JP2009132144A - Thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal printer in which a better-quality printed result is obtained when a thermal head having high resolution is used. <P>SOLUTION: An attitude of the thermal head 111 in which an exothermic resistor 113 is formed on a glaze layer 114 is displaced by a predetermined standard attitude when the glaze layer 114 is abutted on a platen 121 and a tilted attitude when a vertical distance from a position of the glaze layer 114 of the thermal head 111 on the upstream side in the conveying direction of a form to a horizontal plane passing the axial center of the platen 121 is parted from the vertical distance in the standard attitude. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal printer that directly prints on thermal paper using a thermal head or transfers and prints on a receiving paper using ink of a thermal transfer ink ribbon.

  Conventionally, thermal printers are widely used as label printers. The thermal printer uses a thermal head to selectively apply heat to the thermal paper and directly develops color, and the thermal head applies predetermined thermal energy to the thermal transfer ink ribbon to thermally transfer the ink on the thermal transfer ink ribbon to the receiving paper. There is a transfer method to do. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151561 discloses a technique that enables various thermal heads to be mounted on one printer.

  There are also several types of receiving paper and thermal transfer ink ribbon used in thermal transfer printers. For example, the receiving paper includes general high-quality paper, rough paper, and coated paper, and further includes water-resistant synthetic paper, PET, and PP. In addition, as a thermal transfer ink ribbon, a wax ink ribbon mainly composed of wax, a semi-resin ribbon of a mixed system of a wax and a resin with improved weather resistance, storage stability, etc., a scratch-resistant, solvent-resistant resin ribbon Etc.

  These are appropriately combined depending on the purpose of use. For example, when an inexpensive printed matter is desired, a 200 dpi thermal head is used in combination with an inexpensive wax ink ribbon and a general-purpose high-quality paper system. When a certain degree of scratch resistance is required, a wax resin ribbon is used in combination with a coated paper. In this case, the resolution is about 300 dpi because it is disliked to be in an indecipherable state where the printing is rubbed. Furthermore, when a minimum size is required together with scratch resistance, synthetic resin or the like is used in combination with a resin ribbon, and a resolution of about 600 dpi is required.

JP 2003-334985 A

  By the way, as the resolution of the thermal head increases, the shape of the glaze layer decreases and the length of the heating resistor also decreases. For this reason, the contact state between the heating resistor of the thermal head and the platen tends to be deteriorated, and it tends to be difficult to obtain a high-quality printing result. Conventionally, the print image quality is optimized by adjusting the position of the thermal head in the horizontal direction. However, such position adjustment does not provide a sufficient effect.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a higher-quality printing result when a thermal head having a high resolution is used.

  The thermal printer of the present invention includes a thermal head in which a heating resistor is formed on a glaze layer, a platen that is opposed to the glaze layer and guides paper between the glaze layer, and the thermal head. A predetermined reference posture in which the glaze layer contacts the platen, and a vertical distance between a portion of the thermal head upstream of the glaze layer in the paper conveyance direction and a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the platen in the reference posture. And a displacement mechanism for displacing the glaze layer to an inclined posture in contact with the platen.

  According to the present invention, since the contact state between the heating resistor formed on the glaze layer and the platen becomes good, even a thermal head with high resolution can obtain a higher quality printing result.

  First, the basic concept of the present invention will be described for a thermal transfer printer. The concept is the same as that of the direct coloring method using thermal paper.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the thermal head TH and the platen PL. A glaze layer GL mainly composed of silicon dioxide is formed on the substrate portion of the thermal head TH. A heating resistor HE is formed on the surface of the glaze layer GL. The ink of the thermal transfer ink ribbon RI is transferred to the receiving paper RE by the heat generation of the heating resistor HE.

When the receiving paper RE is transported at 6 inches / sec and printing is performed with the thermal head TH, the time for printing one line is:
Thermal head resolution 1 line printing time
200 dpi 0.83 msec
300 dpi 0.56 msec
600 dpi 0.28 msec
It becomes.

