EP1405730A1 - Imprimante thermique - Google Patents

Imprimante thermique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1405730A1
EP1405730A1 EP20030255951 EP03255951A EP1405730A1 EP 1405730 A1 EP1405730 A1 EP 1405730A1 EP 20030255951 EP20030255951 EP 20030255951 EP 03255951 A EP03255951 A EP 03255951A EP 1405730 A1 EP1405730 A1 EP 1405730A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
frame
platen roller
rotation shaft
coming
thermal printer
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
EP20030255951
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1405730B1 (fr
Inventor
Hiroyuki Murayama
Chikashi Osakama
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.)
Alps Alpine Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Alps Electric Co Ltd
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
Priority claimed from JP2002291597A external-priority patent/JP2004122646A/ja
Application filed by Alps Electric Co Ltd filed Critical Alps Electric Co Ltd
Publication of EP1405730A1 publication Critical patent/EP1405730A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1405730B1 publication Critical patent/EP1405730B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related 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
    • 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
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/02—Platens
    • B41J11/04—Roller platens
    • 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
    • B41J25/34—Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a thermal printer that prevents dust from entering the printing part by eliminating an open part and allows printing with high quality.
  • a conventional thermal printer is comprised of a body housing 51 with the inside thereof in the state of a cavity, as shown in Fig. 15, and a motor 52 which is the driving source of a platen roller 59 described later is housed inside of the body housing 51.
  • the body housing 51 mounts, on a side thereof where a rotation shaft (not shown) of the motor 52 protrudes, a gear box 54 housing a gear group 53 of a plurality of gears for transmitting the rotation of the motor 52 to a platen roller 59 described later.
  • the gear box 54 is open at a part, and the gear group 53 is exposed. With the exposed gear group 53, a transmission gear 59a of the platen roller 59, described later, engages.
  • a thermal head 55 having a longitudinal shape and comprised of a line head is mounted on the side wall, shown on the left side in the figure, of the body housing 51.
  • the body housing 51 is arranged with supporting side walls 56, 56 protruding in the left direction in the figure, wherein the supporting walls are formed on the near and deep sides shown in the figure, facing each other and sandwiching a thermal head 55 in the longitudinal direction thereof.
  • the supporting walls 56, 56 are formed with a circular-arc-shaped roller supporting part 56a which can support the platen roller 59 described later and are open upward.
  • hook members 57 that can open and close the open upper side of the roller supporting parts 56a are circularly-movably supported by the respective supporting side walls 56.
  • the roller supporting parts 56a are arranged to be able to support the rotatable platen roller 59 supported by a roller supporting frame 58, as shown in Fig. 16.
  • the hook members 57 circularly move so that the platen roller 59 is prevented from coming out from the roller supporting parts 56a.
  • the shaft of a transmission gear 59b that can transmit the rotation of the motor 52 by engaging with the gear group 53 in the gear box 54 is fixed to a rotation shaft 59a of the platen roller 59.
  • an FPC 60 to be connected to the motor 52 and the thermal head 55 is formed protruding from the right side, shown in the figure, of the body housing 51.
  • a sheet (not shown) which is disposed in the body housing 51, made, for example, of thermal paper, and wound in a roll state is mounted by dropping the rotation shaft 59a of the platen roller 59 onto the roller supporting parts 56a in a state of being rotationally pulled ahead of the thermal head 55, as shown in Fig. 15, before the platen roller 59 is mounted. Then, the sheet is brought into pressure contact between the thermal head 55 and the platen roller 59, and the platen roller 59 is prevented from coming out from the roller supporting parts 56a by the hook members 57.
  • the sheet After bringing the sheet into pressure contact between the thermal head 55 and the platen roller 59, a plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 55 are selectively heated according to printing information, the sheet is fed by rotating the platen roller 59 by driving the motor 52, and thus a desired image can be printed on the sheet.
  • the sheet after performing printing thereon can be cut to a desired length by a cutter (not shown).
  • the hook members 57 are circularly moved to open the upper side of the roller supporting parts 56a, and thus the platen roller 59 in a state of being supported by a roller supporting frame 58 is taken out from the roller supporting parts 56a.
  • the upper side of the platen roller 59 and the upper side of the gear box 54 are respectively open, and thus dust or the like comes in from the open parts, which may cause printing failure or the like.
