The present invention relates to thermal heads for printers.
A thermal printer prints information on labels typically, and includes a thermal head. Since the thermal head is a consumable, it needs replacing.
When the thermal head is replaced, electrical connections between the thermal head and the controlling electronics in the printer are disconnected and reconnected by hand.
The inventors have realized that problems occur in making the electrical connections between the thermal head and the controlling electronics in the printer. The electrical connectors from the controlling electronics are at the ends of wires from the printer. The electrical connections between the thermal head and the controlling electronics must be disconnected and reconnected by hand. The space for inserting hands and fingers to accomplish the disconnection and reconnection is limited and thus the disconnection and reconnection procedure is difficult and time consuming. Also, the user may not know the correct amount of force to use in making the disconnection and reconnection, and thus it is easy for the user to apply excessive force and damage the electrical connections.
Also, users of a thermal printer are often unfamiliar with the replacement of a thermal head. For such users, the replacement of a thermal head is a burden.
The present subject matter aims to facilitate and improve the replacement of a thermal head.
According to one embodiment, a thermal head for a printer comprises a heater element configured to print information; and a male electrical connector configured to mate with a female electrical connector which moves in response to movement of a thermal head cover.
According to another embodiment, a thermal head for a printer comprises a heater element configured to print information; and a female electrical connector configured to mate with a male electrical connector which moves in response to movement of a thermal head cover.
The following describes embodiments of the invention.
The following describes embodiments of the present invention in detail, with reference to the drawings. In the drawings describing the embodiments, like numbers indicate like components, and their repeated description is omitted.
In the following description, “FR” refers to the front of a printer and “RR” refers to the rear of the printer.
“UP” refers to the upward when the printer is placed on a horizontal plane, and “LO” refers to the downward when the printer is placed on a horizontal plane.
“LH” and “RH” refer to the direction (hereinafter called a “width direction”) orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction of the printer.
A part of the printer closer to the container than any referential position on the feed path is referred to the part located “upstream in the feeding direction”. A part of the printer closer to the ejection port than the referential position is referred to the part located “downstream in the feeding direction”.
The following describes a print medium of the present embodiment.
As shown in
The liner PM includes a temporary-adhesive face PMa and a non-temporary-adhesive face PMb on the other side of the temporary-adhesive face PMa.
The plurality of labels PL temporarily adheres to the temporary-adhesive face PMa at predetermined intervals.
On the non-temporary-adhesive face PMb, reference marks M are formed at predetermined intervals. A reference mark M shows the reference position for a label PL.
Each label PL has a print surface PLa and a sticking surface PLb (not illustrated).
The print surface PLa includes a thermosensitive layer that develops a color by heat.
On the sticking surface PLb, adhesive is applied.
As shown in
The head cover 21 is pivotally supported. The head cover 21 can move (i.e., can rotate) a relative to a printer cover 3 (shown in
The head cover 21 at the shielding position shields a part of the thermal head 12. In this case, a part of the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22 are covered by the head cover 21, and therefore they cannot be seen from the outside of the printer 1.
The head cover 21 at the non-shielding position opens the connector unit 22. Specifically a space is defined between the head cover 21 at the non-shielding position and the printer cover 3. The connector unit 22 is exposed through this space. The connector unit 22 has a connector 22a (described later) as a connecting terminal, and the connector 22a is directed upward (UP). In this case, the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22 can be seen from the outside of the printer 1.
The second assisting roller 14 is rotatably supported at the printer cover 3.
The second assisting roller 14 assists the feeding of the print medium P while rotating following the rotation of a first assisting roller 13.
As shown in
The pair of convexes 20a protrudes forward (FR) from the head bracket body 20d.
The head cover 21 includes a pair of engaging parts 21a and a pair of gears 21b.
The pair of engaging parts 21a is located at lateral ends of the head cover 21.
The pair of engaging parts 21a engages with the pair of protrusions 20b so as to lock the head cover 21 at the shielding position.
When a user rotates the head cover 21, the engagement between the pair of engaging parts 21a and the pair of protrusions 20b is canceled.
As shown in
The connector 22a is disposed on the front face of the connector board 22e.
The abutting part 22b protrudes upward (UP) from the upper end of the connector board 22e. The abutting part 22b has notch 22ba. The notch 22ba is at a center of the connector unit 22 in the width direction (LH-RH direction).
