JP2019177604A - Head control circuit board, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a head control circuit board which enables easy displacement of a thermal head, and a printer.SOLUTION: A thermal head 3 comprises a first board 31 in which plural heating elements 32 located in a cross direction are provided on a second surface, and a second board 34 which is connected to an end of the first board 31 in a fourth direction and controls the heating elements 32. The thermal head 3 comprises: a heat sink 33 which is connected to a first surface in a second direction of the first board 31 and the second board 34; and a connector 35 for an FPC cable which is provided on the other surface of the second board 34, has a first contact for connecting the FPC cable which is detachably connected in the fourth direction. Thus, the thermal head 3 can be easily replaced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a head control circuit board and a printing apparatus.

  A printing apparatus equipped with a thermal head is known. For example, in the thermal head of the conventional printing apparatus shown in Patent Document 1, a plug connector is provided on the upper surface of the substrate so as to rise in a direction perpendicular to the surface opposite to the surface on which the heater is disposed. Moreover, in the thermal head of the printing apparatus shown in Patent Document 1, a plug connector is provided on the end surface opposite to the end surface of the thermal head on the side where the heater is disposed. The plug connector is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate so as to protrude in the direction of the opposite end surface from the end surface of the thermal head on the side where the heater is disposed.

JP 2004-181898 A

  In a printing apparatus, the thermal head needs to be replaced as a consumable part due to problems such as scratch resistance and pulse resistance. In order to quickly replace the thermal head, it is conceivable to replace it without removing the printing apparatus. Generally, an opening for projecting the thermal head from the printing apparatus is provided at the lower part of the printing apparatus. Therefore, it is considered preferable to replace the thermal head from the lower opening because it is not necessary to remove the cover of the printing apparatus.

  In the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when replacing the thermal head, as described above, it is conceivable that the thermal head is replaced through the lower opening of the printing apparatus. However, the conventional thermal head plug connector is provided on the upper surface of the thermal head substrate in any case. Therefore, it is not easy for an operator to access the plug connector through the lower opening and remove the socket. Therefore, the operator took a long time to replace the thermal head. That is, there is a problem that the thermal head cannot be easily replaced.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a head control circuit board and a printing apparatus that facilitate replacement of a thermal head.

  The head control circuit board according to the first aspect of the present invention has one surface facing the first direction and the other surface facing the second direction opposite to the first direction, and is orthogonal to the first direction. A first substrate provided with a plurality of heating elements arranged in the first arrangement direction on the other surface, and a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the first arrangement direction, at the end of the first substrate A second substrate connected and having one surface facing the first direction and the other surface facing the second direction, for controlling the heating element; and the one surface of the first substrate And a heat sink connected to the one surface of the second substrate, and an FPC (Flexible) provided on the other surface of the second substrate and detachably connected in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction. Printed Circuits) FPC cable with first contact for connecting cables And a connector for a cable.

  Since the FPC cable connector is mounted on the surface in the second direction of the second substrate, the FPC cable connector is mounted on the surface in the same direction as the surface of the first substrate on which the heating element is disposed. . That is, the FPC cable connector is in the direction of the lower opening provided for the printing apparatus to print on the print medium. Therefore, if the FPC cable connector is arranged in the first direction with respect to the opening, the operator can easily access the FPC cable connector from the opening and easily replace the thermal head.

  An end of the FPC cable connector in the third direction may be located in the fourth direction rather than a central position in the third direction and the fourth direction of the second substrate. The end of the FPC cable connector in the third direction is located closer to the end of the second board in the fourth direction. Therefore, since it is not necessary to turn the hand to the surface of the second substrate in the first direction, the operator can easily access the FPC cable connector from the opening and easily replace the thermal head.

  The FPC cable may be further provided so as to be detachably connected to the FPC cable connector. Since the FPC cable is detachable, the operator can easily replace the thermal head.

  The FPC cable has a reinforcing material at one end, and when the one end of the FPC cable is connected to the FPC cable connector, the end of the reinforcing material in the fourth direction is the second substrate. You may position in the said 4th direction from the edge of a 4th direction. Since the reinforcing material protrudes from the end of the second substrate in the fourth direction, the FPC cable does not contact the end of the second substrate in the fourth direction. Therefore, the possibility that the FPC cable is disconnected can be reduced.

  The FPC cable has a second contact disposed on one surface of the FPC cable at one end of the FPC cable and a third contact disposed on the other surface of the FPC cable at the other end of the FPC cable. You may have. For example, the main circuit board of the printing apparatus is arranged in the first direction of the head control circuit board. The FPC cable connector of the main circuit board is mounted on the surface in the second direction of the main circuit board, and has a contact for connecting the FPC cable in the fourth direction. In this case, the FPC cable can be connected to the FPC cable connector on the main circuit board by bending the FPC cable without twisting. Therefore, the possibility that the FPC cable is disconnected can be reduced.