  • the present invention was carried out in consideration of the above described problem, and an object of the invention is to provide a thermal printer that prevents dust or the like from entering a printing place by eliminating open parts in such a manner that a platen roller and a driving source are housed in a same frame, thereby allowing printing with high quality.
  • a thermal printer is comprised of a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements, a platen roller with which the thermal head can be brought into pressure contact, a first frame supporting the platen roller and a driving source for rotational driving of the platen roller, a second frame mounted with the thermal head, and a body housing mounted with the first and second frames, wherein the first frame is mounted slidable along the body housing, and attachable and detachable to and from the second f rame .
  • the thermal head may be fixed on a head mounting table disposed on the top plate side of the second frame, an elastic member that can elastically energize the thermal head to the platen roller side is disposed between the top plate of the second frame and the head mounting table, and when the first frame is mounted to the second frame, the thermal head elastically contacts with the platen roller.
  • the top plate of the second frame may cover the upper side of the platen roller.
  • the first frame may be mounted with a gearbox housing a plurality of gears that can transmit the rotation of the driving source to the platen roller.
  • the platen roller may be mounted with lifting members that can lift the head mounting table to the top plate side against the energizing force of the elastic member, wherein when the first frame is moved to the side of the second frame, the lifting members lift the head mounting table to move the thermal head away from the platen roller, and when the first frame has been mounted to the second frame, the lifting of the head mounting table by the lifting members is released, and thus the thermal head is brought into pressure contact with the platen roller.
  • the lifting members may be formed into a disc shape larger than the diameter dimension of the platen roller and fixed to the shaft at the ends in the longitudinal direction of the platen roller, and the head mounting table is formed with contact parts with which the lifting members can contact and non-contact parts where the contact of the lifting members is released, wherein when the first frame gets mounted to the second frame, the lifting members contact with the contact parts to lift the head mounting table, and when the first frame has been mounted to the second frame, the lifting members are positioned at the non-contact parts so that the lifting of the head mounting table is released.
  • a thermal printer comprises of a first frame that supports a rotation shaft of a platen roller, a second frame that supports a thermal head which can be brought into pressure contact with the platen roller, and a body housing that slidably supports the first frame and is mounted with the second frame, wherein the second frame is formed with supporting hollows that can support the rotation shaft of the platen roller, the supporting hollows being formed with a coming-out preventing part that can prevent the supported rotation shaft from coming out so that when the first frame is slid to the second frame side and the rotation shaft is engaged with the supporting hollows, the rotation shaft is prevented from coming out by the coming-out preventing parts, and thus the first frame can be connected to the second frame.
  • the supporting hollows may have a one guide face and another guide face facing each other at a certain distance, wherein each coming-out preventing part is formed to each one guide face, and when the first frame is slid and connected with the second frame, the rotation shaft goes over the coming-out preventing parts and gets positioned at the deep part of the supporting hollows, thus the thermal head makes pressure contact with the platen roller, and by the pressure contact pressure of the thermal head applied to the platen roller, the rotation shaft is prevented from coming out from the supporting hollows .
  • Each coming-out preventing part may be formed of a convex part that protrudes from the one guide face, wherein the root part of the convex part is taper-shaped.
  • Figs . 1 to 10 show a thermal printer according to a first embodiment of the invention, wherein Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view explaining a first frame and a second frame; Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view in which a record sheet is arranged between the first frame and the second frame according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the thermal printer, shown in Fig. 1, viewed from the opposite side; Fig. 5 is a perspective view in which the first frame is mounted to the second frame according to the invention; Figs . 6 and 7 are side views explaining a lock member according to the invention; and Figs. 8 to 10 are enlarged views of an essential part explaining a lifting member according to the invention.
