Thermal printer

Abstract

Provided is a thermal printer including: a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements; a head support member, which is conductive, for supporting the thermal head; a platen roller whose circumferential surface can be brought into contact with the thermal head while nipping a recording paper; biasing members, which are conductive, provided between the case and the head support member, for supporting the head support member while imparting bias toward the platen roller; and a flexible substrate electrically connected with the thermal head to transmit a signal, in which a part of the biasing member extends through the flexible substrate and is grounded by fixation while being electrically connected by solder with respect to the flexible substrate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an outer perspective view of an information terminal equipped with a thermal printer according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an outer perspective view of the thermal printer shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above;

FIG. 3 is an outer perspective view of the thermal printer shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from below;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a periphery of a head support member, coil springs, and a frame constituting the thermal printer;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the thermal printer shown in FIG. 3, which illustrates a mounted state of the coil spring and a flexible substrate;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the mounted state of the coil spring and the flexible substrate shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing the mounted state of the coil spring, on which a contacting portion to be brought into line contact with the flexible substrate is formed, and the flexible substrate.

Claims

1. A thermal printer, comprising: a case having a pair of side wall portions provided opposed to each other in a width direction of a recording paper;a thermal head extending in the width direction of the recording paper and having a plurality of heating elements;a head support member, which is conductive, for supporting the thermal head;a platen roller whose circumferential surface can be brought into contact with the thermal head while nipping the recording paper, and which is rotatably supported between the pair of side wall portions;a driving means for rotating the platen roller to deliver the recording paper;biasing members, which are conductive, provided between the case and the head support member, for supporting the head support member while imparting bias toward the platen roller; anda flexible substrate whose surface is provided with a wiring pattern, and which is electrically connected with the thermal head to transmit a signal,wherein a part of the biasing member extends through the flexible substrate and is grounded by fixation while being electrically connected by solder with respect to the flexible substrate.

2. A thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein: the biasing member comprises a coil spring in which a linear member is extended in spiral from a side of the case toward a side of the head support member; anda terminal of the linear member on the side of the case extends through the flexible substrate and is fixed by the solder.

3. A thermal printer according to claim 2, wherein the linear member is fixed to a surface of the flexible substrate in a state where the linear member is brought into line contact with the flexible substrate by a predetermined length.

4. A thermal printer according to claim 2, wherein a protrusion and a recess, which form a positioning portion, for positioning the coil spring are respectively formed in the case and the head support member.

5. A thermal printer according to claim 3, wherein a protrusion and a recess, which form a positioning portion, for positioning the coil spring are respectively formed in the case and the head support member.

6. A thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the biasing member is coated with a nickel plate.

7. A thermal printer according to claim 2, wherein a surface of the biasing member is coated with a nickel plate.

8. A thermal printer according to claim 3, wherein a surface of the biasing member is coated with a nickel plate.

9. A thermal printer according to claim 4, wherein a surface of the biasing member is coated with a nickel plate.

10. A thermal printer according to claim 5, wherein a surface of the biasing member is coated with a nickel plate.