JP7522010B2 - Thermal Printhead - Google Patents

Thermal Printhead Download PDF

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JP7522010B2
JP7522010B2 JP2020189406A JP2020189406A JP7522010B2 JP 7522010 B2 JP7522010 B2 JP 7522010B2 JP 2020189406 A JP2020189406 A JP 2020189406A JP 2020189406 A JP2020189406 A JP 2020189406A JP 7522010 B2 JP7522010 B2 JP 7522010B2
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common electrode
scanning direction
individual
electrode strip
electrode
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JP2022078607A (en
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俊夫 渡辺
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Rohm Co Ltd
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Rohm Co Ltd
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    • 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
    • B41J2/335—Structure of 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
    • 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
    • B41J2/335—Structure of thermal heads
    • B41J2/33505—Constructional details
    • B41J2/3351—Electrode layers

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Description

この発明は、サーマルプリントヘッドに関し、詳しくは、櫛歯状の共通電極の構造を強化したサーマルプリントヘッドに関する。 This invention relates to a thermal printhead, and more specifically to a thermal printhead with an enhanced comb-tooth common electrode structure.

従来、基板上に形成された抵抗体に通電して発熱させることで、感熱記録紙などの印刷媒体に印字することができるサーマルプリントヘッドが提供されている。図１は、従来のサーマルプリントヘッドの一例の構成を示す図である。図１（ａ）の上面図は、サーマルプリントヘッドにおいて基板５１の主面にグレーズ層５２を介して形成され、主走査方向に延びて抵抗体４０に電流を供給する電極の配置を示している。櫛歯状の共通電極１０においては、主走査方向に共通電極連結部１１が延び、共通電極連結部１１の一側に突出した基部１２ａからそれぞれ副走査方向に複数の共通電極帯状部１２が延びている。共通電極連結部１１は、共通電極帯状部１２が延びる第１層１１ａと、第１層１１ａの一部を覆ってグレーズ層５２に達する第２層１１ｂとを有している。図１には、主走査方向をｘ方向、副走査方向をｙ方向、基板５１からの高さ方向をｚ方向とする座標系を示した。 Conventionally, a thermal printhead has been provided that can print on a print medium such as thermal recording paper by passing electricity through a resistor formed on a substrate to generate heat. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an example of a conventional thermal printhead. The top view of FIG. 1(a) shows the arrangement of electrodes formed on the main surface of a substrate 51 in a thermal printhead via a glaze layer 52, extending in the main scanning direction and supplying current to a resistor 40. In a comb-shaped common electrode 10, a common electrode connection portion 11 extends in the main scanning direction, and a plurality of common electrode strip portions 12 extend in the sub-scanning direction from a base portion 12a protruding from one side of the common electrode connection portion 11. The common electrode connection portion 11 has a first layer 11a from which the common electrode strip portions 12 extend, and a second layer 11b that covers a part of the first layer 11a and reaches the glaze layer 52. FIG. 1 shows a coordinate system in which the main scanning direction is the x direction, the sub-scanning direction is the y direction, and the height direction from the substrate 51 is the z direction.

個別電極２０においては、複数の個別電極連結部２１に基部２２ａが覆われた複数の個別電極帯状部２２が複数の共通電極帯状部１２の間に入り込むように副走査方向に延び、主走査方向に共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２が交互に配置されて電極の有効部３０を形成している。電極の有効部３０においては、共通電極帯状部１２、個別電極帯状部２２及びこれらの間隙は、略同じ幅に形成されている。電極の有効部３０には、主走査方向に延びるように抵抗体４０が形成され、交差する共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２に接続されている。 In the individual electrode 20, a plurality of individual electrode strip portions 22, whose base portions 22a are covered by a plurality of individual electrode connecting portions 21, extend in the sub-scanning direction so as to enter between a plurality of common electrode strip portions 12, and the common electrode strip portions 12 and the individual electrode strip portions 22 are alternately arranged in the main scanning direction to form the effective portion 30 of the electrode. In the effective portion 30 of the electrode, the common electrode strip portions 12, the individual electrode strip portions 22 and the gaps therebetween are formed to be approximately the same width. In the effective portion 30 of the electrode, a resistor 40 is formed so as to extend in the main scanning direction, and is connected to the intersecting common electrode strip portions 12 and individual electrode strip portions 22.

図１（ｂ）及び図１（ｃ）は、図１（ａ）における切断線ＢＢ及び切断線ＣＣによる断面図である。図１（ｂ）及び図１（ｃ）に示すように、サーマルプリントヘッドにおいては、基板５１の主面を覆うグレーズ層５２の上に前述の電極及び抵抗体４０が形成されている。グレーズ層５２の上には、電極及び抵抗体４０を覆うように第１ガラス被覆層５３及び第２ガラス被覆層５４が形成されている。図中には、抵抗体４０によって印字される感熱記録紙などの印刷媒体１００とその搬送方向が示されている。 Figures 1(b) and 1(c) are cross-sectional views taken along the cutting lines BB and CC in Figure 1(a). As shown in Figures 1(b) and 1(c), in the thermal print head, the electrodes and resistors 40 described above are formed on a glaze layer 52 that covers the main surface of a substrate 51. A first glass covering layer 53 and a second glass covering layer 54 are formed on the glaze layer 52 so as to cover the electrodes and resistors 40. The figures show a print medium 100 such as thermal recording paper that is printed by the resistors 40, and the transport direction of the print medium.

特開２０１２－２２８８７１号公報JP 2012-228871 A

ところで、図１（ｃ）に示すように、グレーズ層５２の上に形成された共通電極帯状部１２は、共通電極連結部１１の第２層１１ｂと抵抗体４０とによってそれぞれグレーズ層５２に固定されている。このため、ガラスペーストを溶融して第１ガラス被覆層５３及び第２ガラス被覆層５４を形成するときに、グレーズ層５２の昇温による膨張によってこれらの間の共通電極帯状部１２に張力６０が発生し、共通電極帯状部１２が張力６０に耐えられずに破断することがあった。 As shown in FIG. 1(c), the common electrode strip 12 formed on the glaze layer 52 is fixed to the glaze layer 52 by the second layer 11b of the common electrode connection portion 11 and the resistor 40. Therefore, when the glass paste is melted to form the first glass coating layer 53 and the second glass coating layer 54, the glaze layer 52 expands due to the rise in temperature, generating tension 60 in the common electrode strip 12 between them. In some cases, the common electrode strip 12 cannot withstand the tension 60 and breaks.

この発明は、上述の実情に鑑みて提案されるものであって、張力６０に耐えられるように、共通電極１０の共通電極帯状部１２の構造を強化したサーマルプリントヘッドを提供することを目的とする。 This invention has been proposed in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a thermal printhead in which the structure of the common electrode strip portion 12 of the common electrode 10 is reinforced so that it can withstand the tension 60.

上述の課題を解決するために、この出願に係るサーマルプリントヘッドは、主面を有する基板と、基板の主面を覆うグレーズ層と、グレーズ層の上に形成され、主走査方向に延びる共通電極連結部と、共通電極連結部から主走査方向に直交する副走査方向に延びる複数の共通電極帯状部とを含む共通電極と、複数の共通電極帯状部の間に副走査方向に延びる複数の個別電極帯状部をそれぞれ含む複数の個別電極と、複数の共通電極帯状部及び複数の個別電極帯状部が主走査方向に所定の間隔で交互に配置されて形成された電極の有効部に主走査方向に延びるように形成され、交差する複数の共通電極帯状部及び複数の個別電極帯状部に接続された抵抗体と、共通電極、複数の個別電極及び抵抗体を覆うようにグレーズ層の上に形成された被覆層とを含み、電極の有効部において隣接する複数の共通電極帯状部と複数の個別電極帯状部とが形成する間隙は主走査方向の幅が一定であり、複数の共通電極帯状部は共通電極連結部に接続する基部から電極の有効部までの範囲において主走査方向の幅が主走査方向の間隙の幅よりも広い部分を含んでいる。 In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the thermal printhead according to this application comprises a substrate having a main surface, a glaze layer covering the main surface of the substrate, a common electrode formed on the glaze layer and including a common electrode connection portion extending in a main scanning direction and a plurality of common electrode strip portions extending from the common electrode connection portion in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, a plurality of individual electrodes each including a plurality of individual electrode strip portions extending in the sub-scanning direction between the plurality of common electrode strip portions, and an electrode formed by arranging the plurality of common electrode strip portions and the plurality of individual electrode strip portions alternately at a predetermined interval in the main scanning direction. The electrode includes a resistor connected to a plurality of intersecting common electrode strips and a plurality of individual electrode strips formed to extend in the main scanning direction in the effective portion of the electrode, and a coating layer formed on the glaze layer to cover the common electrode, the plurality of individual electrodes, and the resistor, and the gap formed between the plurality of adjacent common electrode strips and the plurality of individual electrode strips in the effective portion of the electrode has a constant width in the main scanning direction, and the plurality of common electrode strips include a portion whose width in the main scanning direction is wider than the width of the gap in the main scanning direction in the range from the base connected to the common electrode connection portion to the effective portion of the electrode.