  • a first frame 2 that is open on the upper side thereof and a second frame 3 that is open on the lower side thereof are mounted to a body housing (not shown), the second frame 3 being positioned on the deep side in the figure and facing the first frame 2, wherein the first frame 2 can slide to the second frame 3 side in the direction of arrow A.
  • the first frame 2 is made of a metallic plate formed, by bending, with a first side plate 2a on the right side shown in the figure and a second side plate 2b on the left side shown in the figure which face each other, and the rotation shaft 4a of a rotatable platen roller 4 is shaft-supported on the upper side of the first and second side plates 2a and 2b.
  • the platen roller 4 is formed in such a manner that a large roller part 4b of hard rubber or the like with a large friction coefficient is fixed to the rotation shaft 4a.
  • the lock members 5 made of a metallic plate are supported circularly-movably around a circular fulcrum 5a.
  • a lock arm 5b is formed protrudingly from the circular fulcrum 5a to the right, and a hook-shaped lock part 5c is formed near the end of the lock arm part 5b.
  • an operation arm part 5d is formed protruding at a right angle from above the circular fulcrum 5a to the left direction in the figure, and the operation arm part 5d is formed with a pressing surface 5e having a curved surface shape at the right end in the figure and provided with an operation bar 5f, in the vicinity of the left end in the figure, standing in the perpendicular direction to the sheet of the figure.
  • a stopper part 5g is formed protruding from the circular fulcrum 5a in the left oblique direction, and when the lock member 5 is circularly moved in the clockwise direction shown by the arrow B, as shown in Fig. 7, the stopper part 5g can contact with a stopper part 2c formed by cutting and bending a part of the first side plate 2a of the first frame 2.
  • Such a lock member 5 is always energized in the counter-clockwise direction by a twisted coil spring (not shown) for example.
  • lock release parts 6 that can operate in the clockwise direction the lock parts 5 which are energized in the counter-clockwise direction are arranged.
  • Each lock release member 6 is formed with a slope surface 6a at the front end, and, as shown in Fig. 6, when the lock release member 6 is operated by pressing in the direction of arrow C, the slope surface 6a lifts the operation bar 5f upward.
  • the lock member 5 circularly moves in the clockwise direction shown by the arrow B around the circular fulcrum 5a, as shown in Fig. 7, against the energizing force in the counter-clockwise direction.
  • a gear box 7 is mounted, and in the gear box 7, a plurality of gears 8 are housed in the state that the gears 8 are engaging.
  • an FPC 9 is formed protruding and connected to the inner driving source (not shown) of the motor and the like.
  • the second frame 3 is disposed, and the second frame 3 is made of a metallic plate and has a bracket-shape which is open downward and formed of a top plate 3a arranged on the upper side and side plates 3b, 3b made by bending downward the right and left edges of the top plate 3a such that the edges face each other.
  • each side plate 3b a supporting hollow 3c of a cut hollow almost in a U-shape is formed by blanking, and when the first frame 2 is slid in the direction of arrow A and mounted to the second frame 3, the supporting hollow 3c engages with the rotation shaft 4a of the platen roller 4, which restrains the downward movement of the first frame 2 so that a thermal head 10 described later elastically contacts with the platen roller 4.
  • Projecting pieces 3d are formed by cutting and bending the side plates 3b located at the deeper side than the supporting hollows 3c, and pressing surfaces 5e of the lock members 5 contact with the projecting pieces 3d to be able to press the projecting pieces 3d.
  • a thermal head mounting table 11 as shown in Fig. 8 on which the longitudinal thermal head 10 of a line head is fixed is disposed near the front edge of the lower surface of the top plate 3a and between the side plates 3b, 3b facing each other, with a certain gap to the top plate 3a.
  • the thermal head 10 is formed with a plurality of heating elements on the lower surface side in line.
  • the head mounting table 11 fixed with such a thermal head 10 is provided with an elastic member (not shown) at a part with a gap to the top plate 3a, and is always elastically energized downward by the elastic member.
  • the head mounting table 11 is formed with contact parts 11a with which a disc-shaped lifting members 4c of the platen roller 4 can contact, and formed with non-contact parts 11b at which the contact of the lifting members 4c is released.
  • the side plates 3b of the second frame 3 are arranged with a lock pin 12 standing in the vicinity of right side the projecting piece 3d, as shown in Fig. 6.
  • the lock parts 5c of the lock parts 5 engage with the lock pins 12, as shown in Fig. 6, thereby allowing the first frame 2 to be locked.
  • One of the side plates 3b of the second frame 3 is disposed with a detection switch 13 on the deeper side than the lock pins 12 , as shown in Fig. 6, and when the lock member 5 circularly moves , the front end of the lock arm part 5b (the right end in the figure) operates the detection switch 13 for ON/OFF.
  • a sheet loading part 15 to which a record medium 14 made of, for example, thermal paper wound in a roll state can be disposed is formed.
