechanism drives the sliding block 3 to slide on the first sliding rail 1 in a reciprocating manner through the cam 4 and the connecting rod 5, and the printing head 6 is connected with the sliding block 3, so that the printing head 6 slides in a reciprocating manner synchronously with the sliding block 3. In the initial position, the second connection end 62 of the print head 6 abuts against the surface of the support plate 2. When the second connecting end 62 of the printhead 6 moves from the home position to the boss 211, the printing end 63 of the printhead 6 presses down the ink ribbon 200 to make the ink ribbon 200 abut against the substrate 300, and this movement is called a feeding action. When the second connecting end 62 of the print head 6 is disengaged from the feeding boss 211, the printing end 63 of the print head 6 is rebounded by the second elastic member 7, so that the ink ribbon 200 is no longer in abutment with the substrate 300. The second connection end 62 of the print head 6 is then moved along the reset plane 212 to the initial position, a movement process which is referred to as a return movement. The movement directions of the feeding action and the returning action are opposite. The arrangement can ensure that the stress condition of the printing head 6 is consistent when feeding every time, ensure the continuous and stable operation of the printing transmission mechanism and enhance the reliability of the equipment.

If the reset plane 212 is not provided, the feeding and returning actions of the print head 6 are performed by the feeding boss 211, so that the printing can be realized and the printing efficiency can be improved. However, there is a problem in that the reaction force of the print head 6 with respect to the moving direction in the return action increases. On the return stroke, the print head 6 is subjected to resistance in the direction of movement of the print head 6. This results in a frequently changing stress state of the print head 6, increasing the driving force required for the print head 6, and at the same time making the print head 6 vulnerable to damage. Meanwhile, the force applied to the print head 6 by the feed boss 211 is greater in the return stroke than in the feed stroke, which may cause vibrations in the print actuator, thereby affecting the printing accuracy and even causing damage to the print actuator.

Further, fig. 3 is a top view of a print actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 3. In the present embodiment, the supporting plate 2 is disposed at an angle to the first sliding rail 1, and preferably, the length direction of the supporting plate 2 is perpendicular to the length direction of the first sliding rail 1. A second slide rail 22 is arranged in the length direction of the support plate 2, and the switching block 21 is connected with the second slide rail 22 in a sliding manner. The cam 4 is configured to push the switch block 21 to slide along the second slide rail 22, so that the reset plane 212 is located within the movement range of the second connecting end 62.

With continued reference to fig. 3, in order to simultaneously drive the slider 3 and the switch block 21 by the rotation of the cam 4, in the present embodiment, a traction rod 23 is further provided on the support plate 2. The longitudinal section of the traction rod 23 is L-shaped, one end of the traction rod 23 is fixedly connected with one end of the switching block 21 far away from the feeding boss 211, the other end of the traction rod 23 is provided with a butting column 231, and the butting column 231 is used for butting against the cam 4, so that the cam 4 is in transmission connection with the switching block 21. As a preferred technical scheme, the abutting column 231 is externally sleeved with the rolling bearing 2311, the traction lug boss 41 and the transition lug boss 42 are both abutted with the rolling bearing 2311, sliding friction in the abutting process is converted into rolling friction, and transmission efficiency is improved.

Specifically, one end surface of the cam 4 is provided with a rotating shaft for rotational connection with the link 5. The other end surface of the cam 4 is circumferentially provided with a traction boss 41 and a transition boss 42. The working surface of the pulling lug 41 is a bevel. When the cam 4 rotates to the position that the pulling boss 41 abuts against the abutment post 231, the cam 4 drives the switching block 21 to slide along the second slide rail 22 until the reset plane 212 is located in the movement range of the second connecting end 62. The working surfaces of the traction boss 41 and the transition boss 42 are connected to each other, and the working surface of the transition boss 42 is a plane. When the cam 4 is rotated until the transition boss 42 abuts the abutment post 231, the position of the switch block 21 remains stationary until the cam 4 drives the print head 6 to move back along the reset plane 212 to the initial position. Subsequently, the switching block 21 slides along the second slide rail 22 under the action of the first elastic component 24 and returns to the movement range of the feeding boss 211 located at the second connecting end 62.

One end of the first elastic component 24 is connected with the traction rod 23, and the other end is fixedly connected with the second slide rail 22. When the cam 4 drives the switch block 21 to slide along the second slide rail 22, the first elastic assembly 24 applies a return elastic force to the traction rod 23, so that the switch block 21 fixedly connected with the traction rod 23 can be returned to a movement range in which the feeding boss 211 is located at the second connecting end 62 under the action of the return elastic force. Illustratively, in the present embodiment, the first elastic component 24 includes a screw and a spring, and the screw is fixedly connected with the second slide rail 22. One end of the spring is connected with the traction rod 23, and the other end is fixedly connected with the screw. When the feed boss 211 is located within the range of motion of the second connection end 62, the spring is undeformed or maintains a small tensile deformation. When the cam 4 drives the switching block 21 to slide along the second slide rail 22, the switching block 21 is gradually separated from the screw, the spring stretching deformation quantity is increased, and the pulling force is also gradually increased. When the abutting post 231 of the traction rod 23 is disengaged from the transition boss 42, the spring drives the switching block 21 to slide along the second slide rail 22 and return to the movement range of the feeding boss 211 located at the second connecting end 62.