電極の有効部における主走査方向の間隙の幅は、複数の共通電極帯状部及び複数の個別電極帯状部が主走査方向に交互に配置された所定の間隔の半分の長さであってもよい。複数の共通電極帯状部及び複数の個別電極帯状部は、それぞれが延びる副走査方向について対称な形状を有してもよい。複数の共通電極帯状部及び複数の個別電極帯状部は、それぞれ多角形の形状を有してもよい。 The width of the gap in the main scanning direction in the effective portion of the electrode may be half the length of a predetermined interval at which the multiple common electrode strip portions and the multiple individual electrode strip portions are alternately arranged in the main scanning direction. The multiple common electrode strip portions and the multiple individual electrode strip portions may each have a symmetrical shape with respect to the sub-scanning direction in which they extend. The multiple common electrode strip portions and the multiple individual electrode strip portions may each have a polygonal shape.

複数の共通電極帯状部は、それぞれ基部から電極の有効部までの範囲に、テーパー部を含んでもよい。テーパー部は、電極の有効部に達する第１テーパー部と、電極の有効部において第１テーパー部に接続する第２テーパー部とを含み、第２テーパー部は第１テーパー部よりもテーパーの傾きが緩やかであってもよい。複数の共通電極帯状部は、それぞれ基部から第１テーパー部に達するまでの第１定幅部と、第２テーパー部を超えて複数の共通電極帯状部の先端に達するまでの第２定幅部とをさらに含んでもよい。 Each of the common electrode strips may include a tapered portion in the range from the base to the effective portion of the electrode. The tapered portion may include a first tapered portion that reaches the effective portion of the electrode and a second tapered portion that connects to the first tapered portion at the effective portion of the electrode, and the second tapered portion may have a gentler taper slope than the first tapered portion. Each of the common electrode strips may further include a first constant width portion that extends from the base to the first tapered portion, and a second constant width portion that extends beyond the second tapered portion to the tip of the common electrode strips.

テーパー部は、電極の有効部において複数の共通電極帯状部の先端まで達してもよい。基部からテーパー部に達するまでの定幅部をさらに含んでもよい。 The tapered portion may reach the tips of the multiple common electrode strips in the active portion of the electrode. It may further include a constant width portion that extends from the base to the tapered portion.

テーパー部は、電極の有効部に第２テーパー部を含み、複数の共通電極帯状部は、それぞれ電極の有効部の範囲において、複数の共通電極帯状部が延びる副走査方向に、逆テーパー部と、第２テーパー部とを含んでもよい。複数の共通電極帯状部は、それぞれ第２テーパー部を超えて複数の共通電極帯状部の先端に達するまでの幅が一定の第２定幅部をさらに含んでもよい。テーパー部は、基部から有効部に達するまでの範囲に第１テーパー部をさらに含み、複数の共通電極帯状部は、それぞれ電極の有効部に達するまでの第１テーパー部と、第１テーパー部に達するまでの第１定幅部とをさらに含んでもよい。 The tapered portion may include a second tapered portion in the effective portion of the electrode, and each of the common electrode strip portions may include an inverse tapered portion and a second tapered portion in the sub-scanning direction in which the common electrode strip portions extend within the effective portion of the electrode. Each of the common electrode strip portions may further include a second constant width portion having a constant width beyond the second tapered portion and reaching the tip of the common electrode strip portions. The tapered portion may further include a first tapered portion in the range from the base to the effective portion, and each of the common electrode strip portions may further include a first tapered portion until it reaches the effective portion of the electrode, and a first constant width portion until it reaches the first tapered portion.

共通電極連結部は、複数の共通電極帯状部に接続する第１層と、第１層の一部を覆ってグレーズ層に達する第２層とを含んでもよい。第１層及び第２層は、それぞれ金又は銀によって形成されてもよい。 The common electrode connection portion may include a first layer that connects to the plurality of common electrode strips, and a second layer that covers a portion of the first layer and reaches the glaze layer. The first layer and the second layer may each be formed of gold or silver.

個別電極は、それぞれ複数の個別電極帯状部の基部を覆い、複数の個別電極帯状部とは逆の方向に延びる複数の個別電極連結部をさらに含んでもよい。複数の個別電極帯状部及び複数の個別電極連結部は、それぞれ金又は銀で形成されてもよい。 The individual electrodes may further include a plurality of individual electrode connecting portions each covering a base of the plurality of individual electrode strip portions and extending in a direction opposite to the plurality of individual electrode strip portions. The plurality of individual electrode strip portions and the plurality of individual electrode connecting portions may each be formed of gold or silver.

この発明によると、共通電極の共通電極帯状部１２は構造が強化されているため、張力に耐えることができ、破断することがない。 According to this invention, the common electrode strip portion 12 of the common electrode has a reinforced structure, so it can withstand tension and will not break.

従来のサーマルプリントヘッドの一例の構造を示す図である。FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an example of a conventional thermal printhead. 第１の実施の形態のサーマルプリントヘッドを示す図である。FIG. 1 illustrates a thermal printhead according to a first embodiment. 第２の実施の形態のサーマルプリントヘッドを示す上面図である。FIG. 11 is a top view showing a thermal printhead according to a second embodiment. 第３の実施の形態のサーマルプリントヘッドを示す上面図である。FIG. 13 is a top view showing a thermal printhead according to a third embodiment.

以下、サーマルプリントヘッドの実施の形態について図面を参照して詳細に説明する。本実施の形態においては、主走査方向を長手方向として抵抗体及び電極が延びるサーマルプリントヘッドを想定しているが、本実施の形態は櫛歯状の共通電極の共通電極帯状部の構造の強化に関わるものであるため、共通電極帯状部を含む電極の配置に関連する構成について詳細に説明する。また、基板には電極を通じて発熱体に電流を供給する駆動ＩＣなど他の構成部品も設けられてもよいが、これらの本技術分野で既知の他の構成については簡単のために省略するものとする。 Below, an embodiment of a thermal printhead will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a thermal printhead is assumed in which resistors and electrodes extend with the main scanning direction as the longitudinal direction. However, since this embodiment is concerned with strengthening the structure of the common electrode strip of the comb-shaped common electrode, the configuration related to the arrangement of the electrodes including the common electrode strip will be described in detail. In addition, the substrate may also be provided with other components such as a driver IC that supplies current to the heating element through the electrodes, but these other configurations known in this technical field will be omitted for simplicity.

（第１の実施の形態）
図２は、第１の実施の形態のサーマルプリントヘッドの構造を示す図である。図２（ａ）は電極の配置を示す上面図であり、図２（ｂ）及び図２（ｃ）はそれぞれ図２（ａ）における切断線ＢＢ及びＣＣによる断面図である。 (First embodiment)
2A and 2B are diagrams showing the structure of a thermal printhead according to a first embodiment, in which Fig. 2A is a top view showing the arrangement of electrodes, and Fig. 2B and Fig. 2C are cross-sectional views taken along the cutting lines BB and CC in Fig. 2A, respectively.

図２（ｂ）及び図２（ｃ）の断面図に示すように、サーマルプリントヘッドにおいて、アルミナ（Ａｌ２Ｏ３）や窒化アルミニウム（ＡｌＮ）のようなセラミックスによる基板５１の平坦な上面は、非晶質ガラスによる所定の厚さのグレーズ層５２で覆われている。グレーズ層５２の上には、図２（ａ）に示したように配置で電極が形成されている。電極は、サーマルプリントヘッドが印字を走査する主走査方向に沿って延び、抵抗体４０に電流を供給している。 As shown in the cross-sectional views of Figures 2(b) and 2(c), in the thermal printhead, the flat upper surface of a substrate 51 made of ceramics such as alumina ( Al2O3 ) or aluminum nitride (AlN) is covered with a glaze layer 52 of a specified thickness made of amorphous glass. Electrodes are formed on the glaze layer 52 in the arrangement shown in Figure 2(a). The electrodes extend along the main scanning direction in which the thermal printhead scans for printing, and supply current to the resistor 40.

電極は、主走査方向に延びる櫛歯状の共通電極１０と、共通電極１０に対向して設けられた複数の個別電極２０とから構成されている。共通電極１０は、主走査方向に沿って延びる共通電極連結部１１と、共通電極連結部１１から主走査方向に直交する副走査方向に沿って対向する複数の個別電極２０に向かって延びる複数の共通電極帯状部１２とから構成されている。図２には、主走査方向をｘ方向、副走査方向をｙ方向、基板５１の主面からの高さ方向をｚ方向とする座標系を示した。以下でも同様に座標系を示す。 The electrodes are composed of a comb-shaped common electrode 10 extending in the main scanning direction and a number of individual electrodes 20 arranged opposite the common electrode 10. The common electrode 10 is composed of a common electrode connection portion 11 extending along the main scanning direction and a number of common electrode strip portions 12 extending from the common electrode connection portion 11 toward the opposing number of individual electrodes 20 along a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. Figure 2 shows a coordinate system in which the main scanning direction is the x-direction, the sub-scanning direction is the y-direction, and the height direction from the main surface of the substrate 51 is the z-direction. A similar coordinate system will be shown below.