  • the first frame 2 including the record medium 14 loaded on the sheet loading part 15 is slidable to the second frame 3 which is supported by the body housing (not shown).
  • an FPC 16 for current carrying control of the thermal head 10 is formed protruding.
  • thermal printer 1 like this according to the invention can be explained that before the record medium 14 is loaded on the sheet loading part 15, the first frame 2 is in a state being away from the second frame 3, as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the record medium 14 is loaded on the sheet loading part 15 in this state, and the edge side of the record medium 14 is rotationally pulled on the roller part 4b of the platen roller 4.
  • the head mounting table 11 at this time is, as shown in Fig. 8, in a state of being away from the platen roller 4, and if the first frame 2 is slid in the direction of arrow A from this state, the contact parts 11a of the head mounting table 11 contact with the disc-shaped lifting members 4c, then the head mounting table 11 is lifted upward against the energizing force of the elastic member between the top plate 3a and the head mounting table 11, as shown in Fig. 9.
  • the thermal head 10 is prevented from colliding with the roller part 4b of the platen roller 4.
  • the supporting hollows 3c of the second frame 3 engage with the rotation shaft 4a of the platen roller 4 , which allows the thermal head 10 to elastically contact with the platen roller 4 due to the energizing force of the elastic member between the top plate 3a and the head mounting table 11.
  • lock parts 5c of the lock members 5 simultaneously engage with the lock pins 12 of the second frame 3 to restrain the movement of the first frame 2 in the direction of arrow D, thus locking the frames.
  • the detection switch 13 When the first frame 2 has been mounted to the second frame 3, the detection switch 13 is turned ON, and accordingly the printer enters a waiting state for printing.
  • a plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 10 When a print command is issued during this waiting state for printing, a plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 10 generates heat in a selected way, according to print information, thus color is created on the record medium 14 by thermal paper for example, besides, the platen roller 4 rotates to transport the record medium 14 after printing in the paper discharge direction, and thus a desired image is printed on the record medium 14.
  • the detection switch 13 turns OFF, which releases the waiting state for printing.
  • the first frame 2 having been ejected is moved away from the second frame 3 to a predetermined position to allow replacement of the record medium 14 at the sheet loading part 15.
  • the platen roller 4 and the driving source for rotational driving of the platen roller 4 are built in the first frame 2 to be unitized, which can eliminate problems such as collision of conventional gears.
  • the upper side of the platen roller 4 in printing is covered by the top plate 3a of the second frame 3 through the thermal head 10, and thereby dust or the like is prevented from entering the printing part.
  • gear box 7 that houses the plurality of gears 8 has been explained to be mounted to the first frame 2
  • the part of the gear box 7 may be formed in one body with the first frame 2, and accordingly the first frame 2 houses and supports the plurality of gears 8.
  • Fig. 11 is a schematic perspective view explaining a first frame and a second frame according to the invention
  • Fig. 12 is a perspective view in which the first frame according to the invention is mounted to the second frame according to the invention
  • Figs. 13 and 14 are enlarged views of an essential part explaining support operation of a platen roller according to the invention at a supporting hollow.
  • a first frame 22 that is open at the upper side thereof is disposed, and a second frame 23 that is open at the lower side is disposed on the side facing the first frame 22.
  • the first frame 22 is supported by a body housing (not shown) slidably to the second frame 23 side in the direction of arrow B, and the second frame 23 is mounted to the body case.
  • the first frame 22 is arranged by bending a metallic plate, and is formed with a one and another side plates 22a and 22b facing each other, wherein near the upper edge of the one and the other side plates 22a and 22b, a rotation shaft 24a of the platen roller 24 is rotatively shaft-supported.
  • the platen roller 24 is formed in such a manner that a large roller part 24b of hard rubber or the like with a large friction coefficient is fixed to the rotation shaft 24a.
  • discs 24c that can lift a head mounting table 30a, described later, supported on the second frame 23 side are fixed.
  • the other side plate 22b of the first frame 22 shown in Fig. 11 is mounted with a gear box 25, and the rotation shaft 24a which projects from the other side plate 22b and is positioned in the gear box 25 is mounted with a gear group 26 of a plurality of gears that is connected to a driving force (not shown) comprised of a motor, thereby allowing transmission of the rotation of the driving force to the platen roller 24 through the gear group 26.
