EP0388684B1 - Thermal print head - Google Patents

Thermal print head Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0388684B1
EP0388684B1 EP90104073A EP90104073A EP0388684B1 EP 0388684 B1 EP0388684 B1 EP 0388684B1 EP 90104073 A EP90104073 A EP 90104073A EP 90104073 A EP90104073 A EP 90104073A EP 0388684 B1 EP0388684 B1 EP 0388684B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
thermal printing
printing plate
line
heating elements
plate
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP90104073A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0388684A2 (en
EP0388684A3 (en
Inventor
Ulf Koch
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.)
Meto International GmbH
Original Assignee
Esselte Meto International GmbH
Esselte Meto International Produktions GmbH
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Publication of EP0388684A2 publication Critical patent/EP0388684A2/en
Publication of EP0388684A3 publication Critical patent/EP0388684A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0388684B1 publication Critical patent/EP0388684B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J25/00Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J25/34Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a thermal print head with a holding frame, a thermal printing plate which has a plurality of individually controllable heating elements arranged along a line on a front side, and a counter-pressure roller rotatably mounted in the holding frame, against which the thermal printing plate is held in a force-fitting manner in such a way that the line of the heating elements touches the circumferential surface of the counterpressure roller along an axially parallel surface line, at least one latching hook, which engages with a pin fastened to the holding frame, being attached to the thermal printing plate at a location which is at a distance from the line of the heating elements, and in the region between the at least one latching hook and the line of heating elements, at least one compression spring is attached between a stop firmly connected to the holding frame and the back of the thermal printing board facing away from the front of the thermal printing board.
  • Such a thermal print head is known from JP-A-63 134 274.
  • the thermal print circuit board sits on a holding arm, which in turn is connected to a holding frame which is articulated in the printer.
  • This connection is designed so that the holding arm with the thermal printing plate can be removed from the holding frame.
  • the entire printhead is thus made up of two parts, and only one of the two parts can be removed from the printer. Since, as stated, the holding frame is articulated to the printer, it cannot be easily removed from the printer. This has the disadvantage that repairs to the holding frame, for example adjustment processes which are necessary after prolonged use, have to be carried out in the printer itself and cannot be carried out on a freely accessible holding frame.
  • the invention has for its object to provide a thermal printhead of the type described, which allows a very easy removal of the thermal printing plate due to its structure and in which a constant and above all constant pressing force of the thermal printhead on the medium to be printed is achieved.
  • this object is achieved in the thermal print head described above in that the at least one compression spring is assigned a holding device which holds the compression spring on the thermal printing plate, that the holding device is formed by a plate which extends on at least one pin perpendicular to the rear of the thermal printing plate is displaceable by a predetermined path and the end of the compression spring facing away from the rear of the thermal printing plate comprises that the stop is held in engagement with the plate forming the holding device and that the predetermined distance is greater than the distance of the stop from the rear of the thermal printing plate.
  • the thermal print head 10 shown in a top view in FIG. 1 and in section in FIG. 2 has a holding frame which contains two side plates 12 and 14.
  • the side plates 12 and 14 are connected to one another by a plurality of axes 16, 18, 20, 22.
  • an axis 24 is rotatably supported in the two side plates, which carries a counter-pressure roller 26.
  • a thermal printing plate 28 is attached in the holding frame, which carries a larger number of heating elements along a line 30 near its end on the left in FIG. 2 on a ceramic substrate.
  • Integrated circuits (not shown) are also attached to the ceramic substrate and are used to control the heating elements.
  • Printed connecting lines lead from the integrated circuits on the one hand to the heating elements and on the other hand to a connecting plug 32 which can be seen in FIG. 1 at the right end of the thermal printing board 28 and to which a socket, not shown, is located at the end of a cable can be connected.
  • a heat sink 34 contained in the thermoplate 28 is used to dissipate excess heat.
  • a sheet metal 36 is fastened on the heat sink 34 and is provided with a latching hook 38, 40 in the region of the side plates 12, 14.
  • the latching hook 38 engages from above via an axis 42 which extends between the side plates 12 and 14. In the same way, the latching hook 40 also engages over this axis 42.
  • FIG. 3 From the sheet 36, two pins 44, 46 can be seen in FIG. 3, on which a holding device is slidably mounted, which has two plates 50, 52 connected by a web 48. Between the plates 50 and 52 and the sheet 36 there is a compression spring 54 and 56, respectively.
  • the springs 54 and 56 press the holding device with the web 48 and the plates 50, 52 as far away from the sheet metal 36 as two snap rings 58 and 60 attached to the pins 44, 46 allow.
  • stops 62 and 64 are attached, which reach over the plates 50, 52 according to FIG. 1 and are in engagement with the upper sides of these plates.
  • the distance between the sheet 36 and the stops 62, 64 is dimensioned such that it is smaller than the distance that the holding device with the web 48 and the plates 50, 52 cover until the web 48 is placed against the securing rings 58, 60 can.
  • the compression springs 54, 56 Due to the arrangement of the compression springs 54, 56 in the area between the axis 42 and the line of contact between the thermal printing board 28 and the counter-pressure roller 26, the compression springs 54, 56 not only generate the force with which the thermal printing plate is held in contact with the counter-pressure roller 26, but they also generate a locking force between the locking hooks 38, 40 and the axis 42, which is easy to release the thermal printing board 28 prevented from the axis 42.
  • the generation of this transverse force on the axis 42 is important because when the thermal print head is operated on the thermal print plate 28, a tensile force directed to the left in FIG. 2 is exerted, which releases the latching hooks 38, 40 from the axis 42 without generating the transverse force this axis 42 could result.
  • the aforementioned tensile force comes about as follows:
  • the dash-dotted line 66 shown in FIG. 2 indicates the path of the heat-sensitive paper to be printed through the thermal print head 10.
  • the counter-pressure roller 26 is rotated counterclockwise by means of a drive device (not shown) acting on the axis 24.
  • the paper is carried along by friction along the line 30 of the heating elements of the thermal printing board 28 by moving forward in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2, so that the desired data due to the selective heating of the paper and the resulting blackening by appropriate electrical control of the individual heating elements can be generated.
  • the locking hooks 38, 40 do not necessarily have to cooperate with an axis extending between the two side plates 12 and 14; it is also easily possible to have one on each side plate inwards To attach protruding pin that the locking hooks 38, 40 could overlap as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the provision of the axle 42 contributes to further stiffening and thus to increasing the stability of the holding frame.
  • a guide plate 68 which is fastened to the side plates 12 and 14, serves for the clean feeding of the recording medium.
  • FIG. 4 shows the basic arrangement of the thermal printing plate 28 relative to the counter-pressure roller 26 and to the axis 42.
  • the compressive forces generated by the compression springs 54, 56 are indicated by arrows.
  • the open design of the latching hooks 38, 40 and the provision of the holding device for the compression springs 54, 56 makes it possible to pull the thermal printing plate 28 out of the holding frame without further notice.
  • the thermal printing plate 28 is provided with an extendable handle element 70 which has two elongated holes 72, 74, so that it can be shifted to the left in the illustration of FIGS. 1 and 2. This enables a better grip on the grip element 70 if the thermal printing board 28 is to be pulled out of the holding frame.
  • I'm pulled out Condition can be easily cleaned the thermal printing board, and a possibly necessary cleaning of the back pressure roller can be carried out. If the paper is jammed in the holding frame, it can be easily grasped with the thermal printing plate pulled out and brought back into the correct position.
  • the thermal printing plate 28 can easily be pushed back into the holding frame since these angled ends act like chamfers.
  • the thermal print head described is very easy to use and maintain due to the fact that the thermal print board can be removed; in particular, the area in which the actual printing process takes place and in which soiling is caused by abrasion can be cleaned well.