  That is, as the resolution of the thermal head TH becomes higher, the time for printing one line becomes shorter. Therefore, the thermal response of the thermal head TH needs to be faster as the resolution becomes higher. In order to increase the thermal response of the thermal head TH, it is necessary to reduce the height and width of the glaze layer GL of the thermal head TH.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the thermal head TH. FIG. 7 shows 200 dpi, 300 dpi, and 600 dpi thermal heads TH. As shown in FIG. 7, the length of the heating resistor HE of the thermal head TH varies depending on the resolution, and the glaze layer GL width also varies.

An example of the specification of the thermal head TH is as follows:
Thermal head Glaze layer Glaze layer Glaze layer Heating resistor Print cycle Resolution Width Height Curvature Length
(Μm) (μm) r (mm) (μm) (msec)
200 dpi 1000 40 3.1 132 0.83
300 dpi 700 25 2.5 110 0.56
600 dpi 500 25 1.3 70 0.28
It becomes.

  Next, the contact nip width with the platen PL when the thermal head TH was used was measured. The measurement was performed by applying ink to the surface of the glaze layer GL, transporting high-quality paper as the receiving paper RE, and measuring the scraping amount.

The result is
Thermal head Nip width Margin on one side Resolution (μm) (μm)
200 dpi 370 119
300 dpi 267 79
600 dpi 168 49
It became.

  Here, “the margin on one side” indicates the length per side obtained by subtracting the length of the heating resistor HE from the nip width (that is, the margin on one side = (nip width−heating resistor length) / 2). .

  From the above results, it can be seen that as the resolution increases, the contact with the thermal head TH becomes stricter, and the contact relationship with the platen PL has to be stricter.

  Next, the first test for evaluating the print image quality was performed by replacing the thermal head TH having the three types of resolution shown in FIG. 7 with one thermal transfer printer.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the first test state. Change the thermal head TH from the adjustment position where the print image quality is the highest point by 0.1 mm in the plus direction (left direction in FIG. 8) and the minus direction (right direction in FIG. 8). The print image quality was evaluated on a scale of 100. The evaluation results are shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a graph showing the evaluation results of the first test. From the graph shown in FIG. 9, when the resolution of the thermal head TH is higher and the width of the glaze layer GL is smaller (the curvature is smaller), the margin due to the positional change of the thermal head TH becomes narrower, and the positions in the plus and minus directions It turns out that adjustment becomes difficult.

  Further, it can be seen from the graph shown in FIG. 9 that there is a print image quality margin when the thermal head TH is slightly adjusted in the minus direction (right direction in FIG. 8) with respect to the position of the platen PL.

  From the above, even in the same single thermal transfer printer (that is, when the diameter of the platen PL, the hardness of the platen PL, and the pressing force of the thermal head TH are the same), the glaze layer GL of the thermal head TH to be mounted It can be seen that when the width, the height of the glaze layer GL, and the length of the heating resistor HE are different, the nip width is changed, and the position where the print image quality is suitable also changes.

  Next, the thermal head TH was mounted on a single thermal transfer printer while being displaced in a direction other than the horizontal direction, and a second test for print image quality evaluation was performed.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the second test state. In FIG. 10, the receiving paper RE and the thermal transfer ink ribbon RI are omitted.

  In the second test, first, the posture of the thermal head TH where the glaze layer GL contacts the platen PL is set as a reference posture, and the thermal head TH is inclined from the reference posture in the paper discharge direction (inclined posture). It was performed by evaluating. That is, the inclined posture is a posture in which the glaze layer GL is in contact with the platen PL, and further passes through a predetermined portion upstream of the glaze layer GL of the thermal head TH in the paper transport direction and the axis of the platen PL. This is a posture in which the vertical distance from the horizontal plane is longer than this distance in the reference posture.