  • the second frame 23 which is disposed on the side facing the first frame 22 is arranged by bending a metallic plate and formed with a top plate 23a on the upper side, and a one side plate 23b and another side plate 23c which are made by bending downward the right and left edges of the top plate 23a such that the edges face each other, the second frame 23 having a U-shape that is open downward.
  • the one and the other side plates 23b and 23c are formed with supporting hollows 27 almost in a U-shape at the front end, and the rotation shaft 24a of the platen roller 24 can be rotatively supported by the supporting hollows 27.
  • Each supporting hollow 27 is made by a certain gap formed in a dimension a little larger than the diameter dimension of the rotation shaft 24a, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, wherein a one guide face 27a is formed on the lower side in the figure and another guide face 27b is formed on the upper side facing the one guide face 27a, the guide faces 27a and 27b sandwiching the certain gap.
  • Deep walls 27c are formed at the deep part of the supporting hollows 27 with which the rotation shaft 24a that is supported by the supporting hollows 27 can contact.
  • a coming-out preventing part 28 that can prevent the rotation shaft 24a supported by the supporting hollow 27 from coming out is provided.
  • the coming-out preventing part 28 has a convex part 28a which projects upward in the figure with a certain height from the one guide face 27a, and to the convex part 28a, a first tapered face 28b is formed at the root part on the right side shown in the figure, and a second tapered face 28c is formed at the root part on the left side shown in the figure which is the entrance part of the supporting hollow 27.
  • the head mounting table 30a is elastically energized through an elastic member 29 such as a coil spring, and by the head mounting table 30a, a thermal head 30 comprised of a line head is supported.
  • the head mounting table 30a is, though not shown, formed with contact parts which the discs 24c of the platen roller 24 can contact and lift upward, and formed with non-contact parts at which the contact of the discs 24c is released, allowing the thermal head 30 to make pressure contact with the platen roller 24.
  • the discs 24c contact the contact parts to lift and move the thermal head 30 away from the roller part 24b of the platen roller 24, and when the rotation shaft 24a contacts the deep walls 27c shown in Fig. 14, the discs 24c are positioned at the non-contact parts, and thus the thermal head 30 makes pressure contact with the platen roller 24.
  • the rotation shaft 24a Due to the pressure contact pressure of the thermal head 30 applied to the platen roller 24, the rotation shaft 24a is pressed on the one guide faces 27a and thus prevented from coming out from the supporting hollows 27 by the coming-out preventing parts 28.
  • a sheet housing part (not shown) that can house a record medium (not shown) of, for example, thermal paper which is wound in a roll state, and when the first frame 22 slides in the direction of arrow B, the sheet receiving part also slides.
  • a record medium (not shown) of, for example, thermal paper which is wound in a roll state, and when the first frame 22 slides in the direction of arrow B, the sheet receiving part also slides.
  • an FPC 31 for current carrying control of a plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 30 is protruded.
  • a thermal printer 21 like this according to the invention can be explained that, first, as shown in Fig. 11, in the state that the first frame 22 is away from the second frame 23, the record medium is housed by the sheet housing part. Thereafter, the edge of the record medium is rotationally pulled on the platen roller 24.
  • the pressure contact pressure due to the pressure contact of the thermal head 30 with the platen roller 24 causes the rotation shaft 24a to make pressure contact with the one guide faces 27a of the supporting hollows 27 so that the rotation shaft 24a is prevented from coming-out by the coming-out preventing parts 28.
  • the rotation shaft 24a turns into a coming-out prevented state
  • the first frame 22 is connected with the second frame 23, and thereby the printer enters a waiting state for printing.
  • a plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 30 When a print command is issued during this waiting state for printing, a plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 30 generates heat in a selected way, according to print information, thus color is created on the record medium, for example, of thermal paper, besides, the platen roller 24 is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction to transport the record medium in the paper discharge direction shown by the arrow C, and thus a desired image is printed on the record medium.
  • the first frame 22 is loaded with a force in the direction opposite to the arrow B so that the rotation shaft 24a goes over the coming-out preventing parts 28 and the connection between the first frame 22 and the second frame 23 is released, forming a gap between the first frame 22 and the second frame 23, as shown in Fig. 11.
  • the record medium can be replaced or provided from this gap .
