Patent EP0311980A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0311980A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Thermal printer
Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corp
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Filing: 1988-10-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A thermal printer comprises a pair of fixed frames (2) for rotatably supporting a platen (1) which is rotated by a motor (5) and a head unit (16) rotatably supported by the fixed frames through a pair of movable frames (11) and for supporting a thermal head (15). A pair of pinch rollers (10, 62) are rotatably mounted on the fixed frames (2), which are selectively brought to a first operating state to feed a paper sheet (P) to the region between the platen and the thermal head, and a second operating state to feed no paper sheet. The thermal head (15) is selectively moved between a first position, in which it is pressed against the platen, and a second position in which it is disengaged from the platen. The thermal head is moved to the first position, at the same time the pinch rollers and moved to the second operating state, while the thermal head is moved to the second position, at the same time the pinch rollers are moved to the first operating state.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsugio Shiozaki
- 👤 Satoshi Kitahara
- 👤 Osamu Koizumi
- 👤 Ikuzo Sugiura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:41
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J15/00; B41J15/04; B41J15/06; B41J11/00; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J25/00; B41J25/304; B41J25/316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A thermal printer comprising: a platen (1); platen supporting means (2) for rotatably supporting the platen; platen drive means (3, 5, 7) for rotating the platen; and a thermal head (15); characterized by further comprising sheet transportation means (9, 10, 62) which is selectively brought to a first operating state, in which the sheet transportation means is operatively connected with a paper sheet so that the paper sheet is fed to the region between the platen and the thermal head, and a second operating state in which the sheet transportation means is released from the operative connection with the paper sheet; head drive means (11, 16) for selectively moving the thermal head between a first position, in which the thermal head is pressed against the platen, and a second position in which the thermal head is disengaged from the platen; selecting means (54, 57, 59) operatively connected to the sheet transportation means and the head drive means, which is selectively brought to a printable state, in which the thermal head and the sheet transportation means are in the first position and the second operating state, respectively, and a transportation state in which the thermal head and the sheet transportation means are in the second position and the first operating state, respectively; and detecting means (40, 56) for detecting the passage of the paper sheet and bringing the selecting means to the printable state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A thermal printer comprising: a platen (1); platen supporting means (2) for rotatably supporting the platen; platen drive means (3, 5, 7) for rotating the platen; and a thermal head (15); characterized by further comprising sheet transportation means (9, 10, 62) which is selectively brought to a first operating state, in which the sheet transportation means is operatively connected with a paper sheet so that the paper sheet is fed to the region between the platen and the thermal head, and a second operating state in which the sheet transportation means is released from the operative connection with the paper sheet; head drive means (11, 16) for selectively moving the thermal head between a first position, in which the thermal head is pressed against the platen, and a second position in which the thermal head is disengaged from the platen; selecting means (54, 57, 59) operatively connected to the sheet transportation means and the head drive means, which is selectively brought to a printable state, in which the thermal head and the sheet transportation means are in the first position and the second operating state, respectively, and a transportation state in which the thermal head and the sheet transportation means are in the second position and the first operating state, respectively; and detecting means (40, 56) for detecting the passage of the paper sheet and bringing the selecting means to the printable state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
177 words
A thermal printer comprising: a platen (1); platen supporting means (2) for rotatably supporting the platen; platen drive means (3, 5, 7) for rotating the platen; and a thermal head (15); characterized by further comprising head drive means (11, 16) for selectively moving the thermal head between a first position, in which the thermal head is pressed against the platen, and a second position in which the thermal head is disengaged from the platen; sheet transportation means (9, 10, 62) for selectively feeding a paper sheet in a first direction, such that the paper sheet is fed to the region between the platen and the thermal head, and in a second direction such that the paper sheet is returned from the region between the platen and the thermal head, when the thermal head is in the second position; and detecting means (40) for detecting the passage of the paper sheet in the second direction between the platen and the sheet transportation means and driving the sheet transportation means to transport the paper sheet in the first direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
177 words
