Patent US4623903A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4623903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal head
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1985-03-15
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Granted: 1986-11-18
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Expires: 2005-03-15
Abstract
Abstract An auxiliary heating element is provided near at least one end of an array of main heating resistor elements, thereby preventing thermal diffusion near the at least one end of the array and providing uniform printing density and prolonged service life. The adjacent portion of the auxiliary heating resistor element and the main heating resistor elements may be connected in series or in parallel, thereby simplifying the feeder pattern to the heating resistor elements, hence simplifying the structure of connectors and a drive circuit concerned, providing uniform image density and realizing prolonged service life of thermal head, without raising cost.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenichiro Hashimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:45
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/35; B41J2/355; B41J2/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A thermal head for recording an image, comprising: a plurality of main heating elements disposed in a row for producing heat by being provided with electricity to record an image; one or more auxiliary heating elements each juxtaposed with a different one of said main heating elements at a respective end of said row, for producing heat by being provided with electricity to reduce heat diffusion from its respective said end main heating element; and connection means for electrically connecting each of said auxiliary heating elements to said respective end main heating element in series or in parallel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A thermal head for recording an image, comprising: a plurality of main heating elements disposed in a row for producing heat by being provided with electricity to record an image; one or more auxiliary heating elements each juxtaposed with a different one of said main heating elements at a respective end of said row, for producing heat by being provided with electricity to reduce heat diffusion from its respective said end main heating element; and connection means for electrically connecting each of said auxiliary heating elements to said respective end main heating element in series or in parallel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A thermal head according to claim 1, further comprising a connector for connecting said thermal head to a drive circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thermal head according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply pattern for separately supplying power to said main heating elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermal head according to claim 1, wherein said main and auxiliary heating elements are substantially linearly disposed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermal head according to claim 2, wherein said main and auxiliary heating elements are substantially linearly disposed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermal head according to claim 3, wherein said main and auxiliary heating elements are substantially linearly disposed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A thermal head according to claim 1, having at least two said auxiliary heating elements and wherein each of said auxiliary heating elements is juxtaposed with a different one of said main heating elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A thermal head according to claim 2, having at least two said auxiliary heating elements and wherein each of said auxiliary heating elements is juxtaposed with a different one of said end main heating elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermal head according to claim 3, having at least two of said auxiliary heating elements and wherein each of said auxiliary heating elements is juxtaposed with a different one of said end main heating elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermal head according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary heating element is juxtaposed with either one of said end main heating elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermal head according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary heating element is juxtaposed with either one of said end main heating elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermal head according to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary heating element is juxtaposed with either one of said end main heating elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermal head according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary heating element does not directly contribute to image recording.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermal head according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary heating element does not directly contribute to image recording.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermal head according to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary heating element does not directly contribute to image recording.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermal head according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary heating element is smaller in area than each of said main heating elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermal head according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary heating element is smaller in area than each of said main heating elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermal head according to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary heating element is smaller in area than each of said main heating elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thermal head according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary heating element is disposed close to said respective end main heating element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thermal head according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary heating element is disposed close to said respective end main heating element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thermal head according to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary heating element is disposed close to said respective end main heating element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thermal head according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply pattern for supplying power commonly to said main and auxiliary heating elements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
A thermal head according to claim 1, wherein said main heating elements are arranged for recording an image on a recording medium and wherein said auxiliary heating elements are arranged so as not to record on the recording medium even when said main heating elements are recording thereon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
125 words
A thermal head for recording an image, comprising: a plurality of main heating elements disposed in a row for producing heat by being provided with electricity to record an image; one or more auxiliary heating elements each juxtaposed with a different one of said row of said main heating elements at an end of said row, for producing heat by being provided with electricity to reduce heat diffusion from its respective said end element; common connection means for commonly and electrically connecting one side of each said main heating element to one side of each said auxiliary heating element; and connection means for electrically connecting the other side of each said element to the other side of the juxtaposed said auxiliary heating element in parallel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
125 words
A thermal head for recording an image, comprising: a plurality of main heating elements disposed in a row for producing heat by being provided with electricity to record an image; one or more auxiliary heating elements each juxtaposed with a different one of said row of said main heating elements at an end of said row, for producing heat by being provided with electricity to reduce heat diffusion from its respective said end element; common connection means for commonly and electrically connecting one side of each said main heating element to one side of each said auxiliary heating element; and connection means for electrically connecting the other side of each said element to the other side of the juxtaposed said auxiliary heating element in parallel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
A thermal head according to claim 24, wherein said main heating elements are arranged for recording an image on a recording medium and wherein said auxiliary heating elements are arranged so as not to record on the recording medium even when said main heating elements are recording thereon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
165 words
A thermal head for recording an image, comprising: a plurality of main heating elements disposed in a row for producing heat by being provided with electricity to record an image; one or more auxiliary heating elements each juxtaposed with a different one of said row of said main heating elements disposed at an end of said row, for producing heat by being provided with electricity to reduce heat diffusion from its respective said end element; common connection means for commonly and electrically connecting one side of each said main heating element except said end elements to one side of each said auxiliary heating element; respective connection means electrically connected to one side of each said end element; and connection means for electrically connecting the other side of each said end element to the other side of the juxtaposed said auxiliary heating element so that each said auxiliary heating element is connected in series between said common connection means and the respective juxtaposed said end element.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
165 words
A thermal head for recording an image, comprising: a plurality of main heating elements disposed in a row for producing heat by being provided with electricity to record an image; one or more auxiliary heating elements each juxtaposed with a different one of said row of said main heating elements disposed at an end of said row, for producing heat by being provided with electricity to reduce heat diffusion from its respective said end element; common connection means for commonly and electrically connecting one side of each said main heating element except said end elements to one side of each said auxiliary heating element; respective connection means electrically connected to one side of each said end element; and connection means for electrically connecting the other side of each said end element to the other side of the juxtaposed said auxiliary heating element so that each said auxiliary heating element is connected in series between said common connection means and the respective juxtaposed said end element.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
A thermal head according to claim 26, wherein said main heating elements are arranged for recording an image on a recording medium and wherein said auxiliary heating elements are arranged so as not to record on the recording medium even when said main heating elements are recording thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4251822A
Cited
US4491853A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-11-17 | 1990-05-19 | 1990-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-11-17 | 1994-05-19 | 1994-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-11-17 | 1998-05-19 | 1998-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |