Abstract: A film substrate in a mounting structure of electronic components has positioning holes capable of positioning the electronic components passing therethrough. One surface of each of the electronic components which are inserted and positioned in the positioning holes protrudes from one surface of the film substrate, and the other surfaces thereof are positioned in the positioning holes, respectively. Conductive patterns are formed on the other surface of the film substrate and are electrically connected to the other surfaces of the electronic components positioned in the positioning holes.

Abstract: Disclosed is an illuminating unit capable of effectively introducing light emitted from a light source into a light guide sheet to improve the brightness of light and emitting uniform color light. Light emitted from a light emitting diode of a light source unit is incident on a side surface of a light guide sheet. A spacer aligns the emission center of the light emitting diode with the center of the light guide sheet in the thickness direction thereof. The incident light travels in the light guide sheet and is then diffused in light emitting regions provided on the main surface of the light guide sheet. Then, the diffused light is emitted to the outside. In addition, light components emitted from a gap between the light emitting diode and the side surface of the light guide sheet or light components emitted from the upper surface of the light source unit to the outside are reflected to the light guide sheet by a cover member.

Abstract: A film substrate in a mounting structure of electronic components has positioning holes capable of positioning the electronic components passing therethrough. One surface of each of the electronic components which are inserted and positioned in the positioning holes protrudes from one surface of the film substrate, and the other surfaces thereof are positioned in the positioning holes, respectively. Conductive patterns are formed on the other surface of the film substrate and are electrically connected to the other surfaces of the electronic components positioned in the positioning holes.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording device which records a full color image through a single recording operation with a remarkably improved recording efficiency and less power consumption. The recording device uses, as a recording medium, a heat-sensitive recording medium which colors when heated, and has a control unit to control electric energy supplied to heating elements in a line thermal head according to image data in a way to bring its level into: a white range in which the recording medium does not turn black and thermal transfer inks of an ink ribbon are not transferred; a color range in which the recording medium does not turn black and the thermal transfer inks are transferred; or a black range in which the recording medium turns black.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording device which records a full color image through a single recording operation with a remarkably improved recording efficiency and less power consumption. The recording device uses, as a recording medium, a heat-sensitive recording medium which colors when heated, and has a control unit to control electric energy supplied to heating elements in a line thermal head according to image data in a way to bring its level into: a white range in which the recording medium does not turn black and thermal transfer inks of an ink ribbon are not transferred; a color range in which the recording medium does not turn black and the thermal transfer inks are transferred; or a black range in which the recording medium turns black.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal transfer printer which makes it possible to perform both recording using an ink ribbon coated with a hot melt ink and recording using an ink ribbon coated with a hot sublimation ink. In the thermal transfer printer, a thermal head mounted on a carriage is driven to thereby effect printing on printing paper while moving the carriage with the thermal head being held in press contact with a platen through the intermediation of an ink ribbon and printing paper, wherein the thermal transfer printer further comprises a control section which makes it possible to selectively switch, in accordance with a mode signal, between a first recording mode in which printing by hot melt transfer is effected on the printing paper by using a hot melt type ink ribbon as the ink ribbon and a second recording mode in which printing by hot sublimation transfer is effected on the printing paper by using a hot sublimation type ink ribbon as the ink ribbon.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette of which the type of ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cassette may be identified by diagonally-arranged detection switches arranged on the carriage of a thermal transfer printer, without using a plurality of types of ribbon cassette case which are different in shape.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette of which the type of ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cassette may be identified by detection switches arranged on the carriage of a thermal transfer printer, without using a plurality of types of ribbon cassette case which are different in shape. A ribbon cassette in which a simple construction is used to prevent sticking to each other of the ink ribbon and the guide roller immediately after printing. A ribbon cassette by which a stain on the recording sheet due to contact between the sheet and the ink ribbon at the time of printing operation may be prevented and the stability of running of the ink ribbon is improved. A thermal transfer printer in which: the stability of running of the ink ribbon may be improved; both hot peeling printing and cold peeling printing are possible in an excellent condition; and the consumption of the ink ribbon may be reduced.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette of which the type of ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cassette may be identified by detection switches arranged on the carriage of a thermal transfer printer, without using a plurality of types of ribbon cassette case which are different in shape. A ribbon cassette in which a simple construction is used to prevent sticking to each other of the ink ribbon and the guide roller immediately after printing. A ribbon cassette by which a stain on the recording sheet due to contact between the sheet and the ink ribbon at the time of printing operation may be prevented and the stability of running of the ink ribbon is improved. A thermal transfer printer in which: the stability of running of the ink ribbon may be improved; both hot peeling printing and cold peeling printing are possible in an excellent condition; and the consumption of the, ink ribbon may be reduced.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal head and a printing and erasing common-use ribbon. The thermal head is configured to move during erasing operation in a direction opposite to that during printing operation so as to reuse for subsequent printing operation a portion of the ribbon once used for preceding erasing operation.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer which can simply and assuredly erase a symbol recorded in error with thermal transfer ink on record paper. The printer comprises, in addition to a printing transfer ribbon and a printing thermal head, an erasing ribbon carrying thereon a layer of a thermally adhesive resin material, and an erasing thermal head which is operated, during erasing operation, to generate heat to melt the thermally adhesive resin on said erasing ribbon sufficient to adhere to the thermally fusible ink of a symbol printed on record paper so that the ink may be removed from the paper as the erasing ribbon is moved away from the record paper. The printing and erasing thermal heads are mounted in a juxtaposed relationship on a movable carriage, and the erasing thermal head has a greater heat generating area than the printing thermal head.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer erases previously recorded characters by applying heating energy of higher surface density than that used to originally transfer thermally fusible material onto a recording sheet. A thermal transfer tape made of a polyester film and a layer of thermally fusible material is interposed between a thermal head of the printer and the recording sheet at the position to be erased. The thermally fusible material has a higher adhering affinity for the polyester film than for the recording sheet at the higher heating energy level and thus fusible material previously recorded on the recording sheet adheres to the tape at the higher energy level. When the tape is pulled away from the recording sheet, the previously recorded character adheres to the tape and is pulled away with it.

Abstract: A thermal printer wherein a character or symbol printed on record paper by transfer can be corrected or erased by suitably controlling the printing energy applied to a thermal head, without the necessity of provision of a specific mechanism for correcting such printed characters or symbols. The printer comprises means for applying printing energy higher than printing energy for transfer recording to said thermal head to erase a character or symbol printed on the record paper.

Abstract: A single drive source drives a pressing cam to selectively press a thermal head against a thermal transfer tape for printing on a recording paper behind the tape. The tape is divided into three longitudinal printing regions so the thermal head can be reciprocally moved forward, back and forward again respectively over the three regions of the tape before the tape is advanced to a new section. The drive source powers the reciprocating movement of the thermal head and the tape winding as well.

Abstract: A thermal printer for thermal transfer printing, adapted to use a printing ribbon carrying a fusible ink layer and an erasing ribbon carrying a thermoadhesive resin layer. The thermal head of the thermal printer has a printing heating unit disposed opposite to a platen with the printing ribbon extended therebetween and an erasing heating unit disposed beside the printing heating unit and opposite to the platen with the erasing ribbon extended therebetween. In correcting a misprint, the misprint is located opposite to the erasing heating unit and the erasing ribbon is heated and pressed against the misprint with the erasing heating unit to lift off the misprint. After lifting-off the misprint, the corrected portion is located opposite to the printing heating unit for correct printing operation.

Abstract: A printing method for a thermal printer having a heat-sensitive recording medium containing a coloring material interposed between a recording paper laid on a platen and a thermal head. For printing, the coloring material is transferred from the recording medium to the paper by the print energy of the thermal head. A low print energy level and a high print energy level are respectively set in advance and during the printing operation energy of the former level is applied to the recording medium while during the correcting operation energy of the former level is applied to the recording medium to bond the printed characters on the recording paper to the recording medium. In preparation for the correcting operation, the thermal head is preheated in its head-up state at which stage it is separated from the platen. Printing and correcting operations are executed on the basis of information on the head surface temperature detected by a temperature sensor.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus has two partially toothed gears which are separately provided on a drive shaft and which rotate corresponding to the opposite ends of the displacement path of a carriage, and a driven gear rotating together with a paper feed roller which is driven by the toothed gears. The paper feeding amount can be desiredly set by setting the mounting angular position of the partially toothed gears with respect to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer comprises a platen for holding a sheet of print paper thereagainst, a thermal head movable axially along the platen in opposite first and second directions and also movable toward and away from the platen, an ink tape including a stretch facing the platen for being pressed against the sheet of print paper by the thermal head, the ink tape having a width allowing printing along a plurality of transversely spaced lines on the stretch, and means for relatively positioning the thermal head and the stretch of the ink tape selectively on one of the transversely spaced lines at a time.