JPH11216927A - Thermal transfer line printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal transfer line printer capable of readily reducing the cost. SOLUTION: This thermal transfer line printer comprises a platen 2, a line thermal head 5, a head displacing means 26 that selectively displaces the line thermal head 5 between a head-up condition wherein the line thermal head 5 is away from the platen and a head-down condition wherein the line thermal head 5 is abutted to the platen 2 to be in the recording condition, a head driving means 27 for driving the head displacing means 26, a cooling fan 25 capable of cooling the line thermal head 5 and a fan driving means 28 for driving the cooling fan 25. The head driving means 27 and fan driving means 28 share one driving motor 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer line printer, and more particularly, to an inexpensive thermal transfer line printer which can be easily reduced in cost.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, the ink of an ink sheet is melted or sublimated by selectively generating heat from a heating element of a line thermal head, and the ink in the melted or sublimated portion is transferred to a recording medium line by line. With this, a thermal transfer line printer that forms an image on a recording medium line by line can achieve high print quality, low noise, low cost,
It is used as an output device of a computer, a word processor, a facsimile or the like for reasons such as easy maintenance. This type of thermal transfer line printer is provided with a cooling fan capable of cooling the line thermal head in order to prevent the temperature of the line thermal head from rising excessively.

[0003]

In recent years, the cost of various products has always been reduced, and the cost of thermal transfer line printers has also been reduced.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer line printer which can easily reduce the cost.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the features of the thermal transfer line printer according to the present invention described in claim 1 include a platen, a line thermal head, and a line thermal head. A head contacting / separating means for performing a contacting / separating operation so as to selectively move at least between a head-up state separated from the platen and a head-down state in which the platen comes into contact with the platen, and drives the head contacting / separating means A head drive unit, a cooling fan capable of cooling the line thermal head, and a fan drive unit for driving the cooling fan, wherein both the head drive unit and the fan drive unit share one drive motor It is in the point. By adopting such a configuration, the operation of contacting and separating the line thermal head and the driving of the cooling fan can be performed by one drive motor. Further, the fan drive means can be provided at a cost of about half or less for one drive motor. Therefore, the cost can be easily reduced to about half of the cost for one drive motor.

In the thermal transfer line printer according to the present invention, the head contacting / separating means includes a cam roller driven by a cam of the cam gear. A head press-contact arm whose section is rotatably supported; a head moving arm to which the line thermal head is attached and whose base end is rotatably supported together with the base end of the head press-contact arm; A pressure spring for pressing the line thermal head against the platen with a predetermined pressing force. By adopting such a configuration, the head contacting / separating means can move between the head-up state in which the line thermal head is at least separated from the platen and the head-down state in which recording can be performed by contacting the platen with a predetermined pressure. Can be easily moved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal transfer line printer according to the first or second aspect, wherein the head drive means is rotatable by the drive motor. A gear, an intermediate gear disposed coaxially with the main gear and rotatable with the main gear, and movably disposed around the intermediate gear as the intermediate gear meshes with the intermediate gear. A pair of transmission gears and a pair of toothless portions that are respectively fitted to the transmission gears are partially formed, and one of the transmission gears selectively meshes according to the rotation direction of the drive motor. And a cam gear having a cam for controlling the movement locus of the line thermal head. And, by adopting such a configuration, the head driving means
The contact / separation operation in which the head contact / separation means selectively moves between the head-up state and the head-down state can be easily and appropriately controlled, and the line thermal head is held in the head-up state or the head-down state. Can be done easily and properly.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal transfer line printer according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the fan driving means is controlled by the driving motor. A rotatable main gear,
An input gear having a tooth portion meshing with the main gear on one end surface and a tooth portion capable of transmitting rotational driving force on an outer peripheral surface; and a plurality of intermediate gears transmitting the rotational driving force of the input gear to the cooling fan. And a transmission gear. And by adopting such a configuration, the fan drive means
The cooling fan can always be driven easily.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of a thermal transfer line printer according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part, and FIG. 2 is a head-up state of a line thermal head. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the head down state of the line thermal head as seen from the side, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the fan driving means as seen from above, and FIG. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a platen 2 called a platen roller is provided in a printer main body (not shown) of the thermal transfer line printer 1 of the present embodiment.
Both ends of the platen 2 are paired with a pair of side plates 3R, which are erected in parallel in the printer body at a predetermined interval.
It is rotatably supported by 3L, and is rotatable by receiving a driving force transmitted from a driving source 4 such as a stepping motor disposed in the printer body. Further, behind the platen 2 in FIG.
A line thermal head 5, which is a long recording head, extends in a direction parallel to the axial direction. The line thermal head 5 includes a plurality of heating elements (not shown) having a length corresponding to a dimension in a row direction of a recording range of various recording media (not shown) such as plain paper and postcards. The heating elements are arranged so as to face each other, and the plurality of heating elements can selectively generate heat based on the recorded information.

The line thermal head 5 is formed to extend obliquely downward to the right in FIG. 1 of a substantially flat head mounting member 6 which also serves as a heat sink formed in a flat E-shape and extends in the longitudinal direction of the platen 2. Mounting part 6a extending in parallel
Is attached to the lower surface of the. A pair of left and right head moving arms 7R and 7R are provided near the longitudinal ends of the upper surface of the head mounting portion 6a of the head mounting member 6 which also serves as the heat radiating plate.
The front end parts located in front of L are respectively attached.
These head moving arms 7 (reference numeral 7 is a general term for head moving arms 7R and 7L) have arm bodies 7a formed in a substantially arc shape as a whole, and side plates 3 (reference numbers 7) of these arm bodies 7a. A pair of right and left head press-contact arms 8R and 8L each having a press-contact body 8a formed in an arc shape similar to the arm body 7a is disposed on one side surface located on the side of the side plates 3R and 3L). Has been established. The base ends of the one head moving arm 7R and the head pressing arm 8R shown on the right side of FIG. 1 are both rotatably supported by support pins 9R provided upright on one side plate 3R. 1
The base ends of the other head moving arm 7L and head pressure contact arm 8L shown on the left are both rotatably supported by support pins 9L (FIGS. 2 and 3) erected on the other side plate 3L. I have. And each support pin 9
(The reference numeral 9 indicates the support pins 9R and 9L collectively) are disposed on the side plate 3 such that their respective axes are coaxial. Further, each of the head press-contact arms 8
As shown in FIG. 1, the tip of the head press-contact spring 10
, The line thermal head 5 is in contact with the distal end portion of the head moving arm 7 in a head-down state described later.
With a predetermined urging force, the platen 2 is brought into contact with the platen 2 with a predetermined pressing force.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each head moving arm 7 and each head press-contact arm 8 are arranged so that their main bodies 7a and 8a overlap with each other. Head pressure welding arm 8
Are formed so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis indicated by reference numeral RC in FIGS. 2 and 3. With the rotation of each head moving arm 7, the head mounting member 6 and the line thermal head 5 are also illustrated. 2 and 3 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis indicated by reference numeral RC.

A part of the outer peripheral surface of the press-contact main body 8a of each of the head press-contact arms 8 extends obliquely upward to the left in FIG. 1 (upward in FIGS. 2 and 3). A rotatable cam roller 11 is provided so as to have a front end portion protruding outwardly located on the side plate 3 side. These cam rollers 11 include a pair of left and right cam gears 12R, 1R.
The 2Ls are in contact with cams 13 (FIG. 1) formed on inner surfaces facing each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the cam gears 12 (the reference numeral 12 generally refers to the cam gears 12R and 12L)
The cam shaft 14 is mounted near the opposite ends thereof so that the cam shaft 14 is prevented from rotating in the circumferential direction.
It is rotatably supported by the side plate 3. Also,
Each cam gear 12 is formed in a substantially spur gear shape as a whole. The cams 13 of the respective cam gears 12 are disposed so as to face each other, and the cam rollers 11 which are in contact with the cams 13 with the rotation of the respective cam gears 12 move with respect to the rotation center of the respective cam gears 12. When the cam gears 12 rotate, the line thermal head 5 is moved up and away from the platen 2 shown in FIG. 2, and the line thermal head 5 is brought into contact with the platen 2 shown in FIG. It is formed to selectively move between two positions of a possible head down state. Further, concave portions 15 are respectively formed in portions of the end faces of the respective cam gears 12 which are located at least on the side plate 3 side except for the central portion and the outer peripheral portion.
Furthermore, on the outer peripheral surface of each of the cam gears 12, FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of transmission gears 16A, 1
6B are formed with a pair of toothless portions 17A and 17B, respectively.