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  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Common Mechanisms (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf einen Thermodruckkopf mit einem Halterahmen, einer Thermodruckplatine, die auf einer Vorderseite mehrere längs einer Linie angeordnete, einzeln ansteuerbare Heizelemente aufweist, und einer in dem Halterahmen drehbar gelagerten Gegendruckwalze, gegen die die Thermodruckplatine kraftschlüssig so in Anlage gehalten ist, daß die Linie der Heizelemente die Umfangsfläche der Gegendruckwalze längs einer achsparallelen Mantellinie berührt, wobei an der Thermodruckplatine wenigstens ein mit einem an dem Halterahmen befestigten Stift in Eingriff stehender Rasthaken an einer Stelle angebracht ist, die im Abstand von der Linie der Heizelemente liegt, und im Bereich zwischen dem wenigstens einen Rasthaken und der Linie der Heizelemente wenigstens eine Druckfeder zwischen einem fest mit dem Halterahmen verbundenen Anschlag und der von der Vorderseite der Thermodruckplatine abgewandten Rückseite der Thermodruckplatine angebracht ist.The invention relates to a thermal print head with a holding frame, a thermal printing plate which has a plurality of individually controllable heating elements arranged along a line on a front side, and a counter-pressure roller rotatably mounted in the holding frame, against which the thermal printing plate is held in a force-fitting manner in such a way that the line of the heating elements touches the circumferential surface of the counterpressure roller along an axially parallel surface line, at least one latching hook, which engages with a pin fastened to the holding frame, being attached to the thermal printing plate at a location which is at a distance from the line of the heating elements, and in the region between the at least one latching hook and the line of heating elements, at least one compression spring is attached between a stop firmly connected to the holding frame and the back of the thermal printing board facing away from the front of the thermal printing board.

