Abstract: Provided is a thermal activation apparatus in which a discharge path of a heat-sensitive adhesive label is not adversely affected by adhesive residue. The thermal activation apparatus comprises a discharge mechanism (15) for completely discharging a heat-sensitive adhesive label with its heat-sensitive adhesive agent layer formed on the back side heated by a thermal head from between the thermal head and a platen roller. The discharge mechanism (15) is structured such that two shafts (15b and 15c) made of metal are passed through a plurality of belts (15a) which are endless elastic members, the two shafts (15b and 15c) are disposed at given intervals from each other and in parallel with each other, and the two shafts (15b and 15c) are rotatably supported. By rotating one of the two shafts (15b and 15c) as a driving shaft, the belts (15a) rotate to be able to discharge the heat-sensitive adhesive label (1) fed thereonto.

Abstract: Provided is a printer capable of performing printing on both of a heat-sensitive adhesive label and an ordinary label in which release paper is stuck onto an adhesive surface.

Abstract: A printer has a sheet housing unit for storing a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet having a heat-sensitive adhesive layer on one side and a printable surface on the other side. A set of pull-out rollers pulls the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet out of the sheet housing unit and transports the sheet in a given direction, and a cutter device cuts the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet that has been transported by the pull-out rollers. A printing device has a thermal print head for printing letters or images on the printable surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, and a print platen roller for transporting the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the given direction. A thermal activation device has a thermal-activation thermal head for heating the heat-sensitive adhesive layer, and a thermal activation platen roller for transporting the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the given direction. A first drive unit drives the pull-out rollers and a second drive unit drives the print platen roller.

Abstract: Provided is a printer apparatus, including: a thermal print head that performs printing by contacting a heat-sensitive color-developing layer of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet that includes a printable surface made from the heat-sensitive color-developing layer on one surface of a sheet-like base material, and a heat-sensitive adhesive layer on another surface of the sheet-like base material; a thermal-activation thermal head that activates the heat-sensitive adhesive layer by heating; a cutter device that cuts the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet; a transporting unit that transports the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet; and a controlling unit that controls the thermal print head, the thermal-activation thermal head, and the cutter device.

Abstract: Provided is a printing and thermal activation device for a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet that is compact, lightweight, and simple in structure. The heat-sensitive adhesive device for a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet includes a thermal head capable of printing on a printable layer and thermal activation for a heat-sensitive adhesive layer. When the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is inserted, a platen roller and the thermal head are operated to transport the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet while printing on the printable layer. The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is cut with a cutter unit at a predetermined position and then the cut sheet passes through a transporting roller pair and is guided to a reversing mechanism.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal activation device including a thermal activation head (11) for thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive layer of a sheet material (3) having a printing layer provided on one surface of a sheet-like base material and having the heat-sensitive adhesive layer provided on the other surface thereof, and a platen roller (12) for holding and conveying the sheet material (3), the platen roller (12) being brought into press contact with the thermal activation head (11). Moreover, the thermal activation head (11) thermally activates the heat-sensitive adhesive layer asymmetrically with respect to a centerline in a width direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the sheet material (3). Furthermore, a plate spring (18) which urges the sheet material (3) to be pressed onto a peripheral surface of the platen roller (12) is provided, the plate spring (18) being located on an upstream side of the thermal activation head (11) in the conveying direction of the sheet material (3).

Abstract: A heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is thermally activated thoroughly at both ends in a conveying direction and unnecessary heating from heat accumulated in a platen roller is avoided. Driving of heating elements (10) of a thermal activation thermal head is started (T3) before the front end of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1) in a sheet conveying direction enters between the thermal head and a platen roller (12) (T2). A heat-sensitive adhesive layer is thermally activated until the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is sent past the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1). Driving of the heating elements (10) is stopped (T6) after the rear end of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1) departs from between the thermal head and the platen roller 12 (T5).

Abstract: A thermal activation device includes a platen lock mechanism (19) for locking a platen roller (12) and a thermal activation head (11) into press contact with each other, the platen lock mechanism (19) including lock arms (32a and 32b) provided to be rotatable and engaged with a platen unit (18), and a compression coil spring (24) which urges the lock arms (32a and 32b) so as to bring the lock arms (32a and 32b) into engagement with the platen roller (18). The plate lock mechanism (19) includes lock pins (33) provided in the platen unit (18), and engagement grooves (37) which are provided in the lock arms (32a and 32b) and with which the lock pins (33) are engaged. Moreover, in the platen lock mechanism (19), in a state where the thermal activation head (11) is in press contact with the platen roller (12), an axis of the lock pins (33) is provided at a position farther than a position of a rotation center of the platen roller (12) with respect to a rotation center of the lock arms (32a and 32b).

Abstract: Provided is a thermal activation device including a thermal activation head (11) for thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive layer of a sheet material (3), a platen roller (12) for holding and conveying the sheet material (3), the platen roller (12) being brought into press contact with the thermal activation head (11), and a pair of conveyor rollers (14a and 14b) that convey the sheet material (3), the conveyor rollers (14a and 14b) being provided to be located on an upstream side of the thermal activation head (11) in a conveying direction of the sheet material (3). Holding force for the sheet material (3) by the pair of conveyor rollers (14a and 14b) is made larger than holding force for the sheet material (3) by the platen roller (12) and the thermal activation head (11).

Abstract: A heat-sensitive adhesive layer is thermally activated to develop satisfactory adhesion at improved energy efficiency. A thermal activation thermal head is driven in sync with movement of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet conveyed, and chosen heating elements stop being driven at a given timing. For instance, while moving the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, driving of three heating elements (10B, 10F and 10J) and driving of two heating elements (10D and 10H) are alternately stopped whereas five heating elements (10A, 10C, 10E, 10G and 10I) are driven all the time. Supposing that the entire surface of a heat-sensitive adhesive layer is gridded to form a matrix, a region (15A) that is directly heated by none of the opposing heating elements 10 is placed regularly in a manner that makes its surrounding regions (15B to 15I) heated directly by the opposing heating elements.

Abstract: To provide a thermal activation device which enables reduced power consumption and reduced device volume while effecting a clear separation between an activation portion and a non-activation portion of a thermal activation label. The thermal activation device for heating a thermal activation sheet by using a thermal head having heat generating elements formed therein, including a radiator adapted to absorb and dissipate a heat of the thermal head and having a portion of the radiator arranged in contact with an introduction path along which the thermal activation sheet is introduced toward the thermal head, the portion of the radiator being brought into contact with the thermal activation sheet to effect preheating as the thermal activation sheet advances in the introduction path.

Abstract: A printer apparatus has a thermal head for printing by making contact with a heat-sensitive coloring layer of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet comprised of the heat-sensitive coloring layer and a heat-sensitive adhesive layer formed on opposite sides of a sheet-like base material. A thermal head heats the heat-sensitive adhesive layer to activate the same, and a conveying roller conveys the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in a predetermined direction to an ejection hole which ejects the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet out of the apparatus. A sheet holding unit holds the printed sheet with part of the same exposed to the outside from the ejection hole.

Abstract: In order to provide a thermal activation apparatus capable of thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive agent layer of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet as needed, pull-in rollers 20 for pulling and transferring a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet A inserted from an insertion slot 1, a thermal activation unit 40 for thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive agent layer of the sheet A that is transferred, and ejection rollers 50 for ejecting from an ejection slot 2 the sheet A in which the heat-sensitive adhesive agent layer has been thermally activated are provided inside a housing 3, and the heat-sensitive adhesive agent layer of a sheet A that has not yet been printed or that has already been printed can be thermally activated as needed.