  In the second test, a horizontal reference surface passing through the thermal head TH in the reference posture is set, and the angle formed by the reference surface in the reference posture and the reference surface in the inclined posture is 0 degree, 1 Degrees, 2 degrees and 3 degrees were performed. Hereinafter, this angle may be referred to as a head angle. A head angle = 0 degree indicates a reference posture.

  In the second test, the print image quality of the combinations “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” of the predetermined thermal transfer ink ribbon RI and the receiving paper RE was evaluated at each head angle. The evaluation results are shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a graph showing the evaluation results of the second test. From the graph shown in FIG. 11, it can be seen that the best print image quality was obtained with the head angle in the range of 1 to 2 degrees for any combination.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 11, in the combination of “D” whose print image quality is inferior to that of other combinations (“A”, “B”, “C”), the angle of the thermal head TH is around 2 degrees, and the printing is remarkable. It can be seen that the image quality has been improved.

  From the above, it can be seen that depending on the type of thermal head TH, the print image quality may be better when the head angle is set.

  FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view showing the thermal head TH and the platen PL with a head angle. Note that the thermal transfer ink ribbon RI is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the platen PL that rotates to convey the receiving paper RE is pressed through the receiving paper RE by the glaze layer GL of the thermal head TH. Thereby, the platen PL rises at the contact start portion with the glaze layer GL (the raised portion PLa), and inclines according to the shape of the glaze layer GL (the inclined portion PLb), and is further pressed by the discharged receiving paper RE. It is thought that it is flat (flat portion PLc).

  In such a state where the head angle is set, the glaze layer GL is considered to be in contact with the inclined portion PLb of the platen PL so as to bite. Thereby, it is considered that the contact state between the heating resistor HE and the platen PL is improved, and the printing image quality is improved.

  The present invention is based on the above findings. Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a thermal transfer printer 101. In the thermal transfer printer 101, the thermal transfer ink ribbon 131 and the receiving paper 141 are conveyed and guided between the thermal head 111 held by the bracket 112 constituting the head holding portion and the platen 121 held rotatably. The The thermal head 111 has a glaze layer 114 in which a heating resistor 113 is formed at the apex. The glaze layer 114 and the platen 121 are disposed to face each other. The thermal head 111 is pressed toward the platen 121 by the urging member 117 together with the bracket 112.

  The receiving paper 141 is conveyed by receiving power from the receiving paper roll 142 formed by winding the receiving paper by the receiving paper supply roller 143 and the platen 121.

  The thermal transfer ink ribbon 131 is conveyed on the platen 121 at the same speed as the receiving paper 141 by receiving a conveying force from the ink ribbon roller 132 formed by winding the ink ribbon by the ink ribbon guide roller 133. As will be described later, the thermal transfer ink ribbon 131 is thermally transferred to the receiving paper 141, and then wound around the ink ribbon winding roller 134 and collected.

  When the thermal head 111 is energized and the heating resistor 113 generates heat, thermal energy is applied from the thermal head 111 to the thermal transfer ink ribbon 131, and the ink of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 131 is transferred to the receiving paper 141. Printing is performed in this way. The receiving paper 141 to which the ink has been thermally transferred is cut into a predetermined length by a cutting mechanism (not shown) and discharged as a printed matter.

  FIG. 2 is a side view showing the thermal head 111 and the bracket 112 according to the first embodiment. The thermal head 111 is fixed to the bracket 112 by screws 115. As shown in FIG. 2, a shaft 151 parallel to the axis of the platen 121 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) is provided at the upstream end of the bracket 112 to which the thermal head 111 is fixed in the paper discharge direction. Is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the bracket 112. A pair of rotating bodies 152 having a rounded rectangular shape are fixed to both ends of the shaft 151. In FIG. 2, only one of the rotating bodies 152 provided at both ends of the shaft 151 is shown (the same applies to FIGS. 3 and 4).

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing a change state of the head angle in the first embodiment. A rotating body holding portion 153 for holding the rotating body 152 at a predetermined rotation position is disposed at the position of the upstream end portion of the bracket 112 in the paper discharge direction. The rotating body holding portions 153 are provided in pairs at positions corresponding to the rotating bodies 152 provided in pairs at both ends of the shaft 151. In FIG. 3, only one of the rotating body holding portions 153 is shown.