  The FPC cable further includes a reinforcing material at the other end, and a plurality of signal lines on the one surface from the one end to the other end of the FPC cable through through holes respectively corresponding to the signal lines. The second contact that extends on the other surface and exposes the plurality of signal lines at the one end of the FPC cable is connected to the FPC cable connector, and the through hole has a plurality of the plurality of the signal lines at the other end. It may be provided between the end in the direction of the second contact in the third contact where the signal line is exposed and the end in the direction of the second contact in the reinforcing member at the other end. Since the thermal head moves, a load due to bending is frequently applied between the FPC cable connector of the head control circuit board and the FPC cable. Since the main circuit board of the printing apparatus does not move, even if there is a through hole near the end of the FPC cable connected to the FPC cable connector of the main circuit board of the printing apparatus, the FPC cable is not easily broken.

  The fourth direction end of the FPC cable connector may be positioned in the third direction rather than the fourth direction end of the second substrate. Since the FPC cable connector does not protrude from the end of the second direction of the second board, the FPC cable connector comes into contact with other parts at the time of assembly or replacement as compared with the case where the FPC cable connector protrudes. Can reduce the possibility of breakage.

  The FPC cable connector is provided for transmitting a signal for controlling the heating element, and further includes a power connector for supplying power to the heating element, wherein the power connector is the one of the second substrates. A fourth contact for removably connecting the power cable in the fourth direction, a lead wire projecting on the other surface of the second substrate, and the other of the second substrate. And an insulating member that covers the lead wire protruding from the surface. Similar to the FPC cable connector, the power connector has a fourth contact for removably connecting the power connector in the fourth direction. Compared with the case where the fourth contact of the power connector is provided in a different direction from the FPC cable connector, the operator can easily access and remove the socket from the power connector and the FPC cable connector. Therefore, the operator can easily replace the thermal head.

  The fourth direction end of the fourth contact of the power connector may be located in the fourth direction rather than the fourth direction end of the second substrate. When removing the power socket from the power connector, a certain amount of force is required. Since the power connector protrudes from the end of the second substrate in the fourth direction, it is easy to grasp the power socket when removing the power socket. Therefore, the operator can easily remove the power socket and easily replace the thermal head.

  The FPC cable connector is disposed in the first arrangement direction between a center of the second board in the first arrangement direction and one end of the second board in the first arrangement direction, and the power connector May be arranged in the first arrangement direction between the center of the second substrate in the first arrangement direction and the other end of the second substrate in the first arrangement direction. By moving the power connector away from the FPC cable connector, it is possible to reduce the possibility that noise is mixed in the signal of the signal line of the FPC cable connector.

  A printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a housing having an opening at the end in the second direction, a head control circuit board disposed in the first direction with respect to the opening, and the head control circuit board. The main circuit board is connected, and a ribbon transport motor for transporting the ribbon driven by the main circuit board. The same effect as the head control circuit board in the first aspect is obtained.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus 1 when the head holding direction is rightward. It is a back view of a head control circuit board. It is a surface view of a head control circuit board. (A)-(D) are the figures for demonstrating the FPC cable 5. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the back surface of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. This is a modification of the FPC cable 5.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the upper, lower, lower right, upper left, lower left, and upper right in FIG. 1 are the upper, lower, right, left, front, and rear of the printing apparatus 1, respectively.

  A printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a thermal transfer type printing apparatus. The printing apparatus 1 is driven in synchronization with a print medium transport apparatus (not shown). The print medium transport device transports a long print medium (not shown) in the left-right direction at a predetermined transport speed. As an example, the print medium is a tube-shaped packaging material serving as a bag for storing food. As an example, the printing apparatus 1 prints a character string representing the expiration date on a print medium at a predetermined interval.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes a base 2, a thermal head 3, a head holding member 4, a ball lock mechanism (not shown), a main circuit board 41, and the like. The base 2 and the thermal head 3 will be described later. The head holding member 4 is supported by the base 2 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction intersecting the front-rear direction. The ball lock mechanism is provided on the thermal head 3 or the head holding member 4, and is coupled to the head holding member 4 so that the thermal head 3 can be removed and slidable in the left-right direction intersecting the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. To do. The ball lock mechanism of this example is fixed to the head holding member 4. The printing apparatus 1 further includes a ribbon transport mechanism 20, a moving assembly 30, and a moving mechanism (not shown). The ribbon transport mechanism 20 holds the ink ribbon 9 and transports the ink ribbon 9 in a predetermined transport direction. The moving assembly 30 moves the head holding member 4 in the vertical direction. The moving assembly 30 moves the thermal head 3 in the vertical direction by moving the head holding member 4 in the vertical direction. The upper position of the thermal head 3 is a standby position, and the lower position is a printing position. The moving mechanism moves the head holding member 4 in the left-right direction.

<Base 2>
The base 2 is a member that supports various components included in the printing apparatus 1 including the thermal head 3 and the head holding member 4. The base 2 of this example is formed of a rectangular metal plate. The printing apparatus 1 includes a cover 11. The cover 11 has a box shape covering the back surface of the base 2. The printing apparatus 1 includes a first pillar 12 and a second pillar 13. The first pillar 12 and the second pillar 13 have a plate shape extending in front of the front surface of the base 2. The first pillar 12 is connected to the right end of the base 2. The second pillar 13 is connected to the left end of the base 2. The first pillar 12 and the second pillar 13 are separated in the left-right direction and extend in parallel to each other. The upper ends of the first pillar 12 and the second pillar 13 are near the center of the base 2 in the vertical direction. The upper ends of the first pillar 12 and the second pillar 13 are above the upper ends of the holes 18 and 88. The lower ends of the first pillar 12 and the second pillar 13 are above the lower end of the base 2.

