Abstract: According to the present invention, during identification of recording medium type, positioning of a recording medium at a measurement position for measuring the recording medium is facilitated, and the number of sensors for measuring the recording medium is reduced. In addition to identifying recording medium type, the top/reverse of the inserted recording medium can also be identified by way of a simple construction. A recording medium identification device, which identifies the type of a recording medium inserted through an insertion slot, comprises a plurality of sensors arranged in a band-like region having a predetermined width, in a depth direction, and a plurality of sensors arranged in a band-like region having a predetermined width, in a width direction.

Abstract: A paper feed mechanism is provided. The paper feed mechanism includes a pair of paper feed rollers at the upstream side and the downstream side of a printing device in a direction in which a recording paper is fed during printing, and press contact rollers in press contact therewith. The back surface of the recording paper receives a pushing force from projections formed on the pair of paper feed rollers by a predetermined depth such that the recording paper is fed during printing by the printing device.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette is provided. A first and second ribbon-receiving parts of an ink ribbon cassette according to the invention includes wallsthat face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween. An ink ribbon slides on a first ribbon-sliding portion formed at a first wall of the first ribbon-receiving part and a second ribbon-sliding portion formed at a first wall of the second ribbon-receiving part, and is wound on a take-up reel from the feeding reel. A ribbon guide, which prevents the ink ribbon exposed at the second ribbon-sliding portion from coming in contact with a printer body (not shown) when the ink ribbon cassette is mounted in the printer body, is provided outside the second ribbon-sliding portion.

Abstract: According to the present invention, during identification of recording medium type, positioning of a recording medium at a measurement position for measuring the recording medium is facilitated, and the number of sensors for measuring the recording medium is reduced. In addition to identifying recording medium type, the top/reverse of the inserted recording medium can also be identified by way of a simple construction. A recording medium identification device, which identifies the type of a recording medium inserted through an insertion slot, comprises a plurality of sensors arranged in a band-like region having a predetermined width, in a depth direction, and a plurality of sensors arranged in a band-like region having a predetermined width, in a width direction.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding mechanism of a printer conveys a recording sheet nipped between a first sheet-feeding roller and a first pressing roller towards a thermal head. At the start of a printing operation, a second pressing roller is disposed distant from a second sheet-feeding roller. When a front end of the recording sheet being printed is conveyed to a space between the second sheet-feeding roller and the second pressing roller disposed distant from each other, the second pressing roller gradually comes into press-contact with the recording sheet such that the recording sheet being printed is conveyed downstream by at least a second sheet-feeding unit. The first pressing roller is gradually shifted away from the recording sheet before a rear end of the recording sheet being printed is released from the nip between the first sheet-feeding roller and the first pressing roller.

Abstract: A heat transfer printer includes a line thermal head having heat generating elements formed in a straight line at one end of a top surface of a substrate and a sealing member for covering and protecting at least a portion of the top surface of the substrate at the other end thereof opposite to the heat generating elements. A film wrinkle removing member is disposed in the vicinity of the heat generating elements of the line thermal head upstream in a direction that an ink film is carried. A voltage is selectively applied to the heat generating elements when the line thermal head abuts a platen with the ink film and a printing sheet sequentially overlapped from the line thermal head disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer includes a thermal head, a platen roller which allows the thermal head to be in the head up/down state, an ink ribbon which is drawn between the thermal head and the platen roller, a paper feed roller which can convey a recording paper. A peeling member is disposed on the downstream side of the thermal head in a conveyance direction of the recording paper and can peel the ink ribbon adhered onto the recording paper during printing, and an optical ribbon detecting sensor, which can detect a color discernment marker corresponding to an ink surface of a desired color formed on the surface of the ink ribbon, is disposed between the thermal head and the peeling member.

Abstract: In order to provide a thermal printer, which can reliably pressure-contact a recording paper made of thick paper to a platen roller with a small motor and print high quality images, a thermal printer of the invention includes head supporting members, which support a thermal head to head up/down with respect to a platen roller; and a guide member capable of pressure-contacting a recording paper conveyed between the thermal head and the platen roller to the platen roller. The thermal head can head up/down when the head supporting members turn. The guide member is separated from the head supporting members, thereby the guide member ascends and descends with respect to the platen roller by a driving source (not shown) capable of turning the head supporting members.

Abstract: In a ribbon cassette which is used in a thermal transfer printer of the present invention, a head insertion section, in which a thermal head is inserted to turn its head up and down, is formed between a first ribbon housing section and a second ribbon housing section and further, a relief groove having a predetermined depth, in which a paper feeding mechanism can be positioned, is formed between the head insertion section and the second ribbon housing section. In the relief groove, an ink ribbon to be taken up around a take-up reel is exposed and, in a cassette mounting section, a ribbon guide section is formed to help the ink ribbon to be taken up around the take-up reel in the state where the ink ribbon exposed to the relief groove of the mounted ribbon cassette is bent toward the lower portion of the relief groove.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed. The printer includes a platen roller that is rotated as a main driving source. A driving force transmitted to the platen roller is further transmitted to first and second feeding rollers so that the first and second feeding rollers rotate such as to follow the platen roller.

