Printer having front-end paper feeding and front-end paper outputting and being capable of changing paper discharge path

Abstract

A printer having front-end paper feeding and front-end paper outputting and being capable of changing a paper discharge path, said printer comprising a housing (10) and a paper discharge unit (40), the paper discharge unit (40) comprising a first paper discharge mechanism (401) and a paper discharge channel (50) which consists of upper and lower casings (1011, 1012), a front end surface of the housing (10) being a vertical flat surface A, a paper feed port (30) and a paper output port (20) being horizontally arranged on the flat surface A, the paper feed port (30) being located beneath the paper output port (20), the paper discharge channel (50) at the front of the first paper discharge mechanism (401) being provided with a paper conveyance system capable of changing a paper discharge path.

Claims

1. A printer having front-end paper feeding and front-end paper outputting and being capable of changing paper discharge path, comprising a shell and a paper discharge unit, wherein the paper discharge unit comprises a first paper discharge mechanism and a paper discharge channel composed of an upper shell body and a lower shell body, across the first paper discharge mechanism and the printer is characterized in that a front end face of the shell is a vertical plane (A), a paper inlet and a paper outlet port are horizontally disposed on the vertical plane (A), said paper outlet port allowing paper to be discharged beyond front end face of the shell; the paper inlet is located under the paper outlet port, and a paper conveying system is arranged in a portion of the paper discharge channel in front of the first paper discharge mechanism, wherein the paper conveying system comprises a second paper discharge mechanism, a third paper discharge mechanism and a paper guide plate; the first paper discharge mechanism, the second paper discharge mechanism, and the third paper discharge mechanism are arranged in sequence; a paper discharge channel B, adjacent to the paper outlet port, is arranged below the third paper discharge mechanism and above the lower shell body or above the third paper discharge mechanism and below the upper shell body; the first paper discharge mechanism, the second paper discharge mechanism, and the paper discharge channel B form a first paper discharge path (s1); the first paper discharge mechanism, the second paper discharge mechanism, and the third paper discharge mechanism form a second paper discharge path (s2); and paper guide plate is arranged between the third paper discharge mechanism and the second paper discharge mechanism and is used for converting the paper discharge paths, wherein ends of the first paper discharge path (s1) and second paper discharge path (s2) extend to include the paper outlet port.

2. The printer of claim 1, characterized in that the paper discharge channel B is arranged between the third paper discharge mechanism and the lower shell body; one end of the paper guide plate is rotationally fixed at a downside of the paper inlet of the third paper discharge mechanism through a rotating shaft and a paper guide plate drive motor fixedly connected with the rotating shaft while the other end thereof extends towards the second paper discharge mechanism and can swing up and down under the driving of the paper guide plate drive motor; when the other end swings to be close to an upside of the paper outlet port of the second paper discharge mechanism, the printing paper is discharged through the first paper discharge path (s1); and when the other end swings to the downside of the paper outlet port of the second paper discharge mechanism, the printing paper is discharged through the second paper discharge path (s2).

3. The printer of claim 2, characterized by further comprising a control unit, wherein the paper guide plate drive motor is electrically connected with the controller of the control unit.

4. The printer of claim 2, characterized in that the paper guide plate is provided with a spiral spring; one end of the spiral spring is fixed while the other end is connected with the lower side face of the paper guide plate; the joint of the spiral spring and the paper guide plate is located at the middle part of the paper guide plate; and the spiral spring is used for supporting the paper guide plate.

5. The printer of claim 2, characterized in that the second paper discharge mechanism comprises a second paper discharge roller, a second driven roller in friction transmission connection with the second paper discharge roller and a second driven roller bracket used for supporting the second driven roller; the third paper discharge mechanism comprises a third paper discharge roller, a third driven roller in friction transmission connection with the third paper discharge roller, and a third driven roller bracket used for supporting the third driven roller; the first, second, and third paper discharge rollers have equal roller surface linear velocity and are in transmission connection through gears or belts; and the third paper discharge mechanism further comprises a paper discharge plate; one end of the paper discharge plate is fixed at the third driven roller bracket while the other end extends along the paper discharge direction.

6. The printer of claim 2, characterized in that the distance between the second paper discharge mechanism and the paper outlet port is 200 to 250 mm, and the distance between the third paper discharge mechanism and the paper outlet port is 50 to 100 mm.

