Thermal transfer printing device

• US 8,537,187 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Zeng, Jian
• Primary Examiner(s): FEGGINS, KRISTAL J
• Application Number:
  US13/459,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20130208072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 347171-176, 347/213, 347/215, 347/217, 40012001-12004
• US Class Current: 347/217
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/005 Forming loops or sags in webs, e.g. for slackening a web or for compensating variations of the amount of conveyed web material (by arranging a "dancing roller" in a sag of the web material)
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/32 using thermal heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/01 for special character, e.g. for Chinese characters or barcodes

Abstract

A thermal transfer printing device includes a thermal transfer printing module and a paper ejecting module. The paper ejecting module includes a D-shaped ejecting roller, a driving gear, a switching roller, a spring, and a stopper. During a thermal transfer paper is printed by the thermal transfer printing module, the spring provides a friction force to the switching roller. In response to the friction force, the switching roller is driven by the driving gear, and the D-shaped ejecting roller is not contacted with the thermal transfer paper. After the printing task of the thermal transfer printing module is completed, the friction force provided by the spring allows the D-shaped ejecting roller to transport the thermal transfer paper.

Claims

1. A thermal transfer printing device, comprising:

a thermal transfer printing module for printing a thermal transfer paper; and

a paper ejecting module arranged downstream of said thermal transfer printing module for outputting said thermal transfer paper, and said paper ejecting module comprising;

a D-shaped ejecting roller for transporting said thermal transfer paper;

a driving gear connected with said D-shaped ejecting roller, wherein said driving gear is not synchronously rotated with said D-shaped ejecting roller, and said driving gear is driven to be rotated in a first rotating direction or a second rotating direction;

a switching roller connected with said D-shaped ejecting roller and synchronously rotated with said D-shaped ejecting roller for controlling whether said D-shaped ejecting roller is contacted with said thermal transfer paper or not;

a spring connected with said driving gear and said switching roller, wherein in response to rotation of said driving gear, said spring provides a friction force to said switching roller, so that said switching roller is synchronously rotated with said driving gear; and

a stopper disposed beside said switching roller, wherein during said thermal transfer paper is printed by said thermal transfer printing module and said driving gear is rotated in said first rotating direction, said switching roller is stopped by said stopper from being rotated in said first rotating direction, so that said D-shaped ejecting roller is not contacted with said thermal transfer paper, wherein after said thermal transfer paper has been printed and said driving gear is driven in said second rotating direction, in response to said friction force, said switching roller and said D-shaped ejecting roller are rotated in said second rotating direction, so that said D-shaped ejecting roller is contacted with said thermal transfer paper to output said thermal transfer paper.

2. The thermal transfer printing device according to claim 1, wherein said D-shaped ejecting roller comprises:

a D-shaped wheel selectively contacted with said thermal transfer paper, wherein when said D-shaped wheel is contacted with said thermal transfer paper, said thermal transfer paper is transported by said D-shaped wheel; and

a transmission shaft penetrated through said D-shaped wheel, said driving gear and said switching roller.

3. The thermal transfer printing device according to claim 2, wherein said D-shaped wheel comprises:

a flat surface, wherein when said D-shaped ejecting roller stops rotation with said switching roller, said flat surface is not contacted with said thermal transfer paper; and

an arc-shaped surface, wherein when said D-shaped ejecting roller is rotated in said second rotating direction in response to said friction force, said arc-shaped surface is contacted with said thermal transfer paper to output said thermal transfer paper.

4. The thermal transfer printing device according to claim 2, wherein said paper ejecting module further comprises:

an upper cover, wherein said transmission shaft and said driving gear are covered by said upper cover, but said D-shaped wheel is exposed outside said upper cover; and

an ejecting idler assembly disposed under said D-shaped ejecting roller for assisting in outputting said thermal transfer paper, wherein when said D-shaped ejecting roller stops rotation with said switching roller, a gap is defined between said D-shaped ejecting roller and said ejecting idler assembly.

5. The thermal transfer printing device according to claim 4, wherein said ejecting idler assembly comprises:

an idler wheel disposed under said D-shaped ejecting roller for contacting said thermal transfer paper; and

an idler spring for providing an elastic force to said idler wheel, so that said thermal transfer paper is pressed by said idler wheel.

6. The thermal transfer printing device according to claim 4, wherein said stopper comprises:

a pivotal shaft disposed on said upper cover, and rotatable relative to said upper cover; and

an extension arm extended from said pivotal shaft and permitted to be swung relative to said upper cover by using said pivotal shaft as a fulcrum, wherein when said switching roller is rotated in said first rotating direction in response to said friction force, said extension arm is contacted with said switching roller to hinder rotation of said switching roller, wherein when said switching roller is rotated in said second rotating direction, said extension arm is pushed by said switching roller, so that said extension arm is swung relative to said upper cover without hindering said switching roller from being rotated in said second rotating direction.

7. The thermal transfer printing device according to claim 1, wherein said switching roller comprises:

an outer surface disposed on an outer periphery of said switching roller, wherein when said switching roller is rotated in said second rotating direction, said stopper is pushed by said outer surface, so that said stopper is swung, wherein during said stopper is swung, said stopper does not hinder said D-shaped ejecting roller from outputting said thermal transfer paper; and

a notch disposed beside said outer surface, wherein when said switching roller is rotated in said first rotating direction, said notch is contacted with said stopper, so that said switching roller is stopped by said stopper.

8. The thermal transfer printing device according to claim 1, wherein a first terminal of said spring is sheathed and connected with said driving gear, and a second terminal of said spring is sheathed and connected with said switching roller.

9. The thermal transfer printing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical energy storage element for providing electricity;

a driving device connected with said electrical energy storage element, wherein by acquiring said electricity from said electrical energy storage element, said driving device provides a motive power;

a transmission gear set connected with said driving device and said paper ejecting module for transmitting said motive power to said driving gear, so that said driving gear is rotated in said first rotating direction or said second rotating direction; and

a transport roller assembly arranged upstream of said thermal transfer printing module for contacting said thermal transfer paper, thereby transporting said thermal transfer paper to said thermal transfer printing module.

10. The thermal transfer printing device according to claim 1, wherein said thermal transfer printing module comprises:

a thermal print head for heating said thermal transfer paper, thereby printing said thermal transfer paper; and

a print roller disposed under said thermal print head, wherein during said thermal transfer paper is printed by said thermal transfer printing module, said thermal transfer paper is transported and pressed by said print roller.