Abstract: A paper feed mechanism is provided. The paper feed mechanism includes a pair of paper feed rollers at the upstream side and the downstream side of a printing device in a direction in which a recording paper is fed during printing, and press contact rollers in press contact therewith. The back surface of the recording paper receives a pushing force from projections formed on the pair of paper feed rollers by a predetermined depth such that the recording paper is fed during printing by the printing device.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette is provided. A first and second ribbon-receiving parts of an ink ribbon cassette according to the invention includes wallsthat face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween. An ink ribbon slides on a first ribbon-sliding portion formed at a first wall of the first ribbon-receiving part and a second ribbon-sliding portion formed at a first wall of the second ribbon-receiving part, and is wound on a take-up reel from the feeding reel. A ribbon guide, which prevents the ink ribbon exposed at the second ribbon-sliding portion from coming in contact with a printer body (not shown) when the ink ribbon cassette is mounted in the printer body, is provided outside the second ribbon-sliding portion.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette is provided. The ink ribbon cassette includes a ribbon outlet provided near a first ribbon-receiving part of an ink ribbon cassette of the invention in a head insertion opening. A ribbon winding opening is provided near a second ribbon-receiving part in the head insertion opening. A first paper guide is provided at the ribbon outlet and a second paper guide is provided at the ribbon winding opening so that a recording paper to be fed is guided by the first and second paper guides.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding mechanism of a printer conveys a recording sheet nipped between a first sheet-feeding roller and a first pressing roller towards a thermal head. At the start of a printing operation, a second pressing roller is disposed distant from a second sheet-feeding roller. When a front end of the recording sheet being printed is conveyed to a space between the second sheet-feeding roller and the second pressing roller disposed distant from each other, the second pressing roller gradually comes into press-contact with the recording sheet such that the recording sheet being printed is conveyed downstream by at least a second sheet-feeding unit. The first pressing roller is gradually shifted away from the recording sheet before a rear end of the recording sheet being printed is released from the nip between the first sheet-feeding roller and the first pressing roller.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer includes a thermal head, a platen roller which allows the thermal head to be in the head up/down state, an ink ribbon which is drawn between the thermal head and the platen roller, a paper feed roller which can convey a recording paper. A peeling member is disposed on the downstream side of the thermal head in a conveyance direction of the recording paper and can peel the ink ribbon adhered onto the recording paper during printing, and an optical ribbon detecting sensor, which can detect a color discernment marker corresponding to an ink surface of a desired color formed on the surface of the ink ribbon, is disposed between the thermal head and the peeling member.

Abstract: In order to provide a thermal printer, which can reliably pressure-contact a recording paper made of thick paper to a platen roller with a small motor and print high quality images, a thermal printer of the invention includes head supporting members, which support a thermal head to head up/down with respect to a platen roller; and a guide member capable of pressure-contacting a recording paper conveyed between the thermal head and the platen roller to the platen roller. The thermal head can head up/down when the head supporting members turn. The guide member is separated from the head supporting members, thereby the guide member ascends and descends with respect to the platen roller by a driving source (not shown) capable of turning the head supporting members.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal printer in which, even if a pair of head supporting members for supporting a thermal head composed of a line head has a positional error, the thermal head can be automatically adjusted to uniformly pressure-contact with a platen roller. A rotation supporting portion of a head supporting member is formed in a hole shape elongated in a direction parallel to a direction where a thermal head contacts with or separates from a platen roller. One end of each of the head supporting members is supported by a main body case so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the direction where the thermal head contacts with or separates from the platen roller.

Abstract: In a ribbon cassette which is used in a thermal transfer printer of the present invention, a head insertion section, in which a thermal head is inserted to turn its head up and down, is formed between a first ribbon housing section and a second ribbon housing section and further, a relief groove having a predetermined depth, in which a paper feeding mechanism can be positioned, is formed between the head insertion section and the second ribbon housing section. In the relief groove, an ink ribbon to be taken up around a take-up reel is exposed and, in a cassette mounting section, a ribbon guide section is formed to help the ink ribbon to be taken up around the take-up reel in the state where the ink ribbon exposed to the relief groove of the mounted ribbon cassette is bent toward the lower portion of the relief groove.

Abstract: A heat transfer printer includes a line thermal head having heat generating elements formed in a straight line at one end of a top surface of a substrate and a sealing member for covering and protecting at least a portion of the top surface of the substrate at the other end thereof opposite to the heat generating elements. A film wrinkle removing member is disposed in the vicinity of the heat generating elements of the line thermal head upstream in a direction that an ink film is carried. A voltage is selectively applied to the heat generating elements when the line thermal head abuts a platen with the ink film and a printing sheet sequentially overlapped from the line thermal head disposed therebetween.