共通電極連結部１１は、所定の幅を有して主走査方向に延び、一側から共通電極帯状部１２が突出する第１層１１ａと、同様に所定の幅を有して主走査方向に延び、前記一側を露出させて、一側に対向する他側を経てグレーズ層５２に達するように第１層１１ａの一部を覆う第２層１１ｂとを有している。共通電極１０は、金又は銀で構成されてもよい。共通電極１０は、全体が金又は銀の一方で構成されてもよいし、共通電極連結部１１の第１層１１ａ及び共通電極帯状部１２が金で構成され、共通電極連結部１１の第２層１１ｂが銀で構成されてもよい。 The common electrode connection portion 11 has a first layer 11a that extends in the main scanning direction with a predetermined width and has a common electrode strip portion 12 protruding from one side, and a second layer 11b that also extends in the main scanning direction with a predetermined width, exposes the one side, and covers a part of the first layer 11a so as to reach the glaze layer 52 via the other side opposite the one side. The common electrode 10 may be made of gold or silver. The common electrode 10 may be made entirely of either gold or silver, or the first layer 11a and the common electrode strip portion 12 of the common electrode connection portion 11 may be made of gold, and the second layer 11b of the common electrode connection portion 11 may be made of silver.

共通電極帯状部１２は、その基部１２ａが共通電極連結部１１の第１層１１ａの一側から突出し、対向する個別電極２０に向けて副走査方向に沿って所定の長さにわたって延びている。共通電極帯状部１２は、副走査方向について対称な多角形の形状を有し、主走査方向に所定の間隔で配置されている。共通電極帯状部１２は、共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから所定の長さの範囲において、幅が一定の第１定幅部１２ｂ１を形成している。 The common electrode strip portion 12 has its base 12a protruding from one side of the first layer 11a of the common electrode connection portion 11 and extends a predetermined length along the sub-scanning direction toward the opposing individual electrode 20. The common electrode strip portion 12 has a polygonal shape that is symmetrical with respect to the sub-scanning direction, and is arranged at a predetermined interval in the main scanning direction. The common electrode strip portion 12 forms a first constant width portion 12b1 with a constant width within a predetermined length range from the base 12a that connects to the common electrode connection portion 11.

個別電極２０は、対向する共通電極１０に向かって複数の共通電極帯状部１２の間に副走査方向に沿って延びる複数の個別電極帯状部２２と、個別電極帯状部２２の基部２２ａを覆う複数の個別電極連結部２１とを有している。個別電極連結部２１が個別電極帯状部２２の基部２２ａを覆っている部分は、隣接する個別電極連結部２１との間に所定の間隙を有して主走査方向に所定の間隔で配置されている。個別電極連結部２１は、個別電極帯状部２２とは逆の方向に延び、図示しない駆動ＩＣに接続されている。個別電極２０は、金又は銀で構成されてもよい。個別電極２０は、全体が金又は銀の一方で構成されてもよいし、個別電極連結部２１が銀で構成され、個別電極帯状部２２が金で構成されてもよい。 The individual electrode 20 has a plurality of individual electrode strips 22 extending in the sub-scanning direction between the plurality of common electrode strips 12 toward the opposing common electrode 10, and a plurality of individual electrode connecting parts 21 covering the bases 22a of the individual electrode strips 22. The portions where the individual electrode connecting parts 21 cover the bases 22a of the individual electrode strips 22 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the main scanning direction with a predetermined gap between adjacent individual electrode connecting parts 21. The individual electrode connecting parts 21 extend in the opposite direction to the individual electrode strips 22 and are connected to a driving IC (not shown). The individual electrode 20 may be made of gold or silver. The individual electrode 20 may be made entirely of either gold or silver, or the individual electrode connecting parts 21 may be made of silver and the individual electrode strips 22 may be made of gold.

個別電極帯状部２２は、基部２２ａを覆う個別電極連結部２１から対向する共通電極１０に向けて副走査方向に沿って所定の長さにわたって延びている。個別電極帯状部２２は、副走査方向について対称な多角形の形状を有し、主走査方向に所定の間隔で配置されている。個別電極帯状部２２は、個別電極連結部２１に覆われた基部２２ａから所定の長さの範囲において、幅が一定の第１定幅部２２ｂ１を形成している。 The individual electrode strip portions 22 extend a predetermined length along the sub-scanning direction from the individual electrode connection portion 21 covering the base portion 22a toward the opposing common electrode 10. The individual electrode strip portions 22 have polygonal shapes that are symmetrical with respect to the sub-scanning direction, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the main scanning direction. The individual electrode strip portions 22 form first constant width portions 22b1 with a constant width within a predetermined length range from the base portion 22a covered by the individual electrode connection portion 21.

共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２は、共通電極連結部１１と個別電極連結部２１との間に、副走査方向に延びる共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２が主走査方向に沿って所定の間隔で交互に配置された電極の有効部３０を形成している。電極の有効部３０は、副走査方向に、共通電極帯状部１２の先端を結ぶ直線と個別電極帯状部２２の先端を結ぶ直線とによって挟まれた所定の幅の範囲に形成されている。電極の有効部３０において、隣接する共通電極連結部１１と個別電極連結部２１とは主走査方向に所定の間隙を有して対向している。 The common electrode strip portions 12 and the individual electrode strip portions 22 form an effective portion 30 of the electrode in which the common electrode strip portions 12 and the individual electrode strip portions 22 extending in the sub-scanning direction are alternately arranged at a predetermined interval along the main scanning direction between the common electrode connection portion 11 and the individual electrode connection portion 21. The effective portion 30 of the electrode is formed in a range of a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction, sandwiched between a straight line connecting the tips of the common electrode strip portions 12 and a straight line connecting the tips of the individual electrode strip portions 22. In the effective portion 30 of the electrode, the adjacent common electrode connection portion 11 and individual electrode connection portion 21 face each other with a predetermined gap in the main scanning direction.

共通電極帯状部１２は、共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから所定の長さの第１定幅部１２ｂ１を超えて電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央まで次第に先細になるテーパー部１２ｃを形成している。テーパー部１２ｃは、第１定幅部１２ｂ１を超えて電極の有効部３０に達するまでの第３領域３３において第１テーパー部１２ｃ１を形成し、第３領域３３を超えて電極の有効部３０に入ってから電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央に達するまでの第１領域３１において第２テーパー部１２ｃ２を形成し、第２テーパー部１２ｃ２の傾きは第１テーパー部１２ｃ１の傾きよりも緩やかになっている。さらに、共通電極帯状部１２は、電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央を超えて電極の有効部３０の一側となる共通電極帯状部１２の先端までの第２領域３２において、幅が一定の第２定幅部１２ｂ２を形成している。第２定幅部１２ｂ２は、第１定幅部１２ｂ１よりも幅が狭くなっている。 The common electrode strip portion 12 forms a tapered portion 12c that gradually tapers from the base portion 12a connected to the common electrode connecting portion 11 beyond the first constant width portion 12b1 of a predetermined length to approximately the center in the width direction of the effective portion 30 of the electrode. The tapered portion 12c forms a first tapered portion 12c1 in a third region 33 that extends beyond the first constant width portion 12b1 and reaches the effective portion 30 of the electrode, and forms a second tapered portion 12c2 in a first region 31 that extends beyond the third region 33 and enters the effective portion 30 of the electrode to approximately the center in the width direction of the effective portion 30 of the electrode, and the inclination of the second tapered portion 12c2 is gentler than the inclination of the first tapered portion 12c1. Furthermore, the common electrode strip portion 12 forms a second constant width portion 12b2 with a constant width in a second region 32 that extends beyond approximately the center in the width direction of the effective portion 30 of the electrode to the tip of the common electrode strip portion 12 that is one side of the effective portion 30 of the electrode. The second constant width portion 12b2 is narrower than the first constant width portion 12b1.

個別電極帯状部２２は、個別電極連結部２１に覆われた基部２２ａから所定の長さの第１定幅部２２ｂ１を超えて電極の有効部３０に達するまでの第４領域３４において次第に先細になる第１テーパー部２２ｃ１を形成している。個別電極帯状部２２は、第４領域３４を超えて電極の有効部３０に入ってから電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央に達するまでの第２領域３２において、幅が一定の第２定幅部２２ｂ２を形成している。第２定幅部２２ｂ２は、第１定幅部２２ｂ１よりも幅が狭くなっている。第２領域３２においては、共通電極帯状部１２、個別電極帯状部２２及びこれらの間隙は、略同じ幅に形成されている。さらに、個別電極帯状部２２は、電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央を超えて電極の有効部３０の他側となる個別電極帯状部２２の先端までの第１領域３１において、次第に先細になる第２テーパー部２２ｃ２を形成している。ここで、個別電極帯状部２２の第２テーパー部２２ｃ２と、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２の第２テーパー部１２ｃ２とは、互いに対向する平行な輪郭を形成している。 The individual electrode strip portion 22 forms a first tapered portion 22c1 that gradually tapers in a fourth region 34 from the base 22a covered by the individual electrode connecting portion 21 to the effective portion 30 of the electrode beyond the first constant width portion 22b1 of a predetermined length. The individual electrode strip portion 22 forms a second constant width portion 22b2 with a constant width in a second region 32 from the base 22a covered by the individual electrode connecting portion 21 to the effective portion 30 of the electrode beyond the fourth region 34 to the effective portion 30 of the electrode to the center of the effective portion 30 of the electrode in the width direction. The second constant width portion 22b2 is narrower than the first constant width portion 22b1. In the second region 32, the common electrode strip portion 12, the individual electrode strip portion 22, and the gap between them are formed to be approximately the same width. Furthermore, the individual electrode strip portion 22 forms a second tapered portion 22c2 that gradually tapers in the first region 31 that extends from approximately the center in the width direction of the electrode's effective portion 30 to the tip of the individual electrode strip portion 22 on the other side of the electrode's effective portion 30. Here, the second tapered portion 22c2 of the individual electrode strip portion 22 and the second tapered portion 12c2 of the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 form parallel contours that face each other.

