Abstract: A thermal print head assembly comprising a thin ceramic substrate, a thermal insulating glaze layer, an electrically conducive layer, an electrically resistive element layer, and a glass over-coating protective layer, plus an energizing schema that eliminates the need for a heat-sink is disclosed. A method of making this thermal print head assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein incorporate transistor heating technology to create micro-heater arrays as the digital heating element for various marking applications. The transistor heaters are typically fabricated either on a thin flexible substrate or on an amorphous silicon drum and embedded below the working surface. Matrix drive methods may be used to address each individual micro-heater and deliver heat to selected surface areas. Depending on different marking applications, the digital heating element may be used to selectively tune the wettability of thermo-sensitive coating, selectively change ink rheology, selectively remove liquid from the surface, selectively fuse/fix toner/ink on the paper.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A1) includes an insulating substrate (1), a glaze (2), a plurality of pairs of first and second electrodes (3A, 3B) and heating resistors (5). Each of the heating resistors (5) includes a heating portion (5a) spaced apart from the first electrode (3A) and the second electrode (3B). The respective ends (31A, 31B) of the electrodes (3A, 3B) are embedded in the glaze (2). An insulating film (4) is provided between the heating portion (5a) of each heating resistor (5) and the glaze (2). The hardness of the insulating film (4) is higher than that of the glaze (2) and lower than that of the heating resistor (5). The thermal conductivity of the insulating film (4) is higher than that of the glaze (2) and lower than that of the heating resistor (5).

Abstract: A thermal head includes a head containing a glass layer. The glass layer has a projecting portion on one surface and a concave groove on the other surface at a position opposed to the projecting portion. The head further contains a heating resistor disposed on the projecting portion, and a pair of electrodes disposed on both sides of the heating resistor. The thermal head further includes a rigid substrate on which a control circuit for the head is provided, and a flexible substrate for electrically connecting the head and the rigid substrate.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A1) includes a substrate (1) and a heating resistor (3) supported by the substrate (1). An electrode pattern (2) is formed in contact with the heating resistor (3) for applying driving voltage. The heating resistor (3) is covered with a protective film (5). The protective film (5) includes a high thermal conductivity layer (51) and a low thermal conductivity layer (52) laminated on the high thermal conductivity layer. The low thermal conductivity layer (52) is positioned farther from the heating resistor (3) than the high thermal conductivity layer (51) is.

Abstract: A thermal head that includes a bonding portion and a protective layer. The thermal head prevents electrostatic discharge damage from occurring in the bonding portion of the thermal head due to the protective layer being electrostatically charged.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead comprising: an array of ink chambers, each having a nozzle, an elongate actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle; wherein, the nozzle has an elongate shape with its long dimension aligned with that of the elongate actuator.

Abstract: To improve printing quality and reduce manufacturing cost, a plurality of heating resistors (14) are arranged with spaces therebetween on a heat storage layer (13) laminated on a surface of a supporting substrate (11) via an adhesive layer (12) made of an elastic material. A cavity portion (19) is formed at a region between the supporting substrate (11) and the heat storage layer (13), the region being opposed to a heat generating portion of each of the plurality of heating resistors (14). The adhesive layer (12) includes a first adhesive layer (12a) laminated on the surface of the supporting substrate (11) and a second adhesive layer (12b) laminated on a surface of the heat storage layer (13). The elastic material constituting the second adhesive layer (12b) is arranged so that the elastic material is in a bonded state with respect to at least a part of the surface of the heat storage layer (13) opposed to the cavity portion (19).

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal head with increased contact pressure between a heat generating portion and a printing medium to increase printing quality with a low heat loss. A thermal head includes: a plurality of heat generating resistors formed via an insulating layer; a driver circuit unit for driving the plurality of heat generating resistors to generate a heat; a wiring for connecting the driver circuit unit to the plurality of heat generating resistors; a protecting film formed to cover the plurality of heat generating resistors, the driver circuit unit and the wiring, wherein the plurality of heat generating resistors, the driver circuit unit, the wiring and the protecting film are formed on a substrate, and a thermal insulating layer having a thermal conductivity smaller than 0.5 W/m·K and having a maximum thickness of larger than 10 ?m is provided between the heat generating resistor and the substrate.

