JPS6480577A - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely release an ink ribbon and enable printing with high quality, by providing a pinch roller and a driven pinch roller so that they can be brought into contact with and separated from each other on the lower printing position side of a thermal head, and providing a ribbon guide on the higher printing position side of the head. CONSTITUTION:At the time of printing, an ink ribbon 8 stretched across take-up cores 18 is separated from a paper S by a ribbon guide 11 and a pinch roller 9 respectively on the higher printing position side and lower printing position side of a thermal head 7, and is guided along the surface of the head 7 to perform printing. After printing is finished, the ink ribbon 8 is released by the pinch roller 9 and a driven pinch roller 10. At the time of returning, the head 7 is separated from the paper S, whereas the ink ribbon 8 is clamped between the pinch rollers 9, 10 being locked against rotation, and is moved to the lower printing position side together with a carriage 3. On the other hand, at the time of saving the ribbon, the pinch rollers 9, 10 are moved toward the higher printing position side while being locked against rotation. Thus, the ink ribbon can be surely released from the paper, and favorable printing can be performed.