電極の有効部３０には、主走査方向に延びて所定の幅を有する抵抗体４０が形成されている。抵抗体４０は、電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央に位置し、交差する共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２とそれぞれ電気的に接続している。抵抗体４０は、例えば酸化ルテニウム（ＲｕＯ２）及びガラスから構成されてもよい。 A resistor 40 extending in the main scanning direction and having a predetermined width is formed in the electrode effective portion 30. The resistor 40 is located approximately at the center in the width direction of the electrode effective portion 30, and is electrically connected to the intersecting common electrode strip portions 12 and individual electrode strip portions 22. The resistor 40 may be made of, for example, ruthenium oxide ( RuO2 ) and glass.

グレーズ層５２の上には、電極及び抵抗体４０を覆って保護するように非晶質ガラスによる所定の厚さの第１ガラス被覆層５３が形成されている。第１ガラス被覆層５３の上には、抵抗体４０の直上の部分に接して副走査方向に搬送される印刷媒体１００との摩擦に耐えられるように、非晶質ガラスによる所定の厚さの第２ガラス被覆層５４がさらに形成されている。 On the glaze layer 52, a first glass covering layer 53 made of amorphous glass is formed to a predetermined thickness so as to cover and protect the electrodes and resistor 40. On the first glass covering layer 53, a second glass covering layer 54 made of amorphous glass is further formed to a predetermined thickness so as to be in contact with the portion directly above the resistor 40 and to withstand friction with the print medium 100 being transported in the sub-scanning direction.

このサーマルプリントヘッドにおいて、共通電極１０の共通電極帯状部１２は、共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから所定の長さの第１定幅部１２ｂ１を超えた第３領域３３において第１テーパー部１２ｃ１を形成し、第１領域３１において第２テーパー部１２ｃ２を形成し、第２テーパー部１２ｃ２の傾きは第１テーパー部１２ｃ１の傾きよりも緩やかになっている。したがって、第１領域３１において第２テーパー部１２ｃ２を形成する共通電極帯状部１２は、電極の有効部３０において主走査方向に幅が略一定な間隙よりも幅が太くなっている。また、共通電極帯状部１２は、第３領域３３における第１テーパー部１２ｃ１、基部１２ａから第１テーパー部１２ｃ１に達する第１定幅部１２ｂ１において、電極の有効部３０の第１領域３１におけるよりもさらに幅が広くなっている。このように、共通電極帯状部１２の共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから抵抗体４０に達するまでの部分は幅が確保され、構造が強化されている。共通電極帯状部１２に副走査方向の張力が発生することがあっても、張力は幅方向に分散されるため容易に破断することはない。 In this thermal printhead, the common electrode strip portion 12 of the common electrode 10 forms a first taper portion 12c1 in a third region 33 that extends beyond the first constant width portion 12b1 of a predetermined length from the base portion 12a that connects to the common electrode connecting portion 11, and forms a second taper portion 12c2 in the first region 31, and the inclination of the second taper portion 12c2 is gentler than the inclination of the first taper portion 12c1. Therefore, the common electrode strip portion 12 that forms the second taper portion 12c2 in the first region 31 is wider than the gap whose width is approximately constant in the main scanning direction in the effective portion 30 of the electrode. In addition, the common electrode strip portion 12 is wider in the first taper portion 12c1 in the third region 33 and in the first constant width portion 12b1 that reaches the first taper portion 12c1 from the base portion 12a than in the first region 31 of the effective portion 30 of the electrode. In this way, the width of the common electrode strip portion 12 from the base 12a that connects to the common electrode connection portion 11 to the resistor 40 is ensured, and the structure is strengthened. Even if tension occurs in the common electrode strip portion 12 in the sub-scanning direction, the tension is distributed in the width direction and will not easily break.

グレーズ層５２の上に第１ガラス被覆層５３及び第２ガラス被覆層５４を形成する工程においては、それぞれガラスペーストを溶融して非晶質ガラスの被覆を形成するため、グレーズ層５２も昇温する。図２（ｃ）に示すように、グレーズ層５２の上に形成された共通電極帯状部１２は、共通電極連結部１１の第２層１１ｂと抵抗体４０とによってそれぞれグレーズ層５２に固定されているため、グレーズ層５２が昇温によって膨張するとこれらの間の共通電極帯状部１２には副走査方向に張力６０が発生する。共通電極帯状部１２は、この範囲では幅が太くなるように形成されて構造が強化されているため、副走査方向の張力６０に耐えることができ、容易に破断することはない。 In the process of forming the first glass coating layer 53 and the second glass coating layer 54 on the glaze layer 52, the glass paste is melted to form a coating of amorphous glass, so the glaze layer 52 also rises in temperature. As shown in FIG. 2(c), the common electrode strip 12 formed on the glaze layer 52 is fixed to the glaze layer 52 by the second layer 11b of the common electrode connection part 11 and the resistor 40, so that when the glaze layer 52 expands due to a rise in temperature, tension 60 is generated in the common electrode strip 12 between them in the sub-scanning direction. The common electrode strip 12 is formed to be wider in this range and has a reinforced structure, so it can withstand tension 60 in the sub-scanning direction and does not break easily.

共通電極帯状部１２を銀で構成する場合には、銀の延性は金よりも劣ることになるが、前述のように共通電極帯状部１２の共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから抵抗体４０に達するまでの部分は幅が広くなっている。このため、金よりも延性に劣る銀を使用した場合にも、副走査方向に発生する張力６０に耐えることができ、容易に破断することはない。この場合には、共通電極帯状部１２を高価な金に代えて比較的安価な銀で構成することにより、材料に要する費用を削減することができる。 When the common electrode strip 12 is made of silver, the ductility of silver is less than that of gold, but as mentioned above, the portion of the common electrode strip 12 from the base 12a that connects to the common electrode connecting portion 11 to the resistor 40 is wide. Therefore, even if silver, which is less ductile than gold, is used, it can withstand the tension 60 generated in the sub-scanning direction and will not easily break. In this case, by making the common electrode strip 12 out of relatively inexpensive silver instead of expensive gold, the cost of materials can be reduced.

電極の有効部３０において、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２とは主走査方向に所定の間隙を有して対向している。このため、電極の有効部３０において主走査方向に延びるように形成された抵抗体４０においても、接続する隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間に所定の間隙が確保され、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間に略一定の抵抗値を提供することができる。電極の有効部３０においては、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間の主走査方向の所定の間隙は、副走査方向の位置にかかわらず略一定であるため、抵抗体４０を形成する位置が副走査方向に多少変動したとしても、抵抗体４０からは隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間に略一定の抵抗値が提供され、抵抗体は通電により所定の発熱量を発生する。 In the effective portion 30 of the electrode, the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22 face each other with a predetermined gap in the main scanning direction. Therefore, even in the resistor 40 formed to extend in the main scanning direction in the effective portion 30 of the electrode, a predetermined gap is ensured between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22 that are connected, and a substantially constant resistance value can be provided between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22. In the effective portion 30 of the electrode, the predetermined gap in the main scanning direction between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22 is substantially constant regardless of the position in the sub-scanning direction, so even if the position where the resistor 40 is formed varies slightly in the sub-scanning direction, the resistor 40 provides a substantially constant resistance value between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22, and the resistor generates a predetermined amount of heat when current is applied.

（第２の実施の形態）
図３は、第２の実施の形態のサーマルプリントヘッドの電極の配置を示す上面図である。第２の実施の形態のサーマルプリントヘッドは、電極の配置を除いて第１の実施の形態と同様の構成を有している。以下では、第２の実施の形態の電極の配置について説明する。 Second Embodiment
3 is a top view showing the arrangement of electrodes of a thermal printhead according to the second embodiment. The thermal printhead according to the second embodiment has a similar configuration to that of the first embodiment except for the arrangement of the electrodes. The arrangement of the electrodes in the second embodiment will be described below.

