EP1338424A1 - Imprimante thermique - Google Patents

Imprimante thermique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1338424A1
EP1338424A1 EP03250980A EP03250980A EP1338424A1 EP 1338424 A1 EP1338424 A1 EP 1338424A1 EP 03250980 A EP03250980 A EP 03250980A EP 03250980 A EP03250980 A EP 03250980A EP 1338424 A1 EP1338424 A1 EP 1338424A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
frame member
thermal head
platen roller
motor
upper frame
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
EP03250980A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1338424B1 (fr
Inventor
Akio c/o SII P & S Inc. 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
SII P and S 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 SII P and S Inc filed Critical SII P and S Inc
Publication of EP1338424A1 publication Critical patent/EP1338424A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1338424B1 publication Critical patent/EP1338424B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/38—Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
    • 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
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
    • 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
    • B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J25/304—Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface
    • 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
    • B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J25/304—Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface
    • B41J25/312—Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface with print pressure adjustment mechanisms, e.g. pressure-on-the paper mechanisms

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a miniature thermal printer mounted on a variety of portable information equipments or the like and more particularly to a thermal printer provided with a structure in which mounting work for each constituent may readily be performed.
  • a general conventional line dot type thermal printer is composed of a line thermal head and a platen roller assembled into a frame to face each other, a drive means therefor, a paper feeding mechanism for feeding of thermal recording paper, and the like.
  • Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view.
  • reference numeral 200 designates a head support member serving also as a heat radiation member of the thermal head H
  • reference numeral 300 denotes a bearing member of the rotary shaft 102A of the platen roller 102
  • reference numeral 400 denotes a sensor for detecting an end portion of the recording paper.
  • the lock arm member 105 is formed substantially into a U-shape as a whole and is provided with: a pair of hook-shaped rotary shaft support portions (latch portions) 105a for engaging with and dragging both end portions of the rotary shaft of the platen roller 102 so that the surface of the platen roller 102 is brought into pressing contact with the thermal head H side; a pair of arm portions 105b for leading the latch portions 105a to the back side of the thermal head H through both sides of the head support member 200; and an elastic member support portion 105c arranged in the widthwise direction of the back side of the thermal head H provided with arm portions 105b at both sides thereof for supporting the above-described coil springs 104.
  • the lock arm member 105 and the thermal head H are rotatably supported to both side surfaces of the frame 101 through the rotary shaft 500.
  • reference numeral 700 denotes a screw for fastening the motor M to the frame 101.
  • the thermal printer P2 with such a structure is mounted on, for example, a portable information terminal or the like.
  • the thermal printer P2 involves such a problem that the number of parts of the constituent is large, the mounting work is also complicated and the manufacturing cost is increased.
  • the present invention has been invented in order to solve the above-described problems and therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a thermal printer in which the assembling work is simplified to thereby make it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.
  • a thermal printer including at least: a frame (F) having a pair of side wall portions arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval in a paper width direction; a line thermal head (H) for performing printing; a platen roller (1) whose circumferential surface is brought into contact with the line thermal head; a motor (M) as a drive source; and a plurality of gears (g1, g2, g20) for transmitting a rotational drive force of the motor to the platen roller, in which the frame is composed of a lower frame member (F1) and an upper frame member (F2) which is dividable up and down, and in which receiving portions (receiving portion A, gear receiving portion B) for receiving the line thermal head, the platen roller, the motor and the gears, respectively are formed within the lower frame member, and at the same time, a plurality of holder portions (C1 to C4, D1 to D4) for rotatably holding respective
  • the upper frame member is simply coupled to cover the lower frame member to assemble the printer, which makes it possible to reduce the number of parts and to simplifying the assembling work to reduce the manufacturing cost.
  • each of the holder portions formed in the side wall portion of the lower frame member and the side wall portion of the upper frame member has a substantially semicircular shape.
  • each rotary shaft of the above-described platen roller and the above-described motor may readily be mounted on the lower frame member, and at the same time, when the upper frame member is coupled together, both holder portions per se form the circular bearing portion so that it is unnecessary to form any discrete bearing member to thereby make it possible to simplify the structure.
  • a pressure means for depressing a back surface of the line thermal head so that said line thermal head is brought into pressing contact with the surface of the platen roller may be formed in the upper frame member.
  • the pressure means may be composed of a planar pressure portion having elasticity and formed integrally with the upper frame member, and the pressure portion may be formed in a position where an end portion of the pressure portion is in contact with the back surface of the line thermal head when the upper frame member is coupled with the lower frame member.
  • the pressure portion since it is possible to dispense with the coil springs as the pressure means in the prior art, it is possible to reduce the number of parts to make it possible to reduce the cost.
  • the pressure portion since the pressure portion may be formed integrally with the above-described upper frame member, the manufacture is simple. Also, since the assembling work is so simple as to couple with the lower frame so that the line thermal head may be brought into pressing contact with the surface of the platen roller, the structure may be simplified and the manufacturing cost may be reduced.
  • Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a thermal printer P1 according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an upper frame member of the thermal printer P1.