The cam 13 of each of the cam gears 12 is
A groove cam that passes through each cam gear 12 in the thickness direction may be used.

One of the cam gears 12L shown on the left side of FIG. 1 is a pair of transmission gears 17A, 1A rotatably mounted on a rocking plate 18 at appropriate intervals.
7B, and is selectively meshed with one of the transmission gears 16 (the transmission gears 16A, 16A).
B), an intermediate gear 19 meshing with both of the transmission gears 16 is provided.

In this embodiment, in the head-up state shown in FIG. 2, one of the transmission gears 1 shown on the right side of FIG.
6A fits into one tooth missing portion 17A shown on the right side of FIG. 2, and in the head down state shown in FIG. 3, the other transmission gear 16B shown on the right side of FIG. Part 17
B.

1 is formed at the lower right corner of the swinging plate 18 in FIG. 1 to fit into the concave portion 15 of the cam gear 12L. The projection 18a is formed together with each transmission gear 16 by the rotation of the intermediate gear 19. The rotation position, which is the movement position of the rotating rocking plate 18, can be restrained.
The meshing state of each transmission gear 16 that moves around the periphery of the gear 9 with the cam gear 12L can be appropriately controlled.

The intermediate gear 19 includes a side plate 3L.
The main gear 20 is rotatably supported and integrally formed on one end face of the large-diameter main gear 20 facing the side plate 3L, and the main gear 20 is provided on the side plate 3L shown in FIG.
2 is engaged with a pinion gear 22 attached to an output shaft 21a (FIGS. 2 and 3) of a drive motor 21 attached to the motor.

Below the main gear 20, an input gear 23 is arranged as shown in FIGS. The input gear 23 includes a lower gear 23 meshing with the main gear 20.
a, and an upper gear 23b capable of transmitting a plurality of rotation driving forces of the input gear 23 to the three intermediate transmission gears 24 in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, an intermittent motion mechanism 34 is formed between the lower gear 23a and the upper gear 23b, so that the lower gear 23a rotates in a direction opposite to the direction in which the lower gear 23a has been rotated. , The upper gear 23b does not rotate until the lower gear 23a rotates approximately half a turn, and the lower gear 2b does not rotate.
The upper gear 23b rotates together with the lower gear 23a by rotating the same in the same direction after the half rotation of the lower gear 3a, and the rotation direction of the lower gear 23a is reversed, and the lower gear 23b is connected to the lower gear 23b. The head-up operation and the head-down operation of the line thermal head 5 are performed using the intermittent rotation at which the rotation of the line thermal head 23a is not transmitted to the upper gear 23b.

The intermediate transmission gear 24 of the three intermediate transmission gears 24, shown diagonally below and to the right in FIG. 4, is a cooling fan disposed above the substantially flat head mounting member 6 which also serves as the heat radiating plate. The gear 25 is engaged with a drive gear 25A attached to an upper portion of the rotation shaft 25a.

The number of the intermediate transmission gears 24 may be determined as required according to the design concept or the like.

The position of the cooling fan 25 may be, for example, below the head mounting member 6 as long as the cooling fan 25 can cool the substantially flat head mounting member 6 also serving as the heat radiating plate.

A head pressure contact arm 8 having a cam roller 11 driven by a cam 13 of the cam gear 12 and having a base end rotatably supported, and a head end provided with the line thermal head 5 attached thereto and having a base end provided with the head pressure contact arm 8 A head moving arm 7 rotatably supported with a base end of the head; and a pressure contact spring 10 capable of pressing the line thermal head 5 against the platen 2 with a predetermined pressure force in a head down state.
Thus, the head contact / separation unit 26 of the present embodiment is configured.

