JPH02295757A - Thermal print head - Google Patents

Thermal print head

Info

Publication number
JPH02295757A
JPH02295757A JP11818589A JP11818589A JPH02295757A JP H02295757 A JPH02295757 A JP H02295757A JP 11818589 A JP11818589 A JP 11818589A JP 11818589 A JP11818589 A JP 11818589A JP H02295757 A JPH02295757 A JP H02295757A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
head
substrate
platen
board
base substrate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
JP11818589A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JPH057187B2 (en
Inventor
Shigeo Ota
茂雄 太田
Tsutomu Nakamura
勉 中村
Masato Sakai
正人 酒井
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rohm Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Rohm Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rohm Co Ltd filed Critical Rohm Co Ltd
Priority to JP11818589A priority Critical patent/JPH02295757A/en
Publication of JPH02295757A publication Critical patent/JPH02295757A/en
Publication of JPH057187B2 publication Critical patent/JPH057187B2/ja
Granted legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve print quality and to avoid aging of print quality by arranging the terminal sections of a bead substrate collectively in the longitudinally central section, securing a stop cover to the central section of 8 base substrate and integrally forming bent platen positioning chips at the opposite and sections of the base substrate. CONSTITUTION:Platen positioning chips 12 are formed integrally, while being bent, with a base substrate 1. A bead substrate 5 is secured while being positioned specifically to the base substrate 1 thus automatically ensuring the positional accuracy between a heating dot row 2 and the joint groove 14 in the positioning chip 12 which is critical in the positional relation with respect to the platen. Comb tooth terminal sections 4 are arranged collectively in the longitudinally central section of the bead substrate 5, where a corresponding circuit board 8 for external connection is shortened and the portion for pressing the terminal sections 4, 6 of the head substrate 5 and the circuit board 8 are limited to the longitudinally central section by means of a stop cover 11. When the base substrate is made of ferrous board, for example, and the entire longitudinal region of the print head is energized toward the platen 13 through a plurality of springs 21, the heating dot 2 can be pushed with uniform force against the surface of the platen 13.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】[Detailed description of the invention] 【産業上の利用分野】[Industrial application field]

この発明は、サーマルプリントヘッドに関する。 The present invention relates to a thermal print head.

【従来の技術および解決すべき課題】[Conventional technology and problems to be solved]