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of the thermal printer P1 that has been assembled.
  • the thermal printer P1 As shown in Fig. 1, the thermal printer P1 according to a first embodiment is provided with a frame F composed of a lower frame member F1 and an upper frame member F2 having a pair of side wall portions arranged to face each other in a paper width direction at a predetermined interval.
  • the frame F is comprised of, for example, the injection-molded products of plastic such as a polycarbonate.
  • An upper surface of the lower frame member F1 and a lower surface of the upper frame member F2 are formed into a coupling structure (that is, a structure in which end faces correspond to each other and when coupled, there is generated no gap) and in the coupled condition shown in Fig. 2, both frame members F1 and F2 are fixed together by engagement claws or screws which can be fitted in.
  • a coupling structure that is, a structure in which end faces correspond to each other and when coupled, there is generated no gap
  • a receiving portion A for receiving a platen roller 1, a thermal head H, a motor M as a drive source, and the like is formed in the lower frame member F1.
  • a groove, a cutaway portion, or the like for positioning the thermal head H is formed in the receiving portion A.
  • a support portion El for fixing a rear end portion of the motor M is formed in the receiving portion A.
  • a connector 30 connected to signal lines for transmitting printing signals is provided in the thermal head H.
  • a divisional surface is determined in the lower frame member F1 and the upper frame member F2 so that it is divided through a plane passing through each bearing portion.
  • each bearing portion is completely overlapped in the vertical direction, it is impossible to cope with the divisional structure of the lower frame member F1 and the upper frame member F2. Accordingly, the structure is designed so that each rotary shaft of each gear g1, g2 is not overlapped in the vertical direction and displaced in the horizontal direction.
  • a gear receiving portion B for receiving each gear g1, g2 of a gear transmission mechanism G1 for transmitting a rotational drive force of the motor M to a driven gear g20 fixed at one end of the rotary shaft 1A of the platen roller 1 and for receiving the driven gear g20 is formed on one side wall side (on the right side wall side in Fig. 1) of the lower frame member F1.
  • Semicircular holder portions C1 to C3 for rotatably holding the rotary shaft 1A of the platen roller 1 and the rotary shafts g1a and g2a of the respective gears g1 and g2 and a semicircular holder portion C4 for holding the bearing portion Ma of the motor M are formed on the upper edge side of the gear receiving portion B and the side wall of the lower frame member F1.
  • reference numeral 20 denotes a guide portion that serves as a guide when a roll paper (not shown) as the recording paper is fed.
  • semicircular holder portions D1 to D3 (incidentally, D4 does not appear in the drawing) formed in confronting positions with the holder portions C1 to C3 of the lower frame member F1 are formed in the lower surface side of the upper frame member F2.
  • a portion indicated by reference numeral 10 is a V-shaped pressure portion having elasticity for depressing a back surface of the thermal head H so that the line thermal head H is brought into pressing contact with the surface of the platen roller 1 when the upper frame member F2 is coupled with the lower frame member F1.
  • reference numeral 11 denotes a heat radiation portion for performing the heat radiation of the thermal head H, which is formed integrally with the pressure portion 10 and is provided in a position where an end face of the heat radiation portion 11 is brought into contact with the back surface of the thermal head H when the upper frame member F2 is fitted with the lower frame member F1.
  • the motor M of the lower frame member F1 is mounted on the receiving portion A, and the rotary shafts g1a and g2a of the gears g1 and g2 are mounted on the holding portions C3 and C2 of the gear receiving portion B.
  • the driven gear g20 is mounted at one end portion of the rotary shaft 1A of the platen roller 1 and both end portions of the rotary shaft 1A of the platen roller 1 are mounted on the holder portion C1 of the lower frame member F1. In this case, the driven gear g20 is received on the gear receiving portion B.
  • the thermal head H provided with the line thermal head H is mounted on the receiving portion A.
  • the upper frame member F2 is fitted with the lower frame member F1.
  • the upper frame member F2 is fixed to the lower frame member F1 by engagement with engagement claws or screw fastening with screws so that the thermal printer P1 as shown in Fig. 2 may be assembled.
  • thermal printer P1 since only a simple assembling work for mounting each constituent on the lower frame member F1 and coupling the upper frame member therewith is sufficient to assemble the thermal printer P1, it is not necessary to provide skill for the complicated assembling work like the conventional thermal printer P2, to thereby make it possible to shorten the assembling time and to reduce the manufacturing cost of the printer.
  • the members such as a lock arm member and coil springs as the pressure means or the like are dispensed with, the number of parts is decreased to thereby make it possible to further reduce the cost.
  • the gear transmission mechanism G1 is composed of the two gears g1 and g2
  • the invention may be applied to the case where it is composed of three or more gears.
  • the holder portions formed in the lower frame member F1 and the upper frame member F2 are provided in conformity with the arrangement positions and the number of the gears.
  • planar pressure portion 10 as the pressure means is formed in the upper frame member F2
  • the invention is not limited to this.
  • thermal head H is mounted on the lower frame member F1 in assembling
  • a thermal printer includes at least: a frame having a pair of side wall portions arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval in a paper width direction; a line thermal head for performing printing; a platen roller having a circumferential surface brought into contact with the thermal head; a motor as a drive source; and a plurality of gears for transmitting a rotational drive force of the motor to the platen roller, in which the frame is composed of a lower frame member and an upper frame member which is dividable up and down and receiving portions for receiving the line thermal head, the platen roller, the motor and the gears, respectively are formed within the lower frame member, and at the same time, a plurality of holder portions for rotatably clamping respective rotary shafts of the platen roller and the motor when the two frame members are coupled with each other are formed in the side wall portion of the lower frame member and the side wall portion of the upper frame member.
  • the upper frame member is simply coupled to cover the lower frame member to assemble the printer which makes it possible to reduce the number of parts while simplifying the assembling work to reduce the manufacturing cost.

Landscapes

  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
  • Common Mechanisms (AREA)
EP20030250980 2002-02-21 2003-02-18 Imprimante thermique Expired - Lifetime EP1338424B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2002045030 2002-02-21
JP2002045030A JP2003237121A (ja) 2002-02-21 2002-02-21 サーマルプリンタ

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1338424A1 true EP1338424A1 (fr) 2003-08-27
EP1338424B1 EP1338424B1 (fr) 2006-09-06

Family

ID=27655319

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20030250980 Expired - Lifetime EP1338424B1 (fr) 2002-02-21 2003-02-18 Imprimante thermique

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1338424B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2003237121A (fr)
CN (1) CN1330503C (fr)
DE (1) DE60308072T2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1405730A1 (fr) * 2002-10-03 2004-04-07 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Imprimante thermique

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2007331112A (ja) * 2006-06-12 2007-12-27 Seiko Epson Corp サーマルプリンタ
JP5048432B2 (ja) * 2007-09-19 2012-10-17 富士通コンポーネント株式会社 プリンタ装置
US8550733B2 (en) * 2007-09-19 2013-10-08 Fujitsu Component Limited Printing apparatus with sealed gear drive mechanism
JP5181145B2 (ja) * 2008-05-21 2013-04-10 セイコーインスツル株式会社 サーマルプリンタ
CN102001232A (zh) * 2010-09-25 2011-04-06 广东宝莱特医用科技股份有限公司 整体记录仪
JP6496113B2 (ja) * 2014-09-24 2019-04-03 サトーホールディングス株式会社 プリンタ
CN110978802A (zh) * 2019-12-03 2020-04-10 德佟电子科技(江苏)有限公司 一种便携式热敏标签打印机

