EP2910382A1 - Système de détection de présence de rouleau d'impression pour imprimante thermique - Google Patents

Système de détection de présence de rouleau d'impression pour imprimante thermique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2910382A1
EP2910382A1 EP14155932.8A EP14155932A EP2910382A1 EP 2910382 A1 EP2910382 A1 EP 2910382A1 EP 14155932 A EP14155932 A EP 14155932A EP 2910382 A1 EP2910382 A1 EP 2910382A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
platen roller
thermal printing
printing mechanism
flexible circuit
printer chassis
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP14155932.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Denis Montagutelli
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
APS Trading OOD
Original Assignee
APS Trading OOD
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by APS Trading OOD filed Critical APS Trading OOD
Priority to EP14155932.8A priority Critical patent/EP2910382A1/fr
Priority to PCT/EP2015/052020 priority patent/WO2015124412A1/fr
Publication of EP2910382A1 publication Critical patent/EP2910382A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/02—Platens
    • B41J11/14—Platen-shift mechanisms; Driving gear therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/02—Platens
    • B41J11/04—Roller platens
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
    • B41J2202/30—Embodiments of or processes related to thermal heads
    • B41J2202/31—Thermal printer with head or platen movable

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the thermal printing device with the so called "easy-loading" system for the paper.
  • a thermal printing mechanism usually comprises a chassis for holding all of the following components: a thermal printhead, a platen roller that can be put in rotation by a motor through a gear train, and pressure means in order to keep under pressure the thermal printhead against the platen roller.
  • a thermal sensitive paper is inserted between the platen roller and the thermal printhead, and the printout is generated by combining the paper advance with the dot selection and activation on the thermal printhead.
  • An improvement of such device is providing the possibility to separate the platen roller from the thermal printhead and the chassis in order to facilitate the loading of the paper and its positioning between the thermal printhead and the platen roller.
  • the platen roller has two positions: first one called the printing position, where the platen roller is held in the printer chassis and allows the printer to print, and second one - called open position wherein the platen roller is detached by the printer chassis.
  • Such arrangements of a thermal printing mechanism are well known in the prior art, and described for example in FR2786727 .
  • Such devices can comprise also a sensor on the printer chassis to sense the presence of the paper.
  • a sensor on the printer chassis to sense the presence of the paper.
  • Such sensor is in most of the cases an optical reflective sensor, and in some specific cases a transmittive sensor or a micro-switch.
  • Such sensor can also be used to detect the separation of the platen roller out of the printer chassis.
  • Such detection system requires an analog to digital conversion on the electronic board, moreover since the optical sensor has an important gain variation from one to another, a calibration procedure has to be done on the electronic board which measures the electrical signal coming out form the optical sensor, making this detection complex to setup and operate and not always reliable.
  • the aim of the present invention is to avoid such optical sensor and realize the function of detecting of the platen roller presence in printing position using usual parts of the thermal printing mechanism. This would allow keeping the overall dimensions of the device in a desired range, simplifying the construction using less components and thus decreasing production costs of the device.
  • the present invention proposes a solution by using the platen roller itself to detect its presence in the printing position in the printer chassis.
  • thermal printing mechanism according to the present invention that comprises:
  • the thermal printing mechanism further comprises two lateral conductive contacts arranged on the printer chassis so as to be in a contact with the two opposite ends of the platen roller conductive shaft in the printing position of the platen roller for conducting electrical current, thus forming an electrical switch for indication of the status of the platen roller position.
  • the platen roller is usually made of a metallic shaft, so a conductive material, over which a rubber material is molded and rectified to get a precise geometrical cylinder shape which is to be pressed against the thermal printhead.
  • a conductive material over which a rubber material is molded and rectified to get a precise geometrical cylinder shape which is to be pressed against the thermal printhead.
  • the platen roller shaft is isolated along almost its entire length except for its two opposite free ends. Providing two corresponding contacts on the printer chassis able to contact with the free ends of the platen roller shaft and electrical current allows detecting the presence of the platen roller in the printing position. In such arrangement the platen roller shaft behave as an electrical switch.
  • the switch open or closed positions are perfectly reflected by the electrical connection or disconnection of the two contacts located at, and in contact with each end of the platen roller shaft.
  • Each end of both lateral conductive contacts is connected, by any known way from the prior art, to an electrical circuit, in order to transfer the electrical signal from the switch to a device capable to register the signal.
  • At least one of the lateral conductive contacts is designed as pressure means for the conductive shaft so as to urge the platen roller against the thermal printhead.
  • Preferably at least one of the lateral conductive contacts is in the form of conductive spring.
  • the printer chassis is conductive and at least one of the lateral conductive contacts is also in contact trough its second end with the printer chassis.
  • At least one of the lateral conductive contacts is in contact through its second end with a conductive pad located on a flexible circuit.
  • the flexible circuit is in contact with one of the two lateral conductive contacts through the chassis.
  • the flexible circuit is a single side flexible circuit and is folded on itself in order to generate upper and lower contacts, one of these contacts being electrically connected to the end of the lateral conductive contacts, and the other flexible circuit contact being connected to the chassis.
  • the flexible circuit has two terminals to transfer the signals from the switch to an electronic controller of the printer.
  • the flexible circuit first terminal on the area which is always connected to the printer chassis whatever is the switch position, is connected to the ground on the electronic controller of the printer.