As shown in
That is, a gear mechanism is made up of the pair of gears 21b and the pair of gears 23, and this gear mechanism is a moving mechanism to join with the connector unit 22 and with the head cover 21. As the head cover 21 is moved, this moving mechanism moves the connector unit 22 (e.g., slides it in the up-down direction (UP-LO direction)) for connection and disconnection of the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22.
The thermal head 12 can be connected to and disconnected from the connector unit 22.
As shown in
As shown in
The connector 12b protrudes downward (LO) from the thermal head body 12a. The connector 12b is at a center of the thermal head 12 in the width direction (LH-RH direction).
The plurality of heater elements 12c is located above (UP) the connector 12b. The plurality of heater elements 12c is aligned along the width direction (LH-RH direction) of the thermal head 12. This aligning direction of the plurality of heater elements 12c is called a “print line direction”.
The pair of concaves 12e is located on opposite sides (outboard) of the connector unit limiter 12d in the width direction (LH-RH direction).
The connector unit limiter 12d protrudes rearward (RR) from the rear face of the thermal head body 12a.
As shown in
The second limiter 12db protrudes rearward (RR) from the rear face of the thermal head body 12a.
The second limiter 12db joins with the thermal head body 12a and with the first limiter 12da.
The size d1 of the second limiter 12db is substantially the same as the size d2 of the notch 22ba in the front-rear direction (FR-RR direction).
The connector unit 22 can be connected to and disconnected from the thermal head 12. Connecting of the connector unit 22 to the thermal head 12 establishes a connection of the thermal head 12 to a control circuit (not illustrated).
The following describes a feed path of the present embodiment.
As shown in
The feed path of the labels PL is a path between the separator 15 and a label ejection port 2a.
The feed path of the liner PM is a path between the separator 15 and a liner ejection port 2b. The feed path of the liner PM extends through a first nip roller 16 and a second nip roller 17.
The container 6 contains a roll of paper R.
The first assisting roller 13 and the second assisting roller 14 are located downstream of the container 6 in the feeding direction. The first assisting roller 13 is located under (LO) the feed path. The second assisting roller 14 is located above (UP) the feed path. That is, when the printer cover 3 is at the closed position, the first assisting roller 13 and the second assisting roller 14 are opposed.
The first assisting roller 13 is connected to a stepping motor. The first assisting roller 13 rotates under the control of the stepping motor.
The second assisting roller 14 rotates following the rotation of the first assisting roller 13.
The first assisting roller 13 and the second assisting roller 14 rotate while keeping the print medium P there between so as to assist the feeding of the print medium P.
The platen roller 10 and the thermal head 12 are located downstream of the first assisting roller 13 and the second assisting roller 14 in the feeding direction. The platen roller 10 is located below (LO) the feed path.
The thermal head 12 is located above (UP) the feed path. That is, when the printer cover 3 is at the closed position, the platen roller 10 and the thermal head 12 are opposed.
The separator 15 is located downstream of the platen roller 10 and the thermal head 12 in the feeding direction.
The upper face and the front face of the separator 15 define a sharp angle.
The first nip roller 16 and the second nip roller 17 are located downstream of the separator 15 in the feeding direction. The first nip roller 16 and the second nip roller 17 are opposed.
The first nip roller 16 rotates following the rotation of the second nip roller 17.
The second nip roller 17 is connected to a stepping motor. The second nip roller 17 rotates under the control of the stepping motor.
The first nip roller 16 and the second nip roller 17 rotate while keeping the liner PM there between so as to feed the liner PM from the separator 15 to the liner ejection port 2b.
As the platen roller 10 rotates forward (counterclockwise in
As the platen roller 10 rotates forward, the first assisting roller 13 rotates counterclockwise in
The control circuit receives print data corresponding to information to be printed on the print surface PLa (hereinafter called “print information”) in response to a user's instruction. The control circuit controls the heater elements to generate heat in accordance with the print data.
When the print medium P passes through between the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 10, the heater elements generating heat are pressed against the print surface PLa. Due to the heat of the heater elements, the thermosensitive layer at the print surface PLa develops a color. As a result, print information (such as a bar code) is printed on the print surface PLa.
The label PL is fed from the front end of the separator 15 to the label ejection port 2a.
The liner PM along the front face of the separator 15 is folded back downward (LO) and rearward (RR), and then is fed toward the liner ejection port 2b.