The drive motor 21 and the drive motor 2
1, a main gear 20 rotatable by the main gear 2,
An intermediate gear 19 coaxially disposed with the main gear 20 and rotatable integrally with the main gear 20; an intermediate gear 19 meshing with the intermediate gear 19 and movably disposed around the intermediate gear 19 with the rotation of the intermediate gear 19; A pair of transmission gears 16 and a pair of toothless portions 17 respectively fitted to the transmission gears 16 are formed in a part of the transmission gears 16, depending on the rotation direction of the drive motor 4.
And a cam gear 12 having a cam 13 for controlling the movement trajectory of the line thermal head 5 by selectively engaging one of the two.
7 are configured.

The drive motor 21 and the drive motor 2
1 and an input gear 23 having a tooth 23a on one end surface which meshes with the main gear 20 and a tooth 23b on the outer peripheral surface capable of transmitting a rotational driving force.
And the rotational driving force of the input gear 23 is
The plurality of intermediate transmission gears 24 for transmitting to the fan 5 constitute a fan driving unit 28 of the present embodiment.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the platen 2 is located in front of the platen 2 at the lower right in FIG.
In order to convey the recording medium, a paper feed roller 30 which is in contact with the platen 2 with a predetermined pressing force and is rotationally driven by the driving source 4 is provided. Further, in front of the paper feed roller 30, when the recording medium placed on the paper feed tray 31 is transported to a recording position which is a contact position between the platen 2 and the line thermal head 5 in the printer main body. A paper feed roller 32 that is rotationally driven by the driving source 4 used is provided.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

According to the thermal transfer line printer 1 of the present embodiment, the rotational driving force of the drive motor 21 driven based on a control command sent from a control unit (not shown)
The line thermal head 5 is driven in a direction to maintain the head-up state. That is, the drive motor 21 shown in FIG.
Rotates clockwise in FIG. 2, and the pinion gear 22 rotates in the same direction. The rotation of the pinion gear 22 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 causes the main gear 20 meshing with the pinion gear 22 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. The rotation of the main gear 20 in the counterclockwise direction is shown in FIG. As shown, this main gear 20
The drive gear is transmitted to the drive gear 25A via the input gear 23 and three intermediate transmission gears 24 meshing with the cooling fan 2.
5 is driven to rotate. Then, by the rotation of the cooling fan 25, the head mounting member 6 also serving as the heat radiating plate is cooled, and as a result, the line thermal head 5 can be cooled.

The rotation of the main gear 20 in the counterclockwise direction is performed by moving the small-diameter intermediate gear 19 integrally rotating with the main gear 20 disposed coaxially with the main gear 20 in the same direction as the main gear 20. To rotate the transmission gears 16 meshing with the intermediate gear 19 clockwise, and rotate the transmission gears 16 around the intermediate gear 19.
2 in the counterclockwise direction, the transmission gear 16B shown on the right side of FIG. 2 is separated from the cam gear 12L, and the transmission gear 16A shown on the left side of FIG. As a result, the driving force of the driving motor 21 is not transmitted to the cam gear 12L. Also, the cam gear 12
The cam roller 11 that is in contact with the cam 13 of the transmission gear 1
When the gear 6A is fitted into the toothed portion 17A of the cam gear 12L, it is located farthest away from the center of the cam gear 12, and the head moving arm 7 and the head pressure contact arm 8 are both centered on the rotation axis RC. As shown in FIG. 2, the state in which the line thermal head 5 is rotated to the maximum in the counterclockwise direction is maintained.

Next, when a recording medium (not shown) is conveyed to the recording position, the drive motor 21 is rotated in the reverse direction, that is, counterclockwise in FIG. Then, the pinion gear 22 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
The main gear 20 meshing with the pinion gear 22 rotates clockwise by the counterclockwise rotation of the pinion gear 22, and the clockwise rotation of the main gear 20 meshes with the pinion gear 22. Is, as shown in FIG.
The drive gear is transmitted to the drive gear 25A via the input gear 23 and three intermediate transmission gears 24 meshing with the cooling fan 2.
5 is driven in reverse rotation. Then, by the reverse rotation of the cooling fan 25, the head mounting member 6 also serving as the heat radiating plate is cooled, and as a result, the line thermal head 5 can be cooled.