  • the lateral conductive contact of the motion means side in the form of a spring is hold by a gear train protector.
  • the thermal printhead is firmly mounted onto the printer chassis.
  • the main advantage of the solution according to the present invention is that using usual pats of the construction provides a reliable sensor for detecting the presence of the platen roller in the thermal printing devices with the so called "easy-loading" system.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows the thermal printing mechanism according to the present invention.
  • the thermal printing mechanism comprises a printer chassis 2, a thermal printhead 1, a platen roller 3 having a conductive shaft 6, a motion means 11 to put the platen roller 3 in rotation and a paper guide 8.
  • the platen roller 3 is designed to be movable between two possible positions - open position and printing position.
  • the thermal printhead 1 is directly mounted on the conductive printer chassis 2. In alternative variants the thermal printhead can also be assembled in a known way on a rotative support.
  • the motion means 11 for the platen roller is also mounted onto the printer chassis.
  • the thermal printing mechanism further comprises two lateral conductive contacts 4 and 5 arranged on the printer chassis 2 so as to be in a contact with the two opposite ends of the platen roller conductive shaft 6 in the printing position of the platen roller 3 for conducting electrical current, thus forming an electrical switch for indication of the status of the platen roller position.
  • Said printer chassis 2 can be conductive or nonconductive.
  • Said lateral conductive contacts can be made of metallic thin blades, or wire springs, or could be of any know from the prior art type end configuration suitable to realize an electric contact with the two opposite ends of the platen roller conductive shaft 6.
  • the lateral conductive contacts can be mounted directly on the printer chassis 2 or can be mounted to other parts of the mechanism.
  • the lateral conductive contacts are connected to the electrical circuit of the thermal printing mechanism, such connection being realized by any known from the prior art way and means.
  • one or both lateral conductive contacts can be connected to the electrical circuit through the chassis.
  • one or both lateral conductive contacts also implement the function of pressure means for the conductive shaft 6 so as to urge the platen roller 3 against the thermal printhead 1.
  • FIG. 2 shows the inner part of a preferred embodiment of the thermal printing mechanism according to the present invention.
  • the thermal printhead 1 is directly mounted on the conductive printer chassis 2.
  • the platen roller 3 is urged against the thermal printhead 1 by two lateral conductive contacts comprising a wire spring 4 on the motion means side and a wire spring 5 on the opposite side of the chassis.
  • Both wire springs 4 and 5 are in mechanical and electrical contact with the conductive shaft 6 of the platen roller 3 in the printing position.
  • Both first ends 7 of these wire springs 4 and 5 have also a substantially rounded shape in order to manage a hard point when the platen roller 3 engages into the printing position, thus creating a clipsage.
  • the elasticity of the wire spring 5, urges its second end 20 against the printer chassis 2, thus creating a mechanical and electrical contact between them.
  • the wire spring 5 creates a mechanical and electrical contact between the shaft end of the platen roller on the opposite side of the motion means, and the printer chassis 2.
  • the partly exploded view on the figure 5 shows one possible variant for the mounting of the spring 5 on a shaft 9 mounted on the paper guide 8.
  • the wire spring 4 on the opposite side of the print mechanism has a similar substantially round shape if its first end 7 to urge symmetrically the platen roller 3 against the thermal head 1 via the platen roller shaft 6 as shown on figure 2 and figure 3 .
  • wire spring 4 is in mechanical and electrical contact with the shaft end of the platen roller 3 on the side of the motion means.
  • the elasticity of the wire spring 4 urges its second end 16 against the flexible circuit 17, thus urging the flexible circuit 17 against the printer chassis 2 as shown on figures 7 and 8 .
  • Said wire spring 4 is mounted on a non-conductive shaft 12 arranged on a gear train protector 10 as shown on the figure 4 .
  • This protector 10 is mounted on the paper guide 8 and protects the gear train from dust. It is also used to lock the paper guide 8 in position and has complementary shapes in order to lock all parts of the construction in position. This allows the wire spring 4 to be electrically isolated from the printer chassis 2.
  • the second end 16 of the wire spring 4 is in electrical contact with a flexible circuit 17 in order to electrically close the whole switch circuit.
  • two terminals located on the terminal section 18 of the flexible circuit 17 and as shown on figure 9 correspond to both ends of the electrical switch. Said terminals could be used directly to switch on a light like a LED. In a preferred embodiment, both terminals are connected to an electronic controller board which is processing the information coming from the switch, in order to control the printer operation.
  • said flexible circuit 17 is a single side flexible circuit, to keep its price low.
  • Two conductive pad areas are made on the flexible circuit 17, in order to generate one upper contact 13 and one lower contact 15, both contacts being one over the other, when the flexible circuit is folded on itself.
  • Figure 7 shows the upper contact pad 13, and figure 8 shows the lower contact pad 15.
  • the second end 16 of the wire spring 4 urges the flexible circuit 17 onto the printer chassis 2
  • the upper contact pad 13 connects to the printer chassis 2
  • the lower contact pad 15 contacts the second end 16 of the wire spring 4.
  • two tracks on the flexible circuit 17 connect these two pads to two corresponding terminals in the terminal section 18 of the flexible circuit 17 as shown on the figure 9 .
  • Such connection allows to ground the printer chassis 2 for a better protection against electro-static discharge on the thermal printhead 1.
  • the second terminal is then reflecting the status of the switch, being or not connected to ground according to the status of the switch.
  • two pins 19 are arranged on the nonconductive paper guide 8 in order to locate the flexible circuit 17 on the paper guide 8. Then when the paper guide 8 is installed in its final position, as shown for instance on figure 5 , the two pins are below the printer chassis 2 and the flexible circuit 17 cannot escape anymore from the two pins 19. Then when the protector 10 is mounted, the second end 16 of the spring 4 can get in mechanical and electrical contact with the flexible circuit 17, which is locked in position, without moving it.