電極は、図示しない基板５１の平坦な主面を覆うグレーズ層５２の上に形成され、主走査方向に延びる櫛歯状の共通電極１０と、共通電極１０に対向して設けられた複数の個別電極２０とから構成されている。共通電極１０は、主走査方向に沿って延びる共通電極連結部１１と、共通電極連結部１１から主走査方向に直交する副走査方向に沿って対向する複数の個別電極２０に向かって延びる複数の共通電極帯状部１２とから構成されている。 The electrodes are formed on a glaze layer 52 that covers the flat main surface of a substrate 51 (not shown), and are composed of a comb-shaped common electrode 10 extending in the main scanning direction and a plurality of individual electrodes 20 arranged opposite the common electrode 10. The common electrode 10 is composed of a common electrode connection portion 11 that extends along the main scanning direction, and a plurality of common electrode strip portions 12 that extend from the common electrode connection portion 11 toward the opposing plurality of individual electrodes 20 along the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction.

共通電極連結部１１は、所定の幅を有して主走査方向に延び、一側から共通電極帯状部１２が突出する第１層１１ａと、同様に所定の幅を有して主走査方向に延び、前記一側を露出させて、一側に対向する他側を経てグレーズ層５２に達するように第１層１１ａの一部を覆う第２層１１ｂとを有している。共通電極１０は、金又は銀で構成されてもよい。共通電極１０は、全体が金又は銀の一方で構成されてもよいし、共通電極連結部１１の第１層１１ａ及び共通電極帯状部１２が金で構成され、共通電極連結部１１の第２層１１ｂが銀で構成されてもよい。 The common electrode connection portion 11 has a first layer 11a that extends in the main scanning direction with a predetermined width and has a common electrode strip portion 12 protruding from one side, and a second layer 11b that also extends in the main scanning direction with a predetermined width, exposes the one side, and covers a part of the first layer 11a so as to reach the glaze layer 52 via the other side opposite the one side. The common electrode 10 may be made of gold or silver. The common electrode 10 may be made entirely of either gold or silver, or the first layer 11a and the common electrode strip portion 12 of the common electrode connection portion 11 may be made of gold, and the second layer 11b of the common electrode connection portion 11 may be made of silver.

共通電極帯状部１２は、その基部１２ａが共通電極連結部１１の第１層１１ａの一側から突出し、対向する個別電極２０に向けて副走査方向に沿って所定の長さにわたって延びている。共通電極帯状部１２は、副走査方向について対称な多角形の形状を有し、主走査方向に所定の間隔で配置されている。共通電極帯状部１２は、共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから所定の長さの範囲において、幅が一定の定幅部１２ｂを形成している。 The common electrode strip portion 12 has its base 12a protruding from one side of the first layer 11a of the common electrode connection portion 11 and extends a predetermined length along the sub-scanning direction toward the opposing individual electrode 20. The common electrode strip portion 12 has a polygonal shape that is symmetrical with respect to the sub-scanning direction, and is arranged at a predetermined interval in the main scanning direction. The common electrode strip portion 12 forms a constant width portion 12b with a constant width within a predetermined length range from the base 12a that connects to the common electrode connection portion 11.

個別電極２０は、対向する共通電極１０に向かって複数の共通電極帯状部１２の間に副走査方向に沿って延びる複数の個別電極帯状部２２と、個別電極帯状部２２の基部２２ａを覆う複数の個別電極連結部２１とを有している。個別電極連結部２１が個別電極帯状部２２の基部２２ａを覆っている部分は、隣接する個別電極連結部２１との間に所定の間隙を有して主走査方向に所定の間隔で配置されている。個別電極連結部２１は、個別電極帯状部２２とは逆の方向に延び、図示しない駆動ＩＣに接続されている。個別電極２０は、金又は銀で構成されてもよい。個別電極２０は、全体が金又は銀の一方で構成されてもよいし、個別電極連結部２１が銀で構成され、個別電極帯状部２２が金で構成されてもよい。 The individual electrode 20 has a plurality of individual electrode strips 22 extending in the sub-scanning direction between the plurality of common electrode strips 12 toward the opposing common electrode 10, and a plurality of individual electrode connecting parts 21 covering the bases 22a of the individual electrode strips 22. The portions where the individual electrode connecting parts 21 cover the bases 22a of the individual electrode strips 22 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the main scanning direction with a predetermined gap between adjacent individual electrode connecting parts 21. The individual electrode connecting parts 21 extend in the opposite direction to the individual electrode strips 22 and are connected to a driving IC (not shown). The individual electrode 20 may be made of gold or silver. The individual electrode 20 may be made entirely of either gold or silver, or the individual electrode connecting parts 21 may be made of silver and the individual electrode strips 22 may be made of gold.

個別電極帯状部２２は、基部２２ａを覆う個別電極連結部２１から対向する共通電極１０に向けて副走査方向に沿って所定の長さにわたって延びている。個別電極帯状部２２は、副走査方向について対称な多角形の形状を有し、主走査方向に所定の間隔で配置されている。個別電極帯状部２２は、個別電極連結部２１に覆われた基部２２ａから所定の長さの範囲において、幅が一定の定幅部２２ｂを形成している。 The individual electrode strip portions 22 extend a predetermined length along the sub-scanning direction from the individual electrode connection portion 21 covering the base portion 22a toward the opposing common electrode 10. The individual electrode strip portions 22 have polygonal shapes that are symmetrical with respect to the sub-scanning direction, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the main scanning direction. The individual electrode strip portions 22 form constant width portions 22b with a constant width within a predetermined length range from the base portion 22a covered by the individual electrode connection portion 21.

共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２は、共通電極連結部１１と個別電極連結部２１との間に、副走査方向に延びる共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２が主走査方向に沿って所定間隔で交互に配置された電極の有効部３０を形成している。電極の有効部３０は、副走査方向に、共通電極帯状部１２の先端を結ぶ直線と個別電極帯状部２２の先端を結ぶ直線とによって挟まれた所定の幅の範囲に形成されている。電極の有効部３０において、隣接する共通電極連結部１１と個別電極連結部２１とは主走査方向に所定の間隙を有して対向している。この間隙は、主走査方向に共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２が交互に配置された間隔の略半分の長さである。 The common electrode strips 12 and the individual electrode strips 22 form an effective portion 30 of the electrode in which the common electrode strips 12 and the individual electrode strips 22 extending in the sub-scanning direction are alternately arranged at a predetermined interval along the main scanning direction between the common electrode connection portion 11 and the individual electrode connection portion 21. The effective portion 30 of the electrode is formed in a range of a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction, sandwiched between a straight line connecting the tips of the common electrode strips 12 and a straight line connecting the tips of the individual electrode strips 22. In the effective portion 30 of the electrode, the adjacent common electrode connection portion 11 and the individual electrode connection portion 21 face each other with a predetermined gap in the main scanning direction. This gap is approximately half the length of the interval at which the common electrode strips 12 and the individual electrode strips 22 are alternately arranged in the main scanning direction.

共通電極帯状部１２は、共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから所定の長さの定幅部１２ｂを超えて電極の有効部３０の一側となる共通電極帯状部１２の先端までの第５領域３５に次第に先細になるテーパー部１２ｃを形成している。 The common electrode strip portion 12 forms a tapered portion 12c that gradually tapers in a fifth region 35 from the base portion 12a that connects to the common electrode connecting portion 11, through the fixed width portion 12b of a predetermined length, to the tip of the common electrode strip portion 12 that is one side of the effective portion 30 of the electrode.

個別電極帯状部２２は、個別電極連結部２１に覆われた基部２２ａから所定の長さの定幅部２２ｂを超えて電極の有効部３０の他側となる個別電極帯状部２２の先端までの第６領域３６において、次第に先細になるテーパー部２２ｃを形成している。ここで、個別電極帯状部２２のテーパー部２２ｃと、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２のテーパー部１２ｃとは、互いに対向する平行な輪郭を形成している。 The individual electrode strip portion 22 forms a tapered portion 22c that gradually tapers in a sixth region 36 from the base portion 22a covered by the individual electrode connecting portion 21, beyond the fixed width portion 22b of a predetermined length, to the tip of the individual electrode strip portion 22 that is the other side of the effective portion 30 of the electrode. Here, the tapered portion 22c of the individual electrode strip portion 22 and the tapered portion 12c of the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 form parallel contours that face each other.

電極の有効部３０には、主走査方向に延びて所定の幅を有する抵抗体４０が形成されている。抵抗体４０は、電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央に位置し、交差する共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２とそれぞれ電気的に接続している。抵抗体４０は、例えば酸化ルテニウム（ＲｕＯ２）及びガラスから構成されてもよい。 A resistor 40 extending in the main scanning direction and having a predetermined width is formed in the electrode effective portion 30. The resistor 40 is located approximately at the center in the width direction of the electrode effective portion 30, and is electrically connected to the intersecting common electrode strip portions 12 and individual electrode strip portions 22. The resistor 40 may be made of, for example, ruthenium oxide ( RuO2 ) and glass.