The clockwise rotation of the main gear 20 is controlled by the main gear 2 disposed coaxially with the main gear 20.
The intermediate gear 19 having a small diameter and rotating integrally with the main gear 20 is rotated in the same direction as the main gear 20 to rotate each transmission gear 16 meshing with the intermediate gear 19 in a counterclockwise direction. Intermediate gear 19 centering on gear 19
2 in the clockwise direction, the transmission gear 16A shown on the left side of FIG. 2 is separated from the toothless portion 17A of the cam gear 12L, and the transmission gear 16B shown on the right side of FIG. 2 meshes with the cam gear 12L, and as a result, the drive The driving force of the motor 21 is
L and the cam gear 12L rotates counterclockwise in FIG. At this time, the rotation of the cam gear 12L drives the cam gear 12R via the cam shaft 14. And the cam gear 12
The rotation of L in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 continues until the transmission gear 16B is fitted into the toothed portion 17B of the cam gear 12L. When the transmission gear 16B is fitted into the toothed portion 17B of the cam gear 12L, the transmission gear 16B is rotated. Idles, and the rotation of the cam gear 12L stops. The cam roller 11 in contact with the cam 13 of the cam gear 12 is, as shown in FIG.
In the state where B is fitted into the toothed portion 17B of the cam gear 12L, the head is closest to the center of the cam gear 12, and the head moving arm 7 and the head press-contact arm 8 are both clockwise in FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the head down state in which the line thermal head 5 is in contact with the platen 2 is reliably maintained. At this time, a recording medium (not shown) and an ink sheet are sandwiched between the line thermal head 5 and the platen 2 in this order from the platen 2 side.

Then, in the head down state, the heating elements of the line thermal head 5 selectively generate heat based on the recording information, so that the ink on the ink sheet (not shown) is thermally melted or sublimated and transferred to the recording medium. A recording operation is performed, and as a result, an image is recorded on a recording medium in line units.

Next, when the recording operation is completed, the drive motor 21 is rotated forward, ie, clockwise in FIG. 2 based on a control command sent from a control unit (not shown), so that the head down shown in FIG. Each part located in the state is in the head-up state shown in FIG. Then, in the head-up state, a line feed operation of the recording medium is performed,
Hereinafter, while the head-down state shown in FIG. 3 and the head-up state shown in FIG. 2 are repeated, images are sequentially recorded on the recording medium.

As described above, according to the thermal transfer line printer 1 of the present embodiment, the operation of contacting and separating the line thermal head 5 and the driving of the cooling fan 25 can be performed by one drive motor. Further, the fan driving means 28 can be provided at a cost of about half or less for one driving motor 21. Therefore, the cost can be easily reduced to about half of the cost for one drive motor 21.

Further, according to the head contacting / separating means 26 of the thermal transfer line printer 1 of this embodiment, the line thermal head 5 is brought into contact with the platen 2 with a predetermined pressing force at least in a head-up state separated from the platen 2. The head can be easily moved to and from a recordable head-down state.

According to the head driving means 27 of the thermal transfer line printer 1 of this embodiment, the rotation of the driving motor 21 is transmitted by transmitting the main gear 20, the intermediate gear 19, and one of the transmission gears 16 in this order. The cam gear 12 is rotated. The rotation of the cam gear 12 moves the cam roller 11 driven by the cam 13 provided on the cam gear 12, and moves the head moving arm 7 and the head pressure contact arm 8 of the head contact / separation means 27.
Moves around the base end. This head contact / separation means 2
7 can be moved so as to be in a head-up state in which the line thermal head 5 is separated from the platen 2 or in a head-down state in which the line thermal head 5 comes into contact with the platen 2 and can record. In addition, the rotation of the cam gear 12 is performed when any one of the transmission gears 16 is rotated by one of the toothless portions 17A, 1A.
7B, even if the drive motor 21 is driven, the head is stopped even when the drive motor 21 is driven, and the head contacting / separating means 26 stops the line thermal head 5 at the position where the line thermal head 5 is held in the head-up state or the head-down state. It can be easily held. Therefore, the head driving unit 27 can easily and properly control the contact / separation operation in which the head contact / separation unit 26 selectively moves between the head-up state and the head-down state, and can also appropriately control the line thermal head 5.
Can be easily and properly maintained in the head-up state or the head-down state.

