Abstract: A printing unit includes: a platen roller configured to convey a recording sheet; a thermal head configured to perform printing on the recording sheet through press contact with an outer peripheral surface of the platen roller; a motor configured to serve as a drive source of the platen roller; and a frame configured to support the platen roller in a rotatable manner, wherein the frame includes: a motor support portion configured to support the motor; a base portion which is connected to the motor support portion, and extends in an axial direction of the platen roller; mounting portions which are attached to a member on which the printing unit is to be mounted; a protruding portion which protrudes from the base portion; and a rib which is provided between the motor support portion and the mounting portions, and extends so as to connect the protruding portion and the base portion to each other, wherein the base portion includes a guide surface configured to guide the recording sheet toward the thermal head, an

Abstract: A thermal printer, includes a head unit including a thermal head configured to perform printing on a recording sheet; a platen unit, which includes a platen roller configured to convey the recording sheet, and is separably combined with the head unit; a printer main body, which has a recording-sheet receiving portion configured to receive the recording sheet, and has the head unit mounted thereto; a printer cover, which has the platen unit mounted thereto, and is coupled to the printer main body so as to be pivotable; and a separator, which is provided in the recording-sheet receiving portion, and is configured to separate parts of the recording sheet, which is rolled into a roll shape around a core body, folded on each other at a rolling start portion, which is rolled around the core body and has a turn-back shape.

Abstract: A thermal printer, includes a head unit including a thermal head configured to perform printing on a recording sheet; a platen unit, which includes a platen roller configured to convey the recording sheet, and is separably combined with the head unit; a printer main body, which has a recording-sheet receiving portion configured to receive the recording sheet, and has the head unit mounted thereto; a printer cover, which has the platen unit mounted thereto, and is coupled to the printer main body so as to be pivotable; and a separator, which is provided in the recording-sheet receiving portion, and is configured to separate parts of the recording sheet, which is rolled into a roll shape around a core body, folded on each other at a rolling start portion, which is rolled around the core body and has a turn-back shape.

Abstract: A printer unit including: a platen roller including a driven gear; a drive source configured to rotate the platen roller about a predetermined axis; a frame, which is configured to rotatably support the platen roller and to which the drive source is assembled; a reduction gear configured to transmit a driving force of the drive source to the driven gear in a decelerated manner; a thermal head to be held in press contact with an outer peripheral surface of the platen roller; a gearbox portion, which is formed on the frame and to which the driven gear and the reduction gear are assembled, the gearbox portion having an opening for assembling the reduction gear; and a gear cover configured to close at least a part of the opening of the gearbox portion, the gearbox portion having a recessed portion recessed in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the predetermined axis, the gear cover including: a hook portion to be engaged with the gearbox portion; and a projecting portion to be fitted to the recessed p

Abstract: A paper discharge device includes a waiting path having one side connected to an input port and another side connected to a discharge port, and a collection path having one side connected to the waiting path through a merged portion and another side connected to a collection chamber. Conveyance mechanisms convey a paper which was conveyed through the input port to the discharge port in a forward direction, and convey, after lapse of a given period of time after the conveyance of the paper, the paper in a reverse direction through the merged portion to feed into the collection path. An input mechanism provided in the collection path conveys the paper fed from the waiting path through the collection path into the collection chamber while sandwiching the paper between rollers to form folds across a total length of the paper along the paper conveying direction.

Abstract: Provided is a paper discharge device (1) capable of efficiently collecting the large amount of the paper, and of allowing the paper in the waiting state to wait without being brought into contact with the collected paper until the processings such as printing are ended.

Abstract: Provided is a printer that employs a platen roller as conveying means, for which the accuracy of the assembly of the constituents of a drive transmission mechanism that drives a platen roller is increased, and the heat releasing function of a motor that is a drive source is also improved, so that downsizing and increasing output can be coped with.

Abstract: A sheet holding structure comprises a container for holding fanfold paper layered by being alternately folded every predetermined length as a sheet. The container has upper and lower sections that are fixed to each other so as to be non-movable relative one another and that collectively form an accommodation portion that accommodates the fanfold paper. The lower section of the container has an inner wall surface formed in a concave shape along a lengthwise direction of the fanfold paper so that the fanfold paper curves in an inward direction and exerts an expanding force acting, at least in part, against the self-weight of the fanfold paper and in a direction opposite to the inward direction.