このサーマルプリントヘッドにおいて、共通電極１０の共通電極帯状部１２は、共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから所定の長さの定幅部１２ｂを超えた第５領域３５においてテーパー部１２ｃを形成している。共通電極帯状部１２の共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから抵抗体４０に達するまでの部分は幅が確保され、構造が強化されている。このため、この部分において共通電極帯状部１２に副走査方向の張力が発生することがあっても、張力は幅方向に分散されるため容易に破断することはない。 In this thermal printhead, the common electrode strip 12 of the common electrode 10 forms a tapered portion 12c in a fifth region 35 that extends beyond the fixed width portion 12b of a predetermined length from the base 12a that connects to the common electrode connection portion 11. The portion of the common electrode strip 12 from the base 12a that connects to the common electrode connection portion 11 to the resistor 40 has a sufficient width and is structurally reinforced. Therefore, even if tension in the sub-scanning direction occurs in this portion of the common electrode strip 12, the tension is distributed in the width direction and the common electrode strip 12 does not easily break.

共通電極帯状部１２を銀で構成する場合には、銀の延性は金よりも劣ることになるが、前述のように共通電極帯状部１２の共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから抵抗体４０に達するまでの部分は幅が広くなり構造が強化されている。このため、金よりも延性に劣る銀を使用した場合にも、副走査方向に発生する張力に耐えることができ、容易に破断することはない。この場合には、共通電極帯状部１２を高価な金に代えて比較的安価な銀で構成することにより、材料に要する費用を削減することができる。 When the common electrode strip 12 is made of silver, the ductility of silver is less than that of gold, but as mentioned above, the portion of the common electrode strip 12 from the base 12a that connects to the common electrode connection portion 11 to the resistor 40 is wider and the structure is strengthened. Therefore, even if silver, which is less ductile than gold, is used, it can withstand the tension generated in the sub-scanning direction and will not easily break. In this case, by making the common electrode strip 12 out of relatively inexpensive silver instead of expensive gold, the cost of materials can be reduced.

電極の有効部３０において、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２とは主走査方向に所定の間隙を有して対向している。このため、電極の有効部３０において主走査方向に延びるように形成された抵抗体４０においても、接続する隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間に所定の間隙が確保され、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間に略一定の抵抗値を提供することができる。電極の有効部３０においては、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間の主走査方向の所定の間隙は、副走査方向の位置にかかわらず略一定であるため、抵抗体４０を形成する位置が副走査方向に多少変動したとしても、抵抗体４０からは隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間に略一定の抵抗値が提供され、抵抗体は通電により所定の発熱量を発生する。 In the effective portion 30 of the electrode, the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22 face each other with a predetermined gap in the main scanning direction. Therefore, even in the resistor 40 formed to extend in the main scanning direction in the effective portion 30 of the electrode, a predetermined gap is ensured between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22 that are connected, and a substantially constant resistance value can be provided between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22. In the effective portion 30 of the electrode, the predetermined gap in the main scanning direction between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22 is substantially constant regardless of the position in the sub-scanning direction, so even if the position where the resistor 40 is formed varies slightly in the sub-scanning direction, the resistor 40 provides a substantially constant resistance value between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22, and the resistor generates a predetermined amount of heat when current is applied.

（第３の実施の形態）
図４は、第３の実施の形態のサーマルプリントヘッドの電極の配置を示す上面図である。第３の実施の形態のサーマルプリントヘッドは、電極の配置を除いて第１の実施の形態と同様の構成を有している。以下では、第３の実施の形態の電極の配置について説明する。 Third Embodiment
4 is a top view showing the arrangement of electrodes of a thermal printhead according to the third embodiment. The thermal printhead according to the third embodiment has a similar configuration to that of the first embodiment except for the arrangement of the electrodes. The arrangement of the electrodes of the third embodiment will be described below.

電極は、図示しない基板５１の平坦な主面を覆うグレーズ層５２の上に形成され、主走査方向に延びる櫛歯状の共通電極１０と、共通電極１０に対向して設けられた複数の個別電極２０とから構成されている。共通電極１０は、主走査方向に沿って延びる共通電極連結部１１と、共通電極連結部１１から主走査方向に直交する副走査方向に沿って対向する複数の個別電極２０に向かって延びる複数の共通電極帯状部１２とから構成されている。 The electrodes are formed on a glaze layer 52 that covers the flat main surface of a substrate 51 (not shown), and are composed of a comb-shaped common electrode 10 extending in the main scanning direction and a plurality of individual electrodes 20 arranged opposite the common electrode 10. The common electrode 10 is composed of a common electrode connection portion 11 that extends along the main scanning direction, and a plurality of common electrode strip portions 12 that extend from the common electrode connection portion 11 toward the opposing plurality of individual electrodes 20 along the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction.

共通電極連結部１１は、所定の幅を有して主走査方向に延び、一側から共通電極帯状部１２が突出する第１層１１ａと、同様に所定の幅を有して主走査方向に延び、前記一側を露出させて、一側に対向する他側を経てグレーズ層５２に達するように第１層１１ａの一部を覆う第２層１１ｂとを有している。共通電極１０は、金又は銀で構成されてもよい。共通電極１０は、全体が金又は銀の一方で構成されてもよいし、共通電極連結部１１の第１層１１ａ及び共通電極帯状部１２が金で構成され、共通電極連結部１１の第２層１１ｂが銀で構成されてもよい。 The common electrode connection portion 11 has a first layer 11a that extends in the main scanning direction with a predetermined width and has a common electrode strip portion 12 protruding from one side, and a second layer 11b that also extends in the main scanning direction with a predetermined width, exposes the one side, and covers a part of the first layer 11a so as to reach the glaze layer 52 via the other side opposite the one side. The common electrode 10 may be made of gold or silver. The common electrode 10 may be made entirely of either gold or silver, or the first layer 11a and the common electrode strip portion 12 of the common electrode connection portion 11 may be made of gold, and the second layer 11b of the common electrode connection portion 11 may be made of silver.

共通電極帯状部１２は、その基部１２ａが共通電極連結部１１の第１層１１ａの一側から突出し、対向する個別電極２０に向けて副走査方向に沿って所定の長さにわたって延びている。共通電極帯状部１２は、副走査方向について対称な多角形の形状を有し、主走査方向に所定の間隔で配置されている。共通電極帯状部１２は、共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから所定の長さの範囲において、幅が一定の第１定幅部１２ｂ１を形成している。 The common electrode strip portion 12 has its base 12a protruding from one side of the first layer 11a of the common electrode connection portion 11 and extends a predetermined length along the sub-scanning direction toward the opposing individual electrode 20. The common electrode strip portion 12 has a polygonal shape that is symmetrical with respect to the sub-scanning direction, and is arranged at a predetermined interval in the main scanning direction. The common electrode strip portion 12 forms a first constant width portion 12b1 with a constant width within a predetermined length range from the base 12a that connects to the common electrode connection portion 11.

個別電極２０は、対向する共通電極１０に向かって複数の共通電極帯状部１２の間に副走査方向に沿って延びる複数の個別電極帯状部２２と、個別電極帯状部２２の基部１２ａを覆う複数の個別電極連結部２１とを有している。個別電極連結部２１が個別電極帯状部２２の基部２２ａを覆っている部分は、隣接する個別電極連結部２１との間に所定の間隙を有して主走査方向に所定の間隔で配置されている。個別電極連結部２１は、個別電極帯状部２２とは逆の方向に延び、図示しない駆動ＩＣに接続されている。個別電極２０は、金又は銀で構成されてもよい。個別電極２０は、全体が金又は銀の一方で構成されてもよいし、個別電極連結部２１が銀で構成され、個別電極帯状部２２が金で構成されてもよい。 The individual electrode 20 has a plurality of individual electrode strips 22 extending in the sub-scanning direction between the plurality of common electrode strips 12 toward the opposing common electrode 10, and a plurality of individual electrode connecting parts 21 covering the bases 12a of the individual electrode strips 22. The portions where the individual electrode connecting parts 21 cover the bases 22a of the individual electrode strips 22 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the main scanning direction with a predetermined gap between adjacent individual electrode connecting parts 21. The individual electrode connecting parts 21 extend in the opposite direction to the individual electrode strips 22 and are connected to a driving IC (not shown). The individual electrode 20 may be made of gold or silver. The individual electrode 20 may be made entirely of either gold or silver, or the individual electrode connecting parts 21 may be made of silver and the individual electrode strips 22 may be made of gold.

個別電極帯状部２２は、基部２２ａを覆う個別電極連結部２１から対向する共通電極１０に向けて副走査方向に沿って所定の長さにわたって延びている。個別電極帯状部２２は、副走査方向について対称な多角形の形状を有し、主走査方向に所定の間隔で配置されている。個別電極帯状部２２は、個別電極連結部２１に覆われた基部２２ａから所定の長さの範囲において、幅が一定の第１定幅部２２ｂ１を形成している。 The individual electrode strip portions 22 extend a predetermined length along the sub-scanning direction from the individual electrode connection portion 21 covering the base portion 22a toward the opposing common electrode 10. The individual electrode strip portions 22 have polygonal shapes that are symmetrical with respect to the sub-scanning direction, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the main scanning direction. The individual electrode strip portions 22 form first constant width portions 22b1 with a constant width within a predetermined length range from the base portion 22a covered by the individual electrode connection portion 21.