Further, according to the fan driving means 28 of the thermal transfer line printer 1 of this embodiment, the rotation of the drive motor 21 is independent of the rotation direction of the drive motor 21, the main gear 20, the input gear 23 and the intermediate transmission gear. 24 is transmitted in this order to drive the cooling fan 25, and as a result, the cooling of the line thermal head 5 can be always performed reliably and easily.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified as needed.

[0041]

As described above, according to the thermal transfer line printer of the first aspect of the present invention, the operation of switching the line thermal head between the head-up state and the head-down state, which is the contact / separation operation, and the cooling fan An extremely excellent effect is obtained such that the driving can be reliably and easily performed by one driving motor. Further, since the fan drive means can be provided at a cost of about half or less of one drive motor, the cost can be easily reduced to about half of the cost of one drive motor. And so on.

Further, according to the thermal transfer line printer of the present invention, the head contacting / separating means contacts the platen with a predetermined press contact force when the line thermal head is at least separated from the platen. An extremely excellent effect is obtained such that the head can be easily moved to and from a recordable head down state.

Further, according to the thermal transfer line printer of the present invention, the head driving means includes a contact / separation operation in which the head contact / separation means selectively moves between a head-up state and a head-down state. Is easily and appropriately controlled, and the line thermal head can be easily and appropriately maintained in a head-up state or a head-down state.

Further, according to the thermal transfer line printer of the present invention, the fan driving means has an extremely excellent effect that the cooling fan can always be easily driven.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of an example of an embodiment of a thermal transfer line printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a head-up state of a line thermal head as an example of a thermal transfer line printer according to the present invention, viewed from a side.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a side view of a head down state of a line thermal head of an example of a thermal transfer line printer according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a fan driving unit as an example of the thermal transfer line printer according to the present invention when viewed from above.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an input gear of an example of a thermal transfer line printer according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal transfer line printer 2 Platen 5 Line thermal head 6 Head mounting member (also serving as heat sink) 7, 7R, 7L Head moving arm 8, 8R, 8L Head press-contact arm 10 Head press-contact spring 11 Cam roller 12, 12R, 12L Cam gear 13 Cam 16, 16R, 16L Transmission gears 17A, 17B Tooth gap (of cam gear) 18 Swinging plate 19 Intermediate gear 20 Main gear 21 Drive motor 22 Pinion gear 23 Input gear 23a Lower gear 23b Upper gear 24 Intermediate transmission gear 25 Cooling fan 25A drive gear 26 head contact / separation means 27 head drive means 28 fan drive means RC rotation axis

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A platen, a line thermal head,
A head contacting / separating means for moving the line thermal head at least between a head-up state separated from the platen and a head-down state in which the line thermal head comes into contact with the platen and is recordable; A head drive unit for driving the separation unit, a cooling fan capable of cooling the line thermal head, and a fan drive unit for driving the cooling fan, wherein both the head drive unit and the fan drive unit are one A thermal transfer line printer characterized by sharing a drive motor. 2. The head contacting / separating means includes a head pressure contact arm having a cam roller driven by a cam of the cam gear and having a base end rotatably supported, and a head having the line thermal head attached thereto and having a base end provided with the head. A head moving arm rotatably supported together with a base end of the head pressure contact arm; and a pressure contact spring capable of pressing the line thermal head against the platen with a predetermined pressure force in a head down state. 2. The thermal transfer line printer according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The head driving means includes: a main gear rotatable by the driving motor; an intermediate gear disposed coaxially with the main gear and integrally rotatable with the main gear; A pair of transmission gears movably disposed around the intermediate gear with the rotation of the intermediate gear;
A pair of toothless portions that are respectively fitted to the respective transmission gears are formed, and one of the respective transmission gears selectively meshes with the rotation direction of the drive motor, and a movement locus of the line thermal head. 3. A thermal transfer line printer according to claim 1, further comprising a cam gear provided with a cam for controlling the temperature of the thermal transfer line. 4. The fan drive means includes a main gear rotatable by the drive motor, and a tooth portion on one end surface meshing with the main gear, and a tooth portion capable of transmitting a rotational driving force to an outer peripheral surface. 4. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an input gear provided, and a plurality of intermediate transmission gears that transmit a rotational driving force of the input gear to the cooling fan. 5. Thermal transfer line printer.