CN116766801A - Printing mechanism of medical monitoring equipment and medical monitoring equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The application provides a printing mechanism of medical monitoring equipment and the medical monitoring equipment. The printing mechanism comprises: a support plate; a support arm which is L-shaped and is rotatably provided on the support plate at one end, and a print head mounting portion which is provided with a print head is provided at the other end thereof; and a movable frame assembly movably disposed on the support plate and between the support plate and the support arm, the movable frame assembly including a frame, a rubber press roller mounted at a front end of the frame and for pressure contact with the printhead, a printing paper cartridge mounted on the frame, and a driving mechanism mounted on the frame and for driving the rubber press roller to rotate; wherein guide grooves having a curved profile are formed in the frame, and guide shafts extending from the head mounting portion are movably fitted in the respective guide grooves to limit the relative position and pressing force between the head and the rubber press roller. The printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device can ensure printing quality and does not occupy excessive space.

Description

Printing mechanism of medical monitoring equipment and medical monitoring equipment

Technical Field

The present application relates to a printing mechanism for a medical monitoring device and a medical monitoring device comprising such a printing mechanism.

Background

Medical monitoring devices such as fetal monitors, electrocardiographs, defibrillators, or ultrasonic diagnostic devices typically include a mainframe and a printing mechanism disposed within the mainframe. Taking a printing mechanism of the fetal monitor as an example, when the printing mechanism works, a rubber press roller driven by a stepping motor rotates at a preset speed to drag printing paper to pass through a thermal printing head, so that a curve representing fetal vital signs is recorded on the thermal printing paper. In the existing printing mechanism, a stepping motor and a rubber press roller are mounted on different components to form a separable structure. Typically, gears are mounted to the shaft ends of the stepper motor and the rubber platen, respectively, and the stepper motor imparts motion to the rubber platen through engagement of the gears to rotate and thereby pull the print paper pressed between the rubber platen and the printhead. When the printing mechanism prints, the rubber press roller and the printing head are required to be pressed together with proper pressure, so that the printing paper passing through the rubber press roller and the printing head are ensured to be accurately attached. The rubber roller is usually used as a movable part to open and close together with the printing paper bin, the mounting frame (the printing head mounting part) of the printing head is fixed on the shell of the medical monitoring equipment, and the printing head can be slightly moved by being pressed by a group of springs (floating design). When the rubber press roller is buckled with the printing head, the spring provides a pressing force to enable the rubber press roller and the printing head to be clung to each other. In such a conventional structure, with the use of the printing mechanism, the elasticity of the spring changes, resulting in a change in the pressing force applied between the rubber platen roller and the print head, so that the print quality of the print head on the printing paper is deteriorated. In addition, a set of springs that press against the print head also occupies a large space in the medical monitoring device.

Accordingly, there is a need for improvements in printing mechanisms for medical monitoring devices in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

The present application is directed to overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and providing a printing mechanism for a medical monitoring device that overcomes at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the present application, there is provided a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device, the printing mechanism comprising:

a support plate;

a support arm which is L-shaped and is rotatably arranged on the support plate at one end, wherein the other end of the support arm is provided with a printing head mounting part, and the printing head mounting part is provided with a printing head; and

a movable frame assembly movably disposed on the support plate and between the support plate and the support arm, the movable frame assembly including a frame, a rubber pressure roller mounted at a front end of the frame near an outside of the medical monitoring device and for pressure contact with the print head, a printing paper cartridge mounted on the frame, and a driving mechanism mounted on the frame and for driving the rubber pressure roller to rotate;

wherein guide grooves having a curved profile are formed in the frame, and guide shafts extending from both sides of the head mounting portion are movably fitted in the respective guide grooves to limit the relative position and pressing force between the head and the rubber press roller.

Preferably, the guide groove includes a first guide groove and a second guide groove provided on the frame in opposition, the first guide groove and the second guide groove having a curved profile gradually rising from a front end to a rear end.

Preferably, front ends of the first guide groove and the second guide groove are formed with recesses, and the print head is pressed onto the rubber platen roller when the guide shaft moves into the recesses.

Preferably, the length of the first and second guide slots is selected to be equal to the maximum travel of the movable housing assembly out of the housing of the medical monitoring device, and the height of the first and second guide slots is selected to determine the maximum rotation angle of the print head and the support arm.

Preferably, the frame includes a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate disposed opposite to each other, and a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod fixedly connecting the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate together, the first guide groove being formed on the first mounting plate, and the second guide groove being formed on the second mounting plate.

Preferably, the guide shafts are provided with rolling bearings, and the guide shafts are movably fitted in the respective guide grooves by the rolling bearings.

Preferably, the printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device is further provided with a reset spring, and the reset spring tends to enable the printing head to rotate and press on the rubber press roller.

Preferably, the driving mechanism includes a first pulley fixedly installed at one end of the rubber press roller, a motor installed on the frame, a second pulley installed on a rotating shaft of the motor, and a timing belt installed on the first pulley and the second pulley to drive the rubber press roller to rotate when the motor is operated.

Preferably, the motor is disposed at a rear end of the housing adjacent an inside of the medical monitoring device.

Preferably, the rubber press roller is rotatably supported at front ends of the first and second mounting plates near the outside of the medical monitoring device by bearings, and the motor is mounted at a rear end of the first mounting plate near the inside of the medical monitoring device along the longitudinal direction of the first mounting plate spaced apart from the rubber press roller.

Preferably, the first pulley and the second pulley are disposed adjacent the first mounting plate.

Preferably, the first mounting plate, the second mounting plate, the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are metal or alloy members that are connected together to form a rigid frame.

Preferably, the medical monitoring device is a fetal monitor.

According to another aspect of the present application, a medical monitoring device is provided, characterized in that the medical monitoring device comprises a printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device as described above.

According to the printing mechanism of the medical monitoring equipment, the design of the curve outline of the guide groove ensures that the position is accurate when the printing head is matched with the rubber press roller, and the rubber press roller is subjected to proper pressure and proper deformation, so that the printing quality is ensured; on the other hand, the rotation amplitude of the printing head and the supporting arm is limited, so that the layout of the medical monitoring equipment is not affected and the excessive space of the medical monitoring equipment is not occupied.

Drawings

Fig. 1 schematically shows a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the present application in a perspective view;

fig. 2 shows schematically in another perspective view a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the present application, wherein the motor has been detached from the housing;

fig. 3 shows schematically in another perspective view a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the application, wherein the motor and the support arm have been detached from the housing;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates in perspective view a movable housing assembly of a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the present application, wherein a motor and a rubber press roller are mounted on the housing;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates in perspective view a movable housing assembly of a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the present application, wherein a rubber press roller and a printing paper cartridge are mounted on the housing;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates in perspective view a support arm and a printhead mount of a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the present application;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the structure shown in FIG. 6; and

fig. 8 is a side view of the structure of fig. 2, but with the front trim panel removed.

Detailed Description

Specific embodiments of the application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, but it should be understood that the drawings are for illustration only and are not to be construed as limiting the application.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the application in a perspective view, fig. 2 shows schematically a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the application in another perspective view, wherein the motor has been detached from the housing, fig. 3 shows schematically a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the application in another perspective view, wherein the motor and the support arm have been detached from the housing, fig. 4 shows schematically a movable housing assembly of a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the application in a perspective view, wherein the motor and the rubber pressure roller are mounted on the housing, fig. 5 shows schematically a movable housing assembly of a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the application in a perspective view, wherein the rubber pressure roller and the printing paper cartridge are mounted on the housing, fig. 6 shows schematically a support arm and a printing head mounting part of a printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to the application in a perspective view, and fig. 7 is a side view of the structure shown in fig. 6. As shown in fig. 1-7, the printing mechanism 1 of the medical monitoring device according to the present application generally comprises a back plate (or base plate) 3, the back plate 3 typically being mounted on a housing of a medical monitoring device (not shown), such as a fetal monitor. The printing mechanism 1 of the medical monitoring device according to the application further comprises a support arm 5. In the preferred embodiment, the support arm 5 is generally L-shaped, the support arm 5 being rotatably mounted on the support plate 3 at one end 5a, the support arm 5 being mounted with a print head mounting portion 7 at the other end 5b thereof, and a print head 9 such as a thermal print head being mounted on the print head mounting portion 7. In fig. 1, the print head is not visible since it is mounted on the underside of the print head mounting portion 7. The print head is in electrical communication with the host of the medical monitoring device, either by wire or wirelessly, to receive signals from the host for performing a print job. The printing mechanism 1 of the medical monitoring device according to the present application further comprises a movable housing assembly 11, the movable housing assembly 11 being movably arranged on the support plate 3 and being located in the space between the support plate 3 and the support arm 5.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the movable housing assembly 11 includes a housing 13, the housing 13 including first and second mounting plates 15 and 17 disposed opposite each other, and first and second connecting rods 19 and 21 fixedly connecting the first and second mounting plates 15 and 17 together. In the preferred embodiment, the first mounting plate 15, the second mounting plate 17, the first connecting rod 19 and the second connecting rod 21 are all metal members such as aluminum or other lightweight metal or alloy members that are formed separately and then connected together by fasteners such as screws so that the frame 13 is formed as a highly rigid metal frame. It should be understood that the first mounting plate 15, the second mounting plate 17, the first connecting rod 19 and the second connecting rod 21 may also be integrally cast from metal. Of course, the first mounting plate 15, the second mounting plate 17, the first connecting rod 19 and the second connecting rod 21 may be integrally injection-molded of plastic. The movable frame assembly 11 further includes a printing paper magazine 23 mounted between the first mounting plate 15 and the second mounting plate 17 for receiving printing paper 25. In fig. 4, the printing paper deck mounted on the frame 13 is not shown.