Ein solcher Thermodruckkopf ist aus der JP-A-63 134 274 bekannt. Bei diesem bekannten Thermodruckkopf sitzt die Thermodruckplatine an einem Haltearm, der seinerseits mit einem im Drucker gelenkig gelagerten Halterahmen verbunden ist. Diese Verbindung ist dabei so ausgestaltet, daß der Haltearm mit der Thermodruckplatine aus dem Halterahmen herausgenommen werden kann. Der gesamte Druckkopf ist somit zweiteilig aufgebaut, und es kann nur einer der beiden Teile aus dem Drucker herausgenommen werden. Da der Halterahmen, wie gesagt, mit dem Drucker gelenkig verbunden ist, kann er nicht ohne weiteres aus dem Drucker herausgenommen werden. Dies hat den Nachteil, daß Reparaturen am Halterahmen, beispielsweise Justiervorgänge, die nach einer längeren Benutzung notwendig werden, im Drucker selbst vorgenommen werden müssen und nicht an einem freizugänglichen Halterahmen ausgeführt werden können. Zur Erzielung der Andruckkraft ist bei dem bekannten Thermodrucker lediglich eine Feder zwischen den Halterahmen und den die Thermodruckplatine tragenden Arm eingefügt. Möglichkeiten zur Justierung der Andruckkraft, insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Erzielung einer stets gleichen Andruckkraft längs der gesamten Linie der Druckelemente der Thermodruckplatine sind bei dem bekannten Thermodruckkopf nicht vorgesehen.Such a thermal print head is known from JP-A-63 134 274. In this known thermal print head, the thermal print circuit board sits on a holding arm, which in turn is connected to a holding frame which is articulated in the printer. This connection is designed so that the holding arm with the thermal printing plate can be removed from the holding frame. The entire printhead is thus made up of two parts, and only one of the two parts can be removed from the printer. Since, as stated, the holding frame is articulated to the printer, it cannot be easily removed from the printer. This has the disadvantage that repairs to the holding frame, for example adjustment processes which are necessary after prolonged use, have to be carried out in the printer itself and cannot be carried out on a freely accessible holding frame. To achieve the pressing force in the known thermal printer, only a spring is inserted between the holding frame and the arm carrying the thermal printing plate. Possibilities for adjusting the pressure force, in particular with a view to achieving a constant pressure force along the entire line of the pressure elements of the thermal printing plate, are not provided in the known thermal printing head.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, einen Thermodruckkopf der geschilderten Art zu schaffen, der aufgrund seines Aufbaus eine sehr einfache Entnahme der Thermodruckplatine ermöglicht und bei dem dennoch eine stets konstante und vor allem gleichbleibende Andruckkraft des Thermodruckkopfs an dem zu bedruckenden Medium erzielt wird.The invention has for its object to provide a thermal printhead of the type described, which allows a very easy removal of the thermal printing plate due to its structure and in which a constant and above all constant pressing force of the thermal printhead on the medium to be printed is achieved.

Erfindungsgemäß wird diese Aufgabe bei dem oben geschilderten Thermodruckkopf dadurch gelöst, daß der wenigstens einen Druckfeder eine Haltevorrichtung zugeordnet ist, die die Druckfeder an der Thermodruckplatine festhält, daß die Haltevorrichtung von einer Platte gebildet ist, die auf Wenigstens einem senkrecht zur Rückseite der Thermodruckplatine verlaufenden Stift um einen vorbestimmten Weg verschiebbar ist und das von der Rückseite der Thermodruckplatine abgewandte Ende der Druckfeder umfaßt, daß der Anschlag mit der die Haltevorrichtung bildenden Platte in Eingriff gehalten ist und daß der vorbestimmte Weg größer als der Abstand des Anschlags von der Rückseite der Thermodruckplatine ist. Durch die Anwendung der erfindungsgemäßen Merkmale entsteht ein Druckkopf, bei dem eine eindeutige Andruckkraft erreicht wird, da die wenigstens eine Druckfeder stets unter einer konstanten Vorspannung gehalten wird. Diese konstante Andruckkraft wird auch beibehalten, wenn der Thermodruckkopf zur Reparatur- oder Wartungszwecken aus dem Drucker herausgenommen wird, in dem er angewendet ist.According to the invention, this object is achieved in the thermal print head described above in that the at least one compression spring is assigned a holding device which holds the compression spring on the thermal printing plate, that the holding device is formed by a plate which extends on at least one pin perpendicular to the rear of the thermal printing plate is displaceable by a predetermined path and the end of the compression spring facing away from the rear of the thermal printing plate comprises that the stop is held in engagement with the plate forming the holding device and that the predetermined distance is greater than the distance of the stop from the rear of the thermal printing plate. The use of the features according to the invention results in a printhead in which a clear pressure force is achieved, since the at least one compression spring is always kept under a constant preload becomes. This constant pressure force is also maintained when the thermal print head is removed from the printer in which it is used for repair or maintenance purposes.

Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen gekennzeichnet.Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

Die Erfindung wird nun anhand der Zeichnung beispielshalber erläutert. Es zeigen:

Fig. 1
eine Draufsicht auf den erfindungsgemäßen Thermodruckkopf,
Fig. 2
einen Schnitt längs der Linie A-A von Fig. 1,
Fig. 3
eine Ansicht der Thermodruckplatine ohne Halterahmen bei Betrachtung in Fig. 1 von rechts,
Fig. 4
eine schematisch vereinfachte Darstellung zur Erläuterung des der Erfindung zugrunde liegenden Prinzips.
The invention will now be explained by way of example with reference to the drawing. Show it:
Fig. 1
a plan view of the thermal print head according to the invention,
Fig. 2
2 shows a section along the line AA from FIG. 1,
Fig. 3
2 shows a view of the thermal printing board without a holding frame when viewed in FIG. 1 from the right,
Fig. 4
a schematic simplified representation to explain the principle underlying the invention.

Der in Fig. 1 in einer Draufsicht und in Fig. 2 im Schnitt dargestellte Thermodruckkopf 10 weist einen Halterahmen auf, der zwei Seitenplatten 12 und 14 enthält. Die Seitenplatten 12 und 14 sind durch mehrere Achsen 16, 18, 20, 22 miteinander verbunden. Außerdem ist in den beiden Seitenplatten eine Achse 24 drehbar gelagert, die eine Gegendruckwalze 26 trägt. Zwischen den Seitenplatten 12 und 14 ist in dem Halterahmen eine Thermodruckplatine 28 angebracht, die nahe ihres in Fig. 2 links liegenden Endes auf einem Keramiksubstrat längs einer Linie 30 eine größere Anzahl von Heizelementen trägt. Auf dem Keramiksubstrat sind auch nicht dargestellte integrierte Schaltungen angebracht, die der Ansteuerung der Heizelemente dienen. Gedruckte Verbindungsleitungen führen von den integrierten Schaltungen einerseits zu den Heizelementen und andererseits zu einem in Fig. 1 am rechten Ende der Thermodruckplatine 28 erkennbaren Verbindungsstecker 32, an den eine am Ende eines Kabels sitzende, nicht dargestellte Buchse angeschlossen werden kann. Ein in der Thermoplatine 28 enthaltener Kühlkörper 34 dient der Ableitung überschüssiger Wärme. Auf dem Kühlkörper 34 ist ein Blech 36 befestigt, das im Bereich der Seitenplatten 12, 14 jeweils mit einem Rasthaken 38, 40 versehen ist. Wie Fig. 2 erkennen läßt, greift der Rasthaken 38 von oben her über eine Achse 42, die sich zwischen den Seitenplatten 12 und 14 erstreckt. In gleicher Weise greift auch der Rasthaken 40 über diese Achse 42.The thermal print head 10 shown in a top view in FIG. 1 and in section in FIG. 2 has a holding frame which contains two side plates 12 and 14. The side plates 12 and 14 are connected to one another by a plurality of axes 16, 18, 20, 22. In addition, an axis 24 is rotatably supported in the two side plates, which carries a counter-pressure roller 26. Between the side plates 12 and 14, a thermal printing plate 28 is attached in the holding frame, which carries a larger number of heating elements along a line 30 near its end on the left in FIG. 2 on a ceramic substrate. Integrated circuits (not shown) are also attached to the ceramic substrate and are used to control the heating elements. Printed connecting lines lead from the integrated circuits on the one hand to the heating elements and on the other hand to a connecting plug 32 which can be seen in FIG. 1 at the right end of the thermal printing board 28 and to which a socket, not shown, is located at the end of a cable can be connected. A heat sink 34 contained in the thermoplate 28 is used to dissipate excess heat. A sheet metal 36 is fastened on the heat sink 34 and is provided with a latching hook 38, 40 in the region of the side plates 12, 14. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the latching hook 38 engages from above via an axis 42 which extends between the side plates 12 and 14. In the same way, the latching hook 40 also engages over this axis 42.