従来のこの種のサーマルプリントヘッドは、第5図に示
すように、平面視長矩形をしたアルミニウム製のベース
基板aの上に、ヘッド基板bと、外部回路との接続用基
板Cとを取付けるとともに、後述する端子部の重合部を
押圧するための押えカバーdを、上記接続用基板Cの上
からベース基板aに重ね合わせた構造となっている。上
記ヘッド基板bは、その表面に長手方向に列状に並ぶ多
数個の発熱ドフ}eおよびその駆動回路fを有し、また
、その一例部には、ほぼその全長にわたり櫛歯状の端子
部gが成形されている.一方、上記接続用基板Cは、一
側部裏面に、上記ヘッド基板bの端子部gに対応した櫛
歯状の端子部hが形成された樹脂フィルム製のフレキシ
ブル回路基板iと、このフレキシブル回路基板iを裏面
から補強す.るガラスエポキシ等からなる補強板jとで
構成されている.そして第6図に示すように、上記ヘッ
ド基板bと接続用基板Cとは、上記量端子部g,  h
を重合させることにより、電気的に接続されている. また、上記押えカバーdは、′その全長にわたって所定
間隔で設けられた取付け孔mに通挿される取付けネジl
によって、上記接続用基板Cと共締め状にベース基板a
上に重ねて固定されており、その裏面に保持される紐状
の押圧ゴムkが上記両端子部g,  hを相互押圧して
いる.ところで、上記のように構成されるプリントヘッ
ドは、プリンタに組込まれたとき、プラテンpによって
バックアンプされる記録紙を発熱ドントeに押し当てな
がら送るようにして使用され、かつ、記録紙の装填、お
よび、ヘッド自体のメインテナンスの便宜のため、プリ
ントヘッドとプラテンpの一方をプリンタのシャーシに
、他方をシャーシに対して回動開閉できる部材に取付け
るのが普通である。そのため、上記開閉部材が閉じられ
たときにプラテンpの側面母線が正確に列状の発熱ドッ
トeと対応するように、プリントヘッド側に位置決め用
のブラケット0が取付けられる。 位置決め用ブラケット0は、プリントヘッドのベース基
板aの裏面に当てかわれる基部SからL字状に起立し、
かつプラテンpの支軸端部に係合しうる案内#Qを備え
た本体部rをもつように板材を折曲して作成され、第5
図に示すように、上記基部Sをベース基板aの裏面両端
部にそれぞれネジtで固定される。 上記のような位置決めブラケット0を付設すべきプリン
トヘッドにおいては、プラテンの軸に繰り返し係合する
ために機械強度が要求されることから鉄系の材料で別途
形成せざるをえない位置決めブラケット0がアルミニウ
ム製のベース基板aに加えて必要なために部品点数が多
く、かつ、係合溝qの発熱ドン}eに対する正確な位置
関係が必要な上記位置決めブラケット0をベース基板a
の裏面にネジで取付けねばならないという作業上の困難
性があった. 加えて、従来のサーマルプリントヘッドにおいては、ベ
ース基板aおよびヘッド基板bのほぼ全長にわたって押
えカバーdが複数本のネジlで重合固定されることから
、ヘッド基板aが押えカバーdより先に昇温することに
起因してプリントヘッド全体に一時的に反りが発生して
印字品質が変化することを防止するために、ベース基板
aの厚みを増してその断面係数をできるだけ大きくする
必要があり、このことは、プリントヘッド全体の厚み増
加および重量増加を招いていた.この発明は、以上の事
情のもとで考え出されたものであって、上記の従来の二
つの問題、すなわち、位置決めブラケット0を取付ける
ことによる部品点数の増加と作業コストの増加の問題、
および、ベース基板aの断面係数を増大させる必要から
生じる大型化、重量化の問題を簡単な構成によって一挙
に解消できるサーマルプリントヘッドを提供することを
その課題とする。
In a conventional thermal print head of this type, as shown in FIG. 5, a head substrate b and a substrate C for connection to an external circuit are attached to an aluminum base substrate a that is rectangular in plan view. At the same time, a presser cover d for pressing the overlapping portion of the terminal portion, which will be described later, is superimposed on the base substrate a from above the connection substrate C. The head substrate b has a large number of heat generating doves }e arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction on its surface and a driving circuit f thereof, and a comb-shaped terminal portion is provided on one example part over almost the entire length of the head substrate b. g is formed. On the other hand, the connection board C includes a flexible circuit board i made of a resin film on which a comb-shaped terminal part h corresponding to the terminal part g of the head board b is formed on the back surface of one side, and a flexible circuit board i made of a resin film. Reinforce board i from the back side. It consists of a reinforcing plate j made of glass epoxy, etc. As shown in FIG. 6, the head substrate b and the connection substrate C have the terminal portions g, h
It is electrically connected by polymerizing. The presser cover d also has mounting screws l inserted through mounting holes m provided at predetermined intervals along its entire length.
, the base board a is fastened together with the connection board C.
A string-like pressing rubber k held on the back side presses both terminals g and h against each other. By the way, when the print head configured as described above is installed in a printer, it is used so that the recording paper that is back-amplified by the platen p is fed while being pressed against the heating donut e, and the recording paper is loaded. , and for convenience of maintenance of the head itself, it is common to attach one of the print head and the platen p to the chassis of the printer, and the other to a member that can be rotated to open and close with respect to the chassis. Therefore, a positioning bracket 0 is attached to the print head side so that the side generatrix of the platen p accurately corresponds to the row of heating dots e when the opening/closing member is closed. The positioning bracket 0 stands up in an L-shape from a base S applied to the back surface of the base board a of the print head,
It is made by bending a plate material so as to have a main body part r equipped with a guide #Q that can be engaged with the end of the support shaft of the platen p.
As shown in the figure, the base S is fixed to both ends of the back surface of the base substrate a with screws t, respectively. In the print head to which the positioning bracket 0 as described above is attached, the positioning bracket 0 must be separately formed from iron-based material because mechanical strength is required to repeatedly engage the shaft of the platen. The above positioning bracket 0, which requires a large number of parts in addition to the aluminum base board a, and which requires an accurate positional relationship of the engagement groove q with respect to the heat generating donut }e, is attached to the base board a.
The problem was that it had to be attached to the back side of the machine using screws. In addition, in conventional thermal print heads, the presser cover d is superimposed and fixed over almost the entire length of the base substrate a and the head substrate b with a plurality of screws l, so that the head substrate a is lifted up before the presser cover d. In order to prevent the printing quality from changing due to temporary warping of the entire print head due to heating, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the base substrate a and increase its section modulus as much as possible. This resulted in an increase in the overall thickness and weight of the print head. This invention was devised under the above-mentioned circumstances, and addresses the above-mentioned two problems of the conventional art, namely, the problem of an increase in the number of parts and an increase in work cost due to the installation of the positioning bracket 0.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal print head that can solve the problems of increasing size and weight due to the need to increase the section modulus of the base substrate a with a simple configuration.

【課題を解決するための手段】[Means to solve the problem]

上記の課題を解決するため、本願発明では、次の技術的
手段を講じている。 すなわち、本願発明は、ベース基板上に、列状配置され
た発熱ドノトおよびその駆動回路を有するヘッド基板と
、一側部裏面に形成された端子部を上記ヘッド基板の一
側部表面に形成された端子部に重ねるようにして接続さ
れる外部接続用回路基板と、上記ヘッド基板の側緑に沿
って形成され、上記両端子部の重合部を押圧固定すると
ともに、上記駆動回路の上方に延出してこれを保護する
押えカバーとを備え、上記ヘッド基板上に所定圧カで押
圧接触させられるプラテンとの間に記録紙を案内通過さ
せて印字を行うサーマルプリントヘッドにおいて、 上記ヘッド基板の上記端子部をヘッド基板長手方向中央
部に集中配置することにより、上記ベース基板中央部に
おいて上記外部接続用回路基板と上記ヘッド基板の端子
部との重合部を押圧固定しつつ、上記押えカバーをその
中央部において上記ベース基板に固定する一方、上記ベ
ース基板の両端部に、プラテンの軸およびこれと一定関
係にある部材に案内係合される係合溝を有する位置決め
片を折曲一体形成したことを特徴とする。
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical measures. That is, the present invention includes a head substrate having heating dots and their drive circuits arranged in a row on a base substrate, and a terminal portion formed on the back surface of one side portion on the surface of one side portion of the head substrate. a circuit board for external connection that is connected to the terminal portions in an overlapping manner; A thermal print head that prints by guiding recording paper between a platen that is brought into pressure contact with the head substrate with a predetermined pressure, and a presser cover that protects the presser cover when the print head is exposed to the head substrate. By centrally arranging the terminal portions at the center in the longitudinal direction of the head board, the overlapping portion of the external connection circuit board and the terminal portion of the head board is pressed and fixed at the center portion of the base board, and the presser cover can be held there. Positioning pieces are fixed to the base substrate at the center, and are integrally formed at both ends of the base substrate by bending and having engagement grooves that are guided and engaged with the shaft of the platen and members in a constant relationship therewith. It is characterized by

【作用および効果】[Action and effect]

本願発明では、プラテンに対する位置決め片をベース基
板の両端部に一体折曲形成している.したがって、従来
別体であった位置決めブラケットがベース基板に一体化
されることから部品点数の減少によるコストダウンが図
れる。そして、位置決め片の係合溝とヘッド基板上の発
熱ドットとの間の位置精度の確保の問題は、ベース基板
に対するヘッド基板の位置決め精度の問題として処理す
ることができ、ベース基板に対してヘッド基板を従来と
同じ手法によって位置合わせするだけで解決される。し
たがって、従来のように、表面側からヘッド基板上の発
熱ドットと位置決めブラケットの案内係合溝との位置関
係を認識しつつベース基板の裏面からブラケットをネジ
止めするという面倒な作業は解消される。 次に、本願発明では、へ,ド基板に設けるべき端子部を
その長手方向に集中配置している。したがって、これに
重ねるべき外部接続用回路基板における端子部、および
、これらを重合固定すべき押圧部分もプリントヘッドの
長手方向中央部に限られたわずかな部分でよい。このこ
とは、押えカバーをベース基板に対して固定するべき部
分を長手方向中央部に限ってよいことを意味し、したが
って、全長にわたってベース基板と押えカバーとを互い
に固定する従来例で存在していた昇温による反りの問題
が解消される。これにより、ベース基板の断面係数をそ
れほど上げる必要がなくなり、たとえば、ベース基板を
鉄系の板材で形成することも可能となり、プリントヘッ
ドの薄形化、軽量化が実現できる。 そして、本願発明の構成は、さらに重要な意味を含んで
いる。 すなわち、従来のサーマルプリントヘッドは、印字品質
の確保のために曲げ剛性が大きくてはならない、換言す
ると、熱応力、または外力によって曲がってはならない
、という前提にたっているが、本願発明はこの前提を打
ち破っているのである。 上述のように、本願発明では、ベース基板と押えカバー
とが互いの長手方向中央部のみで実質的に連結されてい
るが、このことには、ベース基板が先に昇温しでもその
熱応力によってはヘッド全体に反りが発生することはな
い、という第一の意味の他に、サーマルヘッドとしての
動作、すなわち、印字情報にしたがった所定の発熱ドッ
トの加熱、という動作になんら悪影響を及ぼすことなく
、ヘッド全体をフレキシブルに曲げることができるよう
に形成することが可能となる. すなわち、本願発明のサーマルプリントヘッドによれば
、両端に一体形成された位置決め片によってプラテンの
軸に対するヘッドの長手軸の方向を規定しつつ、ヘッド
全体をたとえば複数のばねによってプラテンの表面に向
けて押圧すれば、プラテンの取付け精度や表面真円度に
影響を受けることなく、発熱ドットをその配列長手方向
のすべての部分において均一な押圧力によってプラテン
表面に対して押圧することができるように構成すること
が可能となり、印字品質が向上するとともに、印字品質
の経時的変化を極力回避することができるのである.
In the present invention, positioning pieces for the platen are integrally bent at both ends of the base substrate. Therefore, since the positioning bracket, which was conventionally separate, is integrated into the base board, costs can be reduced by reducing the number of parts. The problem of ensuring positional accuracy between the engagement groove of the positioning piece and the heat-generating dots on the head board can be treated as a problem of positioning accuracy of the head board with respect to the base board. The problem can be solved simply by aligning the substrates using the same conventional method. Therefore, the troublesome work of screwing the bracket from the back side of the base board while recognizing the positional relationship between the heat generating dot on the head board and the guide engagement groove of the positioning bracket from the front side, as in the past, is eliminated. . Next, in the present invention, the terminal portions to be provided on the hard board are concentrated in the longitudinal direction thereof. Therefore, the terminal portion of the external connection circuit board to be overlapped thereon and the pressing portion to which these are to be superimposed and fixed may be only a small portion limited to the longitudinal center portion of the print head. This means that the portion of the presser cover that needs to be fixed to the base board can be limited to the central portion in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, in conventional examples, the base board and the presser cover are fixed to each other over the entire length. This solves the problem of warping due to temperature rise. This eliminates the need to increase the section modulus of the base substrate so much, for example, it becomes possible to form the base substrate from an iron-based plate material, and the print head can be made thinner and lighter. The configuration of the present invention has even more important meaning. That is, conventional thermal print heads are based on the premise that bending rigidity must not be large in order to ensure printing quality, in other words, that they must not be bent by thermal stress or external force, but the present invention overcomes this premise. It is defeating the. As described above, in the present invention, the base substrate and the presser cover are substantially connected to each other only at the central portions in the longitudinal direction. In addition to the first meaning that warping does not occur in the entire head, it does not have any negative effect on the operation as a thermal head, that is, heating a predetermined heating dot according to the printed information. This makes it possible to form the entire head so that it can be bent flexibly. That is, according to the thermal print head of the present invention, the direction of the longitudinal axis of the head with respect to the axis of the platen is defined by the positioning pieces integrally formed at both ends, and the entire head is directed toward the surface of the platen by, for example, a plurality of springs. When pressed, the heating dots are configured so that they can be pressed against the platen surface with a uniform pressing force in all parts in the longitudinal direction of the array, without being affected by the mounting accuracy or surface roundness of the platen. This makes it possible to improve print quality and avoid changes in print quality over time as much as possible.

【実施例の説明】[Explanation of Examples]

以下、本願発明の実施例を図面を参照して具体的に説明
する. 第1図は、本願発明にかかるサーマルプリントヘッドの
一実施例の分解斜視図である。この図に示すように、サ
ーマルプリントヘッドのベース基板1の上には、列状配
置された発熱ドソト2およびその駆動回路3を有すると
ともに、一例部表面に櫛歯状端子部4が形成されたセラ
ミック製のヘッド基板5と、一側部裏面に上記ヘッド基
仮5の櫛歯状端子部4に対応する櫛歯状端子部6を有し
、ガラスエポキシでできた補強板7を裏打ちした外部接
続用回路基板8とが、双方の櫛歯状端子部4.6同士を
重ね合わせるようにして配置されている.そして、上記
ヘッド基板5の側緑に沿って配置され、上記両端子部4
.6の重合部9を押圧固定するとともに、上記駆動回路
3の上方へ延出するカバ一部10を有する押えカバー1
1が上記ベース基板1に対して固定されている. 上記押えカバー11は、後記するように上記櫛歯状端子
部4.6がヘッドの長手力向中央部に集中配置されてい
ることから、ベース基板に対する固定部もそれにあわせ
て短縮化されており、カバ一部10のみがすべての駆動
回路3を保護しうるように両翼に延びている. ヘッド基板5は、これに作り込む回路パターンを工夫す
ることにより、上記櫛歯状端子部6をその長手方向中央
部に集中配置しており、これに対応して外部接続用回路
基板8それ自体のヘッド長手方向長さも短縮されている
. 第1図に良く表れているように、ベース基板1は、たと
えば鉄系の板状部材をプレス成形したものが採用されて
おり、その両端部に、位置決め片12が折曲一体形成さ
れている.位置決め片12は、プラテン13の軸端部、
またはプラテンの軸と一定の位置関係にある部材に案内
係合しうる係合溝14が形成されている。「従来の技術
および解決すべき課題」の項で説明したように、プリン
タにおいては、サーマルプリントヘッドとプラテンの一
方をプリンタのシャーシに取付け、他方をシャーシに対
して回動開閉できる部材に取付けるのであるが、上記の
位置決め片12は、上記回動部材を閉じたとき、サーマ
ルプリントヘッドとプラテンとの位置関係を常に一定に
規制するためのものである.通常、プラテンの側面母線
がプリントヘッドの発熱ドット列2に正確に沿うように
上記位置関係が決められる。 上記ベース基板1に対するヘッド基板5の取付けは、接
着等で行われ、ヘッド基板5をあらかじめ固定したベー
ス基板1と外部接続用基板8と押えカバー11との結合
は、押えカバー11と外部接続用基板8の所定部位に形
成したねじ通し孔15に連通挿した固定ネジ16をベー
ス基板lのねじ孔l7に螺合することにより行われる.
この際、押えカバー11の裏面に形成し,た保持溝18
に保持させた紐状の弾性体l9がヘッド基板5の端子部
4と外部接続用回路基板8の端子部6の重合部9を上か
ら弾性的に押圧してこれらの電気的導通を確実にする.
なお、第1図において符号20は、図示しないノックピ
ンによって相互の位置決めを行うためにベース基板1、
外部接続用回路基板8および押えカバー11に設けられ
た位置決め孔を示す. 以上の構成において、ベース基板1は、プラテンに対す
る位置決めを行うための位置決め片l2を一体に折曲形
成しているから、従来のように別途形成した位置決めブ
ラケットをベース基板1の裏面にネジ止めする必要はな
くなり、しかも、ベース基板lに対して所定の位置決め
を行いながらヘッド基板5を固定するだけで、プラテン
に対する位置関係において問題となる発熱ドット列2と
位置決め片12の係合溝14との間の位置精度が自動的
に確保される.こうしたベース基板1に対するヘッド基
板5の位置決めは、たとえば、ヘッド基板5の回路パタ
ーン上に設けた認識標を使ってプリントヘッドの表面側
から容易に行うことができる. そして、ヘッド基仮5に設ける櫛歯端子部4をヘッド基
板5の長手力向中央部に集中配置するとともに、これに
対応する外部接続用回路基板8も短くし、そして、押え
カバー11によって上記ヘッド基板5と外部接続用回路
基板8の両端子部4.6を押圧する部分もヘッドの長手
方向中央に限っているから、たとえ動作初期にベース基
板lが先に昇温しでも熱応力によってプリントヘッド全
体に反りが生じることを回避することができる。したが
って、従来のようにベース基板lの断面係数を大きくす
る必要がなくなり、実施例のように、鉄系の板材でベー
ス基板1を構成することも可能となる.そうすると、プ
リントヘッドの重量の多くの部分を占めていたベース基
板1の重量を大幅に軽量化して全体の軽量化を図ること
ができ、同時にプリントヘッドの厚み方向の小型化も図
れる.また、このようにベース基板1をプレス成形に適
した鉄系の板材で構成することにより、一体折曲形成す
べき位置決め片12の形成がより容易となる. そして、上記のようにヘッド基仮5と外部接続用回路基
板8の両端子部4,6の重合部9をヘッドの長手方向中
央部に限定して配置し、押えカバー11による上記重合
部9の押圧部分を長手力向中央部に限定することはまた
、ヘッド全体を比較的小さい力で撓みうるフレキシブル
なものとしても、ヘッド基板の電気的特性になんら悪影
響を及ぼさないことを意味する. すなわち、実施例のようにベース基板1を鉄系の板材で
構成するとその断面係数は従来に比して大幅に小さくな
り、外力によって比較的容易に弾性的に撓みうろことと
なるが、このことは、プリンタを次のように構成するこ
とが可能となる.すなわち、第4図に示すように、複数
個のばね21を用いるなどすることにより、プリントヘ
ッドの長手方向の全域をプラテン13に向けて付勢する
のである。そうすると、プリントヘッド全体が撓みうろ
ことから、プラテン13の取付け精度や表面真円度に影
響を受けることな《、発熱ドフト2をその配列長手方向
のすべての部分において均一な力でプラテン13表面に
押し付けることができ、しかも、熱応力による変形もな
いことから、印字品質が根本的に改善されるとともに、
その経時的な変化も回避することができるのである。
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a thermal print head according to the present invention. As shown in this figure, on the base substrate 1 of the thermal print head, there are heating pads 2 and their driving circuits 3 arranged in a row, and a comb-shaped terminal portion 4 is formed on the surface of the part. A head substrate 5 made of ceramic, a comb-teeth-shaped terminal portion 6 corresponding to the comb-teeth-shaped terminal portion 4 of the head base 5 on the back surface of one side, and an exterior lined with a reinforcing plate 7 made of glass epoxy. A connecting circuit board 8 is arranged such that both comb-shaped terminal portions 4.6 are overlapped with each other. The both terminal portions 4 are arranged along the green side of the head substrate 5.
.. A presser cover 1 having a cover portion 10 that presses and fixes the overlapping portion 9 of the drive circuit 3 and extends above the drive circuit 3.
1 is fixed to the base substrate 1. As will be described later, in the presser cover 11, since the comb-shaped terminal portions 4.6 are concentrated in the center in the longitudinal direction of the head, the portions fixed to the base board are also shortened accordingly. , only a cover portion 10 extends over both wings so as to protect all drive circuits 3. By devising a circuit pattern built into the head board 5, the comb-like terminal part 6 is concentrated in the center in the longitudinal direction, and correspondingly, the external connection circuit board 8 itself is The length of the head in the longitudinal direction has also been shortened. As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the base substrate 1 is made of, for example, a press-molded iron-based plate member, and positioning pieces 12 are bent and integrally formed at both ends of the base substrate 1. .. The positioning piece 12 is located at the shaft end of the platen 13,
Alternatively, an engagement groove 14 is formed that can be guided and engaged with a member that is in a fixed positional relationship with the axis of the platen. As explained in the "Prior Art and Problems to be Solved" section, in printers, one of the thermal print head and platen is attached to the printer chassis, and the other is attached to a member that can be rotated to open and close with respect to the chassis. However, the positioning piece 12 is for regulating the positional relationship between the thermal print head and the platen to always be constant when the rotating member is closed. Normally, the above-mentioned positional relationship is determined so that the side generatrix of the platen is precisely along the heat generating dot row 2 of the print head. The attachment of the head substrate 5 to the base substrate 1 is performed by adhesion or the like, and the connection between the base substrate 1 to which the head substrate 5 is fixed in advance, the external connection substrate 8, and the presser cover 11 is performed by the presser cover 11 and the external connection substrate 8. This is done by screwing a fixing screw 16 inserted into a threaded hole 15 formed in a predetermined portion of the board 8 into a threaded hole l7 of the base board l.
At this time, a retaining groove 18 is formed on the back side of the presser cover 11.
A string-shaped elastic body 19 held by the head board 5 elastically presses the overlapping part 9 of the terminal part 4 of the head board 5 and the terminal part 6 of the external connection circuit board 8 from above to ensure electrical continuity between them. do.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes the base substrate 1, which is used for mutual positioning by knock pins (not shown).
The positioning holes provided in the external connection circuit board 8 and the presser cover 11 are shown. In the above configuration, since the base board 1 is integrally formed with the positioning piece l2 for positioning with respect to the platen, a separately formed positioning bracket is screwed to the back surface of the base board 1 as in the conventional case. This is no longer necessary, and by simply fixing the head substrate 5 while performing predetermined positioning with respect to the base substrate l, the problem of the positional relationship between the heating dot row 2 and the engagement groove 14 of the positioning piece 12 with respect to the platen can be eliminated. Positional accuracy between the two locations is automatically ensured. Such positioning of the head substrate 5 with respect to the base substrate 1 can be easily performed from the front side of the print head using, for example, a recognition mark provided on the circuit pattern of the head substrate 5. The comb-teeth terminal portion 4 provided on the head base 5 is centrally arranged in the center in the longitudinal direction of the head substrate 5, and the corresponding external connection circuit board 8 is also shortened. Since the part that presses both the terminal parts 4.6 of the head board 5 and the external connection circuit board 8 is limited to the center in the longitudinal direction of the head, even if the temperature of the base board 1 rises first at the beginning of operation, it will not be affected by thermal stress. It is possible to avoid warping of the entire print head. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to increase the section modulus of the base substrate 1 as in the conventional case, and it is also possible to construct the base substrate 1 from an iron-based plate material as in the embodiment. In this way, the weight of the base substrate 1, which accounts for a large portion of the weight of the print head, can be significantly reduced and the overall weight can be reduced, and at the same time, the print head can be made smaller in the thickness direction. Further, by constructing the base substrate 1 from an iron-based plate material suitable for press molding in this manner, it becomes easier to form the positioning piece 12 which is to be integrally bent. Then, as described above, the overlapping portion 9 of the terminal portions 4 and 6 of the head base 5 and the external connection circuit board 8 is arranged limited to the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the head, and the overlapping portion 9 is covered by the presser cover 11. Limiting the pressing part to the central part in the longitudinal force direction also means that even if the entire head is flexible and can be bent with a relatively small force, it will not have any adverse effect on the electrical characteristics of the head substrate. In other words, if the base substrate 1 is made of an iron-based plate material as in the embodiment, its section modulus will be significantly smaller than that of the conventional one, and it will relatively easily bend elastically and scale due to external force. allows you to configure the printer as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the entire length of the print head is biased toward the platen 13 by using a plurality of springs 21 or the like. Then, since the entire print head flexes, the heat-generating drift 2 is applied to the surface of the platen 13 with uniform force in all parts of the array in the longitudinal direction, without being affected by the mounting accuracy or surface roundness of the platen 13. Since it can be pressed and there is no deformation due to thermal stress, printing quality is fundamentally improved, and
This change over time can also be avoided.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of drawings]