A thermal printer comprising: a platen (1); platen supporting means (2) for rotatably supporting the platen; platen drive means (3, 5, 7) for rotating the platen; and a thermal head (15); characterized by further comprising head drive means (11, 16) for selectively moving the thermal head between a first position, in which the thermal head is pressed against the platen, and a second position in which the thermal head is disengaged from the platen; sheet transportation means (9, 10, 62) for selectively feeding a paper sheet in a first direction, such that the paper sheet is fed to the region between the platen and the thermal head, and in a second direction such that the paper sheet is returned from the region between the platen and the thermal head, when the thermal head is in the second position; and detecting means (40) for detecting the passage of the paper sheet in the second direction between the platen and the sheet transportation means and driving the sheet transportation means to transport the paper sheet in the first direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
138 words
The thermal printer according to claim 2, characterized in that said sheet transportation means is selectively brought to a first operating state, in which the sheet transportation means is operatively connected with the paper sheet so that the paper sheet is fed, and a second operating state in which the sheet transportation means is released from the operative connection with the paper sheet, and which further comprises selecting means (54, 57, 59) operatively connected to the sheet transportation means and the head drive means, which is selectively brought to a printable state, in which the thermal head and the sheet transportation means are in the first position and the second operating state, respectively, and a transportation state in which the thermal head and the sheet transportation means are in the second position and the first operating state, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
The thermal printer according to claim 3, characterized in that said head drive means includes a first movable member (11) rockably mounted on the platen supporting means and a second movable member (16) rockably mounted on the first movable member and supporting the thermal head, said first movable member being rockable relatively to the platen supporting means, between an operative position, in which the thermal head is situated close to the platen, and a nonoperative position in which the thermal head is remote from the platen, said second movable member being rockable relatively to the first movable member, between the first and second positions, when the first movable member is in the operative position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
176 words
The thermal printer according to claim 4, characterized in that said sheet transportation means includes a first roller (10), a second roller (62) facing the first roller across the paper sheet, support member (59) for supporting the second roller so that the second roller can touch and leave the first roller, and a drive source (5) for rotating one of the rollers (10, 62), said transportation means being brought to the first operating state when the second roller is in contact with the second roller, and to the second operating state when the second roller is separated from the first roller; and said selecting means includes a selecting member (54) which is selectively engaged with the support member and the second movable member, so that the second roller is brought close to the first roller by means of the support member when the selecting member engages the support member, and that the thermal head is brought to the first position by means of the second movable member when the selecting member engages the second movable member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
149 words
A thermal printer comprising: a platen (1); platen supporting means (2) for rotatably supporting the platen; platen drive means (3, 5, 7) for rotating the platen to feed a printed paper sheet downstream; and a thermal head (15) for printing a paper sheet; characterized by further comprising head drive means (11, 16) for selectively moving the thermal head between a first position, in which the thermal head is pressed against the platen, and a second position in which the thermal head is disengaged from the platen; sheet transportation means (9, 10, 62) for feeding the paper sheet selectively upstream and downstream; sheet cutting unit (151) disposed on the downstream side of the platen to cut the paper sheet; and control means (152) for driving the head drive means to bring the thermal head to the first position and driving the sheet transportation means to feed the paper sheet upstream.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
A thermal printer comprising: a platen (1); platen supporting means (2) for rotatably supporting the platen; platen drive means (3, 5, 7) for rotating the platen to feed a printed paper sheet downstream; and a thermal head (15) for printing a paper sheet; characterized by further comprising head drive means (11, 16) for selectively moving the thermal head between a first position, in which the thermal head is pressed against the platen, and a second position in which the thermal head is disengaged from the platen; sheet transportation means (9, 10, 62) for feeding the paper sheet selectively upstream and downstream; sheet cutting unit (151) disposed on the downstream side of the platen to cut the paper sheet; and control means (152) for driving the head drive means to bring the thermal head to the first position and driving the sheet transportation means to feed the paper sheet upstream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The thermal printer according to claim 6, characterized in that said control means controls the sheet transportation means so that the cut end of the remaining portion of the paper sheet is situated on the platen after the paper sheet is cut.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The thermal printer according to claim 7, characterized in that said sheet transportation means includes a pair of pinch rollers (10, 62), and connecting means (8, 9) having a one-way clutch for selectively connecting one of the pinch rollers with the platen drive means (5, 7).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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