JPH1191148A - End face type/edge type thermal head - Google Patents

End face type/edge type thermal head

Info

Publication number
JPH1191148A
JPH1191148A JP25364997A JP25364997A JPH1191148A JP H1191148 A JPH1191148 A JP H1191148A JP 25364997 A JP25364997 A JP 25364997A JP 25364997 A JP25364997 A JP 25364997A JP H1191148 A JPH1191148 A JP H1191148A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
layer
heat
electrode
thickness
abrasion
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.)
Pending
Application number
JP25364997A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Shinichi Mizushima
眞一 水島
Yozo Kobayashi
陽三 小林
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.)
Toshiba TEC Corp
Original Assignee
Toshiba TEC Corp
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 Toshiba TEC Corp filed Critical Toshiba TEC Corp
Priority to JP25364997A priority Critical patent/JPH1191148A/en
Publication of JPH1191148A publication Critical patent/JPH1191148A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent damage to an abrasion-resistive layer of a heat-generating part when foreign matter such as paper dust, etc., is caught at the time of recording and prevent a life decrease, by setting a thickness of the abrasion-resistive layer to be not smaller than a specific multiple of a thickness of an electrode in the vicinity of a heat-generating resistance body. SOLUTION: An end face type/edge type thermal head has a glass glaze layer 2 formed at an end face part or an edge part of a ceramic substrate 1, with having a heat-generating resistance body layer 3 formed on the glass glaze layer and an electrode layer 4 formed on the heat-generating resistance body layer 3. The electrode layer 4 is not formed at a central part of the heat-generating resistance body layer 3. A protecting layer 5 is formed on the electrode layer 4 and on the heat-generating resistance body layer 3 without the electrode layer 4 so as to prevent oxidation of the heat-generating resistance body layer 3 and as an insulating layer to an abrasion- resistive layer 6. The abrasion-resistive layer 6 of SiC is formed on the protecting layer 5. Since the SiC constituting the abrasion-resistive layer 6 has good heat conductivity and impedes printing of clear images, a thickness of the abrasion-resistive layer 6 is set to be not smaller than four times a thickness of the electrode layer 4.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

【0001】[0001]

【発明の属する技術分野】本発明は端面部あるいはエッ
ジ部に発熱部が構成されたサ−マルヘッドに関する。
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal head having a heat-generating portion at an end face or an edge.

【0002】[0002]

【従来の技術】近年、熱転写型プリンタがラベルプリン
タ等で頻繁に使用されている。この熱転写型プリンタの
印字ヘッドとして使用されるサ−マルヘッドは、例えば
ガラスグレ−ス処理したセラミック基板上に複数個の発
熱抵抗体と、この発熱抵抗体に電力を供給するための電
極を設け、この電極を介して電流を流して発熱させ、こ
の電極に接触している記録媒体にこの熱を伝達させるこ
とにより、記録媒体上に文字が形成されるようにされて
いる。そして、発熱抵抗体が用紙の幅方向に配列された
サ−マルヘッドにより用紙を搬送しながら印字する。
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, thermal transfer printers have been frequently used in label printers and the like. A thermal head used as a print head of this thermal transfer printer is provided with a plurality of heating resistors and an electrode for supplying power to the heating resistors on, for example, a ceramic substrate subjected to glass glazing. By passing a current through the electrodes to generate heat and transmitting the heat to a recording medium in contact with the electrodes, characters are formed on the recording medium. Then, printing is performed while transporting the paper by a thermal head in which the heating resistors are arranged in the width direction of the paper.

【0003】最近、記録媒体として使用される転写紙に
は、表面が粗い紙が使用されたり、カラ−化により複数
個のサ−マルヘッドが搭載された機種が発売されてい
る。
[0003] Recently, a transfer paper used as a recording medium is made of a paper having a rough surface or a model equipped with a plurality of thermal heads by colorization.

【0004】これら機種においては、精彩な印字を得る
ために記録媒体にサ−マルヘッドを強く押さえつけるこ
とで、転写紙とサ−マルヘッドを密着させたり、複数個
のサ−マルヘッドを搭載する場合にはスペ−ス等の問題
により用紙の搬送方向の長さを短くしたりするため発熱
部が基板の端面部あるいはエッジ部に設けられたサ−マ
ルヘッドが使用されている。
In these models, when the thermal head is strongly pressed against the recording medium in order to obtain a fine print, the thermal head is brought into close contact with the transfer paper or when a plurality of thermal heads are mounted. In order to shorten the length of the sheet in the transport direction due to problems such as space, a thermal head having a heat generating portion provided on an end surface or an edge of the substrate is used.