  An upper groove 154 having a length in the longitudinal direction of the rotating body 152 is formed on the upper surface of the rotating body holding portion 153. A lower groove 155 is formed at a position below the upper groove 154 in the rotating body holding portion 153 so as to be continuous with the upper groove 154. The length of the lower groove 155 is shorter than that of the upper groove 154, and the length of the rotating body 152 is short.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3A, the rotating body 152 is fitted in the lower groove 155 of the rotating body holding portion 153 in a standing state (a state in which the longitudinal direction is vertical) and is held in position. . At this time, the thermal head 111 is in the reference posture, and the head angle is 0 degree.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, the rotating body 152 is fitted and held in the upper groove 154 of the rotating body holding portion 153 in a laid state (a state in which the longitudinal direction is horizontal). Since the lower groove 155 is narrower than the upper groove 154, the rotating body 152 does not fall into the lower groove 155 when fitted in the upper groove 154.

  Here, the distance D between the shaft center 151a that is the center of the shaft 151 and the cam holding portion bottom surface 153a that is the bottom surface of the rotating body holding portion 153 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3B, the distance D (distance Db) in a state where the rotating body 152 is fitted in the upper groove 154 is the same as that shown in FIG. 3A. It is longer than the distance D (distance Da) in the state fitted in the lower groove 155.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, when the rotating body 152 is held in the upper groove 154 of the rotating body holding portion 153, the tip position of the bracket 112 (thermal head 111) is the same. Since the distance D becomes longer (distance Da <distance Db), the position of the shaft center 151a is raised. As a result, the thermal head 111 assumes an inclined posture. Thus, the head angle is set on the thermal head 111.

  At this time, the head angle in the state shown in FIG. 3B is not less than 1 degree and not more than 2 degrees. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a high-quality printing result.

  According to the first embodiment, when the print result when the head angle is set is not good, the head angle can be returned to 0 degrees. That is, in this embodiment, a head angle suitable for printing can be selected.

  Conventionally, the thermal transfer printer 101 has been developed for each product request. That is, the thermal transfer printer 101 has been mass-produced through trial production, evaluation, and mass production trial production according to the combination of the resolution of the receiving paper 141, the thermal transfer ink ribbon 131, and the thermal head 111 requested by the user. When the specifications of the thermal transfer printer 101 are different, the thermal transfer printer 101 corresponding to the specifications has been developed from scratch. For this reason, the development period was prolonged, the development cost was increased, and the product price was increased.

  However, according to the first embodiment, the head angle of the thermal head 111 mounted on the thermal transfer printer 101 can be set to an angle at which a good printing result can be obtained. The thermal transfer printer 101 can be developed by sharing these parts. Thereby, the development period of the thermal transfer printer 101 can be shortened, or the development cost can be greatly reduced.

  Since the applied energy differs depending on the type of the thermal head 111, it is necessary for the thermal transfer printer 101 to recognize what resolution the thermal head 111 is mounted on. As a means for recognizing such a thermal head 111, for example, the connector pin is for 2-pin recognition, when both pins 1 and 2 are GND connected, 200 dpi, when pin 1 is GND connected and pin 2 is open, 300 dpi, If pin 1 is open and pin 2 is connected to GND, 600 dpi is set. Thereby, the control unit of the thermal transfer printer 101 can recognize the type of the mounted thermal head 111.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a side view showing the thermal head 111 and the bracket 112 of the second embodiment. The same parts as those of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is also omitted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a head mounting surface member 116 having a thickness can be attached to a surface of the bracket 112 to which the thermal head 111 is mounted (hereinafter referred to as a head mounting surface 112a). . Here, the head mounting surface 112a is formed with a recess 112b, and the head mounting surface member 116 is integrally provided with a convex portion 116a that fits into the recess 112b. And the convex part 116a of the head attachment surface member 116 is press-fitted into the concave part 112b of the head attachment surface 112a, whereby the head attachment surface member 116 is attached to the head attachment surface 112a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, with the head attachment surface member 116 attached to the head attachment surface 112a, the thermal head 111 is further fixed by the screws 115 and held by the bracket 112, whereby the thermal of the present embodiment. The head 111 is in a state with a head angle. The head angle in the state shown in FIG. 4 is not less than 1 degree and not more than 2 degrees. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a high-quality printing result.