7. The printer of claim 2, characterized in that an upper cover which can be opened and closed is arranged at the upper shell body of the paper discharge unit, and paper clamped in the paper discharge channel can be taken out by opening the upper cover.

8. The printer of claim 1, characterized in that the paper discharge channel B is arranged between the third paper discharge mechanism and the upper shell body; one end of the paper guide plate is rotationally fixed at an upside of the paper inlet of the third paper discharge mechanism through the rotating shaft and a paper guide plate drive motor fixedly connected with the rotating shaft while the other end thereof extends towards the second paper discharge mechanism and can swing up and down under the driving of the paper guide plate drive motor; when the other end swings to be close to the downside of the paper outlet port of the second paper discharge mechanism, the printing paper is discharged through the first paper discharge path s1; and when the other end swings to the upside of the paper outlet port of the second paper discharge mechanism, the printing paper is discharged through the second paper discharge path (s2).

9. The printer of claim 8, characterized in that the second paper discharge mechanism comprises a second paper discharge roller, a second driven roller in friction transmission connection with the second paper discharge roller and a second driven roller bracket used for supporting the second driven roller; the third paper discharge mechanism comprises a third paper discharge roller, a third driven roller in friction transmission connection with the third paper discharge roller, and a third driven roller bracket used for supporting the third driven roller; the first, second and third paper discharge rollers have equal roller surface linear velocity and are in transmission connection through gears or belts; and the second paper discharge mechanism further comprises a paper discharge plate; one end of the paper discharge plate is fixed at the second driven roller bracket while the other end extends along the paper discharge direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an existing laser printer when being configured as an all-in-one machine of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the whole structure of the existing front-end paper feeding and front-end paper discharging printer of the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the whole structure of one embodiment of the printer of the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a first paper discharge path of the printer from embodiment 1 of the invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a second paper discharge path of the printer from embodiment 1 of the invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a connection structure of a paper guide plate and the third driven roller bracket of the printer from embodiment 1 of the invention.

(7) FIG. 7 is a structural schematic diagram of the connecting part of the paper guide plate in FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is a structural schematic diagram of the connecting part of the third driven roller bracket in FIG. 6.

(9) FIG. 9 is a structural schematic diagram of the first paper discharge path of the printer from embodiment 2.

(10) FIG. 10 is a structural schematic diagram of the second paper discharge path of the printer from embodiment 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) In order to make the purpose, the technical scheme, and the advantages of the invention more clear, the technical scheme of the invention is described clearly and completely in combination with accompanying drawings and an implementation mode applicable to A4 paper and A5 paper.

(12) In the description below, the printing paper is discharged from the front side of the printer by regarding the orientation of the printer shown in FIG. 2 as a reference, and on the contrary, the printing paper is discharged from the backside.

Embodiment 1

(13) See FIG. 3, a printer comprises a shell 10, the front end face 102 of the shell is a vertical plane A, a paper inlet 30 and a paper outlet 20 are horizontally formed in the plane A, and the paper inlet 30 is located under the paper outlet 20. An upper cover 1011 which can be opened and closed is arranged at the upper side face 101 of the shell 10; the upper cover 1011 is rotationally arranged at the two side faces of the shell 10 through a rotating shaft 1013; and paper clamped in the paper discharge channel can be taken out by opening the upper cover 1011.

(14) See FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the printer further comprises a paper discharge unit 40; the paper discharge unit 40 comprises a first paper discharge mechanism 401, a paper conveying system and a paper discharge channel 50. The paper discharge channel 50 is composed of a movable upper cover 1011 and a lower shell body 1012.

(15) The paper conveying system comprises a second paper discharge mechanism 402, a third paper discharge mechanism 403 and a paper guide plate 404. The second paper discharge mechanism 402 and the third paper discharge mechanism 403 are arranged in front of the first paper discharge mechanism 401 in sequence. An A4 paper discharge channel B is arranged between the third paper discharge mechanism 403 and the lower shell body 1012.

(16) The second paper discharge mechanism 402 comprises a second paper discharge roller 4021, a second driven roller 4022, and a second driven roller bracket 4023. The second paper discharge roller 4021 is a drive roller and is arranged on the shell 10 through the rotating shaft; a second drive gear (not shown in the Fig.) is arranged at one end of the rotating shaft in a sleeved manner; the second drive gear is in drive connection with the drive roller gear (not shown in the Fig.) of the first paper discharge mechanism 401 through a first middle transition gear (not shown in the Fig.) arranged between the first paper discharge roller 4011 and the second paper discharge roller 4021; the second driven roller 4022 is rotationally arranged at the second driven roller bracket 4023 and is in friction drive connection with the second paper discharge roller 4021; and the second driven roller bracket 4023 is fixed at the bottom surface of the shell 10. The roller surface diameter and the linear velocity of the second paper discharge roller 4021 are same as the roller surface diameter and the linear velocity of the first paper discharge roller 4011.