  • the first frame 22 is slid in the direction of arrow B and the rotation shaft 24a of the platen roller 24 is supported by the supporting hollows 27, thus the platen roller 24 is caused to make pressure contact with the thermal head 30 and the rotation shaft 24a is prevented from coming-out by the coming-out preventing parts 28, which allows secure connection of the first frame 22 to the second frame 23 even without a latch member.
  • the coming-out preventing parts 28 have been explained by the convex part 28a having the first and second tapered faces 28b and 28c, the convex parts 28a may be formed in a step state without the first and the second tapered faces 28b and 28c.
  • a first frame that supports a platen roller is mounted slidably along a body housing, and is attachable and detachable to and from a second frame mounted with a thermal head, and thus the platen roller and a driving source are unitized by the first frame, eliminating the conventional problem that gears collide with each other and the tips of the gears get broken, for example.
  • the platen roller can be smoothly rotated to provide a thermal printer allowing image printing with high quality.
  • an elastic member that can elastically energize the thermal head to the platen roller side is disposed, and when the first frame is mounted to the second frame, the thermal head elastically contacts with the platen roller, which enables image printing with high quality.
  • the top plate of the second frame covers the upper side of the platen roller, and thus dust or the like can be prevented from entering the printing part.
  • the first frame is disposed with a gear box housing a plurality of gears which can transmit the rotation of the driving source to the platen roller, and thus dust or the like can be prevented from entering the engaging part between the plurality of gears, thereby enabling transmission of smooth rotation to the platen roller.
  • the first frame is disposed with lock members that can restrain the movement of the first frame mounted to the second frame and can lock the first frame, and thereby the movement of the first frame mounted to the second frame is securely restrained by the lock members, which reduces the fluctuation in the pressure contact pressure of the thermal head that makes pressure contact with the platen roller to allow image printing with high quality.
  • the body housing is disposed with lock release members that can release the locking of the first frame, which provides a thermal printer that can easily release the locking of the first frame, thereby offering easy operation.
  • the lock members when the lock release members release the locking of the first frame, the lock members press the second frame so that the first frame moves away from the second frame, allowing easy ejection of the first frame after releasing the locking.
  • the second frame is disposed with a detection switch that can detect the locking of the first frame by the lock members so that printing can start only when the detection switch detects that the first frame has been locked. Thus, problems such as printing failure can be prevented.
  • lifting members When the first frame is moved to the second frame side, lifting members lift the head mounting table, and when the first frame has been mounted to the second frame, the lifting of the head mounting table by the lifting members is released so that the thermal head makes pressure contact with the platen roller, and thus, when the first frame is mounted to the second frame, the thermal head is prevented from colliding with the platen roller and damaging the platen roller.
  • the lifting members contact with contact parts to lift the head mounting table, and when the first frame has been mounted to the second frame, the lifting members are positioned at non-contact parts to release the lifting of the head mounting table. Therefore, by forming the contact parts and the non-contact parts in a simple structure on the head mounting table, the thermal head is easily lifted at the time of mounting the first frame, thereby preventing the thermal head from colliding with the platen roller.
  • thermal printer when a first frame is slid to a second frame side and a rotation shaft is engaged with supporting hollows, the rotation shaft is prevented from coming-out by coming-out preventing parts, and thus the first frame can be connected to the second frame. Therefore, if only the first frame is pulled by a certain force, the connection with the second frame can be released, and thereby a thermal printer which does not require operation of a special latch member like one used in conventional examples, and offers easy operation can be provided.
  • the rotation shaft goes over the coming-out preventing parts to be positioned at the deep part of the supporting hollows, and in addition, the rotation shaft is prevented from coming out from the supporting hollows by pressure contact pressure due to the pressure contact of a thermal head with a platen roller, which does not require a special latch member as used in conventional examples, enabling reduction in cost.
  • the coming-out preventing parts are formed of a convex part that is formed projecting from a one guide face, and since the root part of the convex part is tapered, it is easy to attach and detach the rotation shaft to and from the supporting hollows.