  In the second embodiment, a plurality of types of head angles can be obtained by attaching different head attachment surface members 116 having different thicknesses to the head attachment surface 112a.

  In the second embodiment, the head angle can be returned to 0 degrees when the printing result when the head angle is set is not good. In this case, the head mounting surface member 116 is removed from the bracket 112, and the entire surface on the head mounting surface 112a side of the thermal head 111 is brought into contact with the head mounting surface 112a and fixed by the screws 115. That is, in the present embodiment, a suitable head angle can be selected.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a side view showing the thermal head 111 and the bracket 112 according to the third embodiment. The same parts as those of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and the second embodiment described with reference to FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is also omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the head mounting surface 112 a is inclined in the paper discharge direction with respect to a horizontal line passing through the center of the platen 121. This inclination is not less than 1 degree and not more than 2 degrees. Then, the thermal head 111 is held at the head angle by holding the thermal head 111 on the bracket 112 of the present embodiment. At this time, the head angle is not less than 1 degree and not more than 2 degrees. As a result, a good print result can be obtained also in the present embodiment.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a side view showing the fourth embodiment. The fourth embodiment optimizes not only the attitude of the thermal head 111 but also the positional relationship of the thermal head 111 and the platen 121 in the paper conveyance direction, as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 3 and the like). Is. As described above, it is possible to obtain a good print result by inclining the angle of the thermal head 111 by 1 to 2 degrees.

  FIG. 13A shows a case where the inclination angle of the thermal head 111 is 0 ° and tag paper (when receiving paper or thermal paper is tag paper) is used. When the inclination angle is 0 °, the rotating body 152 is elongated and set in the lower groove 155 of the rotating body holding portion 153 as described above, and the heating resistor 113 (not shown in FIG. 13) is connected to the platen. 121 is located at the center position.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 13B, in order to obtain a high-quality print result, the rotating body 152 is set horizontally and set in the upper groove 154 of the rotating body holding portion 153. Then, the inclination angle of the thermal head 111 is set to 2 °. Here, the upper groove 154 is provided so that the position of the shaft 151 is shifted in the paper discharge direction by a distance Δy. When the position of the shaft 151 is shifted in the paper discharge direction by the distance Δy, the position of the heating resistor 113 is shifted by the distance Δy1 with respect to the center of the platen 121. When tag paper (IS160) manufactured by Osaka Sealing Printing Co., Ltd. is used, a relatively good printing result is obtained when the shift distance Δy1 of the heating resistor 113 is about 0 mm to 0.4 mm, and about 0.25 mm is optimal. Met. This value also depends on the inclination angle of the thermal head 111. For example, when the inclination angle is 1 °, the shift distance Δy1 of the heating resistor 113 is preferably about −0.1 to +0.3 mm, and more preferably about 0.1 mm. When the inclination angle was 0 °, about ± 0.2 mm was good, and 0 mm was more preferable. Then, the shift distance Δy of the shaft 151 may be set to a value that becomes such a shift distance Δy1 of the heating resistor 113.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment. Based on FIG. 14, a case where the rotating body 152 is set in the upper groove 154 and a case where the rotating body 152 is set in the lower groove 155 will be described. Let R be the length from the shaft 151 to the heating resistor 113. In addition, an angle formed by a line connecting the shaft 151 and the heating resistor 113 with respect to a tangent of the platen 121 with the heating resistor 113 as a contact is defined as θ. Further, the inclination angle of the thermal head 111 when the rotating body 152 is horizontally long is set to 2 °. If the position where the heating resistor 113 hits the platen 121 is unchanged, the shift of the shaft 151 in the Y direction (see FIG. 13) is required by a distance Δy = R (cos θ−cos (θ + 2 °)). As described above, when tag paper is used, since the printing result is good when the shift distance Δy1 of the heating resistor 113 is about 0 mm to 0.4 mm, the shaft 151 is shifted by the distance Δy. In addition, an upper groove 154 is provided so as to be positioned at a position shifted by a predetermined distance (distance α) in the paper discharge direction. Specifically, it was optimum when the distance α was +0.25 mm. When using a label, unlike the case where tag paper is used, the distance α is preferably in the range of −0.3 mm to +0.1 mm, more preferably in the vicinity of 0 mm. The distance α at which the printing result is good is changed according to the pressure and angle of the thermal head 111. The same applies to both thermal transfer and thermal paper.