(17) In another embodiment, the second paper discharge roller 4021 can also be in drive connection with the drive roller of the first paper discharge mechanism 401 through a belt.

(18) The third paper discharge mechanism 403 comprises a third paper discharge roller 4031, a third driven roller 4032, a third driven roller bracket 4033 and a paper discharge plate 4034. The third paper discharge roller 4031 is a drive roller and is arranged at the shell 10 through the rotating shaft; a third drive gear (not shown in the Fig.) is arranged at one end of the rotating shaft in a sleeved manner; the third drive gear is in drive connection with the second drive gear (not shown in the Fig.) through a second middle transition gear (not shown in the Fig.) arranged between the second paper discharge roller 4021 and the third paper discharge roller 4031; the third driven roller 4032 is rotationally arranged at the third driven roller bracket 4033 and is in friction drive connection with the third paper discharge roller 4031; the third driven roller bracket 4033 is fixed at the side face of the shell 10; and an A4 paper discharge channel B is arranged at the bottom surface 1012 of the shell. One end of the paper discharge plate 4034 is fixedly at the front side face of the third driven roller bracket 4033 while the other end extends along the paper discharge direction. The roller surface diameter and the linear velocity of the third paper discharge roller 4031 are same as the roller surface diameter and the linear velocity of the second paper discharge roller 4021.

(19) In other embodiments, the third paper discharge roller 4031 can also be in drive connection with the drive roller of the second paper discharge mechanism through the belt.

(20) In the embodiment, the paper guide plate 404 is arranged between the third paper discharge mechanism 403 and the second paper discharge mechanism 402; one end of the paper guide plate 404 is arranged at the third driven roller bracket 4033 through the rotating shaft 406; and one end of the rotating shaft is connected with a paper guide plate drive motor 407, see FIG. 6. A spiral spring 405 is arranged at the middle of the paper guide plate 404; one end of the spiral spring 405 is fixedly connected with the back side face of the third driven roller bracket 4033 while the other end thereof is connected with the lower side face of the paper guide plate 404. When the paper guide plate 404 is rotated downwards, the spiral spring 405 is compressed; and when the paper guide plate 404 is rotated upwards, the spiral spring 405 extends.

(21) See FIG. 6-8, in the embodiment, the connection mode of the paper guide plate 404 and the third driven roller bracket 4033 is as follows: bumps 4041 are arranged at the two ends of the front side face of the paper guide plate 404. As shown in FIG. 7, the bumps 4041 are provided with first through holes 4041 along the thickness direction, and the inner wall of each through hole 4042 is provided with an axial through key slot 4043. U-shaped bumps 40331 are arranged at the two ends of the front side face of the third driven roller bracket 4033; spacing greater than the thickness of each bump 4041 is arranged between the two convex parts of the U-shaped bumps 40331, as shown in FIG. 8, a second through hole 40332 is formed in each U-shaped bump 40331 in a through manner along the thickness direction. The two bumps 4041 of the paper guide plate are respectively clamped between the two convex parts of the U-shaped bumps 40331 of the third driven roller bracket. The paper guide plate drive motor 407 is fixed at the shell 10; the rotating shaft 406 penetrates the second through holes 40332 and the first through holes 4042 and is arranged at the shell 10; the rotating shaft 406 is in friction drive connection with the second through hole 40332 and is fixedly connected with the first through hole 4042 through the flat keys arranged in the key slots 4043. The paper guide plate drive motor 407 rotates to drive the paper guide plate 404 to swing up and down; when the paper guide plate 404 swings close to the downside of the paper outlet of the second paper discharge mechanism 402, as shown in FIG. 5, the A5 printing paper is discharged sequentially by the first paper discharge mechanism 401, the second paper discharge mechanism 402 and the third paper discharge mechanism 403; s2 is the paper discharge path, and the spiral spring 405 at the moment is in a compressed state; when the paper guide plate 404 rotates to the upside of the paper outlet of the second paper discharge mechanism 402, as shown in FIG. 4, the A4 printing paper is discharged by sequentially passing through the first paper discharge mechanism 401, the second paper discharge mechanism 402 and the paper discharge channel B; s1 is the paper discharge path, and the spiral spring 405 is in an extended state at the moment.

