Thermal head and printing device

Abstract

A thermal head includes a glass layer having a protruding section formed on one surface and a concave groove section formed on the other surface facing the protruding section, a plurality of heat generation resisters disposed substantially linearly on the protruding section, and a pair of electrodes provided to both sides of each of the heat generation resistors, wherein a part of each of the heat generation resistors exposed between the pair of electrodes is defined as a heat generation section, the glass layer is provided with the groove section so as to face a line of the heat generation sections, and reinforcement sections are provided on both sides of the line of the heat generation sections of the groove sections.

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 partial 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 partial perspective view of the thermal head.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the head section, wherein FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the whole of the head section, and FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional view enlargedly showing a leading end side of the groove section.

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

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another example of the head section.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views of another example of the head section, wherein FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the whole of the head section, and FIG. 8B is a partial cross-sectional view enlargedly showing a protruding section.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing only the glass layer of the head section shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the glass layer with a protruding section having a smaller curvature radius in both sides than in a central section.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views of a glass layer provided with reinforcing sections.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the glass layer shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a glass material to be the material of the glass layer.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the glass layer.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which a heat generating resistor and a pair of electrodes are patterned on the glass layer.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which a resistor protective layer is provided on the heat generating resistor and the pair of electrodes.

FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a condition in which a groove section is in a process of formation with a cutter.

FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the thermal head.

FIG. 19 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. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a thermal head in the related art.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the thermal head explained as the related art.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the thermal head explained as the related art.

Claims

1. A thermal head comprising: a glass layer having a protruding section formed on one surface and a concave groove section formed on the other surface facing the protruding section;a plurality of heat generation resisters disposed substantially linearly on the protruding section; anda pair of electrodes provided to both sides of each of the heat generation resistors;wherein a part of each of the heat generation resistors exposed between the pair of electrodes is defined as a heat generation section,the glass layer is provided with the groove section so as to face a line of the heat generation sections, andreinforcement sections are provided on both sides of the line of the heat generation sections of the groove sections.

2. The thermal head according to claim 1wherein additional reinforcement sections each having a thickness gradually increasing from an end of the protruding section towards one of the reinforcement sections are formed inside the reinforcement sections.

3. A printing device comprising a thermal head including a glass layer having a protruding section formed on one surface and a concave groove section formed on the other surface facing the protruding section,a plurality of heat generation resisters disposed substantially linearly on the protruding section, anda pair of electrodes provided to both sides of each of the heat generation resistors,wherein a part of each of the heat generation resistors exposed between the pair of electrodes in the thermal head is defined as a heat generation section,the glass layer is provided with the groove section so as to face a line of the heat generation sections, andreinforcement sections are provided on both sides of the line of the heat generation sections of the groove sections.