← Back to Patent Explorer
US4173273A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Printer device

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1975-08-11
•
Granted: 1979-11-06
•
Expires: 1995-08-11
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A printer device using thermosensitive paper as a printing medium includes a thermal head for effecting printing on the printing medium, and means for moving the printing medium and the thermal head relative to each other. An electromagnetic plunger and a spring member for urging the thermal head against the printing medium are provided. The plunger serves to control the printing and, in addition, urges the thermal head against the printing medium with a predetermined pressure force, and the spring member is controlled during the relative movement between the thermal head and the printing medium along a print line on the medium, to urge the thermal head against the printing medium with a lower pressure force.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takayoshi Hanakata

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 13:07
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J19/00; B41J19/18; B41J19/20; B41J25/00; B41J25/304; B41J25/316; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S400/00; Y10S400/903

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 273 words
A printer device comprising: a printing medium of thermosensitive paper; a rotatable guide rail disposed in parallel with said printing medium; holder means slidably mounted on said guide rail and pivotable in accordance with the pivotal movement of said guide rail; a thermal head for recording on said printing medium fixed to said holder means; thermal head moving means for moving said thermal head along said guide rail in one direction and in another direction; spring means for urging said guide rail to rotate in a first rotational direction to contact said thermal head with said recording medium with a first pressing force, when said thermal head is in non-recording position and is moved along said guide rail by said moving means in said one direction along said guide rail; first electromagnetic drive means for further urging, in addition to the urging of the guide rail in the first rotational direction by said spring means, said guide rail to rotate in said first rotational direction to contact said thermal head with said recording medium with a second pressing force larger than said first pressing force, when said thermal head is in recording position and is stopped on said guide rail; and second electromagnetic drive means for urging, against the urging of the guide rail in the first rotational direction by said spring, said guide rail to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite to said first rotational direction to place said thermal head out of contact with said recording medium, when said thermal head is moved, by said moving means, in said other direction opposite to said one direction of the movement thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 273 words
A printer device comprising: a printing medium of thermosensitive paper; a rotatable guide rail disposed in parallel with said printing medium; holder means slidably mounted on said guide rail and pivotable in accordance with the pivotal movement of said guide rail; a thermal head for recording on said printing medium fixed to said holder means; thermal head moving means for moving said thermal head along said guide rail in one direction and in another direction; spring means for urging said guide rail to rotate in a first rotational direction to contact said thermal head with said recording medium with a first pressing force, when said thermal head is in non-recording position and is moved along said guide rail by said moving means in said one direction along said guide rail; first electromagnetic drive means for further urging, in addition to the urging of the guide rail in the first rotational direction by said spring means, said guide rail to rotate in said first rotational direction to contact said thermal head with said recording medium with a second pressing force larger than said first pressing force, when said thermal head is in recording position and is stopped on said guide rail; and second electromagnetic drive means for urging, against the urging of the guide rail in the first rotational direction by said spring, said guide rail to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite to said first rotational direction to place said thermal head out of contact with said recording medium, when said thermal head is moved, by said moving means, in said other direction opposite to said one direction of the movement thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising an arm fixedly mounted on at least one end of said guide rail, at least one of said spring means and said electromagnetic drive means being fixed on said arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said moving means includes a motor and a pulley-belt assembly for transmitting drive force of said motor to said holder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
A device according to claim 3, further comprising roller means for moving said printing medium in a direction substantially perpendicular to said guide rail, and a second motor for driving said roller means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said holder means is provided with heat radiation means made of a material of high thermal conductivity such as a metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 318 words
A printer device comprising: a printing medium of thermosensitive paper; a rotatable guide rail disposed in parallel with said printing medium; holder means slidably mounted on said guide rail and pivotable in accordance with the pivotal movement of said guide rail; arm means fixedly mounted on said guide rail; a thermal head for recording on said printing medium fixed to said holder means; thermal head moving means including a belt for moving said thermal head along said guide rail in one direction and in another direction, and a motor for driving said belt, a part of said belt being fixed to said holder means; spring means for urging said arm means to rotate in a first rotational direction to contact said thermal head with said recording medium with a first pressing force within a range between about 10 to about 100 grams per 3.5 millimeters square, when said thermal head is in non-recording position and is moved along said guide rail by said moving means in said one direction along said guide rail; first electromagnetic drive means for further urging, in addition to the urging of the guide rail in the first rotational direction by said spring means, said arm means to rotate in said first rotational direction to contact said thermal head with said recording medium with a second pressing force larger than said first pressing force, when said thermal head is in recording position and is stopped on said guide rail; and second electromagnetic drive means for urging, against the force exerted by said spring means urging said guide rail in the first rotational direction, said arm means to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite to said first rotational direction to place said thermal head out of contact with said recording medium, when said thermal head is moved, by said moving means, in said other direction opposite to said one direction of the movement thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 318 words
A printer device comprising: a printing medium of thermosensitive paper; a rotatable guide rail disposed in parallel with said printing medium; holder means slidably mounted on said guide rail and pivotable in accordance with the pivotal movement of said guide rail; arm means fixedly mounted on said guide rail; a thermal head for recording on said printing medium fixed to said holder means; thermal head moving means including a belt for moving said thermal head along said guide rail in one direction and in another direction, and a motor for driving said belt, a part of said belt being fixed to said holder means; spring means for urging said arm means to rotate in a first rotational direction to contact said thermal head with said recording medium with a first pressing force within a range between about 10 to about 100 grams per 3.5 millimeters square, when said thermal head is in non-recording position and is moved along said guide rail by said moving means in said one direction along said guide rail; first electromagnetic drive means for further urging, in addition to the urging of the guide rail in the first rotational direction by said spring means, said arm means to rotate in said first rotational direction to contact said thermal head with said recording medium with a second pressing force larger than said first pressing force, when said thermal head is in recording position and is stopped on said guide rail; and second electromagnetic drive means for urging, against the force exerted by said spring means urging said guide rail in the first rotational direction, said arm means to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite to said first rotational direction to place said thermal head out of contact with said recording medium, when said thermal head is moved, by said moving means, in said other direction opposite to said one direction of the movement thereof.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2785039A Cited
US3149901A Cited
US3168182A Cited
US3357533A Cited
US3509980A Cited
US3638197A Cited
US3596055A Cited
US3632969A Cited
US3810192A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-11-05 1983-05-07 1983-11-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-11-05 1987-05-07 1987-11-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-11-05 1991-05-07 1991-11-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag