Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus of this invention comprises a feed roller and a paper holding member for nipping and feeding roll paper; and a first paper guide that has a first guide surface against which the roll paper outputted from the feed roller is pushed. The first guide surface is tilted so as to guide the roll paper in a direction opposite to a curving direction of the roll paper. In this paper feeding apparatus, the roll paper is pushed against the guide surface for removing the curl. Therefore, the curl is removed efficiently. The mechanism for removing the curl becomes simple and load of motor is reduced. The paper feeding apparatus can be applied to a compact printer that is carried with a mobile phone.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a paper sheet managing device is provided. The sheet managing device includes a storage part for storing paper sheets and sheet supply means for supplying a paper sheet from the storage part. The sheet supply means comprises a pick up roller extending in a sheet width direction orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction, a drive shaft extending parallel to the pick up roller and rotationally driving the pick up roller and a plurality of power transmitting means for transmitting a power from the drive shaft to the pick up roller. The plurality of power transmitting means is disposed at at least both ends of the pick up roller and each of the plurality of power transmitting means comprises a gear train that links the drive shaft and the pick up roller and an arm that oscillates the pick up roller. The driving shaft includes processing that prevents rotational phase shifts.

Abstract: A printer includes a line thermal head, a platen roller for holding a paper between the platen roller and the line thermal head and feeding the paper, a cutter, including a movable blade and a fixed blade, for cutting printed paper, and a cutter driving mechanism for driving the movable blade. At least one of the line thermal head and the platen roller can be moved from a first position for printing to a second position for removing a paper jam, and one of the movable blade and the fixed blade is directly or indirectly attached to one of the line thermal head and the platen roller so that when the one of the line thermal head and the platen roller moves from the first position to the second position, one of the movable blade and the fixed blade also moves. In this way, a compact printer that uses roll paper, has a cutter function, and makes it easy to remove paper jams can be provided.

Abstract: The printer and the printer assembly of the present invention has a line thermal head extending in the paper width direction; a non-roller type platen disposed so as to face the line thermal head for printing a thermal paper between the line thermal head and the platen; and a paper extracting device disposed on the paper ejection side of the line thermal head and the platen for feeding a thermal paper between a first and a second roller. The non-roller type platen can press the thermal paper with uniform pressure and without distortion even if it is thin. Moreover, it is possible to prevent distortion of the rollers of the extracting device even with small diameters by supporting middle parts of each shaft of respective rollers. Therefore, a thin and compact printer assemblies and printers are provided.

Abstract: A printer includes a flat case having a flat top surface in which a printing mechanism and a sheet storage portion capable of accommodating a plurality of printing sheets are housed to be arranged along the top surface such that the printed sheet is fed out through an exit slot formed in the top surface. With such an arrangement, a thin printer can be achieved. In addition, the printed sheet fed out through the exit slot onto the flat top surface can be used just like a scratch pad or a notebook while being placed thereon. Moreover, the printer is of a thermal-type using thermal sheets, leading to reduced number of components. Therefore a compact printer can be achieved. Furthermore the printer uses thermal sheets of standard size such as A6 or B7. Accordingly, the printer can be formed to have a size substantially the same as that of a small notebook. A printer that can be handled like stationery, thus, can be obtained.

Abstract: A printer including a portable information processing portion located on the face of the printer, a paper accomodating portion located on the back of the information processing portion and capable of accomodating thermosensible printing sheets of standardized size, and a printing mechanism portion located adjacent to a side of the information processing portion is provided. With such a structure, a printer which allows for a large printing area while being as almost the same size of PDA and is suitable for portable use can be provided. Moreover, by employing a thermal head for printing on the thermosensible sheets, a space required for consumables such as ink is eliminated. As a result, a practically portable printer can be provided.

Abstract: An in-port capable of receiving a cartridge containing a plurality of thermal sheets of standardized size, a platen roller, and a thermal head are generally sequentially aligned in a direction. A thermal sheet picked up from the cartridge is turned at about 180 degrees along the platen roller, and fed out through an out-port arranged in the same side as the in-port. Thus, a very compact, front-in/front-out printer can be realized. Therefore, a card-size printer for the printing sheet of size B7, which can be inserted into a 3.5 inch-file bay, can be provided.