<Ribbon transport mechanism 20>
As shown in FIG. 1, the ribbon transport mechanism 20 of the printing apparatus 1 includes a first mounting unit 21, a second mounting unit 22, a first ribbon transport motor (not shown), a second ribbon transport motor (not shown), and Guide shafts 25 to 29 are provided. The first mounting part 21 and the second mounting part 22 are axes extending in the front-rear direction. The first mounting portion 21 and the second mounting portion 22 are rotatably supported on the front surface of the base 2. The first roll 211 of the ink ribbon 9 is detachably mounted on the first mounting portion 21 by inserting the first mounting portion 21 through the hole of the cylindrical core shaft 212. The second roll (not shown) is detachably mounted on the second mounting portion 22 by inserting a hole in a cylindrical core shaft (not shown) through the second mounting portion 22. That is, the first mounting portion 21 and the second mounting portion 22 are spindles that are rotatably held by the base 2.

  The ink ribbon 9 includes an ink layer and a base material and has a strip shape. The base material is made of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The ink layer includes, for example, a pigment component such as carbon and a binder component such as wax and / or resin. The ink ribbon 9 is conveyed below the thermal head 3 so that the ink layer faces the print medium. The ink layer is melted by heating and transferred to the print medium. The ink ribbon 9 may have functional layers such as a backcoat layer, a release layer, and an adhesive layer as necessary. One end of the ink ribbon 9 is connected to the side surface of the core shaft 212 of the first roll 211, and the other end is connected to the side surface of the core shaft of the second roll 211.

  The guide shafts 25 to 29 define the transport path P of the ink ribbon 9. Each of the guide shafts 25 to 29 has a cylindrical shape, and is, for example, a roller that can rotate around a rotation shaft extending in the front-rear direction. The guide shafts 25, 26, 28, and 29 extend forward from the front surface of the base 2, and a surface opposite to the ink layer of the ink ribbon 9 is in contact with a part of the peripheral surface of each of the guide shafts 25, 26, 28, and 29. The ink ribbon 9 is conveyed while being guided by the guide shafts 25 to 29. The guide shaft 25 is provided near the upper right corner of the base 2. The guide shaft 26 is provided near the lower right corner of the base 2. The guide shaft 27 is provided below the base 2 and slightly to the left of the center in the left-right direction. The guide shaft 28 is provided near the lower left corner of the base 2. The guide shaft 29 is provided near the upper left corner of the base 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the thermal head 3 is disposed at the standby position, the transport path P of the ink ribbon 9 extends from the first mounting portion 21 toward the upper right and changes its direction by contacting the guide shaft 25. , And extends downward toward the guide shaft 26. The conveyance path P between the guide shaft 25 and the guide shaft 26 is on the right side of the first pillar 12 and is separated from the first pillar 12. The conveyance path P changes its direction by contacting the guide shaft 26 and extends leftward toward the guide shaft 27. The conveyance path P contacts or approaches the lower end of the thermal head 3 and contacts or approaches the upper end of the guide shaft 27 between the guide shaft 26 and the guide shaft 28. The conveyance path P changes its direction by contacting the guide shaft 28, and extends upward toward the guide shaft 29. The conveyance path P between the guide shaft 28 and the guide shaft 29 is on the left side of the second pillar 13 and is separated from the second pillar 13. The conveyance path P changes its direction in contact with the guide shaft 29 and extends toward the lower right toward the second mounting portion 22. In response to the rotation of the first mounting portion 21 and the second mounting portion 22, the ink ribbon 9 moves between the guide shaft 26 and the guide shaft 28 in the left-right direction.

  Although not shown, the first ribbon transport motor and the second ribbon transport motor are provided on the back surface of the base 2. The first ribbon transport motor rotates the first mounting portion 21. The second ribbon transport motor rotates the second mounting portion 22. The first ribbon transport motor and the second ribbon transport motor are, for example, step motors capable of normal rotation and reverse rotation. The first mounting portion 21 is directly connected to the output shaft of the first ribbon transport motor. That is, the rotation shaft of the first mounting portion 21 is located on the same straight line as the output shaft of the first ribbon transport motor. The rotation amount of the first ribbon transport motor is equal to the rotation amount of the first mounting portion 21. The rotation shaft of the second mounting portion 22 is directly connected to the output shaft of the second ribbon transport motor. That is, the rotation shaft of the second mounting portion 22 is positioned on the same straight line as the output shaft of the second ribbon transport motor. The rotation amount of the second ribbon transport motor is equal to the rotation amount of the second mounting portion 22. Since the first mounting part 21 and the second mounting part 22 are rotated by different motors, they can be rotated at different rotational speeds.

<Thermal head 3>
As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal head 3 includes a first substrate 31 and a second substrate 34. The thermal head 3 is provided in front of the front surface of the base 2 in the front-rear direction. The thermal head 3 is provided below the first mounting portion 21 and the second mounting portion 22. The thermal head 3 has a plurality of heating elements 32 arranged in a straight line in the front-rear direction. The plurality of heating elements 32 are each configured by a heating resistor, for example. More specifically, the thermal head 3 has a configuration in which a lower corner portion of a ceramic plate-like first substrate 31 extending in the front-rear direction is chamfered, and a glaze layer and a heating element 32 are provided thereon. The plurality of heating elements 32 face the lower side of the thermal head 3 and are arranged along chamfered edge portions extending in the front-rear direction.