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  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
EP14155932.8A 2014-02-20 2014-02-20 Système de détection de présence de rouleau d'impression pour imprimante thermique Withdrawn EP2910382A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP14155932.8A EP2910382A1 (fr) 2014-02-20 2014-02-20 Système de détection de présence de rouleau d'impression pour imprimante thermique
PCT/EP2015/052020 WO2015124412A1 (fr) 2014-02-20 2015-01-30 Système de détection de présence de rouleau de platine pour dispositif d'impression thermique

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP14155932.8A EP2910382A1 (fr) 2014-02-20 2014-02-20 Système de détection de présence de rouleau d'impression pour imprimante thermique

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2910382A1 true EP2910382A1 (fr) 2015-08-26

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP14155932.8A Withdrawn EP2910382A1 (fr) 2014-02-20 2014-02-20 Système de détection de présence de rouleau d'impression pour imprimante thermique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2910382A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2015124412A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111070912A (zh) * 2018-10-19 2020-04-28 陪里你色株式会社 便携式热升华打印机的齿条装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5746521A (en) * 1996-12-20 1998-05-05 Intermec Corporation Thermal printhead with integrated printhead position sensor
US5779371A (en) * 1995-09-29 1998-07-14 Anritsu Corporation Thermal printing apparatus
US20040234314A1 (en) * 2003-05-23 2004-11-25 Shuji Tozaki Thermal printer
US20060291933A1 (en) * 2005-06-22 2006-12-28 Fujitsu Components Limited Printing apparatus
US20080178753A1 (en) * 2007-01-25 2008-07-31 Masanori Takahashi Platen retaining structure and recording unit

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5779371A (en) * 1995-09-29 1998-07-14 Anritsu Corporation Thermal printing apparatus
US5746521A (en) * 1996-12-20 1998-05-05 Intermec Corporation Thermal printhead with integrated printhead position sensor
US20040234314A1 (en) * 2003-05-23 2004-11-25 Shuji Tozaki Thermal printer
US20060291933A1 (en) * 2005-06-22 2006-12-28 Fujitsu Components Limited Printing apparatus
US20080178753A1 (en) * 2007-01-25 2008-07-31 Masanori Takahashi Platen retaining structure and recording unit

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111070912A (zh) * 2018-10-19 2020-04-28 陪里你色株式会社 便携式热升华打印机的齿条装置

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Publication number Publication date
WO2015124412A1 (fr) 2015-08-27

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