KR102047523B1 - Photo printer and manufacturing method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photo printer, and more particularly, to a photo printer capable of maintaining a constant gap formed between a head and a platen roller and a manufacturing method thereof.
A photo printer according to the present invention is a photo printer which prints an image or text by applying heat of a predetermined temperature to a paper expressing color in response to a heat, comprising: a frame having both side walls formed thereon; A paper storage unit provided between both side walls of the frame and accommodating the paper; A pickup roller which protrudes on the bottom surface of the paper storage part and supplies the paper accommodated forward; A platen roller coupled to the frame to discharge paper fed by the pickup roller forward; A head provided at an upper portion of the platen roller to apply heat to the paper; And a pair of brackets coupled to the head so as to be swingable on one side and hinged to the frame on the other side.

Description

Photo printer and its manufacturing method {PHOTO PRINTER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a photo printer and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a photo printer and a method of manufacturing the same that can adjust the horizontal level of the head.

The performance of cameras mounted on smart devices such as smartphones is approaching that of general digital cameras, and the population that captures memories by taking pictures with smart devices that are always easy to carry rather than digital cameras is increasing. As a result, consumers' desire to take photographs and print them immediately without any conversion is growing.

Reflecting such demands from consumers, photo printer products that can print pictures in a smartphone anytime and anywhere have been disclosed.

Although there are many types of such photo printers, there is disclosed a photo printer in which a printing paper employing a zero ink method is applied, so that no additional ink or a cartridge is required and thus a maintenance cost is low. Here, the zero ink method refers to a method in which a color corresponding to a cartridge is included in the paper to express colors using only heat. In other words, dyes expressing color in response to heat are stacked on paper to print an image (photo) or text by controlling the heating temperature or heating time of the head.

1 to 3, the conventional photo printer 100 includes a base 110, a pickup roller R1, a platen roller R2, a head 143, a swing bracket 150, and a pressing means ( 160).

The base 110 has a paper supply unit 111 formed by stacking a plurality of sheets, and a lower base 115 extending to the front side is coupled to the lower portion of the base 110.

The pickup roller R1 is a component that protrudes to the bottom surface of the paper feeder 111 of the base 110 and forwards the paper positioned at the bottom of the stacked paper.

Platen roller (R2) is a component for discharging the paper supplied by the pickup roller (R1) to the front, the rotating shaft is coupled to the lower base (115).

The head 140 is provided on the platen roller R2, and the head 140 prints an image or text by expressing a color corresponding to the temperature by applying heat of a predetermined temperature to the paper. A ceramic plate (not shown) is provided on the top of the head 140, and a heat sink 141 made of metal is provided on the ceramic plate.

It also includes a PCB 142 for controlling the heating temperature or heating time of the head 140. That is, the head 140 and the PCB 142 are attached to the lower surface of the heat sink 141.

The paper enters between the head 140 and the platen roller R2. Particularly, according to the present invention, the head 140 is not fixed to the base 110 but is rotatably mounted. 140 is coupled to the mounting portion 151 formed on the front side of the swing bracket 150.

In addition, when the paper enters between the head 140 and the platen roller R2, the rear side of the swing bracket 150 may extend the base (the base) so that the distance between the head 140 and the platen roller R2 is extended. Hinge hole 152 is formed as a coupling portion coupled to the pivot shaft 113 formed on the side wall of the 110.

In addition, the head 140 is in close contact with the paper transfer heat, in this way is provided with a pressing means 160 for pressing the head 140 downward in order to contact the head 140 to the paper. The pressing means 160 is a pressing portion 161 for pressing the upper portion of the head 140, and the coupling portion for rotating the pressing portion 161 coaxially with the rotation shaft 113 of the swing bracket 150 Hinge hole 162 is formed.

In this way, even if the head 140 is pushed by the pressing means 160 from the top, the locking step 153 is caught by the stopper 115a formed on both sides of the base 110 so that the head 140 no longer descends. The gap is formed without contacting the roller R2.

In the conventional photo printer configured as described above, when the head 140 is assembled, the gap is not fixed because the gap is formed by the locking step 153 and the stopper 115a so as not to contact the platen roller R2. there is a problem. In more detail, due to mechanical errors between the locking step 153 and the stopper 115a, gaps on both sides may be different from each other, and there may be a problem in that the gaps are different from the gaps set during the assembly process.

No. 10-2016-116966

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a photo printer and a manufacturing method capable of adjusting the horizontal level of the head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photo printer and a method of manufacturing the same, which can maintain a constant gap formed between the head and the platen roller.

