Incremental printing of symbolic information – Thermal marking apparatus or processes – Platen or engaging means therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2003-06-18
2004-07-20
Tran, Huan (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Thermal marking apparatus or processes
Platen or engaging means therefor
Reexamination Certificate
active
06765602
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to thermal printers and apparatuses having a thermal printer, and more particularly, to a thermal printer in which a platen roller is detachable from a frame.
2. Description of the Related Art
Regarding thermal printers mounted in hand-held devices and POS terminals, a clamshell type that allows easy setting of a paper roll is becoming the mainstream. In the clamshell type, when a cover is rotated and closed, a platen roller is pressed against a thermal head via paper and is fit and fixed to a frame. Thus, it is necessary to provide a lock mechanism so that the fixed platen roller not be easily separated from the frame.
FIG. 1
shows a thermal printer
10
of a conventional clamshell type. In
FIG. 1
, the thermal printer
10
includes a frame
11
, a platen roller
12
, a thermal head
13
, a paper roll
14
, paper
15
(a part of the paper roll
14
), a lock arm
16
, a cam
17
, an operation lever
18
, and a spring
19
.
The platen roller
12
is moved downward from above, and pressed against the thermal head
13
via the paper
15
. On this occasion, a shaft
12
a
of the platen roller
12
provided at an end of the platen roller
12
is fit into a U-shaped slot
11
a
of the frame
11
and locked by the lock arm
16
.
For setting a new paper roll
14
, an operator operates the operation lever
18
so as to rotate the cam
17
and rotate the lock arm
16
for a little in the clockwise direction. Consequently, the lock of the shaft
12
a
is released (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2000-318260, paragraph No. 0015, FIG.
2
).
The thermal printer
10
shown in
FIG. 1
is additionally provided with three dedicated components, that is, the lock arm
16
, the cam
17
, and the operation lever
18
, in order to lock and release the platen roller
12
. Thus, there is a problem in that the increase in the number of components increases the manufacturing cost, the assembly processes, and the size and weight of the thermal printer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful thermal printer, and an apparatus having the thermal printer, in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal printer that includes:
a thermal head;
a platen roller;
a frame having platen roller receiving parts that receive the platen roller in a detachable manner; and
a thermal head supporting member to which the thermal head is fixed, the thermal head supporting member being operatively coupled to the frame,
the thermal head supporting member including platen roller lock parts that lock the platen roller received by the platen roller receiving parts so as to resist or prevent the platen roller from exiting the platen roller receiving part.
Accordingly, components dedicated to locking the platen roller are not required, which is advantageous for reducing the size of a thermal printer. Moreover, since the number of assembly processes is decreased, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs.
Also, in a thermal printer, the thermal head supporting member may include platen roller lifting parts that move the platen roller in the direction in which the platen roller exits the platen roller receiving parts when the thermal head is moved in the direction in which the thermal head is separated from the platen roller.
Accordingly, components dedicated to lifting (pushing up) the platen roller in the direction in which the platen roller exits the platen roller receiving parts are not required, which is advantageous for reducing the size of a thermal printer. Moreover, the number of assembly processes is decreased. Thus, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs.
In addition, in a thermal printer, the thermal head supporting member may include an operation part that displaces the thermal head in a direction in which the thermal head is separated from the platen roller.
Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the construction of a part operated so as to displace the thermal head supporting member.
Further, the thermal head supporting member may include a head pressure biasing spring portion that biases head pressure whereby the thermal head presses the platen roller.
Accordingly, head pressure biasing spring members are not required, which is advantageous for reducing the size of a thermal printer. Moreover, the number of assembly processes is decreased. Thus, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs
Additionally, a thermal printer may further include:
a head pressure biasing spring member for pressing the thermal head supporting member so as to bias head pressure whereby the thermal head presses the platen roller, and
the head pressure biasing spring member may include a spring portion that is pressed and deflected by the platen roller received in the platen roller receiving parts, and when the lock of the platen roller is released, restored so as to move the platen roller in the direction in which the platen roller exits the platen roller receiving part.
Accordingly, it is possible to realize, with a small number of components, a thermal printer in which the platen roller pops up when the lock of the platen roller is released.
Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus that includes:
a thermal printer including:
a thermal head;
a platen roller;
a cover supporting the platen roller, the cover being rotatably opened and closed;
a frame having platen roller receiving parts that receive the platen roller in a detachable manner, the platen roller being received by the platen roller receiving parts when the cover is closed; and
a thermal head supporting member to which the thermal head is fixed, the thermal head supporting member being operatively coupled to the frame,
the thermal head supporting member including platen roller lock parts that lock the platen roller received by the platen roller receiving part so as to resist or prevent the platen roller from exiting the platen roller receiving part.
Accordingly, since the size of the thermal printer is reduced, the size of the apparatus is also reduced.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6249302 (2001-06-01), Sekiya
patent: 6450714 (2002-09-01), Mori et al.
patent: 6567113 (2003-05-01), Louis
patent: 11-151847 (1999-06-01), None
patent: 2000-318260 (2000-11-01), None
Fujitsu Component Limited
Staas & Halsey , LLP
Tran Huan
LandOfFree
Thermal printer having a reduced size does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Thermal printer having a reduced size, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Thermal printer having a reduced size will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3205302