The movable frame assembly 11 further comprises a rubber press roller 27 with two ends rotatably supported on the first mounting plate 15 and the second mounting plate 17, the rubber press roller 27 is rotatably supported on the front ends of the first mounting plate 15 and the second mounting plate 17, which are close to the outer side of the medical monitoring device, through bearings, and a first belt wheel 29 is fixedly arranged at one end of the rubber press roller 27. The movable frame assembly 11 further includes a motor 31 mounted on the first mounting plate 15 in a spaced apart relation to the rubber press roller 27 in the longitudinal direction of the first mounting plate 15, and a second pulley (not visible in the drawings) is mounted on a rotation shaft of the motor 31. The timing belt 33 is mounted on the first pulley 29 and the second pulley so as to rotate the rubber press roller 27 through the second pulley, the timing belt 33 and the first pulley 29 when the motor is operated. Thus, according to the present application, the rubber pressure roller 27, the motor 31, and the timing belt 33 connecting the rubber pressure roller 27 and the motor 31 are mounted on the frame 13, and even when the movable frame assembly 11 is withdrawn from the housing of the medical monitoring device to take and place the printing paper and then inserted into the housing of the medical monitoring device, the rubber pressure roller 27, the motor 31, and the timing belt 33 move together with the frame 13, but their mutual positions remain unchanged, so that their positioning accuracy can be ensured, and thus the printing mechanism is operated in balance without generating noise or significantly reducing noise.

Preferably, the motor 31 is disposed at the rear end of the first mounting plate 15 adjacent the inside of the medical monitoring device, which allows the movable housing assembly 11 to be formed to a generally uniform thickness and thus to have a relatively flat, regular shape. As a result, the printing mechanism can have a relatively compact, regular layout. More preferably, the first pulley 29, the second pulley and the motor 31 are all disposed adjacent to the first mounting plate 15, which results in a more compact overall structure and takes up as little space as possible. The dimensions of the first mounting plate 15 and the second mounting plate 17 are selected such that the rubber press roller 27, the first pulley on the rubber press roller 27, the timing belt 33, the motor 31 and the second pulley on the motor 31 are all located inside at least one of the first mounting plate 15 and the second mounting plate 17, ensuring that no moving parts protrude or leak outside the frame 13. Although the first mounting plate 15 and the second mounting plate 17 may have the same length, in a preferred embodiment, since the second mounting plate 17 does not support the motor 31, the length of the second mounting plate 17 may be shorter than the length of the first mounting plate 15, which may reduce the amount of material and reduce the weight of the frame 11. First and second guide grooves 35 and 37 extending in the longitudinal direction and having curved contours are formed on the first and second mounting plates 15 and 17, respectively.

As shown in fig. 1 and 3, a pair of oppositely disposed mounting seats 39 are further provided on the support plate 3, each mounting seat 39 being formed with a fitting hole 39a, and a first boss 39b being further formed on the outer side of each mounting seat 39. As shown in fig. 6 and 7, the support arm 5 having a substantially L shape is formed with protruding fitting shafts 5c on both sides of the end portion 5a, and second bosses 5d on both sides of a main body portion (i.e., a portion to be located above the printing paper deck) of the support arm 5 having a substantially L shape. Guide shafts 7a extend outward from both sides of the head mounting portion 7.