In order to solve the above technical problem, a photo printer according to the present invention includes a photo printer for printing an image or text by applying heat of a predetermined temperature to a paper expressing color in response to heat, the frame having both side walls formed thereon; A paper storage unit provided between both side walls of the frame and accommodating the paper; A pickup roller which protrudes on the bottom surface of the paper storage part and supplies the paper accommodated forward; A platen roller coupled to the frame to discharge paper fed by the pickup roller forward; A head provided at an upper portion of the platen roller to apply heat to the paper; And a pair of brackets coupled to the head so as to be swingable on one side and hinged to the frame on the other side.

In addition, swing holes are formed at both sides of the head, and the bracket is preferably formed with a swing protrusion inserted into the swing hole.

In addition, the support jaw is preferably formed in the frame so that a predetermined gap is formed between the head and the platen roller.

In addition, the lower portion of the bracket is preferably in contact with the support step is formed stepped to form a constant gap between the head and the platen roller.

In addition, the pair of brackets is formed a hinge hole is hinged to the frame, it is preferable that any one or more hinge holes of the pair of brackets are formed in a long hole.

In addition, after forming the gap between the head and the platen roller, it is preferable that a fixing bolt for fixing it is further provided.

In addition, a fastening hole is formed in the head to fasten the fixing bolt, and a fixing hole is formed in the bracket so that the fixing bolt penetrates, and the fixing hole is preferably a long hole.

The photo printer manufacturing method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: 1) mounting a platen roller on a frame; 2) rotatably coupling a pair of brackets to both sides of the head; 3) hinge one end of the pair of brackets to the frame; 4) rotating the head with respect to the bracket to form a predetermined gap between the head and the platen roller; And 5) fixing the bracket and the head with a fixing bolt to maintain the gap.

In addition, the head is formed with a fastening hole for fastening the fixing bolt, the bracket is formed with a fixing hole through which the fixing bolt, it is preferable that the fixing hole is a long hole.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that can adjust the horizontal degree of the head.

In addition, there is an effect that can maintain a constant gap formed between the head and the platen roller.

Therefore, the print quality can be improved.

1 to 3 show a conventional photo printer.
4 to 8 show a photo printer according to the present invention.
9 and 10 show a method of manufacturing a photo printer according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the configuration and operation of the embodiment according to the present invention.

4 and 5, the embodiment 1 according to the present invention is provided between both side walls of the frame 20, and has a paper storage unit 10 for receiving the paper.

Pick-up rollers R1 protruding from the bottom surface of the paper storage portion 10 to feed the received paper forward are combined.

In addition, the frame 20 is coupled to the platen roller (R2) for discharging the paper supplied by the pickup roller (R1) to the front.

In addition, a drive system 50 for rotating the platen roller R2 and the pickup roller R1 is provided.

The head 30 for applying heat to the paper is provided on the platen roller R2.

The head 30 is swingably coupled to a pair of brackets 40, 40a and 40b, and the brackets 40, 40a and 40b are hinged to the frame 20.

5 to 7, the head 30 is provided with a heating element 31 at the bottom, the fastening hole 32 and the swing hole 33 are formed on both sides, respectively.

In addition, a pair of brackets (40, 40a, 40b) is coupled to both sides of the head 30, specifically, the brackets (40, 40a, 40b) is formed in a plate shape, the inside of the swing hole (33) The swing protrusion 42 inserted into the interference fit method is formed to protrude. Therefore, the head 30 is coupled to the brackets 40, 40a and 40b, but is swingable, so that the gap with the platen roller R2 can be adjusted.

In addition, hinge holes 41a and 41b which are inserted into the hinge pins h1 and h2 of the frame 20 are formed at one end based on the swing protrusion 42. In this embodiment, the hinge of the first bracket 40a is formed. The ball 41a is formed as a garden, but the hinge hole 41b of the second bracket 40b is formed as a long hole in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the hinge hole 41b of the second bracket 40b is formed in a long hole shape to adjust the left and right balance of the head 30.

In addition, a fixing hole 43 is formed at the other end based on the swing protrusion 42. The fixing hole 43 is also formed as a long long hole in the longitudinal direction. The fixing hole 43 is formed in both long holes of the first bracket (40a) and the second bracket (40b).

Referring to Figures 5, 8 and 9 will be described a process of forming a gap between the platen roller R2 and the head 30 and the manufacturing method of the photo printer in the embodiment according to the present invention.