Von dem Blech 36 stehen zwei in Fig. 3 erkennbare Stifte 44, 46 nach oben, auf denen eine Haltevorrichtung verschiebbar angebracht ist, die zwei durch einen Steg 48 verbundene Platten 50, 52 aufweist. Zwischen den Platten 50 und 52 und dem Blech 36 befindet sich jeweils eine Druckfeder 54 bzw. 56.From the sheet 36, two pins 44, 46 can be seen in FIG. 3, on which a holding device is slidably mounted, which has two plates 50, 52 connected by a web 48. Between the plates 50 and 52 and the sheet 36 there is a compression spring 54 and 56, respectively.

Wie Fig. 3 zeigt, drücken die Federn 54 und 56 die Haltevorrichtung mit dem Steg 48 und den Platten 50, 52 so weit vom Blech 36 weg, wie dies zwei auf den Stiften 44, 46 angebrachte Sicherungsringe 58 bzw. 60 zulassen.As shown in FIG. 3, the springs 54 and 56 press the holding device with the web 48 and the plates 50, 52 as far away from the sheet metal 36 as two snap rings 58 and 60 attached to the pins 44, 46 allow.

An den Seitenplatten 12 und 14 sind Anschläge 62 bzw. 64 angebracht, die gemäß Fig. 1 über die Platten 50, 52 hinweggreifen und mit den Oberseiten dieser Platten in Eingriff stehen. Der Abstand zwischen dem Blech 36 und den Anschlägen 62, 64 ist so bemessen, daß er kleiner als der Weg ist, den die Haltevorrichtung mit dem Steg 48 und den Platten 50, 52 bis zum Anlegen des Stegs 48 an den Sicherungsringen 58, 60 zurücklegen kann. Dies bedeutet, daß bei der Anordnung der Einzelkomponenten gemäß Fig. 2 aufgrund der Zusammenwirkung der Anschläge 62, 64 mit den Platten 50 bzw. 52 die Druckfedern 54, 56 zusammengedrückt sind und eine Druckkraft ausüben, die die Thermodruckplatine 28 in der Darstellung Von Fig. 2 nach unten belastet. Die Thermodruckplatine 28 wird daher von der Feder längs der Linie 30 der Heizelemente in Anlage an die Gegendruckwalze 26 gehalten. Aufgrund der Anordnung der Druckfedern 54, 56 im Bereich zwischen der Achse 42 und der Berührungslinie zwischen der Thermodruckplatine 28 und der Gegendruckwalze 26 erzeugen die Druckfedern 54, 56 nicht nur die Kraft, mit der die Thermodruckplatine in Anlage an die Gegendruckwalze 26 gehalten wird, sondern sie erzeugen zwischen den Rasthaken 38, 40 und der Achse 42 auch eine Rastkraft, die ein leichtes Lösen der Thermodruckplatine 28 von der Achse 42 verhindert. Das Erzeugen dieser Querkraft auf die Achse 42 ist deshalb wichtig, weil beim Betrieb des Thermodruckkopfs auf die Thermodruckplatine 28 eine in Fig. 2 nach links gerichtete Zugkraft ausgeübt wird, die ohne Erzeugen der Querkraft auf die Achse 42 ein Lösen der Rasthaken 38, 40 von dieser Achse 42 zur Folge haben könnte.On the side plates 12 and 14, stops 62 and 64 are attached, which reach over the plates 50, 52 according to FIG. 1 and are in engagement with the upper sides of these plates. The distance between the sheet 36 and the stops 62, 64 is dimensioned such that it is smaller than the distance that the holding device with the web 48 and the plates 50, 52 cover until the web 48 is placed against the securing rings 58, 60 can. This means that in the arrangement of the individual components according to FIG. 2, due to the interaction of the stops 62, 64 with the plates 50 and 52, the compression springs 54, 56 are compressed and exert a compressive force which the thermal printing plate 28 in the representation from FIG. 2 charged down. The thermal printing plate 28 is therefore held by the spring along the line 30 of the heating elements in contact with the counter-pressure roller 26. Due to the arrangement of the compression springs 54, 56 in the area between the axis 42 and the line of contact between the thermal printing board 28 and the counter-pressure roller 26, the compression springs 54, 56 not only generate the force with which the thermal printing plate is held in contact with the counter-pressure roller 26, but they also generate a locking force between the locking hooks 38, 40 and the axis 42, which is easy to release the thermal printing board 28 prevented from the axis 42. The generation of this transverse force on the axis 42 is important because when the thermal print head is operated on the thermal print plate 28, a tensile force directed to the left in FIG. 2 is exerted, which releases the latching hooks 38, 40 from the axis 42 without generating the transverse force this axis 42 could result.

Die erwähnte Zugkraft kommt wie folgt zustande: Die in Fig. 2 erkennbare strichpunktierte Linie 66 gibt den Weg des zu bedruckenden wärmeempfindlichen Papiers durch den Thermodruckkopf 10 an. Bei der Durchführung eines Druckvorgangs wird die Gegendruckwalze 26 mittels einer auf die Achse 24 einwirkenden, nicht dargestellten Antriebsvorrichtung entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn gedreht. Durch Reibmitnahme wird das Papier an der Linie 30 der Heizelemente der Thermodruckplatine 28 durch Vorwärtsbewegen in Richtung des in Fig. 2 angegebenen Pfeils vorbeitransportiert, so daß durch eine entsprechende elektrische Ansteuerung der einzelnen Heizelemente die gewünschten Daten aufgrund der selektiven Erwärmung des Papiers und der resultierenden Schwärzung erzeugt werden können. Bei dieser Transportbewegung des Papiers wird auch auf die Thermodruckplatine 28 eine Reibkraft ausgeübt, die die erwähnte Zugkraft nach links zur Folge hat. Das Lösen der Rasthaken 38, 40 von der Achse 42 wird durch die erwähnte Querkraft verhindert, die durch die Druckfedern 54, 56 erzeugt wird.The aforementioned tensile force comes about as follows: The dash-dotted line 66 shown in FIG. 2 indicates the path of the heat-sensitive paper to be printed through the thermal print head 10. When a printing operation is carried out, the counter-pressure roller 26 is rotated counterclockwise by means of a drive device (not shown) acting on the axis 24. The paper is carried along by friction along the line 30 of the heating elements of the thermal printing board 28 by moving forward in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2, so that the desired data due to the selective heating of the paper and the resulting blackening by appropriate electrical control of the individual heating elements can be generated. During this transport movement of the paper, a frictional force is also exerted on the thermal printing plate 28, which has the aforementioned tensile force to the left. The release of the locking hooks 38, 40 from the axis 42 is prevented by the aforementioned transverse force, which is generated by the compression springs 54, 56.

Es ist zu erkennen, daß die Rasthaken 38, 40 nicht unbedingt mit einer sich zwischen den beiden Seitenplatten 12 und 14 erstreckenden Achse zusammenwirken müssen; es ist ohne weiteres auch möglich, an jeder Seitenplatte einen nach innen vorstehenden Stift anzubringen, den die Rasthaken 38, 40 so übergreifen könnten, wie in Fig. 2 dargestellt ist. Das Vorsehen der Achse 42 trägt jedoch zu einer weiteren Versteifung und somit zur Erhöhung der Stabilität des Halterahmens bei.It can be seen that the locking hooks 38, 40 do not necessarily have to cooperate with an axis extending between the two side plates 12 and 14; it is also easily possible to have one on each side plate inwards To attach protruding pin that the locking hooks 38, 40 could overlap as shown in Fig. 2. The provision of the axle 42, however, contributes to further stiffening and thus to increasing the stability of the holding frame.

Dem sauberen Zuführen des Aufzeichnungsträgers dient ein Führungsblech 68, das an den Seitenplatten 12 und 14 befestigt ist.A guide plate 68, which is fastened to the side plates 12 and 14, serves for the clean feeding of the recording medium.

In der schematischen Darstellung von Fig. 4 ist die prinzipielle Anordnung der Thermodruckplatine 28 relativ zur Gegendruckwalze 26 und zur Achse 42 dargestellt. Mit Pfeilen sind dabei die von den Druckfedern 54, 56 erzeugten Druckkräfte angegeben.The schematic arrangement of FIG. 4 shows the basic arrangement of the thermal printing plate 28 relative to the counter-pressure roller 26 and to the axis 42. The compressive forces generated by the compression springs 54, 56 are indicated by arrows.