【0005】これらの用途で使用されるサ−マルヘッド
は、印字品質が良いことが求められているため、通常の
平面型サ−マルヘッドよりも強く記録媒体へ押え付けて
使用されている。
[0005] The thermal head used in these applications is required to have good print quality, and is therefore used by being pressed against a recording medium more strongly than an ordinary flat thermal head.

【0006】[0006]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】また、その構造上、発
熱部分により多く集中して押圧がかけられている。この
ため、記録時にホコリ、紙粉等の異物がかみ込んだ場合
には、発熱部分の耐摩耗層を著しく損傷させ、サ−マル
ヘッドの寿命が低下するという欠点があった。
Further, due to its structure, more heat is concentrated on the heat-generating portion. For this reason, when foreign matter such as dust and paper dust enters during recording, there is a disadvantage that the wear-resistant layer of the heat-generating portion is significantly damaged and the life of the thermal head is shortened.

【0007】本発明は上記の点に鑑みてなされたもの
で、その目的は、記録時に、紙粉等の異物がかみ込んだ
場合でも、発熱部分の耐摩耗層の損傷を防ぎ、サ−マル
ヘッドの寿命の低下を防止できる端面型・エッジ型サ−
マルヘッドを提供することにある。
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to prevent damage to a wear-resistant layer in a heat-generating portion even when foreign matter such as paper dust is caught during recording. End type and edge type that can prevent the life of
It is to provide a round head.

【0008】[0008]

【課題を解決するための手段】請求項1に係わる端面型
・エッジ型サ−マルヘッドは、端面部あるいはエッジ部
に発熱抵抗体と電極、保護層または耐摩耗層とを積層す
るように構成されたサ−マルヘッドにおいて、上記耐摩
耗層の厚さは上記発熱抵抗体近傍の電極の厚さの4倍以
上であることを特徴とする。
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an end-face / edge-type thermal head in which a heating resistor and an electrode, a protective layer or a wear-resistant layer are laminated on an end face or an edge. In the thermal head, the thickness of the wear-resistant layer is at least four times the thickness of the electrode near the heating resistor.

【0009】請求項2に係わる端面型・エッジ型サ−マ
ルヘッドは、請求項1記載の電極はアルミニウムで構成
され、この電極上に保護層を介して形成された耐摩耗層
はSiCで形成されていることを特徴とする。
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the electrode according to the first aspect is made of aluminum, and the wear-resistant layer formed on this electrode via a protective layer is made of SiC. It is characterized by having.

【0010】[0010]

【発明の実施の形態】以下図面を参照して本発明の一実
施の形態について説明する。図1(A)はサ−マルヘッ
ドの平面図、図1(B)は図1(A)のA−A′線に沿
った断面図である。
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a plan view of the thermal head, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA 'of FIG. 1A.

【0011】図1において、1はセラミック基板であ
る。このセラミック基板1の端面部あるいはエッジ部に
は、発熱した熱を効率良く上方に伝えるガラスグレ−ズ
層2が設けられている。
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a ceramic substrate. A glass glaze layer 2 is provided on the end face or edge of the ceramic substrate 1 for efficiently transmitting the generated heat upward.

【0012】このガラスグレ−ズ層2上にはTa−Si
2 よりなる印字に必要な熱を発生させる発熱抵抗体層
3がスパッタリングにより形成されている。
On the glass glaze layer 2, Ta-Si
The heating resistor layer 3 for generating heat necessary for printing made of O 2 is formed by sputtering.

【0013】さらに、この発熱抵抗体層3上には、アル
ミニウムよりなる電極層4がスパッタリングにより形成
されている。ここで、発熱抵抗体層3の中央部には、電
極層4は形成していない。そして、電極層4の両端に電
位差を付与することにより、発熱抵抗体層3に電流を流
して、発熱させている。
Further, an electrode layer 4 made of aluminum is formed on the heating resistor layer 3 by sputtering. Here, the electrode layer 4 is not formed at the center of the heating resistor layer 3. Then, by applying a potential difference to both ends of the electrode layer 4, a current flows through the heating resistor layer 3 to generate heat.

【0014】そして、電極層4及びこの電極層4が形成
されていない発熱抵抗体層3上には、3Al2 3 ・2
SiO2 よりなる発熱抵抗体層3の酸化防止及び耐摩耗
層6に対する絶縁層としての保護層5がスパッタリング
により形成されている。
On the electrode layer 4 and the heating resistor layer 3 on which the electrode layer 4 is not formed, 3Al 2 O 3 .2
A protective layer 5 is formed by sputtering to prevent oxidation of the heating resistor layer 3 made of SiO 2 and as an insulating layer for the wear-resistant layer 6.