First, the paper storage unit 10 and the platen roller R2 are coupled to the frame 20.

Next, the swing protrusions 42 of the bracket 40 are coupled to the swing holes 33 formed at both sides of the head 30 in an interference fit manner.

Next, the hinge holes 41a and 41b of the bracket 40 are rotatably coupled to the hinge pins h1 and h2 of the frame 20. At this time, since the step 44 of the bracket 40 is caught by the support step 21 of the frame 20 and can no longer be lowered, the gap between the platen roller R2 and the head 30 is primarily maintained. Is formed.

Next, the gap between the platen roller R2 formed by the support jaw 21 and the step 44 and the head 30 is measured by using a vision camera or a gauge, and the like is adjusted to the set gap.

For example, when the measured gap is larger than the set gap, the gap is narrowed while swinging the front side of the head 30 downward with respect to the bracket 40. As such, when the gap is adjusted, the fixing bolt B is fastened to maintain the gap firmly (see FIG. 9A).

On the contrary, when the measured gap is smaller than the set gap, the front side of the head 30 is swinged upward with respect to the bracket 40 to increase the gap. As such, when the gap is adjusted, the fixing bolt B is fastened to fix the gap (see FIG. 9B).

For reference, "B" in Figure 9 (a) and (b) is a fixed bolt, for the purpose of understanding the cross hairs formed cross hairs of the fixed bolt is removed and only the portion where the spiral is formed.

Thus, a method of forming a gap between the platen roller R2 and the head 30 and fixing the formed gap has been described.

Next, a method of adjusting the horizontality of the head 30 will be described. In other words, when the head is inclined to either side, it is horizontally corrected so that the gap between the platen roller R2 and the head 30 is constantly adjusted without any left or right deviation.

As described above, as a result of measuring the gap between the platen roller R2 and the head 30 through a vision camera or a gauge, when the width between the left and right sides is different, the first bracket 40a is left as it is. It can be corrected through the second bracket 40b.

Specifically, in the state (a) of FIG. Measure the gap.

As a result of the measurement, when the gap on the side where the second bracket 40b is coupled is smaller than the opposite gap, that is, when the head 30 on the side where the second bracket 40b is coupled is inclined downward, Lifting one end of the two brackets (40b) is to adjust the head 30 horizontally and then fixed. In this case, the hinge pin h2 is fixed below the center of the hinge hole 41b (Fig. 10 (b)).

On the contrary, if the head of the side to which the second bracket is coupled is inclined upward, adjust the head horizontally by lowering one end of the second bracket and then fix it. In this case, the hinge pin will be fixed above the center of the hinge hole.

1: photo printer
10: paper storage unit
20: frame
21: support jaw
30: head
31: heating element
32: fastening hole
33: swing hole
40: bracket
41a, 41b: hinged ball
42: swing protrusion
43: fixing hole
50: drive system

Claims (5)

A frame on which both side walls are formed;
A paper storage unit provided between both side walls of the frame and having a pickup roller protruding from a bottom surface thereof;
A platen roller coupled to the frame to discharge paper fed by the pickup roller forward;
A first bracket having a garden-shaped hinge hole formed at one end thereof and hinged to one side of the frame;
A second bracket having a longitudinally long hinge hole formed at one end thereof and hinged to the other side of the frame; And
And a head provided between the first and second brackets.
The method of claim 1,
Swing holes are formed at both sides of the head,
The first and second brackets, the photo printer, characterized in that the swing projection is inserted into the swing hole protruding inward.
The method of claim 2,
And a fixing bolt which couples the first and second brackets and the head to fix the gap between the platen roller and the head.
1) mounting the platen roller to the frame;
2) coupling the first and second brackets to both side walls of the head, respectively;
3) hinged to the frame using hinge holes formed at one end of the first and second brackets;
4) measuring the gap between the head and the platen roller; And
5) correcting the level of the head by raising or lowering one end of the second bracket hinged to the frame;
The hinge hole formed in the first bracket is formed in a garden shape, and the hinge hole formed in the second bracket is formed in a long elongated shape in the longitudinal direction.
The method of claim 4, wherein
Fixing bolts are further provided to couple the first and second brackets and the head to fix the gap between the platen roller and the head.
The head is formed with a fastening hole for fastening the fixing bolt,
The first and second brackets are formed with a fixing hole through which the fixing bolt passes, the fixing hole is a photo printer manufacturing method, characterized in that the long hole.

Images