第1図は本願発明のサーマルプリントヘッドの分解斜視
図、第2図は第1図の■−■線断面に相当する組立て断
面図、第3図は第1図の■一■線断面に相当する組立て
断面図、第4図はプリンタヘッドへの組込み状態の一例
を示す断面図、第5図は従来例の分解斜視図、第6図は
第5図におけるVl−VT線断面に相当する組立て断面
図である。
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the thermal print head of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an assembled cross-sectional view corresponding to the cross section taken along the line ■-■ in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line ■-■ in Fig. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of how it is assembled into the printer head, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional example, and FIG. 6 is an assembly corresponding to the Vl-VT line cross section in FIG. 5. FIG.

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] (1)ベース基板上に、列状配置された発熱ドットおよ
びその駆動回路を有するヘッド基板と、一側部裏面に形
成された端子部を上記ヘッド基板の一側部表面に形成さ
れた端子部に重ねるようにして接続される外部接続用回
路基板と、上記ヘッド基板の側縁に沿って形成され、上
記両端子部の重合部を押圧固定するとともに、上記駆動
回路の上方に延出してこれを保護する押えカバーとを備
え、上記ヘッド基板上に所定圧力で押圧接触させられる
プラテンとの間に記録紙を案内通過させて印字を行うサ
ーマルプリントヘッドにおいて、 上記ヘッド基板の上記端子部をヘッド基板長手方向中央
部に集中配置することにより、上記ベース基板中央部に
おいて上記外部接続用回路基板と上記ヘッド基板の端子
部との重合部を押圧固定しつつ、上記押えカバーをその
中央部において上記ベース基板に固定する一方、上記ベ
ース基板の両端部に、プラテンの軸およびこれと一定関
係にある部材に案内係合される係合溝を有する位置決め
片を折曲一体形成したことを特徴とする、サーマルプリ
ントヘッド。
(1) A head substrate having heat-generating dots arranged in a row and a driving circuit thereof on a base substrate, a terminal portion formed on the back surface of one side, and a terminal portion formed on the surface of one side of the head substrate. an external connection circuit board which is connected to the external connection circuit board so as to be overlapped with the head board; and a circuit board formed along the side edge of the head board, which presses and fixes the overlapping part of both the terminal parts, and which extends above the drive circuit. In a thermal print head that prints by guiding recording paper between a platen that is pressed into contact with the head substrate at a predetermined pressure and is provided with a presser cover that protects the head substrate, the terminal portion of the head substrate is connected to the By arranging them centrally in the longitudinal direction of the board, while pressing and fixing the overlapping part of the external connection circuit board and the terminal part of the head board in the center part of the base board, the presser cover can be fixed in the central part of the base board. The present invention is characterized in that positioning pieces are bent and integrally fixed to the base substrate and have engagement grooves that are guided and engaged with the shaft of the platen and a member that is in a certain relationship with the axis of the platen, at both ends of the base substrate. , thermal print head.
JP11818589A 1989-05-10 1989-05-10 Thermal print head Granted JPH02295757A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP11818589A JPH02295757A (en) 1989-05-10 1989-05-10 Thermal print head

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP11818589A JPH02295757A (en) 1989-05-10 1989-05-10 Thermal print head

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP4013305A Division JPH0717072B2 (en) 1992-01-28 1992-01-28 Thermal print head

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH02295757A true JPH02295757A (en) 1990-12-06
JPH057187B2 JPH057187B2 (en) 1993-01-28

Family

ID=14730253

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP11818589A Granted JPH02295757A (en) 1989-05-10 1989-05-10 Thermal print head

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH02295757A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH04263960A (en) * 1991-02-19 1992-09-18 Rohm Co Ltd Support plate of scanning head
JP2005324407A (en) * 2004-05-13 2005-11-24 Minowa Koa Inc Thermal head, heating device and method of using the same

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5631690A (en) * 1994-02-03 1997-05-20 Seikosha Precision Inc. Recording apparatus

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH04263960A (en) * 1991-02-19 1992-09-18 Rohm Co Ltd Support plate of scanning head
JP2005324407A (en) * 2004-05-13 2005-11-24 Minowa Koa Inc Thermal head, heating device and method of using the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH057187B2 (en) 1993-01-28

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