Thermal head and printing device equipped with the same

Abstract

A thermal head includes a base layer having a predetermined thickness and provided with a substantially semicylindrical protruding section integrally formed on one surface of the base layer, a heat generation resistor formed on the protruding section, and a pair of electrodes formed on both sides of the heat generation resistor, wherein a part of each of the heat generation resistors exposed between the pair of electrodes is defined as a heat generation section, and the base layer is provided with a groove section formed on the opposite side of the protruding section and having opening on the other surface of the base layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing device using a thermal head applying an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a relationship between the thermal head and a ribbon guide.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the thermal head.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the thermal head.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a head section.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the head section.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a base layer.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a head section according to a modified example of the head section shown in FIG. 5, in which the groove section has a width increasing from the side of the ceiling face towards the side of the open end.

FIG. 9A is a plan view of a glass layer provided with reinforcing sections, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view thereof.

FIG. 10 is across-sectional view of the glass layer shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a glass material to be the material of the glass layer.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the glass layer.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which a heat generation resistor and a pair of electrodes are patterned on the glass layer.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which a resistor protective layer is provided on the heat generation resistor and the pair of electrodes.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which a groove section is in a process of formation using a cutter.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the thermal head.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the glass layer is adhered to a heat radiation member with an adhesive layer.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a thermal head in the related art.

Claims

1. A thermal head comprising: a base layer having a predetermined thickness and provided with a substantially semicylindrical protruding section integrally formed on one surface of the base layer;a heat generation resistor formed on the protruding section; anda pair of electrodes formed on both sides of the heat generation resistor,wherein a part of each of the heat generation resistors exposed between the pair of electrodes is defined as a heat generation section, andthe base layer is provided with a groove section formed on the opposite side of the protruding section and having opening on the other surface of the base layer.

2. The thermal head according to claim 1wherein a ceiling surface of the groove section is positioned inside the protruding section.

3. The thermal head according to claim 1wherein the ceiling surface of the groove section is formed along a surface of the protruding section to make a thickness between the ceiling surface of the groove section and the surface of the protruding section substantially constant.

4. The thermal head according to claim 3wherein a width of an area in which the thickness between the ceiling surface of the groove section and the surface of the protruding section is substantially constant is one of equal to and larger than a width of the heat generation section.

5. The thermal head according to claim 1wherein the groove section is provided with a corner section defined by the ceiling surface and a sidewall of the groove section formed of a substantially circular arc curved surface.

6. The thermal head according to claim 1wherein a width of the groove section is substantially constant throughout a range from a ceiling surface side to an opening end side.

7. The thermal head according to claim 1wherein a width of the groove section is broadened along a direction from a ceiling surface side to an opening end side.

8. A printing device comprising a thermal head having a base layer having a predetermined thickness and provided with a substantially semicylindrical protruding section formed on one surface of the base layer,a heat generation resistor formed on the protruding section, anda pair of electrodes provided to both sides of the heat generation resistor,wherein a part of each of the heat generation resistors exposed between the pair of electrodes is defined as a heat generation section, andthe base layer is provided with a groove section formed on the opposite side of the protruding section and having opening on the other surface of the base layer.