Abstract: A paper cutter has a guide for guiding continuous paper in a lengthwise direction from an inlet portion thereof to an outlet portion thereof. A cutting device disposed downstream of the guide outlet portion partially cuts the continuous paper after it passes through the guide and exits the guide outlet portion, the cutting device partially cutting the continuous paper in a widthwise direction thereof to form two separated cut portions joined at one widthwise end to an uncut portion. At least two projections protrude inwardly of the guide and contact opposite surface of the continuous paper as it passes through the guide. The projections are located in the widthwise direction of the guide so as to concentrate a tensile force applied in the lengthwise direction to the uncut portion of the partially cut continuous paper at the region where the two separate cut portions join the uncut portion to thereby facilitate tearing of the uncut portion of the partially cut continuous paper.

Abstract: A thermal activating device has an activation heating apparatus for heating and activating a heat sensitive adhesive on a thermal activator layer of a thermal activation sheet. A pressing device presses the thermal activation sheet into pressure contact with the activation heating apparatus to heat and activate the heat sensitive adhesive on the thermal activator layer of the thermal activation sheet. A detector detects the presence of the thermal activation sheet at a predetermined position along its path of travel. A pressure releasing device releases the pressure contact between the thermal activation sheet and the activation heating apparatus when the detector does not detect the presence of the thermal activation sheet at the predetermined position.

Abstract: A thermally activating apparatus of a thermosensible adhering sheet at least having a thermally activating thermal head, a thermally activating platen roller and controlling means for controlling to process to drive these, having heating means (for example, thermally activating thermal head) for applying thermal energy to a remaining substance comprising a thermosensible adhesive or a denatured substance thereof or the like adhered to a thermally activating thermal head and a thermally activating platen roller, and carrying means (for example, thermally activating platen roller) capable of carrying a predetermined cleaning sheet by inserting the predetermined cleaning sheet into the thermally activating apparatus from a predetermined direction, in which the controlling means is constituted to be able to control to process to drive the heating means and the carrying means, the thermal energy is applied to the remaining substance by making the heating means generate heat in a state in which the thermosensible a

Abstract: A printer apparatus has a printing device for printing on a printable layer of a thermosensitive adhesive sheet. A heat-application and transporting member heats a thermosensitive adhesive layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet and transports the thermosensitive adhesive sheet. A control device controls the heat-application and transporting member to heat a portion of the thermosensitive adhesive layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet while simultaneously controlling the printing device to print on a portion of the printable layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet disposed opposite to and generally confronting the portion of the thermosensitive adhesive layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet.

Abstract: A thermal activation device has a thermal head having heat generating elements for thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive layer of a heat-sensitive self-adhesive sheet. The heat-sensitive self-adhesive sheet has a sheet-like substrate having a printable surface on a first side thereof and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer on a second side thereof. An energy control device controls the thermal head by applying one or more voltage pulses to the heat generating elements for energizing the heat generating elements to thereby thermally activate an area of the heat-sensitive self-adhesive layer in one step. When a series of the voltage pulses are applied to the heat generating elements, the energy control device selectively switches between the heat generating elements to be energized by the voltage pulses each time one of the voltage pulses is applied.

Abstract: Forwarding and cutting method of a heat sensitive adhesive sheet using a printing device for printing on a printable layer of a heat sensitive adhesive sheet formed by the printable layer on one surface of a sheet-shaped substrate and a heat sensitive adhesive layer on the other surface thereof and first forwarding device for forwarding the heat sensitive adhesive sheet in a predetermined direction, a cutter provided in a posterior stage to the printing device, a thermal activating device including heating means provided in the posterior stage to the cutter, for heating the heat sensitive adhesive layer and second forwarding device for forwarding the heat sensitive adhesive sheet in a predetermined direction, an operation of the first forwarding device is stopped so as to cut the sheet by the cutter after temporarily loosening the sheet between the cutter and the thermal activating device according to speed control of the first and second forwarding devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet of the type having a printable surface on one side, a heat-sensitive adhesive layer on the other side and sheet identifying information including information concerning one or more properties of the adhesive used in the adhesive layer, comprises an energizeable heating unit for heating the heat-sensitive adhesive layer to activate the same, a reading sensor for reading the sheet identifying information, and a control section for controlling energy applied to the heating unit on the basis of the sheet identifying information read by the reading sensor. The control section controls the energy applied to the heating unit by keeping the amplitude of applied voltage pulses constant and varying the pulse width.

Abstract: A thermal activation device (thermal activation unit A1) for heat-sensitive self-adhesive sheet at least includes: a thermally-activating thermal head for thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive layer of a heat-sensitive self-adhesive sheet including a sheet-like substrate formed with a printable surface on one side thereof and with the heat-sensitive adhesive layer on the other side thereof; and a platen roller (41) for conveying the heat-sensitive self-adhesive sheet in a predetermined direction, the device wherein the platen roller includes adhesive-mass removing means for removing an adhesive mass (G2) of the heat-sensitive adhesive adhered to a periphery of the platen roller, and wherein the adhesive-mass removing means includes: a transfer roller (42) slidably contacting the periphery of the platen roller as located near an exit of the heat-sensitive self-adhesive sheet, thereby allowing the adhesive mass adhered to the periphery of the platen roller to be transferred thereto; and a cleaning shee

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: A thermal head has an insulating substrate, heat resistors formed over a surface of the insulating substrate, an individual electrode formed over the surface of the insulating substrate for supplying electric power to the heat resistors, and a common electrode connected to the individual electrode. A buildup electrode is disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate and is covered by the common electrode for reducing a wiring resistance of the common electrode. The buildup electrode has opposite main surfaces and a tapered side surface having a preselected taper angle relative to the surface of the insulating substrate.

Abstract: There are provided a power-consumption estimating means (a microcomputer M and a designated program) for estimating first electric power consumption required for driving a printing thermal head (10) and second electric power consumption required for driving an activating thermal head (40) of a thermally activating apparatus; a supply-power setting means (the microcomputer M and a designated program) for setting first electric power that can be supplied to the printing thermal head and second electric power that can be supplied to the activating thermal head within the allowable power range on the basis of the first electric power consumption and the second electric power consumption estimated by the power-consumption estimating means; and an energization control means (the microcomputer M and a designated program) for energizing the printing thermal head and the activating thermal head on the basis of the first electric power and the second electric power set by the supply-power setting means.

Abstract: A cutter device has a movable blade, a stationary blade, and a clutch mechanism having a driven gear mounted for undergoing rotation in clockwise and counterclockwise directions and a driving gear for rotationally driving the driven gear about a rotational axis. A cutter drive mechanism has a rotation device connected to the clutch mechanism so that through one complete rotation of the driven gear the rotation device reciprocally moves the movable blade between a first region in which the movable blade is spaced apart from the stationary blade and a second region in which the movable blade cooperates with the stationary blade to cut recording paper. A rotation regulating device regulates rotation of the driven gear in the counterclockwise direction when the movable blade is in the first position.

Abstract: Providing a thermal head capable of preventing the adherence of a thermally active component, a thermal activation device for thermally active sheet employing the thermal head, and a printer assembly employing the thermal activation device.

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.