  A heat sink 33 is provided on the upper left surface of the first substrate 31. The heat sink 33 has a substantially plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The upper right end of the heat sink 33 is located on the upper right side from the upper right end of the first substrate 31. As an example, the heat sink 33 is made of metal such as aluminum having good heat transfer characteristics, and dissipates heat generated by the heating element 32.

The second substrate 34 controls the heating element 32. The second substrate 34 has a plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The second substrate 34 is provided on the upper right side from the upper right end of the first substrate 31, and the upper right end of the first substrate 31 and the lower left end of the second substrate 34 are bonded by, for example, an existing resin adhesive. Yes. The portion of the heat sink 33 that protrudes to the upper right from the upper right end of the first substrate 31 covers a part of the upper left surface of the second substrate 34 and is connected to the second substrate 34. The upper right end of the second substrate 34 is located on the upper right side from the upper right end of the heat sink 33. The second substrate 34 includes a power connector 36 ahead of the center in the front-rear direction. The power connector 36 is provided on the upper right side of the upper right end of the heat sink 33 provided on the upper left surface of the second substrate 34.

  The second substrate 34 includes an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) cable connector 35 (see FIG. 2) after the center in the front-rear direction. The FPC cable connector 35 is provided on a surface opposite to the surface of the second substrate 34 on which the power connector 36 is provided. That is, the FPC cable connector 35 is provided on the lower right surface of the second substrate 34.

  With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the thermal head 3 will be further described based on the direction shown in FIG. In addition, the near side and back direction of the paper surface of FIG. 2 are a downward direction and an upward direction, respectively. Hereinafter, the upward direction, the downward direction, the left direction, and the right direction are referred to as “first direction”, “second direction”, “third direction”, and “fourth direction”, respectively. The surface of the second substrate 34 is in the second direction of the thermal head 3, and the FPC cable connector 35 is disposed behind the surface of the second substrate 34. The end of the FPC cable connector 35 in the third direction is located in the fourth direction from the center line CL in the third direction and the fourth direction of the second substrate 34. The end of the FPC cable connector 35 in the fourth direction is located in the third direction from the end of the second substrate 34 in the fourth direction. That is, the fourth direction end of the FPC cable connector 35 does not protrude from the fourth direction end of the second substrate 34.

  The FPC cable connector 35 includes a base portion 351 and a fixing portion 352. The base 351 has a plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The base portion 351 has, at the front end and the rear end, rectangular convex portions 351A that are long in the third direction and the fourth direction, respectively. Each convex portion 351A extends from the end of the base portion 351 in the fourth direction to a substantially central position in the third direction and the fourth direction. The base 351 has a rectangular convex portion 351B elongated in the front-rear direction in the third direction from the approximate center in the third direction and the fourth direction. The end in the fourth direction of the convex portion 351B is connected to the end in the third direction of each convex portion 351A. A concave portion 351C is formed in the fourth direction of the base portion 351 by the convex portions 351A and the convex portions 351B. A plurality of signal lines 353 are exposed on the surface in the second direction of the recess 351C. That is, the concave portion 351C serves as a contact point with the FPC cable 5, and the FPC cable 5 can be connected to the contact point in the fourth direction. The lead wires 354 respectively corresponding to the signal lines 353 extend from the end of the base portion 351 in the third direction in the fourth direction and are connected to the second substrate 34.

  Two projecting portions 355 projecting in the second direction are provided on the surface in the second direction of the recess 351C. The protrusion 355 is a rectangular parallelepiped that is long in the third direction and the fourth direction. The protruding portion 355 extends in the third direction from the end of the concave portion 351C in the fourth direction. The protruding portion 355 is provided at a position a first distance from the front end of the recess 351C and a position a first distance from the rear end. The end in the third direction of the protruding portion 355 is not connected to the end in the fourth direction of the convex portion 351B. Accordingly, a recess 351D is formed between the protrusion 355 and the protrusion 351B.

  When each FPC cable 5 (see FIG. 4) described later is connected to the FPC cable connector 35, an engaging portion 551 of the FPC cable 5 is engaged with each recess 351D. The length in the second direction from the surface in the second direction of the recess 351C in the protrusion 355 is shorter than the length in the second direction from the surface in the second direction of the recess 351C in the protrusion 351A. The difference between the two substantially coincides with the lengths of the fixing portion 352 in the first direction and the second direction when the fixing portion 352 is closed. The surface in the second direction of the projecting portion 355 contacts the surface in the first direction of the fixing portion 352 in a state where the fixing portion 352 is closed.

