Recording Means Engaging Or Holding Means Patents (Class 347/197)
  • Patent number: 8058587
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a printing portion (12) for performing printing on a printing layer of a sheet material (5) including a sheet-like base having one surface provided with the printing layer and another surface provided with a heat-sensitive adhesive layer; a thermal activation portion (15) for heating the heat-sensitive adhesive layer of the sheet material (5) and generating an adhesive force; a temporary stock portion (14), which is disposed in a transport path for the sheet material (5) between the printing portion (12) and the thermal activation portion (15), for temporarily stocking the sheet material (5); and a casing (19) covering the temporary stock portion (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kohira
  • Patent number: 8049768
    Abstract: A disc processor such as a disc burner and printer, is provided in a housing. A drawer is slidably mounted on the bottom wall of the housing and is positionable in a retracted position in a recess with a portion underneath the processor and is slidably extendable from the processor. The disc output storage drawer carries ramps that will, when the disc output storage drawer is extended move to a position to provide a guide surface to guide a disc dropped thereon into a storage bin on the disc output storage drawer, and when the disc output storage drawer is in its retracted position, the ramps are automatically pivoted to a folded position and stored underneath the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Primera Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Erick Hagstrom
  • Publication number: 20110216146
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a printing apparatus includes a conveying unit configured to convey a printing medium in a conveying direction. The apparatus further includes a printing unit configured to print at least one side of the printing medium with information. The printing unit may extend in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the printing medium and may be arranged relative to the conveying unit so as to position at least one end portion of the printing medium into a printable region of the printing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigetoshi Asahina
  • Patent number: 8007190
    Abstract: A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Zipher Limited
    Inventors: Martin McNestry, Keith Buxton, Philip Hart
  • Publication number: 20110193925
    Abstract: A thermal printer includes a body detachably including a platen roller unit having a platen roller, and a cover element movable relative to the body between an open position and a closed position, detachably including a thermal printhead unit. The cover element further includes a claw protruding backward, a stepped pin extending downward, including a step portion at a bottom end, and a stepped pin adjuster element. The thermal printhead unit includes an exothermic element array, a supported portion to be hooked on the claw, and a notch portion to be hooked on the step portion. The platen roller unit and the thermal printhead unit include respective positioning elements which engage with each other to restrict a relative movement of the exothermic element array and the platen roller while the cover element is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Gen MATSUSHIMA, Yasuyuki Mori, Katsutoshi Mukaijima
  • Publication number: 20110193926
    Abstract: A thermal printer in which papers in a plurality of different widths are usable is configured of a platen roller unit including a platen roller; a thermal printhead unit including a thermal printhead and an exothermic element array; and a plurality of bias elements arranged on the thermal printhead in a width direction to press the thermal printhead onto the platen roller, in which the number of the bias elements is a value obtained by dividing a maximum width of the different widths by a highest common factor of the different widths; the bias elements are arranged with an equal interval which is the highest common factor of the different widths; and among the bias elements, a bias element arranged outside of the width of a paper in use is configured not to apply a load to the thermal printhead to press the platen roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Gen MATSUSHIMA, Yasuyuki Mori, Katsutoshi Mukaijima
  • Patent number: 7978212
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disk label printer that includes a slot-in type optical disk driving mechanism and a printing mechanism integrated with each other, has a small size, and smoothly transfers optical disks. The disclosed disk label printer includes: a case that has a slot through which an optical disk is inserted or ejected formed therein; an optical disk driving mechanism that is provided in the case and writes and/or reads signals to and/or from the optical disk mounted to a disk mounting portion; and a printing mechanism that is provided in the case and includes a thermal head which prints a desired image on a label surface of the optical disk. The printing mechanism is provided on a transfer path of the optical disk toward the optical disk driving mechanism between the slot and the optical disk driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Zama, Takashi Goto, Mitsuo Makino, Shinichi Sagawai, Mitsuaki Yamazaki, Eihin Setsu, Hisashi Hoshino, Tomohiro Osumi, Shinichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 7973813