【0015】さらに、この保護層5上には、SiCより
なる耐摩耗層6がスパッタリングにより形成されてい
る。この耐摩耗層6は、印字時に発生する機械的摩耗を
防止するために設けられている。
Further, a wear-resistant layer 6 made of SiC is formed on the protective layer 5 by sputtering. The wear-resistant layer 6 is provided to prevent mechanical wear that occurs during printing.

【0016】なお、図1(A)において、発熱抵抗体層
3及び電極層4はX方向に離散して複数領域a1〜an
に亘って設けられている。そして、各領域に属する発熱
抵抗体3により1ビットの画像が形成される。
In FIG. 1A, the heating resistor layer 3 and the electrode layer 4 are separated in the X direction into a plurality of areas a1 to an.
It is provided over. Then, a 1-bit image is formed by the heating resistors 3 belonging to each area.

【0017】ここで、電極層4と耐摩耗層6との厚さの
関係を調べるために、電極層4の厚さを0.6μmと
1.0μmの2通りの厚さでスパッタリングで形成し
た。耐摩耗層6の材料であるSiCは、導電性があるた
め、電極層4との間に保護層5を2μmだけ形成してい
る。
Here, in order to examine the relationship between the thickness of the electrode layer 4 and the thickness of the wear-resistant layer 6, the electrode layer 4 was formed by sputtering at two different thicknesses of 0.6 μm and 1.0 μm. . Since SiC, which is the material of the wear-resistant layer 6, has conductivity, the protective layer 5 is formed with a thickness of 2 μm between itself and the electrode layer 4.

【0018】そして、電極層4の厚さの1倍、2倍,3
倍、4倍、5倍の厚さの耐摩耗層6を成膜し、サ−マル
ヘッドを作成した。
The thickness of the electrode layer 4 is once, twice, three times
The abrasion-resistant layer 6 having a thickness of 2, 4 and 5 times was formed to form a thermal head.

【0019】そして、評価方法として#4000のラッ
ピングテ−プを紙の替りとして、4センチ/秒の速度で
12インチ走行させて後、全512ドットの抵抗値を測
定して、初期値より10%以上抵抗値が変化しているド
ットをNGと判定し、そのドット数の割合を調査し、図
2に示す結果を得た。
As an evaluation method, a # 4000 wrapping tape was used instead of paper, and the tape was run for 12 inches at a speed of 4 cm / sec. A dot whose resistance value has changed by more than% is determined to be NG, and the ratio of the number of dots is examined. The result shown in FIG. 2 is obtained.

【0020】図2に示すように、電極層4の厚さを1.
0μmに形成した場合に、耐摩耗層6の厚さが4μmよ
り厚くないと、スクラッチによるNGは完全になくなら
ない。
As shown in FIG. 2, the thickness of the electrode layer 4 is 1.
When the thickness is set to 0 μm, if the thickness of the wear-resistant layer 6 is not thicker than 4 μm, NG due to scratches does not completely disappear.

【0021】また、電極層4の厚さを0.6μmに形成
した場合に、耐摩耗層6の厚さを4倍の2.4μmあれ
ばNGがなくなる。
In the case where the thickness of the electrode layer 4 is 0.6 μm, if the thickness of the wear-resistant layer 6 is quadrupled to 2.4 μm, NG is eliminated.

【0022】以上のことを考慮すると、通常使用される
電極層4の厚さが0.6μm〜1.0μmであれば、耐
摩耗層6の厚さが4倍以上あれば、スクラッチによるN
Gを防止することができる。
In consideration of the above, if the thickness of the commonly used electrode layer 4 is 0.6 μm to 1.0 μm, if the thickness of the wear-resistant layer 6 is four times or more, the N
G can be prevented.

【0023】また、耐摩耗層6はあまり厚くなると、成
膜に時間がかかるため、コストアップの要因となる。
On the other hand, if the wear-resistant layer 6 is too thick, it takes a long time to form a film, which causes an increase in cost.

【0024】さらに、耐摩耗層6を構成するSiCは熱
伝導特性が良いため、印字した時に鮮明な画像が得にく
くなることから、耐摩耗層6の厚さを電極層4の厚さの
4〜5倍程度とすることが最適となる。
Furthermore, since the SiC constituting the wear-resistant layer 6 has a good thermal conductivity, it is difficult to obtain a clear image when printed, so that the thickness of the wear-resistant layer 6 is set to 4 times the thickness of the electrode layer 4. It is optimal to set it to about 5 times.

【0025】こりようにして得られたサ−マルヘッド
は、電極材料にアルミニウムのような軟らかい材料を用
いたとしても、印字においてヘッドを強く押さても、耐
摩耗層の損傷はなく、ほこり、紙紛等の異物に対しても
強く結果として寿命の長いサ−マルヘッドを提供するこ
とができる。
The thermal head thus obtained has no damage to the abrasion-resistant layer even if a soft material such as aluminum is used as the electrode material or the head is strongly pressed in printing, and the dust and paper are not damaged. As a result, a thermal head having a long life can be provided which is strong against foreign substances such as powder.

【0026】[0026]

【発明の効果】請求項1及び請求項2に係わるサ−マル
ヘッドは、端面部あるいはエッジ部に発熱抵抗体と電
極、保護層または耐摩耗層とを積層するように構成され
たサ−マルヘッドにおいて、耐摩耗層の厚さは発熱抵抗
体近傍の電極の厚さの4倍以上とするようにしたので、
記録時に、紙粉等の異物がかみ込んだ場合でも、発熱部
分の耐摩耗層の損傷を防ぎ、サ−マルヘッドの寿命の低
下を防止できる。
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal head in which a heating resistor and an electrode, a protective layer or a wear-resistant layer are laminated on an end face or an edge. Since the thickness of the wear-resistant layer is set to be at least four times the thickness of the electrode near the heating resistor,
Even when a foreign matter such as paper dust gets into the recording, it is possible to prevent the abrasion-resistant layer of the heat-generating portion from being damaged and to prevent the life of the thermal head from being shortened.

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

【図1】本発明の一実施の形態に係わる端面型・エッジ
型サ−マルヘッドの構成図。
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an end-face / edge-type thermal head according to an embodiment of the present invention.

【図2】同実施の形態に係わり、耐摩耗層の厚さに応じ
て抵抗変化率が10%以上変化する割合の変動を、電極
層の厚さが0.6μmと1.0μmとで示す図。
FIG. 2 shows the variation of the rate at which the resistance change rate changes by 10% or more according to the thickness of the wear-resistant layer according to the embodiment, with the thickness of the electrode layer being 0.6 μm and 1.0 μm. FIG.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

1…セラミック基板、 2…ガラスグレ−ズ層、 3…発熱抵抗体層、 4…電極層、 5…保護層、 6…耐摩耗層。 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ceramic substrate, 2 ... Glass glaze layer, 3 ... Heating resistor layer, 4 ... Electrode layer, 5 ... Protective layer, 6 ... Wear-resistant layer.

Claims (2)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 【請求項1】 端面部あるいはエッジ部に発熱抵抗体と
電極、保護層または耐摩耗層とを積層するように構成さ
れたサ−マルヘッドにおいて、 上記耐摩耗層の厚さは上記発熱抵抗体近傍の電極の厚さ
の4倍以上であることを特徴とする端面・エッジ型サ−
マルヘッド。
1. A thermal head having a heat generating resistor and an electrode, a protective layer or a wear-resistant layer laminated on an end face or an edge thereof, wherein the thickness of the wear-resistant layer is in the vicinity of the heat-generating resistor. Characterized in that it is at least four times as thick as the electrode of
Mulhead.
【請求項2】 上記電極はアルミニウムで構成され、こ
の電極上に保護層を介して形成された耐摩耗層はSiC
で形成されていることを特徴とする請求項1記載の端面
・エッジ型サ−マルヘッド。
2. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein said electrode is made of aluminum, and a wear-resistant layer formed on said electrode via a protective layer is made of SiC.
2. The end face / edge type thermal head according to claim 1, wherein the thermal head is formed by the following.
JP25364997A 1997-09-18 1997-09-18 End face type/edge type thermal head Pending JPH1191148A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP25364997A JPH1191148A (en) 1997-09-18 1997-09-18 End face type/edge type thermal head

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP25364997A JPH1191148A (en) 1997-09-18 1997-09-18 End face type/edge type thermal head

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH1191148A true JPH1191148A (en) 1999-04-06

Family

ID=17254270

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP25364997A Pending JPH1191148A (en) 1997-09-18 1997-09-18 End face type/edge type thermal head

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH1191148A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1897692A1 (en) * 2005-06-07 2008-03-12 Rohm Co., Ltd. Thermal print head and method for manufacturing same

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1897692A1 (en) * 2005-06-07 2008-03-12 Rohm Co., Ltd. Thermal print head and method for manufacturing same
EP1897692A4 (en) * 2005-06-07 2010-01-27 Rohm Co Ltd Thermal print head and method for manufacturing same
US7876343B2 (en) 2005-06-07 2011-01-25 Rohm Co., Ltd. Thermal print head and method for manufacturing same

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