共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２は、共通電極連結部１１と個別電極連結部２１との間に、副走査方向に延びる共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２が主走査方向に沿って所定間隔で交互に配置された電極の有効部３０を形成している。電極の有効部３０は、副走査方向に、共通電極帯状部１２の先端を結ぶ直線と個別電極帯状部２２の先端を結ぶ直線とによって挟まれた所定の幅の範囲に形成されている。電極の有効部３０において、隣接する共通電極連結部１１と個別電極連結部２１とは主走査方向に所定の間隙を有して対向している。 The common electrode strip portions 12 and the individual electrode strip portions 22 form an effective portion 30 of the electrode in which the common electrode strip portions 12 and the individual electrode strip portions 22 extending in the sub-scanning direction are alternately arranged at a predetermined interval along the main scanning direction between the common electrode connection portion 11 and the individual electrode connection portion 21. The effective portion 30 of the electrode is formed in a range of a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction, sandwiched between a straight line connecting the tips of the common electrode strip portions 12 and a straight line connecting the tips of the individual electrode strip portions 22. In the effective portion 30 of the electrode, the adjacent common electrode connection portion 11 and individual electrode connection portion 21 face each other with a predetermined gap in the main scanning direction.

共通電極帯状部１２は、共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから所定の長さの第１定幅部１２ｂ１を超えて電極の有効部３０に達するまでの第３領域３３において次第に先細になる第１テーパー部１２ｃ１を形成している。共通電極帯状部１２は、第３領域３３を超えて電極の有効部３０に入ってから電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央に達するまでの第１領域３１において次第に先太になる逆テーパー部１２ｄを形成している。さらに、共通電極帯状部１２は、電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央を超えて電極の有効部３０の一側となる共通電極帯状部１２の先端までの第２領域３２において、幅方向に略中央を超えてから所定の長さでは次第に先細になる第２テーパー部１２ｃ２を形成し、第２テーパー部１２ｃ２に続いて幅が一定の第２定幅部１２ｂ２を形成している。 The common electrode strip 12 forms a first tapered portion 12c1 that gradually tapers in a third region 33 from the base 12a connected to the common electrode connecting portion 11 to the effective portion 30 of the electrode beyond the first constant width portion 12b1 of a predetermined length. The common electrode strip 12 forms a reverse tapered portion 12d that gradually becomes wider in the first region 31 from the third region 33 into the effective portion 30 of the electrode to the approximate center in the width direction of the effective portion 30 of the electrode. Furthermore, the common electrode strip 12 forms a second tapered portion 12c2 that gradually tapers in a predetermined length from the approximate center in the width direction in the second region 32 that extends beyond the approximate center in the width direction of the effective portion 30 of the electrode to the tip of the common electrode strip 12 that is one side of the effective portion 30 of the electrode, and forms a second constant width portion 12b2 with a constant width following the second tapered portion 12c2.

個別電極帯状部２２は、個別電極連結部２１に覆われた基部２２ａから所定の長さの第１定幅部２２ｂ１を超えて電極の有効部３０に達するまでの第４領域３４において次第に先細になる第１テーパー部２２ｃ１を形成している。個別電極帯状部２２は、第４領域３４を超えて電極の有効部３０に入ってから電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央に達するまでの第２領域３２において、第４領域３４に入ってから所定の長さでは幅が一定の第２定幅部２２ｂ２を形成し、第２定幅部２２ｂ２に続いて次第に先細になる第２テーパー部２２ｃ２を形成している。ここで、個別電極帯状部２２の第２テーパー部２２ｃ２と、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２の第２テーパー部１２ｃ２とは、互いに対向する平行な輪郭を形成している。さらに、個別電極帯状部２２は、電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央を超えて電極の有効部３０の他側となる個別電極帯状部２２の先端までの第１領域３１において、次第に先太になる逆テーパー部２２ｄを形成している。ここで、個別電極帯状部２２の逆テーパー部２２ｄと、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２の逆テーパー部１２ｄとは、互いに対向する平行な輪郭を形成している。 The individual electrode strip portion 22 forms a first tapered portion 22c1 that gradually tapers in the fourth region 34 from the base 22a covered by the individual electrode connecting portion 21 to the effective portion 30 of the electrode beyond the first constant width portion 22b1 of a predetermined length. In the second region 32 from the base 22a covered by the individual electrode connecting portion 21 to the effective portion 30 of the electrode beyond the fourth region 34 to the effective portion 30 of the electrode to the center in the width direction of the effective portion 30 of the electrode, the individual electrode strip portion 22 forms a second constant width portion 22b2 whose width is constant for a predetermined length from the fourth region 34, and forms a second tapered portion 22c2 that gradually tapers following the second constant width portion 22b2. Here, the second tapered portion 22c2 of the individual electrode strip portion 22 and the second tapered portion 12c2 of the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 form parallel contours that face each other. Furthermore, the individual electrode strip portion 22 forms a gradually tapered inverted taper portion 22d in the first region 31 extending from approximately the center in the width direction of the electrode's effective portion 30 to the tip of the individual electrode strip portion 22 on the other side of the electrode's effective portion 30. Here, the inverted taper portion 22d of the individual electrode strip portion 22 and the inverted taper portion 12d of the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 form parallel contours that face each other.

電極の有効部３０には、主走査方向に延びて所定の幅を有する抵抗体４０が形成されている。抵抗体４０は、電極の有効部３０の幅方向に略中央に位置し、交差する共通電極帯状部１２及び個別電極帯状部２２とそれぞれ電気的に接続している。抵抗体４０は、例えば酸化ルテニウム（ＲｕＯ２）及びガラスから構成されてもよい。 A resistor 40 extending in the main scanning direction and having a predetermined width is formed in the electrode effective portion 30. The resistor 40 is located approximately at the center in the width direction of the electrode effective portion 30, and is electrically connected to the intersecting common electrode strip portions 12 and individual electrode strip portions 22. The resistor 40 may be made of, for example, ruthenium oxide ( RuO2 ) and glass.

このサーマルプリントヘッドにおいて、共通電極１０の共通電極帯状部１２は、共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから所定の長さの第１定幅部１２ｂ１を超えた第３領域３３において第１テーパー部１２ｃ１を形成し、第１領域３１において逆テーパー部１２ｄを形成している。したがって、第１領域３１において逆テーパー部１２ｄを形成する共通電極帯状部１２は、電極の有効部３０において主走査方向に幅が略一定な間隙よりも幅が太くなっている。また、共通電極帯状部１２は、第３領域３３における第１テーパー部１２ｃ１、基部１２ａから第１テーパー部１２ｃ１に達する第１定幅部１２ｂ１において、同様に、電極の有効部３０において主走査方向に幅が略一定な間隙よりも幅が太くなっている。このように、共通電極帯状部１２の共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから抵抗体４０に達するまでの部分は幅が確保され、構造が強化されている。このため、この部分において共通電極帯状部１２に副走査方向の張力が発生することがあっても、張力は幅方向に分散されるため容易に破断することはない。 In this thermal printhead, the common electrode strip portion 12 of the common electrode 10 forms a first taper portion 12c1 in the third region 33 beyond the first constant width portion 12b1 of a predetermined length from the base portion 12a connected to the common electrode connecting portion 11, and forms an inverse taper portion 12d in the first region 31. Therefore, the common electrode strip portion 12 forming the inverse taper portion 12d in the first region 31 is wider than the gap whose width is approximately constant in the main scanning direction in the effective portion 30 of the electrode. Similarly, the common electrode strip portion 12 is wider than the gap whose width is approximately constant in the main scanning direction in the effective portion 30 of the electrode in the first taper portion 12c1 in the third region 33 and in the first constant width portion 12b1 that reaches from the base portion 12a to the first taper portion 12c1. In this way, the width of the common electrode strip portion 12 from the base 12a that connects to the common electrode connection portion 11 to the resistor 40 is ensured, and the structure is reinforced. Therefore, even if tension in the sub-scanning direction occurs in this portion of the common electrode strip portion 12, the tension is distributed in the width direction and will not easily break.

共通電極帯状部１２を銀で構成する場合には、銀の延性は金よりも劣ることになるが、前述のように共通電極帯状部１２の共通電極連結部１１に接続する基部１２ａから抵抗体４０に達するまでの部分は幅が広くなり構造が強化されている。このため、金よりも延性に劣る銀を使用した場合にも、副走査方向に発生する張力に耐えることができ、容易に破断することはない。この場合には、共通電極帯状部１２を高価な金に代えて比較的安価な銀で構成することにより、材料に要する費用を削減することができる。 When the common electrode strip 12 is made of silver, the ductility of silver is less than that of gold, but as mentioned above, the portion of the common electrode strip 12 from the base 12a that connects to the common electrode connection portion 11 to the resistor 40 is wider and the structure is strengthened. Therefore, even if silver, which is less ductile than gold, is used, it can withstand the tension generated in the sub-scanning direction and will not easily break. In this case, by making the common electrode strip 12 out of relatively inexpensive silver instead of expensive gold, the cost of materials can be reduced.

