Abstract: A thermal printhead having an optimal resistor element shape which is capable of high speed and high quality printing is provided. The thermal printhead for progressively printing a pattern of dots on a thermosensitive paper moving in one direction, includes a substrate, and a plurality of resister elements on the substrate arranged in a substantially straight line extending in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the thermosensitive paper, the plurality of resistor elements each corresponding to respective one of the dots constituting the pattern to be printed onto the thermosensitive paper, each of the resistor elements having a heat transfer area that will be in contact with the thermosensitive paper upon printing the dot, wherein at least one of two sides of the heat transfer area that are substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the thermosensitive paper has a sag in a substantially middle portion thereof to adjust a shape of the dot.

Abstract: A thermal printer having a thermal printhead with energy save features which is capable of high speed and high quality printing is provided. The thermal printer has an energy storage device and a thermal printhead including a substrate, a resistor layer formed on one surface of the substrate, and a thermoelectric element disposed on the other surface of the substrate opposite to where the resistor layer is formed, wherein the thermoelectric element converts heat generated by the resistor layer to electrical energy when a temperature difference between the resistor layer and an opposite side of the thermoelectric element where the resistor layer is disposed nearby becomes large enough for the thermoelectric element to convert heat into electric energy, and the electrical energy is stored in the energy storage device.

Abstract: A thermal printhead having an optimal resistor element shape which is capable of high speed and high quality printing is provided. The thermal printhead for progressively printing a pattern of dots on a thermosensitive paper moving in one direction, includes a substrate, and a plurality of resister elements on the substrate arranged in a substantially straight line extending in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the thermosensitive paper, the plurality of resistor elements each corresponding to respective one of the dots constituting the pattern to be printed onto the thermosensitive paper, each of the resistor elements having a heat transfer area that will be in contact with the thermosensitive paper upon printing the dot, wherein at least one of two sides of the heat transfer area that are substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the thermosensitive paper has a sag in a substantially middle portion thereof to adjust a shape of the dot.

Abstract: A thermal printer having a thermal printhead with energy save features which is capable of high speed and high quality printing is provided. The thermal printer has an energy storage device and a thermal printhead including a substrate, a resistor layer formed on one surface of the substrate, and a thermoelectric element disposed on the other surface of the substrate opposite to where the resistor layer is formed, wherein the thermoelectric element converts heat generated by the resistor layer to electrical energy when a temperature difference between the resistor layer and an opposite side of the thermoelectric element where the resistor layer is disposed nearby becomes large enough for the thermoelectric element to convert heat into electric energy, and the electrical energy is stored in the energy storage device.

Abstract: A thermal printhead having a temperature regulation feature which is capable of high speed and high quality printing is provided. The thermal printhead includes a substrate, a resistor layer formed on one surface of the substrate, a control section and a thermoelectric element formed in direct contact with the other surface of the substrate opposite to where the resistor layer is formed, wherein the control section is configured to cool the resistor layer using the thermoelectric element.