Landscapes

  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
EP20030255951 2002-10-03 2003-09-23 Imprimante thermique Expired - Fee Related EP1405730B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2002291597A JP2004122646A (ja) 2002-10-03 2002-10-03 サーマルプリンタ
JP2002291597 2002-10-03
JP2002379559 2002-12-27
JP2002379559 2002-12-27

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1405730A1 true EP1405730A1 (fr) 2004-04-07
EP1405730B1 EP1405730B1 (fr) 2006-04-12

Family

ID=31996244

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20030255951 Expired - Fee Related EP1405730B1 (fr) 2002-10-03 2003-09-23 Imprimante thermique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1405730B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60304531T2 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107415493A (zh) * 2016-05-24 2017-12-01 富士通电子零件有限公司 打印机
EP3150387A4 (fr) * 2014-05-26 2018-01-31 Sato Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha Imprimante

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60247580A (ja) * 1984-05-22 1985-12-07 Eimaa Denshi Kk 感熱式情報記録装置のフレ−ム構造
JPH07256978A (ja) * 1994-03-25 1995-10-09 Sato:Kk サーマルプリンタ
US5546116A (en) * 1992-10-05 1996-08-13 Atlantek, Inc. Slidable media transport system for a single-pass multi-color thermal printer
FR2766411A1 (fr) * 1997-07-11 1999-01-29 Investix Sa Mecanisme d'impression thermique
WO1999064242A2 (fr) * 1998-06-08 1999-12-16 Primera Technology, Inc. Disque compact et imprimante a transfert thermique pour disque compact enregistrable
WO2000032404A1 (fr) * 1998-12-02 2000-06-08 Societe A.P.S. Engineering S.A.R.L. Dispositif d'impression thermique a fermeture facile
EP1338424A1 (fr) * 2002-02-21 2003-08-27 SII P & S Inc. Imprimante thermique