  The fixing portion 352 is fixed to the substantially central portion of the base portion 351 in the third direction and the fourth direction so as to be opened and closed. For example, the fixing portion 352 is fixed by a hinge. The fixing portion 352 is provided in the fourth direction with respect to the approximate center of the base portion 351 in the third direction and the fourth direction. The fixed portion 352 has two protruding portions 356. The protrusions 356 are respectively provided at the left and right ends in the third direction on the surface in the first direction of the fixed part 352 in a state where the fixed part 352 is closed. The protruding portion 356 is fitted with the recessed portion 351D when the fixing portion 352 is closed. Thereby, the fixing | fixed part 352 maintains a closed state, unless it is opened by an operator. In the state where the fixing portion 352 is closed, the protruding portion 356 does not contact the surface in the second direction of the concave portion 351D, and a gap is formed. When the FPC cable 5 is connected to the FPC cable connector 35 in the gap, the engaging portion 551 of the FPC cable 5 is held.

  Here, the positional relationship between the thermal head 3 and the opening 60 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram of the inside of the printing apparatus 1 as viewed from the opening 60 provided in the lower part of the printing apparatus 1. The surface of the thermal head 3 in the second direction, that is, the surface of the second substrate 34 on which the FPC cable connector 35 is provided faces the opening 60. Further, the thermal head 3, that is, the second substrate 34 is positioned in the first direction with respect to the opening 60. Furthermore, there is no component part of the printing apparatus 1 that obstructs access from the opening 60 to the thermal head 3.

  The back surface of the second substrate 34 is in the first direction of the thermal head 3, and the power connector 36 is disposed in front of the back surface of the second substrate 34. The power connector 36 is a power connector for supplying power to each heating element 32. The power connector 36 includes a base 361, a connection part 362, a lead wire 363, a cover part 364, and the like. The fourth direction end of the power connector 36 is located in the fourth direction from the fourth direction end of the second substrate 34.

  The base 361 is a rectangular parallelepiped that is long in the front-rear direction, and is formed of resin as an example. The connection part 362 is composed of an even number of metal and cylindrical protrusions. The protrusions are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction, and extend from the fourth direction surface of the base 361 toward the fourth direction. The lengths of the protrusions in the third direction and the fourth direction are equal. In the present embodiment, there are eight protrusions.

  A lead wire 363 corresponding to the protrusion extends from the surface in the third direction of the base 361 in the third direction and is bent in the second direction. The lead wire 363 is inserted into a hole (not shown) provided in the second substrate 34 and protrudes from the surface of the second substrate 34. As an example, a portion of the lead wire 363 protruding from the surface of the second substrate 34 is subjected to insulation treatment with a resin 37 that is cured by ultraviolet rays. The portion of the lead wire 363 protruding from the surface of the second substrate 34 may be subjected to an insulation process using another insulating material or an insulating member such as an insulating seal.

  The cover portion 364 has a plate shape extending in the fourth direction from the end in the first direction on the surface of the base portion 361 in the fourth direction and elongated in the front-rear direction. The cover part 364 is formed of the same material as the base part 361. Therefore, the base 361 and the cover 364 can be manufactured with a single mold, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. When connecting the socket of the power cable (not shown) to the power connector 36, the cover portion 364 is easily connected by bringing the surface of the socket in the first direction into contact with the surface of the cover portion 364 in the second direction. To do. That is, the cover portion 364 serves as a guide member when the power cable is connected to the power connector 36.

<FPC cable 5>
The FPC cable 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4A, the front side of the page is the upper side, and the back direction is the lower side. In FIG. 4B, the front side of the page is the lower side, and the back direction is the upper side. In FIG. 4C, the front side of the page is the front and the back direction is the rear. In FIG. 4D, the front side of the page is the rear and the back direction is the front. The first to fourth directions defined in the description of the thermal head 3 also apply to the FPC cable 5. The FPC cable 5 has flexibility, and includes a base part 51, a plurality of signal lines 52, a through hole 53, a covering part 54, and a reinforcing member 55.

  The base material part 51 is formed by the polyimide resin as an example. The base material portion 51 has a plate shape that is long in the third direction and the fourth direction. As shown in FIG. 4C, the base material portion 51 is a central portion in the first direction and the second direction of the FPC cable 5. As shown in FIG. 4A, the plurality of signal lines 52 extend in the fourth direction from the end in the third direction on the surface in the first direction of the base member 51. As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the plurality of signal lines 52 extend to the end in the fourth direction on the surface in the second direction of the base portion 51 through the through hole 53.

  The plurality of signal lines 52 are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. The through hole 53 is provided in the fourth direction of the FPC cable 5. The odd-numbered through holes 53 from the front end of the FPC cable 5 are provided at a second distance in the third direction from the end of the FPC cable 5 in the fourth direction. The even-numbered through hole 53 from the front end of the FPC cable 5 is provided at a third distance position different from the second distance in the third direction from the fourth direction end of the FPC cable 5. Therefore, as compared with the case where the through holes 53 are provided in a straight line in the front-rear direction, more signal lines 52 can be efficiently arranged by the FPC cable 5 having the same width.

  The covering portion 54 covers the surfaces of the base portion 51 in which the signal lines 52 are arranged in the first direction and the second direction with resin. The covering portion 54 is, for example, a cover lay film having an adhesive surface. As shown in FIG. 4C, the covering portion 54 covers the first direction surface of the FPC cable 5 from the end in the fourth direction to the position in the fourth direction from the end in the third direction. The covering 54 covers the surface in the second direction of the FPC cable 5 from the end in the third direction to the position in the third direction from the end in the fourth direction. Therefore, the FPC cable 5 has the exposed portion 56 at the end in the third direction on the surface in the first direction and the exposed portion 57 at the end in the fourth direction on the surface in the second direction. The signal line 52 is exposed at the exposed portion 56 and the exposed portion 57, and contacts the signal line 353 of the FPC cable connector 35 when the FPC cable 5 is connected to the FPC cable connector 35.