In other words, the separator 15 folds back the liner PM at a sharp angle relative to the label PL. As a result, the separator 15 separates the label PL from the liner PM.
The label PL separated from the liner PM is ejected from the label ejection port 2a.
The liner PM after the label PL is separated (i.e., the liner PM passing through the front end of the separator 15) passes through between the first nip roller 16 and the second nip roller 17, and then is ejected from the liner ejection port 2b.
The following describes connecting and disconnecting of the thermal head and the connector unit of the present embodiment.
(4-1) Connecting of Thermal Head to Connector Unit
The following describes connecting of the thermal head to the connector unit of the present embodiment.
Before connecting the thermal head 12 to the connector unit 22, a user sets the head cover 21 at the non-shielding position.
Next, as shown in
Instead of the concaves 12e and the convexes 20a, convexes at the thermal head 12 and concaves at the head bracket 20 may hold the thermal head 12.
The abutting part 22b extends parallel to the connector 12b of the held thermal head 12.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
At this time, the abutting part 22b comes into contact with the outer periphery of the second limiter 12db. Specifically the connector unit 22 moves while having its notch 22ba engaging with the connector unit limiter 12d. This can limit the position of the connector unit 22 in the up-down direction (UP-LO direction) during connection and disconnection of the connector unit 22 and the thermal head 12.
As shown in
When the notch 22ba engages with the second limiter 12db, the front face of the notch 22ba comes into contact with the rear face of the thermal head body 12a and the rear face of the notch 22ba comes into contact with the front face of the first limiter 12da. This enables the positioning of the connector unit 22 in the front-rear direction (FR-RR direction).
That is, the first limiter 12da limits the position of the connector unit 22 in the front-rear direction (FR-RR direction). When the thermal head 12 is inserted, the first limiter 12da may be adjacent to the head bracket 20 and thus at least partially or momentarily contact the head bracket 20.
The notch 22ba engaging with the second limiter 12db supports the lower face and the outer periphery of the second limiter 12db. This enables the positioning of the connector unit 22 in the up-down direction (UP-LO direction) and in the width direction (LH-RH direction). That is, the second limiter 12db limits the position of the connector unit 22 in the moving direction (UP-LO direction) and in the width direction (LH-RH direction).
In this way, the engagement of the notch 22ba with the second limiter 12db enables the positioning of the connector unit 22. As a result, the connector unit 22 can move in parallel with the thermal head 12.
That is, the second limiter 12db and the abutting part 22b limit the position of the thermal a head 12 in the moving direction (UP-LO direction) of the connector unit 22 and in the directions (FR-RR direction and LH-RH direction) orthogonal to the moving direction (UP-LO direction) of the connector unit 22.
The head bracket 20 has a front face. This front face has a concave to which the first limiter 12da retracts.
The second limiter 12db and the abutting part 22b may limit the position of the thermal head 12 in the moving direction (UP-LO direction) of the connector unit 22 only. In this case, the position of the thermal head 12 is not limited in the directions (FR-RR direction and LH-RH direction) orthogonal to the moving direction (UP-LO direction) of the connector unit 22. That is, the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22 have a clearance there between in the directions (FR-RR direction and LH-RH direction) orthogonal to the moving direction (UP-LO direction) of the connector unit 22.
As shown in
The pair of engaging parts 21a of
As shown in
(4-2) Disconnecting of Thermal Head from Connector Unit
The following describes disconnecting of the thermal head from the connector unit of the present embodiment.
In order to disconnect the thermal head 12 from the connector unit 22, the user rotates the head cover 21 counterclockwise in
As shown in
As shown in
The following is a summary of the present embodiment.
As described above, when the user moves the head cover 21 of the present embodiment, connecting or disconnecting of the connector 12b as the connecting terminal of the thermal head 12 and the connector 22a as the connecting terminal of the printer body occurs. That is, the user can connect or disconnect the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22 without touching the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22. This facilitates the connecting and disconnecting of the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22.
When a user touches the thermal head 12, dirt may adhere to the thermal head 12. Such dirt may cause malfunction of the thermal head 12. According to the present embodiment, after attaching the thermal head 12 to the head bracket 20 for holding, a user need not touch the thermal head 12. This can suppress adherence of dirt to the thermal head 12.