At the time of assembly, the assembly shaft 5c formed at the end portion 5a of the support arm 5 is rotatably fitted in the assembly hole 39a on the mounting seat 39, and the guide shafts 7a extending outward from both sides of the head mounting portion 7 are movably fitted in the first guide groove 35 on the first mounting plate 15 and the second guide groove 37 on the second mounting plate 17, respectively. Preferably, each guide shaft 7a is provided with a rolling bearing, and the guide shafts 7a are fitted into the first guide groove 35 on the first mounting plate 15 and the second guide groove 37 on the second mounting plate 17 by means of the rolling bearings. Further, one end of the return spring 41 is fitted to the first boss 39b on the mount 39, and the other end of the return spring 41 is fitted to the second boss 5d on the support arm 5.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the structure of fig. 2, but with the front trim panel removed. As shown in fig. 8, the first guide groove 35 and the second guide groove 37 have a curved profile gradually rising from the front end (the end near the rubber platen 27) to the rear end so as to lift the head mount 7 with the head 9 away from the rubber platen 27 against the action of the return spring 41 as the movable frame assembly 11 is pulled out (leftward direction in fig. 7) from the housing of the medical monitoring device. Recesses are formed at the front ends of the first guide groove 35 and the second guide groove 37 (only a recess 37a formed at the front end of the second guide groove 37 is shown in fig. 8). When the movable frame assembly 11 is pushed into the housing of the medical monitoring device (the movable frame assembly 11 is pushed in the rightward direction in fig. 7), the guide shaft 7a on the head mounting portion 7 on which the print head 9 is mounted is moved from the first guide groove 35 and the second guide groove 37 into the concave portions at their ends by the action of the return spring 41, and the print head 9 is pressed onto the rubber press roller 27 at such a position that the rubber press roller 27 is subjected to a desired pressure and a desired deformation occurs.

Preferably, the length L of the first guide slot 35 and the second guide slot 37 is selected to be equal to the maximum travel that the movable housing assembly 11 can be pulled out of the housing of the medical monitoring device. In the present application, the lengths of the first guide groove 35 and the second guide groove 37 refer to the shortest straight-line distance in the horizontal direction of the guide shaft 7a on the print head mounting part 7 when the movable housing assembly 11 is completely pulled out from the housing of the medical monitoring device and when the movable housing assembly 11 is completely pushed into the housing of the medical monitoring device. The height H of the first and second guide grooves 35, 37 is selected to determine the maximum rotation angle of the print head 9 and the support arm 5. In the present application, the height of the first guide groove 35 and the second guide groove 37 refers to the shortest straight distance in the vertical direction of the guide shaft 7a on the print head mounting part 7 when the movable housing assembly 11 is completely pulled out from the housing of the medical monitoring device and when the movable housing assembly 11 is completely pushed into the housing of the medical monitoring device.

In a normal state, the movable housing assembly 11 is pushed into the housing of the medical monitoring device in the space between the support plate 3 and the support arm 5, so that the rubber press roller 27 is in pressure contact with the print head on the print head mount 7. The printing paper 16 passes between the rubber press roller 27 and the print head. When the printing mechanism is operated, the motor 31 drives the rubber press roller 27 to rotate through the second belt pulley, the motor 31 and the first belt pulley 29, so that the thermal printing paper is dragged through the printing head to record the vital sign curve of the fetus on the printing paper.

When the movable frame assembly 11 is withdrawn outwardly as required to pick up and place the printing paper, the first guide slot 35 on the first mounting plate 15 and the second guide slot 37 on the second mounting plate 17 of the frame 13 allow the movable frame assembly 11 to move outwardly relative to the support arm 5 and the printhead mounting portion 7, thereby moving the printing paper magazine outside the housing of the medical monitoring device to facilitate pick up and place of the printing paper.

According to the present application, the movement locus of the print head is determined by the curved contours of the first guide groove and the second guide groove, and the relative position and pressing force between the print head and the rubber press roller are ensured by restricting the relative positions of the two. The movable frame assembly, which is provided with the rubber press roller, moves along the first guide groove and the second guide groove while the movable frame assembly is pulled outward, and the print head is lifted slightly rotationally away from the rubber press roller along the first guide groove and the second guide groove with the movement of the movable frame assembly. When the movable frame assembly is pushed inward, the guide shaft on the print head mounting portion moves into the recesses at the ends of the first guide groove and the second guide groove by the return spring, and the rubber platen roller and the print head are just pressed into place, so that a proper pressing force is obtained. The curved profile design of the first guide groove and the second guide groove ensures that the position is accurate when the printing head is matched with the rubber press roller, and the rubber press roller is subjected to proper pressure and proper deformation, so that the printing quality is ensured; on the other hand, the rotation amplitude of the printing head and the supporting arm is limited, so that the layout of the medical monitoring equipment is not affected and the excessive space of the medical monitoring equipment is not occupied.