  The reinforcing member 55 is provided on the surface of the covering portion 54 opposite to the surface of each exposed portion. That is, the reinforcing member 55 is provided on the surface in the second direction at the end in the third direction of the FPC cable 5 and on the surface in the first direction at the end in the fourth direction, respectively. The reinforcing member 55 is a member such as resin that does not have flexibility. The reinforcing member 55 has a plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The reinforcing member 55 has engaging portions 551 that protrude outward at the front end and the rear end, respectively.

  The engaging portion 551 has a substantially rectangular plate shape. As described above, when the FPC cable 5 is connected to the FPC cable connector 35, the engaging portion 551 engages with the recess 351D of the FPC cable connector 35. In a state where the FPC cable 5 is connected to the FPC cable connector 35 of the second board 34, the end in the fourth direction of the reinforcing member 55 in the direction connected to the FPC cable connector 35 of the second board 34 is the second board 34. It is located in the fourth direction from the end of the fourth direction.

  4A and 4B, the FPC cable 5 has a length in the front-rear direction in the third direction from the center in the third direction and the fourth direction of the FPC cable 5, and the front-rear direction in the fourth direction. Longer than FIG. 4D shows a connection mode of the FPC cable 5 to the FPC cable connector 35 and an FPC cable connector 42 described later. The end in the third direction of the FPC cable 5 having a longer length in the front-rear direction is connected to the FPC cable connector 35 of the thermal head 3. The length in the front-rear direction is shorter, that is, the end of the fourth direction of the FPC cable 5 in which the through hole 53 is provided is the main circuit board 41 (described later) arranged in the first direction from the thermal head 3. The FPC cable connector 42 is connected.

  Therefore, even if the control of the thermal head 3 becomes more complicated and more signal lines 52 are required, it can be dealt with by replacing only the main circuit board 41. In addition, since the end in the fourth direction of the FPC cable 5 provided with the through hole 53 is connected to the FPC cable connector 42 of the main circuit board 41 that does not move, the possibility that the signal line 52 is disconnected can be reduced. .

<Main circuit board 41>
The main circuit board 41 is a circuit board that controls the entire printing apparatus 1. The main circuit board 41 controls driving of the first ribbon transport motor and the second ribbon transport motor, for example. On the main circuit board 41, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), a storage device (not shown) such as ROM (Read Only Memory), an FPC cable connector 42, and the like are mounted.

  The main circuit board 41 will be further described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the FPC cable 5 and the power cable are omitted in order to prioritize the visibility. The front side of the paper surface of FIG. 5 is the lower side, and the back direction of the paper surface is the upper side. The main circuit board 41 will be described by applying the first direction to the fourth direction defined in describing the thermal head 3 in FIG.

  The main circuit board 41 is arranged in the first direction from the thermal head 3. The FPC cable connector 42 is provided on the surface of the main circuit board 41 in the second direction. The FPC cable connector 42 has a plate shape elongated in the front-rear direction. The fixing portion 44 of the FPC cable connector 42 is supported so as to be openable and closable at a substantially central position in the third direction and the fourth direction of the base portion 43. Similarly to the FPC cable connector 35, the fixing portion 44 is disposed at a position in the fourth direction of the FPC cable connector 42. That is, the FPC cable 5 can be connected to the contact of the FPC cable connector 42 in the fourth direction, like the FPC cable connector 35. . Since the detailed configuration of the FPC cable connector 42 is the same as that of the FPC cable connector 35 of the thermal head 3, the description thereof is omitted.

<Power supply side power supply connector 6>
The power connector 6 is a power connector on the power supply side that is connected to the power connector 36 via a power cable. As shown in FIG. 5, the power connector 6 is disposed in the first direction with respect to the thermal head 3 and faces the power connector 36. Similarly to the power connector 36, the power connector 6 faces the fourth direction. Since the detailed configuration of the power connector 6 is the same as that of the power connector 36, the description thereof is omitted.

<Main functions and effects in this embodiment>
The thermal head 3 in the above embodiment has one surface facing the first direction and the other surface facing the second direction, and a plurality of heating elements 32 arranged in the front-rear direction are provided on the other surface. A first substrate 31 is provided. The thermal head 3 is connected to the end of the first substrate 31 in the third direction, has one surface facing the first direction and the other surface facing the second direction, and controls the heating element 32. The second substrate 34 is provided. The thermal head 3 includes a heat sink 33 connected to one surface of the first substrate 31 and one surface of the second substrate 34. The thermal head 3 is provided on the other surface of the second substrate 34, and contacts for connecting the FPC cable 5 detachably connected in the fourth direction (a plurality of signal lines 353 in which the recesses 351C are exposed). FPC cable connector 35 having

  Therefore, since the FPC cable connector 35 is mounted on the surface of the second substrate 34 in the second direction, the FPC cable connector 35 is the same surface as the surface of the first substrate 31 on which the heating element 32 is disposed. Implemented above. That is, the FPC cable connector 35 is in the direction of the lower opening 60 provided for the printing apparatus 1 to print on the print medium. Therefore, if the FPC cable connector 35 is arranged in the first direction with respect to the opening 60, the operator can easily access the FPC cable connector 35 from the opening 60 and easily replace the thermal head 3.