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60247580A (ja) * 1984-05-22 1985-12-07 Eimaa Denshi Kk 感熱式情報記録装置のフレ−ム構造
US5546116A (en) * 1992-10-05 1996-08-13 Atlantek, Inc. Slidable media transport system for a single-pass multi-color thermal printer
JPH07256978A (ja) * 1994-03-25 1995-10-09 Sato:Kk サーマルプリンタ
FR2766411A1 (fr) * 1997-07-11 1999-01-29 Investix Sa Mecanisme d'impression thermique
WO1999064242A2 (fr) * 1998-06-08 1999-12-16 Primera Technology, Inc. Disque compact et imprimante a transfert thermique pour disque compact enregistrable
WO2000032404A1 (fr) * 1998-12-02 2000-06-08 Societe A.P.S. Engineering S.A.R.L. Dispositif d'impression thermique a fermeture facile
EP1338424A1 (fr) * 2002-02-21 2003-08-27 SII P & S Inc. Imprimante thermique

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 010, no. 118 (M - 475) 2 May 1986 (1986-05-02) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1996, no. 02 29 February 1996 (1996-02-29) *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3150387A4 (fr) * 2014-05-26 2018-01-31 Sato Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha Imprimante
CN107415493A (zh) * 2016-05-24 2017-12-01 富士通电子零件有限公司 打印机
EP3251861A1 (fr) * 2016-05-24 2017-12-06 Fujitsu Component Limited Imprimante
US10059127B2 (en) 2016-05-24 2018-08-28 Fujitsu Component Limited Printer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1405730B1 (fr) 2006-04-12
DE60304531T2 (de) 2006-12-07
DE60304531D1 (de) 2006-05-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5248207A (en) Thermal printer provided with detachable head unit having built-in thermal head unit
EP1184190B1 (fr) Imprimante installable sur un espace réduit
US20090046136A1 (en) Printer cartridge unifying thermal ribbon and transfer medium and thermal transfer printer employing the same
US20100143018A1 (en) Printer with cutter
JP4492125B2 (ja) ロールシートホルダ及びテープ印刷装置
US20100119280A1 (en) Label printer
EP3272546B1 (fr) Cartouche de bande
KR100857408B1 (ko) 프린터
KR19990014291A (ko) 테이프 카트리지 및 테이프 인쇄 장치
EP0593134B1 (fr) Dispositif d'alimentation en papier pour une imprimante
US20050051011A1 (en) Cutting device for recording medium and recording apparatus incorporating the same
JP4560699B2 (ja) プリンター
EP1405730A1 (fr) Imprimante thermique
JPS62187060A (ja) 熱転写プリンタ
EP1881901B1 (fr) Cartouche d' imprimante unissant un ruban thermique et support de transfert et imprimante a transfert thermique utilisant cette cartouche
JP2004230802A (ja) 記録装置
JPH09277679A (ja) テープ印刷装置
US20200171858A1 (en) Cutting head-including printer
JP2006297682A (ja) 印画位置決め機構及びプリンタ
JP2004122646A (ja) サーマルプリンタ
JP3858478B2 (ja) ロール紙用プリンタ
JP2003089257A (ja) 熱転写プリンタ
JP4334810B2 (ja) 熱転写記録媒体用複合カートリッジ及びそれを用いた熱転写プリンター
JP3348618B2 (ja) ラベルプリンタ
JP2001080148A (ja) インクリボン用カセット

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

Kind code of ref document: A1

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 RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20040315

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20040803

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

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 GB

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60304531

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20060524

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: 20070115

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20110531

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: 20100930

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20090916

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20110826

Year of fee payment: 9

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20120923

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

Ref country code: GB

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

Effective date: 20120923

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 60304531

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: SCHMITT-NILSON SCHRAUD WAIBEL WOHLFROM PATENTA, DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 60304531

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: SCHMITT-NILSON SCHRAUD WAIBEL WOHLFROM PATENTA, DE

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 60304531

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD., JP

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD., TOKIO/TOKYO, JP

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20190918

Year of fee payment: 17

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 60304531

Country of ref document: DE

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: 20210401