While the application has been described in detail in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that this detailed description is merely illustrative of the application and is not intended to be limiting. For example, while in the preferred embodiment described above the drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the rubber nip roller includes a motor, a first pulley, a second pulley and a timing belt, it will be appreciated that the drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the rubber nip roller may take other configurations, including for example a motor mounted on a frame, which drives the rubber nip roller also mounted on the frame via gear engagement. The scope of the application is defined by the claims.

Claims (14)

1. A printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device, the printing mechanism comprising:

a support plate (3);

a support arm (5) which is L-shaped and is rotatably arranged on the support plate (3) at one end, wherein the other end of the support arm (5) is provided with a printing head mounting part (7), and the printing head mounting part (7) is provided with a printing head (9); and

a movable frame assembly (11) movably provided on the support plate (3) and located between the support plate (3) and the support arm (5), the movable frame assembly (11) including a frame (13), a rubber press roller (27) mounted on a front end of the frame (13) near an outside of the medical monitoring device and for pressure contact with the print head (9), a printing paper bin (23) mounted on the frame (13), and a driving mechanism mounted on the frame (13) and for driving the rubber press roller (27) to rotate;

wherein guide grooves having a curved profile are formed on the frame (13), and guide shafts (7 a) extending from both sides of the head mounting portion (7) are movably fitted in the respective guide grooves to limit the relative position and pressing force between the head (9) and the rubber press roller (27).

2. The printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide slot comprises a first guide slot (35) and a second guide slot (37) oppositely arranged on the frame (13), the first guide slot (35) and the second guide slot (37) having a curved profile that gradually rises from the front end to the rear end.

3. The printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein front ends of the first guide groove (35) and the second guide groove (37) are formed with a recess (37 a), and when the guide shaft (7 a) moves into the recess (37 a), the print head (9) is pressed onto the rubber press roller (27).

4. The printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device according to claim 2, characterized in that the length (L) of the first guide slot (35) and the second guide slot (37) is selected to be equal to the maximum travel of the movable housing assembly (11) pulled out of the housing of the medical monitoring device, the height (H) of the first guide slot (35) and the second guide slot (37) being selected to determine the maximum rotation angle of the print head (9) and the support arm (5).

5. The printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein the frame (11) comprises a first mounting plate (15) and a second mounting plate (17) which are disposed opposite to each other, and a first connecting rod (19) and a second connecting rod (21) which fixedly connect the first mounting plate (15) and the second mounting plate (17) together, the first guide groove (35) being formed on the first mounting plate (15) and the second guide groove (37) being formed on the second mounting plate (17).

6. The printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the guide shaft (7 a) is provided with a rolling bearing, and the guide shaft (7 a) is movably fitted in the corresponding guide groove by the rolling bearing.

7. The printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that a return spring (41) is further provided, said return spring (41) tending to rotate said print head (9) and pressing against said rubber press roller (27).

8. The printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device according to claim 5, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a first pulley (29) fixedly mounted at one end of the rubber press roller (27), a motor (31) mounted on the frame (13), a second pulley mounted on a rotation shaft of the motor (31), and a timing belt (33) mounted on the first pulley (29) and the second pulley so as to rotate the rubber press roller (27) when the motor (31) is operated.

9. The printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device according to claim 8, wherein the motor (31) is arranged at a rear end of the housing (13) near an inside of the medical monitoring device.

10. The printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device according to claim 8, wherein the rubber press roller (27) is rotatably supported at front ends of the first mounting plate (15) and the second mounting plate (17) near the outside of the medical monitoring device by bearings, and the motor (31) is mounted at a rear end of the first mounting plate (15) near the inside of the medical monitoring device in a longitudinal direction of the first mounting plate (15) spaced apart from the rubber press roller (27).

11. The printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device of claim 8, wherein the first pulley (29) and the second pulley are disposed adjacent to the first mounting plate (15).

12. The printing mechanism of a medical monitoring device according to claim 5, wherein the first mounting plate (15), the second mounting plate (17), the first connecting rod (19) and the second connecting rod (21) are metal or alloy members that are connected together to form a rigid chassis.

13. The printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the medical monitoring device is a fetal monitor.

14. A medical monitoring device, characterized in that the medical monitoring device comprises a printing mechanism of the medical monitoring device according to any of claims 1-13.