  The end in the third direction of the FPC cable connector 35 in the above embodiment is located in the fourth direction from the center position in the third direction and the fourth direction of the second substrate 34. Therefore, the end of the FPC cable connector 35 in the third direction is located closer to the end of the second substrate 34 in the fourth direction. Accordingly, since it is not necessary to turn the hand to the surface of the second substrate 34 in the first direction, the operator can easily access the FPC cable connector 35 from the opening 60 and easily replace the thermal head 3.

  The thermal head 3 in the embodiment includes the FPC cable 5 that is detachably connected to the FPC cable connector 35. Since the FPC cable 5 can be detached from the FPC cable connector 35, the operator can easily replace the thermal head 3.

  The FPC cable 5 in the above embodiment has a reinforcing member 55 at one end. When one end of the FPC cable 5 is connected to the FPC cable connector 35, the fourth direction end of the reinforcing member 55 is positioned in the fourth direction from the fourth direction end of the second substrate 34. Accordingly, since the reinforcing member 55 protrudes from the end of the second substrate 34 in the fourth direction, the FPC cable 5 does not contact the end of the second substrate 34 in the fourth direction when the thermal head 3 moves up and down. . Therefore, the possibility that the FPC cable 5 is disconnected can be reduced.

  The FPC cable 5 in the above embodiment includes the exposed portion 56 disposed on the surface in the first direction of the FPC cable 5 at the end in the third direction of the FPC cable 5 and the FPC at the end in the fourth direction of the FPC cable 5. And an exposed portion 57 disposed on the surface in the second direction of the cable 5. Therefore, the FPC cable 5 can be connected to the FPC cable connector 42 of the main circuit board 41 by bending the FPC cable 5 without twisting. Therefore, the possibility that the FPC cable 5 is disconnected can be reduced.

  The plurality of signal lines 52 on the surface in the first direction of the FPC cable 5 in the above embodiment have through holes 53 respectively corresponding to the signal lines 52 from the end in the third direction to the end in the fourth direction of the FPC cable 5. It extends on the surface in the second direction. The exposed portion 56 in the third direction of the FPC cable 5 is connected to the FPC cable connector 35. The through hole 53 of the signal line 52 is provided between the end in the third direction of the exposed portion 57 of the FPC cable 5 and the end in the third direction of the reinforcing member 55 provided at the end in the fourth direction. Since the thermal head 3 moves, a load due to bending is frequently applied between the FPC cable connector 35 of the thermal head 3 and the FPC cable 5. Since the main circuit board 41 of the printing apparatus 1 does not move, even if there is a through hole 53 near the end of the FPC cable 5 connected to the FPC cable connector 42 of the main circuit board 41 of the printing apparatus 1, the FPC cable 5 Disconnection is less likely to occur.

  The fourth direction end of the FPC cable connector 35 in the above embodiment is located in the third direction relative to the fourth direction end of the second substrate 34. That is, the FPC cable connector 35 does not protrude from the second substrate 34. Therefore, when the printing apparatus 1 is assembled or when the thermal head 3 is replaced, the FPC cable connector 35 comes into contact with other parts of the printing apparatus 1 and is damaged as compared with the case where the FPC cable connector 35 protrudes. The possibility can be reduced.

  The FPC cable connector 35 in the above embodiment is provided to transmit a signal for controlling the heating element 32. The thermal head 3 further includes a power connector 36 for supplying power to the heating element 32. The power connector 36 is mounted on the surface of the second substrate 34 in the first direction. The power connector 36 includes a connection portion 362 for detachably connecting the power cable in the fourth direction, and a lead wire 363 protruding on the second direction surface of the second substrate 34. The resin 37 covers the lead wire 363 protruding from the surface in the second direction. The power connector 36 has a connection portion 362 to which the power cable can be connected in the fourth direction, like the contacts of the FPC cable connector 35 (a plurality of signal lines 353 in which the recesses 351C are exposed). Compared with the case where the connection portion 362 of the power connector 36 is provided in a different direction from the contact of the FPC cable connector 35, the operator can easily access the socket from the power connector 36 and the FPC cable connector 35. Easy to remove. Therefore, the operator can easily replace the thermal head 3.

  The end in the fourth direction of the connection portion 362 of the power connector 36 in the above embodiment is located in the fourth direction rather than the end in the fourth direction of the second substrate 34. When removing the power cable socket from the power connector 36, a certain amount of force is required. Accordingly, since the power connector 36 protrudes from the end of the second substrate 34 in the fourth direction, it is easy to grasp the socket when removing the socket. Therefore, the operator can easily remove the socket and easily replace the thermal head 3.

  The FPC cable connector 35 in the above embodiment is disposed between the center of the second substrate 34 in the front-rear direction and one end of the second substrate 34 in the front-rear direction in the front-rear direction. The power connector 36 is arranged between the center of the second substrate 34 in the front-rear direction and the other end of the second substrate 34 in the front-rear direction in the front-rear direction. By moving the power connector 36 away from the FPC cable connector 35, the possibility of noise being mixed into the signal of the signal line 353 of the FPC cable connector 35 can be reduced.