Abstract: Provided is a printer for an electronic voting apparatus with which it becomes possible to smoothly convey a recording sheet, whose leading end is a free end, and achieve miniaturization and simplification. Fanfold paper (16) is placed on a bottom surface (7b) in a concave shape of a container (7) fitted to a casing (6a) of a printer (6) in a state where the fanfold paper (16) is curved along the bottom surface (7b) in the concave shape (7b). On the fanfold paper (16) supplied from the container (7) into the casing (6a), the contents of a vote inputted by a voter using a touch panel are printed by a recording head (9). Then, the fanfold paper (16) is conveyed by a platen roller (10) and enters into a gap (12c) of a window portion (12) through a guide (13). The voter in a voting booth confirms the printed contents (vote contents) through the window portion (12) and performs approval processing for the vote contents by operating the touch panel.

Abstract: In order to provide a printer for an electronic voting device, capable of smoothly transporting a recording sheet having a free end and capable of realizing downsizing and simplification, a container (7) includes a main body portion (7d) mounted on to a casing (6a) of a printer (6) and a movable portion (7e) attached to the main body portion (7d) so as to be capable of being opened and closed. In a state where the container (7) is opened, a fanfold sheet (16) in a state where a deflection thereof is small is inserted as it is, and the movable portion (7e) is then closed with respect to the main body portion (7d). As a result, the fanfold sheet (16) is retained in the container (7) in a state where the fanfold sheet (16) is largely deflected in a U-shape. The fanfold sheet (16) can smoothly be supplied from the container (7) into the casing (6a) The printer (6) prints electronic voting contents on the fanfold sheet (16) which is smoothly supplied.

Abstract: To provide a printer for an electronic voting apparatus which is capable of smoothly transporting a recording sheet having a free end at an end thereof with a small transport load, and which is reduced in size and is simplified in structure. Fanfold paper (16) is accommodated in a container (7) mounted on a casing (6a) of a printer (6). The fanfold paper (16) supplied into the casing (6a) from the container (7) is printed with contents of a vote inputted by a voter using a touch panel with a recording head (9), is transported to a platen roller (10), and enters a gap (12c) of a window portion (12) through a guide (13). The voter in a voting booth confirms printed contents (contents of the vote) from the window portion (12), and carries out a process of approving the contents of the vote. Then, a recording head (9) is used to print characters representing the approval, and the fanfold paper (16) is cut by a cutter portion (11).

Abstract: A thermal printer has a printing head, a platen for urging the paper against the printing head, a bearing for rotatably holding the platen shaft and having an engagement portion for holding the platen in place, a movable platen frame for moving the bearing between a first position to perform printing and a second position at which the bearing is spaced further apart from the printing head than in the first position, and a frame having an engagement groove engageable with the engagement portion of the bearing when the platen is moved into the first position to perform painting, the engagement groove having a shape corresponding to the engagement portion of the bearing. The engagement portion of the bearing has a symmetrical, non-circular shape with respect to a central axis of the platen shaft, so that idle rotation of the platen bearing is prevented.

Abstract: A thermal printer is provided in which the occurrence of a sticking phenomenon can be lowered compared with a thermal printer with a conventional structure under conditions where other causes are the same therewith, which are involved in the occurrence of the sticking phenomenon, such as a period of time from drive of a heating element until the next rotation of a platen roller and respective coefficients of friction of recording paper, a thermal head, and the platen roller. In a thermal printer in which printing and paper feeding are performed in a state in which paper is sandwiched between a thermal head having a heating element and a platen roller pressed against the thermal head, a center of a rotating support shaft 7 that rotatably supports the thermal head 3 is arranged so as to be overlapped on an extension line of a head surface 3a, and also, an acting force of a spring 4 that generates a pressing force between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 2 is made perpendicular to the head surface 3a.

Abstract: In a thermal printer having a platen release mechanism for separating a platen away from a printing head, an idle rotation of a platen bearing is prevented while keeping a preferable attaching/detaching operation property of the platen.