According to the present embodiment, the first limiter 12da limits the relative position of the connector unit 22 when the thermal head 12 connects to the connector unit 22. This enables reliable connection of the thermal head 12 to the connector unit 22. The first limiter 12da can abut or be adjacent to the head bracket 20 to maintain connectors 12b and 22a parallel to each other to permit smooth inserting and removing.
In the present embodiment, the pair of concaves 12e and the pair of convexes 20a hold the thermal head 12 before moving the connector unit 22. This enables reliable connection of the thermal head 12 to the connector unit 22 during connection and disconnection of the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22.
In the present embodiment, the pair of concaves 12e and the pair of convexes 20a hold the thermal head 12 when the user attaches the thermal head 12 to the connector unit 22.
This makes the attachment of the thermal head 12 to the connector unit 22 easier.
In the present embodiment, the gear mechanism moves the connector unit 22.
This can minimize the rotary motion of the head cover 21 required for connection or disconnection of the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22. This can reduce burden on a user's operation required for connection or disconnection of the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22.
This can minimize a space required to move the head cover 21 as well. This enables easy replacement of the thermal head 12 without increasing the printer 1 in size.
In the present embodiment, engagement of the pair of engaging parts 21a with the pair of protrusions 20b locks the head cover 21 at the shielding position. This can prevent unexpected cancellation of the connection of the thermal head 12 to the connector unit 22.
In the present embodiment, the head cover 21 at the non-shielding position and the printer cover 3 define a space there between. Since the connector unit 22 is exposed through this space, the user can recognize the connector unit from the outside of the printer 1.
This allows a user to move the head cover 21 to the non-shielding position and then attach the thermal head 12 to the head bracket 20 easily. This facilitates the user attachment or detachment of the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22.
In the present embodiment, the connector unit 22 moves in parallel with the thermal head 12. This allows the user to connect or disconnect the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22 easily without breaking the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22.
As discussed above, print medium P includes a liner PM and labels PL. The height of the liner PM by itself differs from the height of the liner PM and labels PL together. This difference in height can cause movement (rattling) of the thermal head 12 relative to the platen roller 10 as the print medium P moves between the platen roller 10 and the thermal head 12. The head bracket 20 (which holds thermal head 12) is permitted to move relative to the platen roller 10 to accommodate the effect of this height difference. As shown in
The following describes modified examples of the present embodiment.
The following describes Modified Example 1. Modified Example 1 describes a preferable example of a ratio of the number of gear teeth of the pair of gears 21b to the pair of gears 23 (hereinafter called a “gear ratio”).
A larger gear ratio of the pair of gears 21b to the pair of gears 23 is preferred.
Such a larger gear ratio means a smaller amount of rotation of the head cover 21 required for connection or disconnection of the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22. Such a larger gear ratio means a smaller force required to rotate the head cover 21.
That is, a larger gear ratio can reduce the burden on user's operation to connect or disconnect the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22.
The following describes Modified Example 2. In Modified Example 2, the connector unit 22 moves in response to the operation performed to an operation member different from the head cover 21.
In one example, the printer cover 3 has a lever (one example of the operation member).
The lever has a pair of gears. The pair of gears of the lever engages with the pair of gears 23 (
That is, a gear mechanism is made up of the pair of gears of the lever and the pair of gears 23, and this gear mechanism is a moving mechanism to join with the connector unit 22. This moving mechanism moves the connector unit 22 in response to the rotating operation of the lever.
In Modified Example 2, the head cover 21 can be omitted.
The following describes Modified Example 3. In Modified Example 3, the connector unit 22 moves with a motion different from the rotating motion.
In one example, the following describes a head cover 21 in
In
The head cover 21 has a joint part and an engagement part.
The joint part joins the connector unit 22.
The engagement part is located at ends of the head cover 21 in the width (LH-RH direction). The engagement part engages with the guide grooves.
That is, the head cover 21 in Modified Example 3 joins the connector unit 22 and engages with the printer cover 3 slidably.
In order to connect the thermal head 12 to the connector unit 22, a user slides the head cover 21 downward (LO) until the head cover 21 is located at the lower end of the guide grooves (one example of the non-shielding position).
Next, the user slides the head cover 21 upward (UP) until the head cover 21 is located at the upper end of the guide grooves (one example of the shielding position). This moves the connector unit 22 upward (UP) (in the direction toward the thermal head 12).
When the thermal head 12 is to be disconnected from the connector unit 22, the user slides the head cover 21 to the non-shielding position.