    Abstract: A thermal transfer printer according to the present invention includes; a head mounting base with a thermal head attached thereto, and disposed so as to oppose a platen roller, a locomotion board including a supporting system for supporting the head mounting base so as to be spaced apart from and approaching to the platen roller, and being movable in an extending direction of the thermal head, a slider provided in connection with the supporting system, and being movable in the extending direction of the thermal head, wherein the head mounting base is spaced apart from and approaching to the platen roller by the supporting system as the slider moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Sakuta
  • Publication number: 20110141214
    Abstract: Provided is a thermal head including an intermediate layer between a support substrate and an upper substrate, which is capable of suppressing heat dissipation toward the support substrate while maintaining printing quality. Employed is a thermal head (1) including: an upper substrate (5); a support substrate (3) bonded in a stacked state on one surface side of the upper substrate (5); a heating resistor (7) provided on another surface side of the upper substrate (5); and an intermediate layer (6) including a concave portion that forms a cavity portion (4) in a region corresponding to the heating resistor (7), the intermediate layer (6) being provided between the upper substrate (5) and the support substrate (3), in which the intermediate layer (6) is formed of a plate-shaped glass material having a lower melting point than melting points of the upper substrate (5) and the support substrate (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Norimitsu Sanbongi, Toshimitsu Morooka, Keitaro Koroishi, Noriyoshi Shoji
  • Patent number: 7929004
    Abstract: A thermal print head positioning device is disposed in a printing device having a CPU and comprises a thermal print head, a transmission set is made up by a transmission component and a shaft, a cam, an actuator comprising a rotating shaft, a checking plate comprising a plurality of indentations with different sizes, a sensing component, and a supporting frame. The cam and the checking plate are disposed on the shaft. The actuator is electrically connected to the CPU and utilized for actuating the transmission set. The sensing component is disposed on the checking plate and electrically connected to the CPU, and utilized for sensing the sizes of the indentations to make the CPU determine to accelerate or decelerate the actuator. The supporting frame is connected to the cam and the thermal print head, driven by rotation of the cam to make the thermal print head rise or descend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Armorlink SH Corp., ICP Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Hsiang Wang
  • Patent number: 7929005
    Abstract: A thermal printer has a thermal head mounted on a case main body and a platen roller confronting the thermal head. A cover member mounted to the case main body undergoes swinging movement to open and close an opening of the case main body. A slider rotatably supports the platen roller and is mounted to the cover member for linear movement on a plane including a rotational center of the platen roller and a swing center of the cover member. Engagement pieces mounted to the slider engage with engagement portions of the case main body when the cover member closes the opening of the case main body and the platen roller confronts the thermal head. A biasing member biases the slider such that the engagement pieces engage with the engagement portions of the case main body and the platen roller is brought into pressure contact with the thermal head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kimitaka Hirai, Hideki Watanabe, Akio Naito
  • Patent number: 7929003
    Abstract: A thermal printer unit according to the invention includes a thermal head, a platen roller which is disposed while facing the thermal head, a support member which fixes the thermal head while thermal transfer ribbon and receptor paper are pressurized and nipped between the thermal head and the platen roller, a conveyance mechanism which conveys the thermal transfer ribbon and the receptor paper using the thermal head and the platen roller, an engaging groove which prevents the thermal head from moving in a paper conveyance direction by the support member, and a retaining portion which prevents the thermal head from moving in a rotating direction, the movement of the thermal head in the rotating direction being generated according to rotation of the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kengo Tsuchida, Toshiyuki Tamura, Yozo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7922406
    Abstract: In this image generating apparatus, a driving gear portion is so formed that the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of a first toothless portion is smaller than the tip diameter of a first toothed portion, and so arranged that the first toothless portion thereof slides on a second toothed portion of a driven gear portion of a print head rotating member in the vicinity of a position where a print head presses a platen roller with a pressing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Sawai, Takahiro Naito
  • Publication number: 20110080458
    Abstract: There are described novel rhodamine dye compounds and imaging members and imaging methods, including thermal imaging members and imaging methods, utilizing the compounds. The dye compounds exhibit a first color when in the crystalline form and a second color, different from the first color, when in the liquid, amorphous form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Kap-Soo Cheon, Stephen J. Telfer, Michael P. Filosa, John L. Marshall, Fariza B. Hasan, David A. Skyler, John M. Hardin
  • Patent number: 7918618
    Abstract: A printer assembly for printing on a supply of media traveling in a media direction. The printer generally includes a platen assembly, a print head assembly and a pivot member. The pivot member provides for pivoting of the print head assembly relative to the platen assembly to adjust for variations in the media as it passes therebetween. Advantageously, the pivot member may be supported directly by the platen assembly, such as by bearing supports of the platen assembly, to reduce positioning error from intervening components. Preferably, the pivot member is positioned upstream of the print head assembly. Also, a pair of pivot members may each be supported at the ends of an angulation arm which is coupled to the print head assembly for angulation in the media direction but is uncoupled in the cross-media direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Zevin, Bob M. Brashear
  • Publication number: 20110074902
    Abstract: To achieve improvements in heat generation efficiency and strength against external load, provided is a thermal head (1), comprising: a supporting substrate (3); a heat accumulating (5) bonded onto a surface of the supporting substrate (3); and a heating resistor (7) provided on the heat storage layer (5), wherein: a concave portion (2) is provided in a region, which is opposed to the heating resistor (7), of at least one of the surface of the supporting substrate (3) and a surface on a side of the supporting substrate (3) of the heat accumulating portion (5); and a center line of a hollow heat insulating layer (4) formed, by the concave portion (2), between the supporting substrate (3) and the heat storage layer (5) is shifted with respect to a center line (X) of the heating resistor (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Morooka, Keitaro Koroishi, Yoshinori Sato, Noriyoshi Shoji, Norimitsu Sanbongi
  • Publication number: 20110063395
    Abstract: A printhead mechanism and printing device capable of readily achieving adequate printing pressure are provided. The printhead mechanism includes a thermal printhead supported and pressed to a paper sheet or ink ribbon moving in a predetermined conveyance direction, a pressing mechanism pressing the thermal printhead in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, a head supporting mechanism supporting the thermal printhead movably in head-pressing direction, wherein an acting point P2 of a pressing-force W, at which the thermal printhead is pressed, is disposed downstream of a supporting point p3 at which the thermal printhead is supported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsutoshi SATO
  • Patent number: 7893952
    Abstract: An improved print head assembly is disclosed that provides even pressure over the width of a print face across a platen roller. Accordingly, the print head assembly can perform edge-justified printing operations without portions of the print being faint or skewing due to uneven pressure across the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent A. Bandholz, Robert J. Godfrey, Robert L. Schanke
  • Publication number: 20110018952
    Abstract: There are provided a method of manufacturing a thermal head having a hollow portion at a position opposing a heating resistor, the manufacturing method assuring a sufficient strength to an upper plate substrate of the thermal head. The manufacturing method includes: processing a top surface of the upper plate substrate bonded to a support substrate to thin the upper plate substrate to a thickness T; wherein the processing comprises processing the top surface of the upper plate substrate so that a roughness Ra of the top surface of the upper plate substrate satisfies the following expression:: Ra?loge(T2)/(3×106)+6.5×10?6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Keitaro Koroishi, Toshimitsu Morooka, Noriyoshi Shoji, Norimitsu Sanbongi
  • Publication number: 20110007121
    Abstract: A recording head applicable to a recording device is disclosed. The recording head comprises a substrate, a conductive pattern layer, and an electric resistor layer. The conductive pattern layer is formed on the substrate and comprises a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and an insulating portion. The second conductive portion is paired with the first conductive portion. The insulating portion insulates the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion. The electrical resistance layer: is formed on the conductive pattern layer; is connected to the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion; and comprises a heat-generating region between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenobu Nakagawa, Yoichi Moto, Sunao Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20100321458
    Abstract: A thermal printer allows ink ribbon replacement without interference of a hook positioned in the opened state particularly in an ink ribbon replacement operation. A thermal printer includes a head lock lever 40 which includes a hook 41 at the tip of the lever. The hook is mounted such that it can be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to a turn shaft 26 during turning of the turn shaft 26, allowing the distance between the turn shaft 26 and the hook 41 to be changed. A movement control moves the head lock lever 40 such that the distance between the turn shaft 26 and the hook 41 in the opened state in which the thermal head 12 is separated from the platen roller 11 is smaller than that in the pressed state in which the thermal head 12 is pressed into contact with the platen roller 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SATO
    Inventor: Yasuhide Takeda
  • Publication number: 20100309275
    Abstract: A thermal printer in which a thermal head can be attached easily to a print unit without requiring a tool such as a screw driver. The thermal printer has a printing unit (40) having a left ribbon frame (43) and a right ribbon frame (42) facing each other. A head housing (60) is attached between the frames (42, 43) while supporting a thermal head (12). A supporting-recess in the surface of the left ribbon frame (43) faces the right ribbon frame (42) and supporting the left side face (64) of the head housing (60). A frame cover (70) is fitted on and removed from a fitting portion provided on the outer surface of the right ribbon frame which is at the back side of the surface facing the left ribbon frame (43) and the cover supporting a right side face (62) of the head housing (60) through a through-hole (50a) formed on the right ribbon frame (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kokuta
  • Publication number: 20100309274
    Abstract: A keyboard thermal transfer printer includes a body having multiple carriers movably connected to a track and carry keypads and thermal transfer films. A transfer printing device is connected to the body and prints the thermal transfer films to the keypads when the carrier is moved to a position corresponding to the transfer printing device. A pressing device connected to a top of the body and has a pressing board with multiple pressing members, each of which includes a curved surface so as to press the thermal transfer film to the recessed area of the keypad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: KUO-CHENG HUANG
  • Publication number: 20100295288
    Abstract: The invention concerns the personalisation graphics of identification documents. The identification document comprises a body where at least one of the main surfaces forms a print surface, on which artwork (14A, 14B) and/or personalised information (24A, 24B) are printed, the said print surface being covered with reinforced protective film (31A, 31B). The identification document further comprises a protective overlay (25A, 25B) transferred to the print surface with an ink ribbon, the said protective overlay being capable of enabling the adherence of the said reinforced protective film (31A, 31B) on the ink transferred to the said print surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: GEMALTO SA
    Inventors: Francoise Chabut, Denis Vere, Christophe Martinat
  • Patent number: 7839426
    Abstract: A time recorder includes a print head, a ribbon cassette swingably supported and having an ink ribbon applied with a different colors in a width direction, and a cam for swinging the ribbon cassette to change a position of the ink ribbon against the print head in the width direction of the ink ribbon and to change a color to be printed on time card, further comprising a first stopper and a second stopper for limiting a rotational range of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventor: Koji Ebara
  • Publication number: 20100277560
    Abstract: A thermal print head positioning device is disposed in a printing device having a CPU and comprises a thermal print head, a transmission set is made up by a transmission component and a shaft, a cam, an actuator comprising a rotating shaft, a checking plate comprising a plurality of indentations with different sizes, a sensing component, and a supporting frame. The cam and the checking plate are disposed on the shaft. The actuator is electrically connected to the CPU and utilized for actuating the transmission set. The sensing component is disposed on the checking plate and electrically connected to the CPU, and utilized for sensing the sizes of the indentations to make the CPU determine to accelerate or decelerate the actuator. The supporting frame is connected to the cam and the thermal print head, driven by rotation of the cam to make the thermal print head rise or descend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Yu-Hsiang Wang
  • Patent number: 7819597
    Abstract: Provided is a printer capable of achieving its miniaturization and lightness. The printer includes: a roll accommodation unit (2) for retaining a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1) wound into a roll; a cutter unit (3) for cutting the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1); a printing/thermal activation unit having a printing thermal head (4) for performing printing on a printing surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1) and a thermally-activating thermal head (5) for performing thermal activation on a heat-sensitive adhesive surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1); and a stocking unit having a take-up device (6) for temporarily stocking the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1) by taking up the sheet on a take-up roller (6a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kohira
  • Patent number: 7780367
    Abstract: A cover operation member (41) is movably attached to the base frame to selectively latch and unlatch a platen (21) attached on the cover frame. The cover operation member (41) is in contact with the head bracket (32) so that the thermal head (31) is separated from the platen (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20100208023
    Abstract: A thermal transfer printer according to the present invention includes; a head mounting base with a thermal head attached thereto, and disposed so as to oppose a platen roller, a locomotion board including a supporting system for supporting the head mounting base so as to be spaced apart from and approaching to the platen roller, and being movable in an extending direction of the thermal head, a slider provided in connection with the supporting system, and being movable in the extending direction of the thermal head, wherein the head mounting base is spaced apart from and approaching to the platen roller by the supporting system as the slider moves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Akira SAKUTA
  • Publication number: 20100194840
    Abstract: Accumulation of foreign matter on the surface of the thermal head that can cause printing defects can be reliably prevented. The downstream edge 54a of the surface 52 of the thermal head 5 is substantially flush with the downstream end of the paper nipping area C of the thermal head 5 and the platen roller 8 in the thermal printer 1. The downstream end 54 extending from the downstream edge 54a in a direction perpendicular to the back side is connected to a through-hole 66 (foreign matter receptacle) formed in the heat sink 6. Foreign matter on liner-less label paper 11 clings to the downstream end 54 of the thermal head 5 after passing the paper nipping area C, and is then fed along the downstream end 54 into the through-hole 66 on the back. Foreign matter does not accumulate on the surface 52 of the thermal head 5, and problems such as streaking and other printing defects caused by foreign matter on the surface 52 of the thermal head 5 do not occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Koyabu
  • Patent number: 7731436
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus using a thermal printing head (TPH) and a printing method thereof to print a borderless image on both sides of a printing medium. The image forming apparatus includes first and second feeding units respectively disposed at front and rear sides of the TPH to transfer the printing medium at a predetermined printing speed and a pair of out-feed rollers that co-rotates and feeds out the printing medium, in which one of the out-feed rollers rotates in contact with the pick-up roller. A platen roller co-rotates in contact with the printing medium fed by the first and second feeding units The TPH has a printing position in which the TPH is pressed towards the platen roller to form a printing nip, and an open position in which the TPH is separated from the platen roller. The knock-up plate has a pick-up position where the printing medium comes in contact with the pick-up roller and a stand-by position where the printing medium loaded thereon is separated from the pick-up roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-duk Lee, Jong-sung Jung
  • Patent number: 7717632
    Abstract: A card printer comprises a print platen, a first support, a printhead, and a biasing component. The first support is moveable, relative to the platen, between print and withdrawn positions. The printhead is moveably mounted to the first support for movement between a forward position and a floating position relative to the first support. The biasing component is configured to apply a biasing force to bias the printhead toward the forward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: HID Global Corporation
    Inventors: Brent D. Lien, Thomas G. Gale, Jr., Ted M. Hoffman, John P. Skoglund, Andy A. Vander Woude
  • Publication number: 20100118104
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention relate to a double-side printer system in which two thermal heads printing print data on a front face and a back face of a thermal recording paper in which thermo-sensitive layers are formed on both sides are provided, and when these thermal heads are driven in accordance with the print data, temperatures of these thermal heads are sensed in order to vary print densities of the data to be printed, and ON/OFF times for electrical connections are controlled with respect to heater elements of the respective thermal heads, and to a control method thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamada, Hiroyuki Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20100085410
    Abstract: A printer with adhesive capabilities is presented. A printer includes one or more printing elements to image one or two sides of print media. The printer also includes an adhesive element to apply or activate adhesive material on at least one of the two sides of the print media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Dashiell, Mark E. Keeton, Joseph D. Roth, Timothy W. Rawlings, Michael J. VanDemark, Jeffery S. Denton
  • Patent number: 7643044
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a compact, portable POS terminal through the use of a compact printer that utilizes a thermal printer with fan-folded paper. The POS terminal also accommodates contactless instrument readers and optionally includes features for electronic signature capture, user display interaction, multi-tasking capabilities, check reading and age and identity verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hypercom Corporation
    Inventor: Chris Henry
  • Patent number: 7614809
    Abstract: Provided is a head support structure including: a thermal head (11) for heating a sheet material (5); a platen roller (12) for transporting the sheet material (5) being pressed by the thermal head (11); a head support member (13) for supporting the thermal head (11), which is capable of moving in a direction in which the head support member (13) is brought into close contact with or moved away from the platen roller (12); and a head biasing member (14) for biasing the head support member (13) to a side of the platen roller (12). Further, the head biasing member (14) is formed of an elastic material and includes a pressing part (14a) for pressing the head support member (13) against the side of the platen roller (12) and holding parts (14b) provided at each end of the pressing part (14a), for holding the platen roller (12). Accordingly, a structure of the head support structure is simplified and an entire apparatus to which the head support structure is mounted can be downsized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Kaiya
  • Publication number: 20090268005
    Abstract: A printer comprising a main unit, a cover, a first print head provided in the cover, a second print head provided in the main unit, and a hinge mechanism. The cover can rotate around the hinge mechanism, between a first state and a second state in which the cover is opened and closed, respectively, with respect to the main unit. The first print head and the second print head can rotate along the locus of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NCR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kenji Eoka, Kousuke Takahashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Tsuyoshi Sanada, Akira Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090219375
    Abstract: THERMAL PRINTER comprised by two chassis, first chassis (3) having movable blade (11) from cutting mechanism (7), thermal head (12) from thermal printing mechanism (9), automatic activation mechanism from movable blade and tracking mechanism from platen roller (8), and second chassis (4) wherein fixed blade of the cutting mechanism, and platen roller of the thermal printing mechanism are positioned. Thermal head is horizontally placed allowing paper direction to frontal part from printer, and platen roller is placed right above thermal head. On frontal part, there is a vertical cutting mechanism with slightly inclination so that mobile blade movement direction in perpendicular to line formed between cover rotation axis and the contract point between both blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Ricardo Trauer, Marcelino Canelada Campos Filho, Eduardo Terra Dupuy, Paulo Ricardo Fonseca Blank, Fernando Augusto Pereira, Luis Eduardo Lima Kido
  • Patent number: 7567265
    Abstract: A printing positioning mechanism includes a support shaft, a platen supported by the support shaft, and a printing head disposed in an opposing relationship to the platen for movement toward and away from the platen, and adjusts the positional relationship between the printing head and the platen when the printing head is moved toward the plate. The support shaft is movable in a plane perpendicular to an axial direction thereof, and the print head includes an aligning member interlinked with the print head for contacting with an outer periphery of the support shaft when the print head is moved toward the platen. The support shaft is moved to a predetermined position by contacting the aligning member with the outer periphery of the support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhisa Ono
  • Publication number: 20090185022
    Abstract: Accumulation of foreign matter on the surface of the thermal head that can cause printing defects can be reliably prevented. The downstream edge 54a of the surface 52 of the thermal head 5 is substantially flush with the downstream end of the paper nipping area C of the thermal head 5 and the platen roller 8 in the thermal printer 1. The downstream end 54 extending from the downstream edge 54a in a direction perpendicular to the back side is connected to a through-hole 66 (foreign matter receptacle) formed in the heat sink 6. Foreign matter on liner-less label paper 11 clings to the downstream end 54 of the thermal head 5 after passing the paper nipping area C, and is then fed along the downstream end 54 into the through-hole 66 on the back. Foreign matter does not accumulate on the surface 52 of the thermal head 5, and problems such as streaking and other printing defects caused by foreign matter on the surface 52 of the thermal head 5 do not occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Koyabu
  • Patent number: 7537402
    Abstract: A thermal activation device includes a platen lock mechanism for locking a platen roller of a platen unit and a heating unit or printing unit into press contact with each other. The platen lock mechanism has a lock arm mounted to undergo rotation about a rotational axis, a shaft member provided in one of the platen unit and the lock arm, an engagement recess for engagingly receiving the shaft member and provided in the other of the platen unit and the lock arm, and an urging member for urging the lock arm in a direction for bringing the shaft member into engagement with the engagement recess. In a state in which the heating unit or printing unit is in press contact with the platen roller, a distance between the rotational axis of the lock arm and an axis of the shaft member is greater than a distance between the rotational axis of the lock arm and the rotational axis of the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Masanori Takahashi, Hiroyuki Kohira, Yoshinori Sato, Minoru Hoshino, Tatsuya Obuchi
  • Patent number: 7513705