It is sectional drawing which shows a thermal transfer printer schematically. It is a side view which shows the thermal head and bracket of 1st Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the change state of the head angle in 1st Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the thermal head and bracket of 2nd Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the thermal head and bracket of 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between a thermal head and a platen. It is a schematic diagram which shows a thermal head schematically. It is a schematic diagram which shows a 1st test state. It is a graph which shows the evaluation result of a 1st test. It is a schematic diagram which shows a 2nd test state. It is a graph which shows the evaluation result of a 2nd test. It is a side view which expands and shows the thermal head and platen in the state where the head angle was attached. It is a side view which shows 4th Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram explaining 4th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Thermal transfer printer, 112 ... Bracket (head holding part), 112a ... Head mounting surface, 113 ... Heat generating resistor (heat generating resistor), 114 ... Glaze layer, 116 ... Head mounting surface member, 121 ... Platen, 131 ... Thermal transfer Ink ribbon, 141... Receiving paper (paper), 151... Shaft, 152 .. rotating body, 153... Rotating body holding portion, 154.

Claims (6)

A thermal head in which a heating resistor is formed on the glaze layer;
A platen disposed opposite to the glaze layer and guided between the glaze layer and a sheet;
A vertical distance between a predetermined reference posture in which the glaze layer abuts the platen and a portion of the thermal head upstream of the glaze layer in the paper transport direction and a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the platen. A displacement mechanism that displaces the glaze layer in an inclined posture in contact with the platen away from the distance in the reference posture;
Thermal printer equipped with. The displacement mechanism is
A surface of the thermal head opposite to the glaze layer is attached to make the thermal head the reference posture, and between the thermal head attached to the head attachment surface and the head attachment surface. A head mounting surface member sandwiched between the thermal heads to place the thermal head in the inclined posture.
The thermal printer according to claim 1. The displacement mechanism is
A shaft parallel to the platen provided at a position upstream of the glaze layer of the thermal head in the paper conveyance direction;
An adjustment mechanism that selectively holds the shaft at a height at which the thermal head is in the reference posture and a height at which the thermal head is in the inclined posture;
A thermal printer according to claim 1. The adjusting mechanism is
A rotating body long in one direction provided on the shaft;
A lower groove in which the lower end portion of the rotating body in a state where the longitudinal direction is set to the vertical direction is fitted and the thermal head is set in the reference posture, and a state in which the longitudinal direction is horizontally formed continuously with the lower groove A rotating body holding part having an upper groove into which the rotating body is fitted to make the thermal head in the inclined posture;
A thermal printer according to claim 3. The adjusting mechanism is
A rotating body provided on the shaft;
A rotating body holding unit that holds the rotating body such that a sheet conveyance direction positional relationship between the platen and the thermal head is guided to a specific position according to the attitude of the thermal head;
A thermal printer according to claim 3. The angle formed by the horizontal reference surface when the thermal head is in the reference posture through the thermal head and the reference surface when the thermal head is in the inclined posture is not less than 1 degree and not more than 2 degrees.
The thermal printer as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5.

Images