Die offene Ausbildung der Rasthaken 38, 40 und das Vorsehen der Haltevorrichtung für die Druckfedern 54, 56 ermöglicht es, die Thermodruckplatine 28 ohne weiteres aus dem Halterahmen herauszuziehen. Die Thermodruckplatine 28 ist mit einem ausschiebbaren Griffelement 70 versehen, das zwei Langlöcher 72, 74 aufweist, so daß es in der Darstellung von Fig. 1 und 2 nach links verschoben werden kann. Dies ermöglicht ein besseres Anfassen des Griffelements 70, wenn die Thermodruckplatine 28 aus dem Halterahmen herausgezogen werden soll. Beim Ausüben einer Zugkraft auf das Griffelement 70 wird dies zunächst bis zum Anschlagen der Langlöcher 72, 74 an Trägerstiften 76, 78 nach links verschoben, und es wird dann eine Zugkraft auf die Thermodruckplatine 28 ausgeübt, die groß genug ist, um die von den Druckfedern 54, 56 über die Rasthaken 38, 40 auf die Achse 42 ausgeübte Querkraft zu überwinden. Die Rasthaken 38, 40 rutschen daher unter weiterem Zusammendrücken der Federn 54, 56 über die Achse 42 hinweg, so daß die Thermodruckplatine 28 nach links aus dem Halterahmen herausgezogen werden kann. Die Druckfedern 54, 56 werden dabei von der Haltevorrichtung 48, 50, 52 festgehalten, so daß sie nicht verlorengehen können. Im herausgezogenen Zustand kann die Thermodruckplatine leicht gereinigt werden, und auch ein eventuell notwendiges Reinigen der Gegendruckwalze kann durchgeführt werden. Sollte sich das Papier im Halterahmen verklemmt haben, kann es bei herausgezogener Thermodruckplatine ohne weiteres erfaßt und wieder in die richtige Lage gebracht werden.The open design of the latching hooks 38, 40 and the provision of the holding device for the compression springs 54, 56 makes it possible to pull the thermal printing plate 28 out of the holding frame without further notice. The thermal printing plate 28 is provided with an extendable handle element 70 which has two elongated holes 72, 74, so that it can be shifted to the left in the illustration of FIGS. 1 and 2. This enables a better grip on the grip element 70 if the thermal printing board 28 is to be pulled out of the holding frame. When a tensile force is exerted on the grip element 70, this is first shifted to the left until the elongated holes 72, 74 abut against the support pins 76, 78, and a tensile force is then exerted on the thermal printing plate 28 which is large enough to bear that of the compression springs 54, 56 to overcome the transverse force exerted on the axle 42 via the latching hooks 38, 40. The latching hooks 38, 40 therefore slide over the axis 42 with further compression of the springs 54, 56, so that the thermal printing plate 28 can be pulled out of the holding frame to the left. The compression springs 54, 56 are held by the holding device 48, 50, 52 so that they cannot be lost. I'm pulled out Condition can be easily cleaned the thermal printing board, and a possibly necessary cleaning of the back pressure roller can be carried out. If the paper is jammed in the holding frame, it can be easily grasped with the thermal printing plate pulled out and brought back into the correct position.

Da die Platten 50, 52 der Haltevorrichtung und die Druckfedern 54, 56, wie aus Fig. 2 ersichtlich ist, mit bezüglich der Entnahmerichtung der Thermodruckplatine 28 abgewinkelten Enden versehen sind, kann die Thermodruckplatine 28 ohne weiters wieder in den Halterahmen eingeschoben werden, da diese abgewinkelten Enden wie Einführungsschrägen wirken.Since the plates 50, 52 of the holding device and the compression springs 54, 56, as can be seen from FIG. 2, are provided with ends which are angled with respect to the removal direction of the thermal printing plate 28, the thermal printing plate 28 can easily be pushed back into the holding frame since these angled ends act like chamfers.

Der beschriebene Thermodruckkopf ist wegen der Entnehmbarkeit der Thermodruckplatine sehr bedienungs- und wartungsfreundlich; insbesondere kann der Bereich, in dem der eigentliche Druckvorgang stattfindet und in dem es durch Abrieb zu Verschmutzungen kommt, gut gereinigt werden.The thermal print head described is very easy to use and maintain due to the fact that the thermal print board can be removed; in particular, the area in which the actual printing process takes place and in which soiling is caused by abrasion can be cleaned well.

Claims (3)