Abstract: A thermal head includes a substrate; a plurality of driver ICs configured to be arranged in a main scanning direction; a heater element configured to include a heat storage layer, a heating resistor layer which is made of a plurality of pairs of effective heating portions, and an electrode layer which is patterned to supply electricity to the heating resistor layer; and a protective layer configured to cover a surface of the heater element, wherein the folded electrode is formed by adjusting an area thereof such that a heat distribution of each heating resistor becomes uniform. In such a thermal head, the number of manufacturing processes or the cost does not increase and a heat distribution becomes uniform, so that a good printing result having good a degree of gloss and image can be obtained.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A) according to the present invention includes a substrate (1) having an obverse surface on which a glaze layer (2) is formed, an electrode (4) formed on the glaze layer (2) and a clip connector (5) attached to an edge of the substrate (1) for connection to an external device and connected to the electrode (4) via solder (8). An input wiring portion (33) as a buffer layer is provided between the glaze layer (2) and the electrode (4), and the input wiring portion (33) protrudes from the electrode (4) at least at an end adjacent to the edge of the substrate (1).

Abstract: A heating head which functions as an erase head for quick operation can be turned off while not in use yet it can turn on when it is used (on-demand operation) and operates stably without over-heating even for the long operation, re-writable media record erasing equipment and erasing method. At least one strip of Heating Resistive Element is formed on one side (surface) of Head Substrate lengthwise. The Temperature Measurement Resistive Element is formed on the same side of the Head Substrate surface. The other side is facing the Heat Sink to hold the Head Substrate and the Thermal Resistive Layer is sandwiched. When the re-writable media record is erased, the media is moved across the erase head after the temperature of the temperature measurement resistive element reaches the predetermined level.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding device feeding a recording medium to be recorded, a thermal transfer sheet having an ink layer to form an image and a protective material layer to form a protective layer protecting the image, a thermal transfer sheet transporting device, a surface property reforming sheet having an image printing opening disposed in such a way that the thermal transfer sheet comes into direct contact with a surface of the recording medium to be recorded and a surface property reforming portion to reform the surface state of the protective layer protecting the image, a reforming sheet moving device, and a thermal head to thermally transfer the ink layer or the protective material layer, wherein a non-adhesion treatment layer is formed on at least a surface of the surface property reforming sheet on the side to come into contact with the thermal transfer sheet.

Abstract: A content applicator for selectively processing media received by the content applicator. The content applicator includes a print station having a print station protector subsystem. When the print station is in a print offline mode, the print station protector subsystem protects at least one component of the print station from degradation caused by media being received by the print station while the print station is in print offline mode.

Abstract: A method of forming an image, including the steps of superposing a heat-sensitive transfer sheet on a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet, and applying thermal energy from a side of a heat-resistant lubricating layer of the heat-sensitive transfer sheet, to transfer a thermally transferable dye in a thermal transfer layer to a receptor layer, thereby forming a thermally transferred image. The heat-sensitive transfer sheet and the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheets, including constituent layers and components thereof, are as described herein.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer image forming method, containing: superposing receptor layer side of image-receiving sheet and dye layer side of ink sheet, making a thermal head contact with the sheets from lubricating layer side of ink sheet, and applying heat while making the head and ink sheet move at 60 mm/s or more relatively, and thereby transferring dye to form an image; wherein image-receiving sheet has heat insulation layer containing hollow polymer particles, receptor layer and/or heat insulation layer contains a water-soluble polymer; lubricating layer contains inorganic particles in 0.01-5 mass % to the total solid content of lubricating layer, the particles have Mohs' hardness 3-6 and mean particle size 0.3-5 ?m, and the ratio of the maximum width of each particles to the sphere equivalent diameter thereof is 1.5-50; and when 0.7 J/cm2 energy is applied, contact distance between the head and lubricating layer is 350-450 ?m.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A1) includes a substrate (1) and a plurality of heat-producing resistance sections (30) provided on the substrate (1). The heat-producing resistance sections (30) melt ink of an ink ribbon, which is transferred together with a recording sheet, to transfer the ink onto the recording sheet. An inequality surface region (7) is provided downstream from the heat-producing resistance sections (30) in a secondary scanning direction (x) which is the transfer direction of the ink ribbon. The inequality surface region includes a plurality of projections (70) each of which extends in the secondary scanning direction (x) and which are aligned at predetermined intervals in a primary scanning direction (y) which is perpendicular to the secondary scanning direction (x).

Abstract: A thermal image forming apparatus includes a platen roller and a thermal printhead. A heating portion of the thermal printhead has a plurality of heating elements arranged along an area where the platen roller and the thermal printhead form a printing nip. A plurality of driving integrated circuits are mounted on a substrate and connected to the heating elements of the heating portion. A block is formed higher than the driving integrated circuits such that the driving integrated circuits are disposed between the block and the heating portion. A conveying unit is disposed toward the heating portion of the thermal printhead and conveys a sheet of paper between the platen roller and the thermal printhead.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A1) comprises an insulating substrate (1), a common electrode (31) which is formed on the insulating substrate (1) and includes a plurality of comb teeth (31a), a plurality of individual electrodes (41) formed on the insulating substrate (1), and a resistor layer (51) formed on the insulating substrate (1) and electrically connected to the comb teeth (31a) and the individual electrodes (41). The resistor layer (51) comprises a thin film, whereas the common electrode (31) and the individual electrodes (41) comprise a thick film.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A1) includes a substrate (1) and a plurality of heat-producing resistance sections (30) provided on the substrate (1). The heat-producing resistance sections (30) melt ink of an ink ribbon, which is transferred together with a recording sheet, to transfer the ink onto the recording sheet. An inequality surface region (7) is provided downstream from the heat-producing resistance sections (30) in a secondary scanning direction (x) which is the transfer direction of the ink ribbon. The inequality surface region includes a plurality of projections (70) each of which extends in the secondary scanning direction (x) and which are aligned at predetermined intervals in a primary scanning direction (y) which is perpendicular to the secondary scanning direction (x).

Abstract: A recording head is provided with an element substrate and a circuit board fixed to a head substrate having heat radiation property. Plural heating elements are formed linearly in the element substrate, and plural driver ICs are attached to the element substrate. A temperature sensor is disposed between the driver ICs. The temperature sensor measures average temperature of the plural heating elements, and adjusts a heat quantity of each heating element in accordance with the average temperature. In the preferred embodiment, the plural temperature sensors and a heating element array are arranged on both sides of the element substrate such that the plural temperature sensors are disposed underneath the heating element array. The plural temperature sensors are accommodated in a concave portion of the head substrate.

Abstract: A heating device capable of evenly heating a thermal recording medium without increasing the cost of the device is disclosed. The heating device evenly heats the recording surface of a thermally-reversible recording card by conducting the heat energy transferred from a heat generating member by way of a heating member, made of aluminum having high heat conductivity and high heat capacity characteristics. By this feature, it becomes possible to accurately erase the information recorded on the recording card and to use an inexpensive heat generating member as the heat generating member.

Abstract: A thermal head includes a head substrate having a plurality of heating resistors which generate heat by electrical dissipation, a common electrode connected to one end of each heating resistor, and a plurality of individual electrodes connected to the other ends of the respective heating resistors. The head substrate is disposed on a heat-dissipation plate. A wide-gap stepped portion is disposed in correspondence with at least a location of the head substrate directly below the heating resistors, and increases an interval between an adhesion surface of the head substrate and an adhesion surface of the heat-dissipation plate. A resilient adhesive capable of absorbing thermal strain is interposed between the adhesion surface of the heat-dissipation plate and the adhesion surface of the head substrate in an adhesion plane where the wide-gap stepped portion is disposed.

Abstract: A thermal head has a head substrate including exothermic bodies which generate heat when electricity is supplied thereto, a common electrode connected with first ends of the exothermic bodies, and independent electrodes connected with second ends of the exothermic bodies. A printed circuit board (PCB) includes driving elements controlling the electricity supplied to the exothermic bodies. The head substrate and PCB are attached on a heat sink such that an end surface of the head substrate adjoins an end surface of the PCB. The independent electrodes are wire-connected with the corresponding driving elements across a gap between the adjoining end surfaces to define a wire-connection unit, which is sealed with resin. An adhesive layer is partially disposed between the PCB and the heat sink such that a space is provided therebetween. The space communicates with the outside of the thermal head and with the gap.

Abstract: A heating head which functions as an erase head for quick operation can be turned off while not in use yet it can turn on when it is used (on-demand operation) and operates stably without over-heating even for the long operation, re-writable media record erasing equipment and erasing method. At least one strip of Heating Resistive Element 2 is formed on one side (surface) of Head Substrate 1 lengthwise. The Temperature Measurement Resistive Element 3 is formed on the same side of the Head Substrate 1 surface. The other side of the is facing the Heat Sink 5 to hold the Head Substrate 1 and the Thermal Resistive Layer 4 is sandwiched. When the re-writable media record is erased, the media is moved across the erase head after the temperature of the temperature measurement resistive element reaches the predetermined level.

Abstract: A printer having a thermal head disposed such that when heater elements are in contact with a platen, the following formulas are satisfied: H1?H?Hmax; Hmax=(H1+H2)=L tan(?1+?3); and ??=(?2??1)=(3°±1°). Length L is between a first line perpendicular to a top-substrate-surface and extending through a contact point between the heater elements and the platen, and a second line perpendicular to the top-substrate-surface and extending through a peak of a sealing member; height H is from the top-substrate-surface to the peak; height H1 is from the top-substrate-surface to a tangent between the platen and the heater elements; height H2 is from the tangent to a conveying path of a recording medium; angle ?1 is between the tangent and the top-substrate-surface; ?2 denotes a slope angle of a projection from the tangent; angle ?3 is between the tangent and the conveying path; and ?? denotes a head-returning angle.

Abstract: A thermal printing device includes a substrate, an insulation layer on the substrate, and a plurality of microheaters on the insulation layer. Two adjacent ones of the microheaters are separated by a trench. Each of the microheaters includes a body having a heating surface, and two metal wires disposed on two sides of the heating surface of the body. A thermal printing operation is performed by applying a variable voltage or current between the two metal wires in order to heat the microheater to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A method of producing a wear-resistant protective film for a thermal head comprises depositing a wear-resistant protective film by sputtering on a thermal head which includes a substrate, and a heat-developing layer and a pair of electrodes formed on either the substrate or a heat-regenerative layer formed thereon. A layer of the wear resistant protective film is formed under a RF larger bias and another layer without a bias or with a smaller bias. Good step coverage is obtained by the RF sputter layer of the wear-resistant and the protective film prevents the intrusion of water that can cause cracking, and the layer formed under no or smaller bias reduces internal stresses and inhibits the development of cracks due to internal stresses as well as the cracking by RF sputtering.

Abstract: A thermal head includes a heat insulating layer made up of an electrically-conductive multiple low oxide ceramic layer of low thermal conductivity made of a chemical compound of Si, plural transition metals and oxygen. A first insulating layer made up of an insulated multiple high nitride ceramic layer of low thermal conductivity made of a chemical compound of at least Si, plural transition metals and nitrogen is formed on the heat insulating layer, and a second insulating layer made up of an SiO2 layer of high insulation characteristics or an Al2O3 layer is formed on the first insulating layer.

Abstract: A structure including a sequence of elements for sending or receiving a signal along an axis. Two successive elements along the direction of the axis are offset with respect to each other along the direction perpendicular to the axis. The structure includes at least two layers of material deposited on a reception substrate using the layer transfer technique. The structure particularly relates to any type of structure for which elements must have a high density, such as a print bead, networks of optical components, antenna networks, etc.

Abstract: A layer of thermal insulator is disposed on at least one of an electrically insulating substrate, an adhesive layer and a heat dissipating plate downstream to heating elements on the substrate in a supply direction of a color thermal recording sheet when executing thermal recording. In a manner that the thermal insulator is provided, when executing thermal recording on color thermal recording sheet, heat generated at heating elements is dissipated outside neither from the distal end of the insulating substrate downstream in a supply direction of the insulating substrate nor from the heat dissipating plate through adhesive layer. Since reduction in temperature is suppressed downstream in a supply direction, condensation of steam or vapor is prevented on the protective layer located at topmost of the thermal head, so that printing failure can be avoided.

Abstract: A thermal head includes a metal substrate; an insulating layer formed on the surface of the metal substrate; a plurality of heating elements disposed on the surface of the insulating layer, the heating elements being arranged with a predetermined pitch along a plurality of lines in a main scanning direction, the plurality of lines being spaced from each other in a paper feeding direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction; and a heat radiating element projecting from the surface of the metal substrate to the side where the insulating layer is disposed. In this structure, although most of heat generated by the respective heating elements is transferred to an ink ribbon or print paper, residual partial heat is absorbed by heat radiating means via the insulating layer and radiated into the atmosphere. This suppresses thermal interference among the heating elements. A thermal head controller is provided for controlling the thermal head for use in a printer.

Abstract: A thermal head includes a heat insulating layer made up of an electrically-conductive multiple low oxide ceramic layer of low thermal conductivity made of a chemical compound of Si, plural transition metals and oxygen. A first insulating layer made up of an insulated multiple high nitride ceramic layer of low thermal conductivity made of a chemical compound of at least Si, plural transition metals and nitrogen is formed on the heat insulating layer, and a second insulating layer made up of an SiO2 layer of high insulation characteristics or an Al2O3 layer is formed on the first insulating layer.