電極の有効部３０において、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２とは主走査方向に所定の間隙を有して対向している。このため、電極の有効部３０において主走査方向に延びるように形成された抵抗体４０においても、接続する隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間に所定の間隙が確保され、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間に略一定の抵抗値を提供することができる。電極の有効部３０においては、隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間の主走査方向の所定の間隙は、副走査方向の位置にかかわらず略一定であるため、抵抗体４０を形成する位置が副走査方向に多少変動したとしても、抵抗体４０からは隣接する共通電極帯状部１２と個別電極帯状部２２との間に略一定の抵抗値が提供され、抵抗体は通電により所定の発熱量を発生する。 In the effective portion 30 of the electrode, the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22 face each other with a predetermined gap in the main scanning direction. Therefore, even in the resistor 40 formed to extend in the main scanning direction in the effective portion 30 of the electrode, a predetermined gap is ensured between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22 that are connected, and a substantially constant resistance value can be provided between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22. In the effective portion 30 of the electrode, the predetermined gap in the main scanning direction between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22 is substantially constant regardless of the position in the sub-scanning direction, so even if the position where the resistor 40 is formed varies slightly in the sub-scanning direction, the resistor 40 provides a substantially constant resistance value between the adjacent common electrode strip portion 12 and the individual electrode strip portion 22, and the resistor generates a predetermined amount of heat when current is applied.

この発明は、サーマルプリントヘッドの製造に利用することができる。 This invention can be used in the manufacture of thermal printheads.

１０ 共通電極
１１ 共通電極連結部
１２ 共通電極帯状部
２０ 個別電極
２１ 個別電極連結部
２２ 個別電極帯状部
３０ 電極の有効部
４０ 抵抗体
５１ 基板
５２ グレーズ層
１００ 印刷媒体 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 common electrode 11 common electrode connection portion 12 common electrode strip portion 20 individual electrode 21 individual electrode connection portion 22 individual electrode strip portion 30 effective portion of electrode 40 resistor 51 substrate 52 glaze layer 100 print medium

Claims (9)

サーマルプリントヘッドであって、
主面を有する基板と、
前記基板の主面を覆うグレーズ層と、
前記グレーズ層の上に形成され、主走査方向に延びる共通電極連結部と、前記共通電極連結部から主走査方向に直交する副走査方向に延びる複数の共通電極帯状部とを含む共通電極と、
前記グレーズ層の上に形成され、前記複数の共通電極帯状部の間に副走査方向に延びる複数の個別電極帯状部をそれぞれ含む複数の個別電極と、
前記複数の共通電極帯状部及び前記複数の個別電極帯状部が主走査方向に所定の間隔で交互に配置されて形成された電極の有効部に主走査方向に延びるように形成され、交差する前記複数の共通電極帯状部及び前記複数の個別電極帯状部に接続された抵抗体と、
前記共通電極、前記複数の個別電極及び前記抵抗体を覆うように前記グレーズ層の上に形成された被覆層と
を含み、
前記電極の有効部において隣接する前記複数の共通電極帯状部と前記複数の個別電極帯状部とが形成する間隙は主走査方向の幅が一定であり、前記複数の共通電極帯状部は前記共通電極連結部に接続する基部から前記電極の有効部までの範囲において主走査方向の幅が主走査方向の前記間隙の幅よりも広い部分を含み、
前記複数の共通電極帯状部は、それぞれ前記基部から前記電極の有効部までの範囲に、テーパー部を含み、
前記テーパー部は、前記電極の有効部に達する第１テーパー部と、前記電極の有効部において前記第１テーパー部に接続する第２テーパー部とを含み、前記第２テーパー部は前記第１テーパー部よりもテーパーの傾きが緩やかである、
サーマルプリントヘッド。 A thermal print head,
a substrate having a major surface;
a glaze layer covering a major surface of the substrate;
a common electrode formed on the glaze layer, the common electrode including a common electrode connector extending in a main scanning direction and a plurality of common electrode strip portions extending from the common electrode connector in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction;
a plurality of individual electrodes formed on the glaze layer, each of the individual electrodes including a plurality of individual electrode strip portions extending in a sub-scanning direction between the plurality of common electrode strip portions;
a resistor formed in an effective portion of an electrode in which the common electrode strip portions and the individual electrode strip portions are alternately arranged at a predetermined interval in the main scanning direction, the resistor being formed so as to extend in the main scanning direction and connected to the intersecting common electrode strip portions and the individual electrode strip portions;
a covering layer formed on the glaze layer so as to cover the common electrode, the individual electrodes, and the resistor;
a gap formed between the plurality of adjacent common electrode strip portions and the plurality of adjacent individual electrode strip portions in an effective portion of the electrode has a constant width in a main scanning direction, and the plurality of common electrode strip portions include a portion whose width in the main scanning direction is wider than the width of the gap in the main scanning direction in a range from a base portion connected to the common electrode connection portion to the effective portion of the electrode,
each of the common electrode strip portions includes a tapered portion in a range from the base portion to the effective portion of the electrode;
the tapered portion includes a first tapered portion that reaches the effective portion of the electrode and a second tapered portion that is connected to the first tapered portion in the effective portion of the electrode, and the second tapered portion has a gentler taper slope than the first tapered portion;
Thermal print head. 前記電極の有効部における主走査方向の前記間隙の幅は、前記複数の共通電極帯状部及び前記複数の個別電極帯状部が主走査方向に交互に配置された所定の間隔の半分の長さである請求項１に記載のサーマルプリントヘッド。 The thermal printhead according to claim 1, wherein the width of the gap in the main scanning direction in the effective portion of the electrode is half the length of a predetermined interval at which the multiple common electrode strips and the multiple individual electrode strips are alternately arranged in the main scanning direction. 前記複数の共通電極帯状部及び前記複数の個別電極帯状部は、それぞれが延びる副走査方向について対称な形状を有する請求項１又は２に記載のサーマルプリントヘッド。 The thermal printhead according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the common electrode strips and the individual electrode strips each have a symmetrical shape with respect to the sub-scanning direction in which they extend. 前記複数の共通電極帯状部及び前記複数の個別電極帯状部は、それぞれ多角形の形状を有する請求項１から３のいずれか一項に記載のサーマルプリントヘッド。 The thermal printhead according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of common electrode strips and the plurality of individual electrode strips each have a polygonal shape. 前記複数の共通電極帯状部は、それぞれ前記基部から前記第１テーパー部に達するまでの第１定幅部と、前記第２テーパー部を超えて前記複数の共通電極帯状部の先端に達するまでの第２定幅部とをさらに含む請求項１に記載のサーマルプリントヘッド。 2. A thermal printhead as described in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of common electrode strip portions further includes a first constant width portion extending from the base portion to the first tapered portion, and a second constant width portion extending beyond the second tapered portion to the tip of each of the plurality of common electrode strip portions. 前記共通電極連結部は、前記複数の共通電極帯状部に接続する第１層と、前記第１層の一部を覆って前記グレーズ層に達する第２層とを含む請求項１から５のいずれか一項に記載のサーマルプリントヘッド。 6. The thermal printhead of claim 1, wherein the common electrode connector includes a first layer that connects to the plurality of common electrode strip portions and a second layer that covers a portion of the first layer and reaches the glaze layer. 前記第１層及び前記第２層は、それぞれ金又は銀によって形成された請求項６に記載のサーマルプリントヘッド。 7. The thermal printhead of claim 6 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are each formed of gold or silver. 前記個別電極は、それぞれ前記複数の個別電極帯状部の基部を覆い、前記複数の個別電極帯状部とは逆の方向に延びる複数の個別電極連結部をさらに含む請求項１から７のいずれか一項に記載のサーマルプリントヘッド。 The thermal printhead of claim 1 , wherein the individual electrodes further include a plurality of individual electrode connectors each covering a base of the plurality of individual electrode strip portions and extending in a direction opposite to the plurality of individual electrode strip portions. 前記複数の個別電極帯状部及び前記複数の個別電極連結部は、それぞれ金又は銀で形成された請求項８に記載のサーマルプリントヘッド。 The thermal printhead of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of individual electrode strip portions and the plurality of individual electrode connectors are each formed of gold or silver.
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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001001562A (en) 1999-06-22 2001-01-09 Riso Kagaku Corp Thick film type thermal head
US20070103538A1 (en) 2005-11-07 2007-05-10 Busch Brian D Thermal printing head with two-dimensional array of resistive heating elements, and method for printing using same
JP2012228871A (en) 2011-04-13 2012-11-22 Rohm Co Ltd Thermal head and method for manufacturing the same
JP2019031038A (en) 2017-08-09 2019-02-28 ローム株式会社 Thermal print head and thermal print head manufacturing method
JP2019098671A (en) 2017-12-06 2019-06-24 ローム株式会社 Thermal print head

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001001562A (en) 1999-06-22 2001-01-09 Riso Kagaku Corp Thick film type thermal head
US20070103538A1 (en) 2005-11-07 2007-05-10 Busch Brian D Thermal printing head with two-dimensional array of resistive heating elements, and method for printing using same
JP2012228871A (en) 2011-04-13 2012-11-22 Rohm Co Ltd Thermal head and method for manufacturing the same
JP2019031038A (en) 2017-08-09 2019-02-28 ローム株式会社 Thermal print head and thermal print head manufacturing method
JP2019098671A (en) 2017-12-06 2019-06-24 ローム株式会社 Thermal print head

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