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0765761A1 (fr) * 1995-09-29 1997-04-02 Anritsu Corporation Appareil d'impression thermique
EP0798122A2 (fr) * 1996-02-29 1997-10-01 Seiko Epson Corporation Appareil à imprimer comprenant plusiers unités d'impression
EP0806297A2 (fr) * 1996-05-09 1997-11-12 Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited Appareil de formation d'images
US5933180A (en) * 1997-08-05 1999-08-03 Bdt Products, Inc. Thermal print module and method of using same
US6179498B1 (en) * 1996-03-14 2001-01-30 Seiko Epson Corporation Printer and control method therefor

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2825716B2 (ja) * 1992-10-16 1998-11-18 シャープ株式会社 感熱印字機構
JPH0747733A (ja) * 1993-08-06 1995-02-21 Sony Corp リボンカートリッジ
JP2762045B2 (ja) * 1994-12-22 1998-06-04 株式会社リコー サーマルヘッドユニット
FR2766411A1 (fr) * 1997-07-11 1999-01-29 Investix Sa Mecanisme d'impression thermique
JPH11334118A (ja) * 1998-05-28 1999-12-07 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd ライン型サーマルヘッドの押圧機構

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0765761A1 (fr) * 1995-09-29 1997-04-02 Anritsu Corporation Appareil d'impression thermique
EP0798122A2 (fr) * 1996-02-29 1997-10-01 Seiko Epson Corporation Appareil à imprimer comprenant plusiers unités d'impression
US6179498B1 (en) * 1996-03-14 2001-01-30 Seiko Epson Corporation Printer and control method therefor
EP0806297A2 (fr) * 1996-05-09 1997-11-12 Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited Appareil de formation d'images
US5933180A (en) * 1997-08-05 1999-08-03 Bdt Products, Inc. Thermal print module and method of using same

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1405730A1 (fr) * 2002-10-03 2004-04-07 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Imprimante thermique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60308072D1 (de) 2006-10-19
DE60308072T2 (de) 2007-02-22
EP1338424B1 (fr) 2006-09-06
JP2003237121A (ja) 2003-08-27
CN1330503C (zh) 2007-08-08
CN1439526A (zh) 2003-09-03

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9365057B1 (en) Printing unit and thermal printer
EP1338424B1 (fr) Imprimante thermique
JP2013542686A (ja) 多機能プリンタ内の記録媒体経路
EP1768372A1 (fr) Dispositif de formation d'image
EP1338423B1 (fr) Imprimante thermique
JP4957505B2 (ja) 記録媒体および記録装置
JP2013086347A (ja) プリンタ
JP4725322B2 (ja) 画像形成装置
JP2999922B2 (ja) ヘッド駆動装置
JP3155881B2 (ja) ローラ
CN219856499U (zh) 一种热敏打印机
JPH0675748U (ja) テーププリンタ装置
CN219096311U (zh) 印字单元和便携型终端
EP4005809B1 (fr) Unité d'impression et terminal portable
JP5852428B2 (ja) プリンタ
JP2553794Y2 (ja) タイムレコーダ
JP3804291B2 (ja) ロールシートユニットおよび電子機器
JP3126771B2 (ja) スロットマシンの図柄移動装置
JP3381143B2 (ja) タッチローラの支持構造
JP2964901B2 (ja) 磁気カードリーダ
JP2000071587A (ja) リボンカートリッジとこれを用いたプリンタ装置
JPH081880Y2 (ja) ラベルプリンタの台紙巻取装置
JPH04112064A (ja) プリンタ装置
JP3350240B2 (ja) 画像読取装置
JP2000238303A (ja) サーマルプリンタの押圧機構

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK RO

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20040127

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): DE FR IT

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20040825

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR IT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20060906

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60308072

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20061019

Kind code of ref document: P

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20070607

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20110218

Year of fee payment: 9

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20110217

Year of fee payment: 9

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20110216

Year of fee payment: 9

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20121031

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20120218

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 60308072

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20120901

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20120229

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20120901