Abstract: A heat sublimable printer in which the present invention is implemented consists mainly of a battery, a thermal head, and a control circuit. The battery offers a rated voltage of 14.8 V and is freely attached or detached to or from a housing of the heat sublimatic printer. The thermal head is incorporated in the housing, provided with a plurality of heating elements whose resistances range from 2800 &OHgr; to 3160 &OHgr;, and used to print an image on paper according to image data. The control circuit that is incorporated in the housing applies a supply voltage developed from the battery to the thermal head without boosting it, and controls the timing of electrically conducting the thermal head.

Abstract: A thermal head includes a metal substrate; an insulating layer formed on the surface of the metal substrate; a plurality of heating elements disposed on the surface of the insulating layer, the heating elements being arranged with a predetermined pitch along a plurality of lines in a main scanning direction, the plurality of lines being spaced apart from each other in a paper-feeding direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction; and a heat radiating element projecting from the surface of the metal substrate to the side where the insulating layer is disposed. Although most of the heat generated by the respective heating elements is transferred to an ink ribbon or print paper, residual partial heat is absorbed by heat radiating means via the insulating layer and radiated into the atmosphere, which suppresses thermal interference among the heating elements.

Abstract: A thermal printer for transferring ink from an ink film to a printing medium is described. The thermal transfer printer includes a print head and a platen. The print head has a plurality of resistance heating elements operable to be individually energized with electrical drive pulses. Each of the resistance heating elements has a transfer surface which is substantially flat for transfer of the ink from the ink film to the printing medium. The print head is pressed against the platen during printing. At least one of the transfer surfaces includes a concave portion which substantially avoids the transfer of the ink.

Abstract: A thermally actuated fluidic optical switching circuit that includes a heater substructure having heater resistors and thermally conductive regions associated with the heater resistors and configured to tailor the thermal characteristics of the heater substructure.

Abstract: A thermal printer for transferring ink from an ink film to a printing medium is described. The thermal transfer printer includes a print head and a platen. The print head has a plurality of resistance heating elements operable to be individually energized with electrical drive pulses. Each of the resistance heating elements has a transfer surface which is substantially flat for transfer of the ink from the ink film to the printing medium. The print head is pressed against the platen during printing. At least one of the transfer surfaces includes a concave portion which substantially avoids the transfer of the ink.

Abstract: In a thermal head according to the present invention, a sacrificial layer of transition metal is formed on a top surface of a heat radiation substrate; a bridge layer of cermet or ceramic material is formed on a top surface of a heat insulation layer including the sacrificial layer; a cavity is made between the bridge layer and the heat insulation layer; a plurality of slits are made in the bridge layer overlying the cavity to expose the cavity; a highly adiabatic inorganic heat insulation layer is formed on a top surface of the bridge layer including the slits; and an inorganic protective layer of a material selected from among silicon or aluminum oxide, nitride and carbide is formed on a top surface of the inorganic heat insulation layer, where heating elements are formed between the slits over the inorganic heat insulation layer and the inorganic protective layer

Abstract: A thermal head includes a heat radiating plate and an electrical insulating substrate which is provided with a plurality of resistance heater elements arranged in a direction over a predetermined length and a plurality of electrodes for energizing the resistance heater and is integrated with the heat radiating plate. The substrate is smaller than the heat radiating plate in coefficient of thermal expansion and is fixed to the heat radiating plate at a temperature higher than the normal working temperature range of the thermal head. In the normal working temperature range of the thermal head, the thermal head is convex toward the resistance heater in a cross-section taken along a line parallel to the direction in which the resistance heater elements are arranged due to the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the heat radiating plate and the substrate.

Abstract: In a contact type recording head which moves relatively with respect to the recording material while its one portion is coming into contact with the recording material, and directly prints an image onto the recording material or indirectly prints an image onto the recording material through the recording material, the microscopic irregularity is provided on a material contact portion S of the heating element 45 which comes into contact with the recording material. It is preferable that the microscopic irregularity is formed in a streak-like manner in the direction of the relative movement with the recording material, and the average roughness Ra of the microscopic irregularity in the perpendicular direction to the relative movement direction is 0.03-0.5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The thermal printhead according to the present invention includes an elongated rectangular substrate including an attaching surface and a non-attaching surface, and a heat sink plate attached to the attaching surface of the substrate. The non-attaching surface of the substrate is provided with a common electrode, a plurality of individual electrodes and a heating resistor. The heating resistor is covered with an insulating protective layer and an opaque conductive protective layer. The thermal printhead includes a positioning indicia. In the method of making the thermal printhead according to the present invention, an image of the positioning indicia is taken by an image pick-up device and imaged on a display of a monitor. Two reference lines are set on the display of the monitor. Positioning of the substrate relative to the heat sink plate is performed by moving the substrate so that the reference line of the positioning indicia coincides with the reference line on the display of the monitor.