As the head cover 21 slides, the connector unit 22 moves downward (LO) (i.e., in the direction away from the thermal head 12).
This disconnects the thermal head 12 from the connector unit 22.
As described above, in Modified Example 3, the sliding operation of the head cover 21 results in connection or disconnection of the thermal head 12 and the connector unit 22.
In Modified Example 3, the pair of gears 21b and the pair of gears 23 can be omitted.
The following describes Modified Example 4. Modified Example 4 describes an example, in which a connecting board moves with the rotation of the head cover, the connecting board being connectable to the thermal head.
As shown in
The connecting board 24 (one example of the connecting part) can connect to the connector 12g. The connecting board 24 includes a connector 24a (one example of the second connector). The connector 24a protrudes upward (UP) from the connecting board 24.
The connecting board 24 converts the rotary motion of the head cover 21 into the motion of the connecting board 24 in the up-down direction (UP-LO direction) due to a configuration similar to that of
The rotation of the head cover 21 moves the connecting board 24 in the up-down direction (UP-LO direction). This results in connection or disconnection of the connecting board 24 and the connector 12g.
That is, the head cover 21 of Modified Example 4 moves the connecting board 24.
As described above, when the user moves the head cover 21 of Modified Example 4, a connection or disconnection of the connector 12g as the connecting terminal of the thermal head 12 and the connector 24a as the connecting terminal of the printer body occurs. This enables connection or disconnection of the thermal head 12 and the connecting board 24 without touching the thermal head 12 and the connecting board 24. This allows the user to connect or disconnect the thermal head 12 and the connecting board 24.
At least a portion of the thermal head body 112a, such as the portion containing concaves 112e and the portion behind the heater element 112c, is made of a material which readily radiates heat, such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, or other metal that readily radiates heat. The lower edge of heater element 112c is aligned along a line H which is spaced from a top (or upper) edge T by a distance D1. The top portion 112et of concaves 112e are aligned along a line C which is spaced from top edge T by a distance D2. The distance D2 is greater than the distance D1 (by, for example, a 1 mm, or 2 mm or more). This ensures that the concaves 112e are not directly behind the heater element 112c, and thus provides heat-radiating material behind the heater element 112c, which helps maintain the temperature of the heater element 112c low, which helps maintain print quality.
In this embodiment, one of the concaves 112e is cylindrical to match the cylindrical shape of a projection 20a and one of the concaves is oval to allow for dimensional variation. However, in other embodiments, the concaves are other shapes, such as rectangular, or simple depressions or lack of material and may not match the shape of the projections.
A groove 112i is provided on the top surface of thermal head body 112a and is configured to be gripped by a finger or fingernail (or thumb or thumbnail) via notch(es) 20i in head bracket 20 to allow a user to easily remove the thermal head 112 from head bracket 20. The notches 20i thus permit the groove 112i to be at least partially exposed to the user when the thermal head 112 is installed in the head bracket 20. Many other types of indentations or projections may be used instead of groove 112i.
The following describes other modified examples.
The above embodiments exemplify the print medium P having the liner PM and the labels PL, however the print medium P is not limited to this. The print medium P may be a label PL without a liner PM, for example.
The above embodiments exemplify printing with the thermal head, however printing is not limited to printing with a thermal head.
The present embodiment is applicable to printing using, for example, an ink ribbon as well.
The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The above embodiments can be modified or changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The above embodiments and modified examples can be combined. For example, a portion of one embodiment or example may be combined with one or more portions of another embodiment or example. Also, the above embodiments (or portion(s) thereof) and/or the above examples (or portion(s) thereof) may be combined with one or more features, components, arrangements, printers, thermal heads, and/or methods described in PCT patent applications PCT/JP2017/030681, PCT/JP2017/030686, PCT/JP2017/030687, and PCT/JP2017/030688, all filed on Aug. 28, 2017, listing Kazuyuki Hoshi as an inventor, designating the United States, and having Sato Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha as an applicant. The entire contents of all four of these PCT applications are incorporated herein by reference for the features, components, arrangements, printers, thermal heads, and methods set forth therein. For example, features, components, arrangements, printers, thermal heads, and methods of PCT patent applications PCT/JP2017/030681 and PCT/JP2017/030686 can be used in combination with features, components, arrangements, printers, thermal heads, and methods described above in connection with
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180186155 A1 | Jul 2018 | US |