EP0841176A1 - Thermodrucker - Google Patents

Thermodrucker Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0841176A1
EP0841176A1 EP97308059A EP97308059A EP0841176A1 EP 0841176 A1 EP0841176 A1 EP 0841176A1 EP 97308059 A EP97308059 A EP 97308059A EP 97308059 A EP97308059 A EP 97308059A EP 0841176 A1 EP0841176 A1 EP 0841176A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
frame
platen
thermal head
recording paper
sealing resin
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP97308059A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0841176B1 (de
Inventor
Hiroaki Sekiya
Saburo Imai
Akio Naito
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.)
Seiko Instruments Inc
Original Assignee
Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seiko Instruments Inc filed Critical Seiko Instruments Inc
Publication of EP0841176A1 publication Critical patent/EP0841176A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0841176B1 publication Critical patent/EP0841176B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a printer for printing on recording paper, which comprises a platen and a thermal head.
  • a known printer is shown in Fig. 2A, as including a platen 101 and a thermal head 102.
  • the platen 101 is rotatably supported about an axis 101a along the width direction of recording paper.
  • a stepping motor 104 is connected with the axis 101a via a train of gears 103.
  • the rotational motion of the stepping motor 104 is decelerated by the train of gears 103, and is transmitted to a rear axis 101a, and the platen 101 is appropriately intermittently rotated for feeding paper in the direction shown by an arrow in the figure.
  • the thermal head 102 is disposed so as to face the platen 101 via recording paper
  • the thermal head 102 is swingably supported about an axis 105.
  • a heater of the thermal head 102 is pressed against the recording paper. With this state maintained, the heater is electrically energised to print a line of letters on the recording paper. After the printing of the line, the platen 101 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow to feed the recording paper.
  • Fig. 2B shows a schematic cross-sectional structure of the printer shown in Fig. 2A.
  • the thermal head 102 is disposed so as to face the platen 101 via a recording paper 106 as shown in the figure. It should be noted that the direction of appearance of a printed face of the recording paper 106 is considered to be the front.
  • the thermal head 102 is swung counterclockwise about the axis 105 that is in parallel with but different from the axis 101a of the platen 101, the heater above the axis 105 is pressed against the platen 101.
  • a spring member 107 intervenes between the thermal head 102 and a frame 108 of the printer.
  • Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a specific structure of the conventional printer shown in Fig. 2, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts shown in Fig. 2 to promote understanding.
  • a frame 108 is in the shape of a box having six faces, i.e., front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom faces.
  • the front face, the rear face, the left face, the right face, the top face, and the bottom face are represented as F, B, L, R, U, and D, respectively.
  • the front face F is on the side of the printed face of recording paper.
  • the platen 101 is rotatably, axially supported between the left and right faces of the frame 108.
  • the thermal head 102 is swingably supported between the left and right faces of the frame 108 about an axis different from that of the platen, and opens and closes with respect to the platen 101.
  • printing is carried out on recording paper (not shown) fed between the platen 101 and the thermal head 102 from the bottom face D or the rear face B of the frame 108 and then the recording paper is discharged to the top face U of the frame 108.
  • a first supply path from an arrow SIN to an arrow OUT is referred to as a straight path
  • a second supply path from an arrow CIN to the arrow OUT is referred to as a curled path.
  • the thermal head 102 comprises a ceramic substrate 111 and a support body 112 for fixing the ceramic substrate 111.
  • a heater 113 contacting with the platen 101, a semiconductor device 114 for driving the heater 113, and sealing resin 115 for protecting the semiconductor device 114 are formed on the ceramic substrate 111 on the side facing the platen 101.
  • the sealing resin 115 is a relatively soft resin and is provided for the purpose of protecting against breakage extra fine gold wire or the like connected with the semiconductor device 114 such as an IC chip.
  • a cover 116 for mechanically protecting the semiconductor device 114 and the sealing resin 115 are attached to the support body 112 of the thermal head 102.
  • the cover 116 is made of metal or resin and is provided for the purpose of mechanical protection of the semiconductor device 114 and preventing the sealing resin 115 from wearing out. If it were not for the cover 116, the sealing resin 115 would wear out due to repeated contact with recording paper In addition, the cover 116 prevents recording paper from catching on the sealing resin 115. In this way, in a conventional printer, the cover 116 is an essential composing element. However, provision of the cover 116 inevitably narrows the paper feed path. Therefore, the heater 113 and the semiconductor device 114 can not be disposed so as to be adjacent to each other on the ceramic substrate 111, and thus, it is difficult to miniaturise the ceramic substrate 111.
  • the cost can not be lowered. Even if the ceramic substrate 111 is miniaturised to dispose the semiconductor device 114 closer to the heater 113, the cover 116 comes closer to the side of the heater 113 accordingly. Since the cover 116 oppresses the paper feed path, recording paper can not be fed smoothly.
  • an object of the present invention is to miniaturise a ceramic substrate in printer.
  • the present invention provides a printer comprising a frame having a platen rotatably axially supported between opposed left and right faces of the frame; a thermal head pivotally supported between the left and right frame faces for movement between engaging and non-engaging positions with the platen, for printing on recording paper fed between the platen and the thermal head, wherein the thermal head comprises a support body mounting a ceramic substrate, the ceramic substrate carrying a heater for contacting the platen, a semiconductor device for driving the heater, and sealing resin for protecting the semiconductor device, wherein first and second paper feed paths to be alternatively adopted are disposed inside the frame, and when the first paper feed path is adopted, recording paper is fed in use between the platen and the thermal head from a face of the frame and a sheet member is positioned for preventing recording paper from contacting with the exposed sealing resin and when the second paper feed path is adopted, recording paper is fed between the platen and the thermal head from the a face of the frame and a sheet member is positioned for preventing recording paper from contacting with the exposed sealing resin.
  • a printer comprises a frame, a platen, and a thermal head as a basic structure.
  • the frame is in the shape of a box having six faces, i.e., front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom faces.
  • the platen is rotatably axially supported between the left and right faces of the frame.