(22) In the embodiment, the distance D2 between the second paper discharge mechanism 402 and the paper outlet is 235 mm; mechanism 402 and the paper outlet is 235 mm; the distance between the third paper discharge mechanism 403 and the paper outlet is 85 mm; when the printing paper is A4 paper, the A4 paper is fed and discharged vertically, the printing path S1 is selected; after the A4 is discharged by the second paper discharge mechanism 402, the tail end of the A4 paper falls at the front side face of the second driven roller bracket 4022 and the rear end face of the paper is flushed with the front side face of the second driven roller bracket, that is, providing that the distance between the front side face of the second driven roller bracket 4023 and the central line is 10 mm and the length of the A4 is 300 mm, the distance that the front end face of the A4 paper goes beyond the paper outlet of the printer is 75 mm; when the printing paper is A5 paper, the A5 paper is fed and discharged transversely; the printing path S2 is selected; after being discharged by the third paper discharge mechanism 403, the tail end of the A5 paper falls at the front side face of the third driven roller bracket 4033 and the paper discharge plate 4034; the rear end face of the A5 paper is flushed with the front side face of the third driven roller bracket 4033, that is, providing that the distance between the front side face of the third driven roller bracket 4033 and the central line is 10 mm and the width of the A5 is 150 mm, the distance that the front end face of the A5 paper goes beyond the paper outlet of the printer is 75 mm.

(23) In another embodiment, the distance D2 between the second paper discharge mechanism 402 and the paper outlet can be selected within a range from 200 to 250 mm or within a wider range based on need of application places; and the distance D1 between the third paper discharge mechanism 403 and the paper outlet can be selected within a range from 50 to 100 mm or within a wider range until the need is met.

(24) In the embodiment, when the paper guide plate drive motor 407 is electrically connected with the controller of the control unit and when the control system identifies that the selected printing paper is A4 paper, the control system automatically controls the paper guide plate drive motor 407 to drive the paper guide plate 404 to swing upwards to be higher than the paper outlet of the second paper discharge mechanism 402, and the A4 paper is discharged automatically from the S1 path; and when the control system identifies that the selected printing paper is A5 paper, the control system automatically controls the paper guide plate drive motor 407 to drive the paper guide plate 404 to swing downwards to be lower than the paper outlet of the second paper discharge mechanism 402, and the A5 paper supported by the paper guide plate 404 is discharged automatically from the S2 path.

Embodiment 2

(25) See FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the structure of the embodiment 2 is basically same as the embodiment 1. Same parts have the same mark numbers in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The difference is only in that the third driven roller bracket 4033 is fixed at the bottom surface of the shell 10, an A4 paper discharge channel B is arranged between the third paper discharge mechanism 403 and the top surface of the shell, that is, the upper cover 1011; a paper receiving plate 4024 is arranged at the upper end of the front side face of the second driven roller bracket 4023; the paper receiving plate 4024 is used for receiving the printing paper fallen off from the second paper discharge roller; and one end of the paper guide plate 404 is fixed at the two side faces of the shell 10.

(26) In the embodiment 2, the paper guide plate drive motor 407 rotates to drive the paper guide plate 404 to swing up and down around the rotating shaft 406; when the paper guide plate swings to be close to the upside of the paper outlet of the second paper discharge mechanism 402, as shown in FIG. 10, the A5 printing paper is discharged sequentially by the first paper discharge mechanism 401, the second paper discharge mechanism 402 and the third paper discharge mechanism 403; the tail end of the paper falls at the front side face of the third driven roller bracket 4033; s2 is the paper discharge path; and the spiral spring 405 is in the extended state at the moment. When the paper guide plate swings to the downside of the paper outlet of the second paper discharge mechanism 402, as shown in FIG. 9, the A4 printing paper is discharged sequentially by the first paper discharge mechanism 401, the second paper discharge mechanism 402 and the paper discharge channel B; the tail end of the paper falls at the front side face of the second driven roller bracket 4023 and the paper receiving plate 4024; s1 is the paper discharge path; and the spiral spring 405 is in the compressed state at the moment.

(27) All the parts not specified in the above instructions are existing technologies or can be achieved through existing technologies.