As a preferable technical solution, two drawing bosses 41 are circumferentially arranged on the end surface of the cam 4, and the two drawing bosses 41 are respectively connected to two ends of the transition boss 42. So set up and to make switching piece 21 break away from behind the transition boss 42, level and smooth the reseing gradually, prevent to switch piece 21 under first elastic component 24's effect, because of losing the butt structure and kick-backing fast, cause to vibrate or assault.

A thermal transfer printer includes a print actuator, a motor, a feeding unit, and an ink ribbon 200. The motor is used for driving the printing transmission mechanism. Specifically, the motor is preferably a stepping motor, and an output shaft of the motor is connected with the cam 4 to drive the cam 4 to rotate. The feeding unit includes an unwinding end around which an unused ink ribbon 200 is wound, and a feeding end for feeding the ink ribbon 200 to the printing head 6. The take-up end is connected to one end of the ink ribbon 200 for recovering the used ink ribbon 200. The thermal transfer printer of the present invention uses a motor as a driving device of a printing transmission mechanism. The printing transmission mechanism drives the sliding block 3 to slide on the first sliding rail 1 in a reciprocating manner through the cam 4 and the connecting rod 5, so that the printing head 6 slides along the supporting plate 2. The print head 6 rotates around the slider 3 while passing through the feed boss 211 during the sliding process, and presses the ink ribbon 200 to the surface of the substrate 300, thereby realizing the printing function. Compare in pneumatic structure and the electro-magnet structure among the prior art, do not receive air supply restriction, simple structure, energy consumption low, small, can guarantee that the long-time continuous operation of heat-transfer seal printer, the practicality is strong.

It is to be noted that the foregoing is only illustrative of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and the technical principles employed. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of various obvious changes, rearrangements and substitutions as will now become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in greater detail by the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may include other equivalent embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for convenience of description and simplicity of description, but do not indicate or imply that the device or element being referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Wherein the terms "first position" and "second position" are two different positions.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, e.g., as meaning either a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral connection; can be mechanically or electrically connected; they may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, or they may be interconnected between two elements. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in specific cases to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A print actuator, comprising:

one end of the first sliding rail (1) is fixedly connected with the base plate (100), and the other end of the first sliding rail (1) is connected with the supporting plate (2); a switching block (21) is arranged on the supporting plate (2), a feeding boss (211) is arranged at one end of the switching block (21), and the feeding boss (211) is convexly arranged on the surface of the supporting plate (2);

the sliding block (3) is connected with the first sliding rail (1) in a sliding mode;

the cam (4), the said cam (4) is connected with said slide block (3) through the tie rod (5); the cam (4) is configured to drive the sliding block (3) to slide along the first sliding rail (1) in a reciprocating manner;

the printing head (6), a first connecting end (61) of the printing head (6) is rotatably connected with the sliding block (3), and a second connecting end (62) of the printing head (6) is abutted with the supporting plate (2); the printhead (6) is configured to rotate about the slider (3) to press the ribbon (200) against the surface of the substrate (300).

2. Print actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch block (21) is provided with a return plane (212), the return plane (212) being flush with the surface of the support plate (2); the cam (4) is configured to enable the second connection end (62) to move along the reset plane (212).

3. Printing transmission according to claim 2, wherein the support plate (2) is provided with a second sliding track (22), the switching block (21) being slidably connected with the second sliding track (22); the cam (4) is configured to push the switching block (21) to slide along the second slide rail (22) so that the reset plane (212) is located in the motion range of the second connecting end (62).

4. The printing transmission mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the support plate (2) is provided with a draw bar (23), the draw bar (23) is fixedly connected with the switching block (21), and one end of the draw bar (23) is provided with a butting column (231);

a traction boss (41) and a transition boss (42) are circumferentially arranged on the end face of the cam (4), and the traction boss (41) is connected with the transition boss (42); the traction boss (41) is abutted against the abutting column (231) so that the switching block (21) slides along the second slide rail (22); the transition boss (42) abuts against the abutting column (231) so that the second connecting end (62) moves along the reset plane (212).

5. The printing transmission mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said abutment post (231) is externally sleeved with a rolling bearing (2311), and said traction boss (41) and said transition boss (42) are both abutted with said rolling bearing (2311).

6. The printing transmission mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the end face of the cam (4) is circumferentially provided with two traction bosses (41), and the two traction bosses (41) are respectively connected to two ends of the transition boss (42).

7. Printing transmission according to claim 3, wherein the support plate (2) is provided with a first elastic component (24), one end of the first elastic component (24) is connected with the switching block (21) and the other end is connected with the second sliding rail (22), and the first elastic component (24) is configured to enable the feeding boss (211) to be located within the movement range of the second connecting end (62).

8. Print actuator according to claim 1, further comprising a second elastic assembly (7), the second elastic assembly (7) being configured to enable the second connection end (62) of the print head (6) to abut against the support plate (2).

9. The printing transmission according to claim 1, wherein the second connecting end (62) comprises a roller (621), the roller (621) abutting the support plate (2).

10. A thermal transfer printer comprising a print actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, a motor for driving the print actuator, a feeding device for feeding and recovering the ribbon (200), and the ribbon (200).