  • the thermal head is swingably supported between the left and right faces of the frame, and opens and closes with respect to the platen.
  • a heater contacting with the platen, a semiconductor device for driving the heater, and sealing resin for protecting the semiconductor device are formed on the ceramic substrate on the side facing the platen.
  • First and second paper feed paths to be alternatively adopted are made inside the frame.
  • recording paper is fed between the platen and the thermal head from the bottom face of the frame, and a sheet member for preventing recording paper from contacting with the exposed sealing resin is attached along the first paper feed path.
  • second paper feed path recording paper is fed between the platen and the thermal head from the rear face of the frame, and another sheet member for preventing recording paper from contacting with the exposed sealing resin is attached at another place along the second paper feed path.
  • a printer with a small line thermal head mounted thereon comprises a thermal head incorporating a ceramic substrate provided with a heater and a semiconductor device for driving the heater (driver IC).
  • relatively hard sealing resin is used for protecting the semiconductor device.
  • the printer according to the present invention has two paper feed paths. Sheet members (polyimide films, for example) for guiding recording paper are stuck at appropriate places for the respective paper feed paths to prevent the sealing resin from wearing out due to friction with recording paper. With this structure, the semiconductor device is protected sufficiently even if the cover is eliminated, and further, recording paper is inserted and fed in an improved manner.
  • Fig. 1A illustrates a structure of the printer in case one paper feed path (curled path) is adopted
  • Fig. 1B illustrates a structure of the printer in case the other paper feed path (straight path) is adopted.
  • the printer comprises a frame 1, a platen 2, and a thermal head 3.
  • the frame 1 is moulded out of resin, and is in the shape of a box having six faces, i.e., front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom faces F, B, L, R, U, and D.
  • the platen 2 is rotatably, axially supported between the left and right faces L and R of the frame 1.
  • the thermal head 3 is swingably supported between the left and right faces L and R of the frame 1, and opens and closes with respect to the platen 2. It is to be noted that a pressure spring 4 and a pressure cam 5 are used to press the thermal head 3 against the platen 2. Further, the thermal head 3 is swingably supported by bearings 6 integrally formed with the left and right faces L and R of the frame 1. More specifically, rotation shafts 7 protruding at both ends of the lower end portion of the thermal head 3 are fit in the bearings 6. With such a structure, the printer carries out printing on recording paper (not shown) fed between the platen 2 and the thermal head 3 from the rear face B of the frame 1 and then the recording paper is discharged to the top face U of the frame 1.
  • recording paper not shown
  • This paper feed path is referred to as a curled path and is shown as from an arrow CIN to an arrow OUT. It is to be noted that, in order to carry out paper feed in this way, a paper feed motor 8 for driving the platen 2 to rotate via a decelerating train of gears (not shown) is housed in the frame 1.
  • the thermal head 3 comprises a ceramic substrate 11 and a support body 12 for fixing the ceramic substrate 11.
  • a heater H contacting with the platen 2, a semiconductor device 13 for driving the heater, and sealing resin 14 for protecting the semiconductor device 13 are formed on the ceramic substrate 11 on the side facing the platen 2.
  • the sealing resin 14 is hard, thereby eliminating a conventionally essential cover.
  • Two paper feed paths (a curled path and a straight path) to be alternatively adopted are made in advance inside the frame 1. In Fig. 1A, the curled path as one of the paper feed paths is adopted.
  • recording paper (not shown) is fed between the platen 2 and the thermal head 3 from the rear face B of the frame 1 as shown by an arrow CIN, and a sheet 15 for preventing recording paper from contacting with the exposed sealing resin 14 is attached with adhesive or the like along this paper feed path.
  • Sheet 15 also functions to lead the paper in path CIN to the thermal head.
  • Fig. 1B in case the other paper feed path (straight path) is adopted, recording paper is fed between the platen 2 and the thermal head 3 from the bottom face D of the frame 1 as shown by an arrow SIN, and the recording paper is discharged from the top face U of the frame 1 as shown by an arrow OUT.
  • another sheet 16 for preventing recording paper from contacting with the exposed sealing resin 14 is attached along the straight path.
  • Sheet 16 also functions to lead the paper in path SIN to the thermal head.
  • the sheet 15 used in the curled path and the sheet 16 used in the straight path are different in shape and are attached with adhesive or the like at different places.
  • the frame 1 has a built-in paper sensor 20 for detecting recording paper fed through the curled path or the straight path.
  • the paper sensor 20 is attached upward, while, as shown in Fig. 1B, in case the straight path is adopted, the paper sensor 20 is attached toward the front.
  • a printer can have a very small line thermal head.
  • the heater and the semiconductor device 13 for driving the heater are formed on the ceramic substrate 11 incorporated in the thermal head 3.
  • the hard sealing resin 14 is provided so as to cover the semiconductor device 13. By providing the hard sealing resin 14, a cover is eliminated.
  • the printer has two paper feed paths for recording paper, i.e., a curled path and a straight path. Two kinds of sheets 15 and 16 for guiding recording paper are provided accordingly. It is to be noted that both of the sheets 15 and 16 are made of a polyimide film or the like. The sheets 15 and 16 are stuck at appropriate places for the respective paper feed paths to prevent the sealing resin 14 from wearing out due to friction with recording paper.
  • the sealing resin By making the sealing resin hard, the semiconductor device (driver IC) is directly protected from external shocks. Further, since the sheets stuck to the side of the frame intervenes between the recording paper and the sealing resin, the sealing resin is prevented from wearing out. By this, a cover conventionally attached can be eliminated. Elimination of the cover makes it possible to secure the paper feed path even the sealing resin and the heater are disposed close to each other. This makes it possible to miniaturise the ceramic substrate attached to the thermal head. Since the number of ceramic substrates gotten from a large wafer is increased, the cost can be lowered.
  • the sealing resin by making the sealing resin hard, the semiconductor device is protected against shocks.
  • the sheets are stuck at different places according to the two paper feed paths such that one of the sheets always intervenes between recording paper and the sealing resin.
  • the sealing resin can be prevented from wearing out, and thus, a cover conventionally attached can be eliminated from the thermal head. Elimination of the cover makes it possible to dispose the sealing resin and the heater close to each other. As a result, miniaturisation of the ceramic substrate can be attained, and the cost can be lowered.

Landscapes

  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Handling Of Cut Paper (AREA)
EP19970308059 1996-10-14 1997-10-10 Thermodrucker Expired - Lifetime EP0841176B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP271180/96 1996-10-14
JP27118096 1996-10-14
JP27118096A JP2926478B2 (ja) 1996-10-14 1996-10-14 プリンタ装置

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0841176A1 true EP0841176A1 (de) 1998-05-13
EP0841176B1 EP0841176B1 (de) 2002-12-11

Family

ID=17496469

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19970308059 Expired - Lifetime EP0841176B1 (de) 1996-10-14 1997-10-10 Thermodrucker

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0841176B1 (de)
JP (1) JP2926478B2 (de)
KR (1) KR19980032739A (de)
CN (1) CN1082898C (de)
CA (1) CA2216267A1 (de)
DE (1) DE69717769T2 (de)
SG (1) SG73472A1 (de)
TW (1) TW387343U (de)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2331194A1 (de) * 1972-06-19 1974-01-17 Canon Kk Drucker
EP0437724A1 (de) * 1990-01-18 1991-07-24 Tonami Electric Engineering Co., Ltd. Kartendruckvorrichtung
FR2706359A1 (fr) * 1993-06-17 1994-12-23 Seiko Instr Inc Imprimante thermique par ligne.
DE4438600A1 (de) * 1993-10-30 1995-05-24 Asahi Optical Co Ltd Thermodrucker

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2331194A1 (de) * 1972-06-19 1974-01-17 Canon Kk Drucker
EP0437724A1 (de) * 1990-01-18 1991-07-24 Tonami Electric Engineering Co., Ltd. Kartendruckvorrichtung
FR2706359A1 (fr) * 1993-06-17 1994-12-23 Seiko Instr Inc Imprimante thermique par ligne.
DE4438600A1 (de) * 1993-10-30 1995-05-24 Asahi Optical Co Ltd Thermodrucker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1082898C (zh) 2002-04-17
DE69717769T2 (de) 2003-05-28
CA2216267A1 (en) 1998-04-14
EP0841176B1 (de) 2002-12-11
SG73472A1 (en) 2000-06-20
JPH10114116A (ja) 1998-05-06
KR19980032739A (ko) 1998-07-25
JP2926478B2 (ja) 1999-07-28
DE69717769D1 (de) 2003-01-23
CN1180617A (zh) 1998-05-06
TW387343U (en) 2000-04-11

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