Abstract: An wear-resistant layer 50 constituting a printing surface which is brought into contact with a thermal record medium is formed on a provisional substrate 70 having a groove formed in its surface, said groove having a substantially semicircular cross section, and a heat generating layer 51, electrically conductive layers 52a and 52b electrically connected to the heat generating layer, a protection layer 54a and a heat storage layer 58 are stacked in turn to form a printing section. Next, a driving IC 55 for controlling a heating electric power to be supplied to the printing section is connected to the electrically conductive layer and a wiring section 53 for connecting the driving IC to an external circuit is provided. Thereafter, the printing section is secured to a heat dissipating member 59 by means of a resin 62, and a common electrode 84 and wires 56 are secured to the heat dissipating member by means of both-sided adhesive tapes 82 and 83.

Abstract: A thermal printhead includes a primary substrate upon which a heating resistor, drive ICs, etc. are provided. The printhead also includes a secondary substrate for carrying e.g. a connector for a flexible cable. A plurality of clip pins are used for establishing electrical connection between the two substrates. Each clip pin is provided with a straight lead portion which is formed with a bend-facilitating part disposed between relatively rigid parts.

Abstract: A thick film thermal head includes an electrical insulating substrate. A pair of heat-resistant electrical insulating plates fixed to a surface of the substrate with their side faces opposed to each other with a gap between. An elongated resistance heater is embedded in the gap, and a plurality of electrodes are formed on the surface of the heat-resistant electrical insulating plates in contact with the resistance heater and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the resistance heater.

Abstract: A thermal head including a protection layer having mutually opposed first and second surfaces, said first surface having a flat or protruded printing surface which is brought into contact with a heat sensitive record medium, a heat generating section including resistors and electrodes connected to the electrodes and provided on said second surface of the protection layer, and a reinforcing member made of a low melting pint glass and provided on a side of the heat generating section remote from the protection layer. The reinforcing member improves a mechanical strength of the thermal head. The reinforcing member made of a glass also serves as a heat storage member, and thus a thermal property of the thermal head is improved. The reinforcing member may be formed by an aggregate of ceramic particles. The reinforcing member may contain a heat storage layer made of a low melting point glass and a heat conduction layer provided on the heat storage layer.

Abstract: A thermal head of the present invention comprises a substrate (1221) consisting of a metal such as a stainless steel, insulating layers (1226, 1223), with raised portions (1225, 1224) being formed by raising up a part of the surface thereof, and exothermic resistors (1228, 1229) formed on the raised portions. Common electrodes (1222, 1227) are disposed on the substrate, which protrude from the surface of the substrate, penetrate through the raised portions and are connected to the exothermic resistors, to thereby divide the resistors into first exothermic resistors and second exothermic resistors, centering on the connecting point.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a conveyor for conveying thermosensitive recording material in a predetermined conveying direction. A thermal head applies heat to the recording material being conveyed, to record an image to the recording material. The thermal head incorporates plural heating elements, which are arranged in an array crosswise to the conveying direction, and generate the heat. The thermal head includes a contact region predetermined for pressing the recording material. A center of the contact region is positioned downstream from a center of the heating elements with reference to the conveying direction.

Abstract: The object is to provide a thermal print head that can absorb an expansion due to difference of thermal expansion coefficients of a ceramic substrate and a glass-epoxy based printed circuit board to enable to obtain excellent printing quality, to be high in reliability, and to be capable of downsizing.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer head for discharging ink by heating ink to transfer ink to a transfer member. A sub-wall is provided in a supply passage adjacent to a transfer portion to raise the liquid level of ink in the supply passage so as to prevent a breakpoint of ink in the supply passage. Thus, ink consumed in the transfer portion is spontaneously replenished to the transfer portion through the supply passage by a capillary phenomenon so that continuous supply of ink to the transfer portion is smoothly performed. The structure is formed such that ink in an excessively large quantity is not introduced into a portion above a heater provided for the transfer portion. As a result, even if the wettability of an ink holding structure formed above the heater is raised owning to adhesion of thermally degraded substances or the like, introduction of ink into the portion above the heater in a large quantity and rapid change in the quantity of transferred ink can be prevented.