  1. A thermal printing head having a supporting frame (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22), a thermal printing plate (28) comprising on one front side several individually triggerable heating elements being arranged along a line (30), and a counter-pressure roll (26) rotatably mounted in the supporting frame (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22), the thermal printing plate (28) being held in frictional contact with the counter-pressure roll (26) so that the line (30) of heating elements contacts the circumferential surface of the counter-pressure roll (26) along a generating line parallel to the axis, wherein at least one locking hook (38, 40) which is in engagement with a pin (42) fixed on the supporting frame (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22) is provided on the thermal printing plate (28) at a location spaced apart from the line (30) of heating elements, and at least one pressure spring (54, 56) is provided in the region between the at least one locking hook (38, 40) and the line (30) of heating elements between a stop (62, 64) in fixed connection with the supporting frame (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22) and the rear side of the thermal printing plate (28) facing away from the front side of the thermal printing plate (28), characterized in that the at least one pressure spring (54, 56) has associated therewith a retaining means (50, 52, 48) for securing the pressure spring (54, 56) on the thermal printing plate (28), that the retaining means (50, 52, 48) is formed by a plate being shiftable by a predetermined distance on at least one pin (44, 46) extending perpendicularly to the rear side of the thermal printing plate (28) and embracing the end of the pressure spring (54, 56) facing away from the rear side of the thermal printing plate (28), that the stop (62, 64) is held in engagement with the plate (50, 52) forming the retaining means and that the predetermined distance is larger than the distance of the stop (62, 64) from the rear side of the thermal printing plate (28).
  2. A thermal printing head according to claim 1, characterized in that two locking hooks (38, 40) are provided on the thermal printing plate (28) and that the pin with which the locking hooks (38, 40) are in engagement is formed by a shaft (42) extending between two side plates of the supporting frame parallel with respect to the counter-pressure roll (26).
  3. A thermal printing head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two pressure springs (54, 56) are provided to be symmetrical with respect to a line bisecting the line (30) of heating elements and extending perpendicularly to this line and that the retaining means comprises a plate (50, 52) for each of the pressure springs (54, 56), the two plates (50, 52) being connected to each other by a web (48).
EP90104073A 1989-03-21 1990-03-02 Thermal print head Expired - Lifetime EP0388684B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3909286A DE3909286A1 (en) 1989-03-21 1989-03-21 THERMAL PRINT HEAD
DE3909286 1989-03-21

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0388684A2 EP0388684A2 (en) 1990-09-26
EP0388684A3 EP0388684A3 (en) 1990-12-27
EP0388684B1 true EP0388684B1 (en) 1994-01-26

Family

ID=6376874

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90104073A Expired - Lifetime EP0388684B1 (en) 1989-03-21 1990-03-02 Thermal print head

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US (1) US5055858A (en)
EP (1) EP0388684B1 (en)
DE (2) DE3909286A1 (en)

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US5335002A (en) * 1991-09-30 1994-08-02 Rohm Co., Ltd. Printing head and printer incorporating the same
DE4139891C2 (en) * 1991-12-04 1996-05-09 Esselte Meto Int Gmbh Bracket arrangement for a thermal print head
DE4219798A1 (en) * 1992-06-17 1993-12-23 Esselte Meto Int Gmbh Thermal print head with mechanism for head access - has head mounted on lever arrangement with eccentric element turned to effect release
US5440328A (en) * 1992-10-05 1995-08-08 Atlantek, Inc. Single-pass multi-color thermal printer
GB2282568B (en) * 1993-09-22 1998-04-22 Asahi Optical Co Ltd Thermal line printer
DE4332576A1 (en) * 1993-09-24 1995-03-30 Esselte Meto Int Gmbh Thermal print head holder
US5631690A (en) * 1994-02-03 1997-05-20 Seikosha Precision Inc. Recording apparatus
US5541635A (en) * 1994-03-18 1996-07-30 Mettler-Toledo, Inc. Printer mechanism
KR0152471B1 (en) * 1995-08-28 1998-10-15 김광호 Thermal head pressing apparatus for fax
JP3309038B2 (en) * 1995-09-29 2002-07-29 アンリツ株式会社 Thermal head holding structure
DE19720671A1 (en) * 1996-05-29 1997-12-04 Eastman Kodak Co Adjustable print head holder for printer, copier, or facsimile device
US6095701A (en) * 1997-12-23 2000-08-01 Datacard Corporation Adjustable print head mounting mechanism
FR2837423B1 (en) * 2002-03-21 2004-06-18 A P S Engineering THERMAL PRINTING MECHANISM, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO PAYMENT TERMINALS

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JPS5630880A (en) * 1979-08-24 1981-03-28 Hitachi Ltd Positioning mechanism for heat-sensitive recorder
JPS57199677A (en) * 1981-06-03 1982-12-07 Canon Inc Nonimpaction type printer
JPS58171978A (en) * 1982-04-02 1983-10-08 Nec Corp Transfer type heat-sensitive printer
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JPS60184867A (en) * 1984-03-02 1985-09-20 Matsushita Graphic Commun Syst Inc Thermal recorder
JPS61190431A (en) * 1985-02-13 1986-08-25 株式会社 サト− Table type thermal printer
DE3507782A1 (en) * 1985-03-05 1986-09-11 Hellige Gmbh, 7800 Freiburg BRACKET FOR A THERMAL PRINT HEAD
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DE3735361A1 (en) * 1987-10-19 1989-05-03 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag Thermal printer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US5055858A (en) 1991-10-08
DE3909286A1 (en) 1990-09-27
EP0388684A2 (en) 1990-09-26
EP0388684A3 (en) 1990-12-27
DE59004376D1 (en) 1994-03-10
DE3909286C2 (en) 1991-09-12

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