  The printing apparatus 1 in the embodiment includes a housing having an opening 60 at the end in the second direction, a thermal head 3 disposed in the first direction with respect to the opening 60, and a main circuit connected to the thermal head 3. A substrate 41 and a ribbon transport motor for transporting the ribbon driven by the main circuit substrate 41 are provided. The printing apparatus 1 has the effects described above.

<Modification>
Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the FPC cable 5 may have a uniform length in the front-rear direction.

  The printing apparatus 1 may include a printing medium conveyance device that conveys a printing medium. The configurations of the print medium and the ink ribbon 9 may be changed as appropriate. The drive source for moving each member may be changed as appropriate. The transport path P of the ink ribbon 9 of the printing apparatus 1 may be changed as appropriate. A device for conveying the ink ribbon 9 may be provided separately from the printing device 1. The base 2 may not be a flat member. The base 2 may be a member having an uneven surface or a member having a curved surface. The base 2 may be box-shaped. The printing apparatus 1 may omit the moving mechanism as necessary.

<Others>
The thermal head 3 is an example of the “head control circuit board” in the present invention. The front-rear direction is an example of the “first arrangement direction” and the “second arrangement direction” in the present invention. The reinforcing member 55 is an example of the “reinforcing material” in the present invention. The plurality of signal lines 353 exposed in the recess 351C is an example of the “first contact” in the present invention. The exposed portion 56 in the third direction of the FPC cable 5 is an example of the “second contact” in the present invention. The exposed portion 57 in the fourth direction of the FPC cable 5 is an example of the “third contact” in the present invention. The connecting portion 362 is an example of the “fourth contact” in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 3 Thermal head 5 FPC cable 31 1st board | substrate 32 Heating element 33 Heat sink 34 2nd board | substrate 35 Connector for FPC cable 353 Signal line 36 Power supply connector 362 Connection part 363 Lead wire 37 Resin 41 Main circuit board 52 Signal line 53 Through Hall 55 Reinforcement member

Claims (11)

A plurality of heating elements having one surface facing the first direction and the other surface facing the second direction opposite to the first direction, arranged in a first arrangement direction orthogonal to the first direction, A first substrate provided on the other surface;
In the third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the first arrangement direction, the one surface that is connected to the end of the first substrate and faces the first direction and the other surface that faces the second direction A second substrate for controlling the heating element, a heat sink connected to the one surface of the first substrate and the one surface of the second substrate,
For an FPC cable having a first contact for connecting an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) cable that is provided on the other surface of the second substrate and is detachably connected in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction. A connector;
A head control circuit board comprising:   2. The end of the FPC cable connector in the third direction is located in the fourth direction rather than a central position in the third direction and the fourth direction of the second substrate. Head control circuit board.   The head control circuit board according to claim 1, further comprising the FPC cable detachably connected to the FPC cable connector.   The FPC cable has a reinforcing material at one end, and when the one end of the FPC cable is connected to the FPC cable connector, the end of the reinforcing material in the fourth direction is the second substrate. The head control circuit board according to claim 3, wherein the head control circuit board is located in the fourth direction from an end in the fourth direction. The FPC cable is
A second contact disposed at one end of the FPC cable at one end of the FPC cable;
A third contact disposed on the other surface of the FPC cable at the other end of the FPC cable;
The head control circuit board according to claim 3, wherein the head control circuit board is provided. The FPC cable has a reinforcing material at the other end,
From the one end of the FPC cable to the other end, a plurality of signal lines on the one surface extend on the other surface through through holes corresponding to the signal lines, respectively.
The second contact where the plurality of signal lines at the one end of the FPC cable are exposed is connected to the FPC cable connector;
The through hole is between the end in the direction of the second contact in the third contact where the plurality of signal lines at the other end are exposed and the end in the direction of the second contact in the reinforcing member at the other end. The head control circuit board according to claim 5, wherein the head control circuit board is provided on the head control circuit board.   The end in the fourth direction of the FPC cable connector is located in the third direction with respect to the end in the fourth direction of the second substrate. Head control circuit board. The FPC cable connector is provided to transmit a signal for controlling the heating element,
A power connector for supplying power to the heating element;
The power connector is
Mounted on the one side of the second substrate,
A fourth contact for removably connecting a power cable in the fourth direction;
A lead wire protruding on the other surface of the second substrate;
An insulating member covering the lead wire protruding from the other surface of the second substrate;
The head control circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the head control circuit board is provided.   9. The head control according to claim 8, wherein an end in the fourth direction of the fourth contact of the power connector is positioned in the fourth direction with respect to an end in the fourth direction of the second substrate. Circuit board. The FPC cable connector is disposed between the center in the first arrangement direction of the second board and one end of the second board in the first arrangement direction in the first arrangement direction,
In the first arrangement direction, the power connector is disposed between the center of the second board in the first arrangement direction and the other end of the second board in the first arrangement direction. The head control circuit board according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that A housing having an opening at the end in the second direction;
The head control circuit board according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which is disposed in the first direction with respect to the opening.
A main circuit board connected to the head control circuit board;
A ribbon transport motor for transporting the ribbon driven by the main circuit board;
A printing apparatus comprising:

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