    Abstract: A toolless thermal print head mounting apparatus including; a print head mounting bracket including a front face and a rear face, a plurality of print head mounting stud holes and a plurality of cable clamp mounting slots formed in the print head mounting bracket, each of the plurality of cable clamp mounting slots including a side slot and a vertical slot, a capture latch operatively connected to the print head mounting bracket, a plurality of key-slots formed in the capture latch and aligned with the plurality of mounting stud holes, and a floating cable clamp including a plurality of shoulder pins disposed on a rear face thereof, each of the plurality of shoulder pins including a neck configured to pass through the plurality of cable clamp mounting slots and a head configured to be larger than a width of the vertical slot of the cable clamp mounting slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stacy L. Arrington, Richard H. Harris, Dean F. Herring, Robert A. Myers
  • Publication number: 20090086006
    Abstract: A thermal printer enables both duplex printing and simplex printing. A double-sided thermal printer 1 has a first arm 31 and a second arm 32 that opens and closes in conjunction with the first arm 31. A first platen roller 21 is mounted on the first arm 31, a second thermal print head 12 is mounted on the second arm 32, and a first thermal print head 11 and second platen roller 22 are disposed on the printer frame 30 side. When the operating cover 3 closes, the second thermal print head 12 on the second arm 32 is pressed against the second platen roller 22, the first platen roller 21 on the first arm 31 is pressed to the first thermal print head 11, and the double-sided thermal paper 6 can be set with no slack. For simplex printing, the paper transportation load can be reduced by pressing only the first platen roller 21 on the first arm to the first thermal print head 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Koyabu, Toru Takami, Sadao Murata, Hitoshi Ishino
  • Patent number: 7500797
    Abstract: The present invention provides a floating print head assembly and an associated method. According to one embodiment, the floating print head assembly includes a head bracket and a print head attached to the bracket such that the print head is suspended above the printing substrate. The assembly also includes an alignment mechanism disposed within the head bracket, where the alignment mechanism is operable to pivot such that the print head is capable of pivoting to apply substantially uniform print pressure across a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Olivier Boisdon, Joël Pelletier, Lionel Chavarria, Babak Honaryar, Marty Smith
  • Patent number: 7495685
    Abstract: A downsizable image generating apparatus capable of reducing the number of components is obtained. This thermal transfer printer (image generating apparatus) comprises a drive gear arranged on a first end of a support rod for rotating a head portion by transmitting driving force of a motor to a head portion pressing member. The head portion pressing member is provided with a gear portion meshing with the drive gear and a protrusion. The head portion is provided with a notch engaging with the protrusion of the head portion pressing member upon upward rotation of the head portion pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Takasaka, Masaki Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7471303
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a thermal head, a head support portion, a platen roller, a pressing mechanism and a positioning portion. The thermal head prints in a printing direction. The head support portion rotatably supports the thermal head. The head support portion is supported at locations away from an imaginary line along the printing direction passing between the thermal head and the platen roller. The platen roller is disposed across from the thermal head. The pressing mechanism presses the thermal head against the platen roller during printing. The positioning portion comes into contact with the thermal head from the printing direction when the pressing mechanism presses the thermal head against the platen roller. The positioning portion positions the thermal head with respect to the platen roller along the printing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Sawai
  • Patent number: 7466330
    Abstract: Provided is a print head assembly capable of preventing paper jam. The print head assembly has a print head for forming an image on a printing medium and is provided with a hinge axis. The print head assembly further includes a supporting unit for rotatably supporting the print head about the hinge axis and movably supporting the hinge axis. Also, the print head assembly provides a driving unit for driving the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sin-ae Kim
  • Patent number: 7453482
    Abstract: An image generating apparatus allowing reduction of the thickness of a heat radiation member and allowing strong mounting of a holding member also when a print head is arranged on the forward end of a screw member is obtained. This image generating apparatus comprises a print head, a heat radiation member, arranged on the upper surface of the print head, including a mounting portion protruding toward the head of a screw member and having a threaded hole meshing with the screw member and a holding member, mounted on the upper surface of the heat radiation member with the screw member, having a mounting portion receiving hole capable of receiving the mounting portion of the heat radiation member and holding a prescribed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7443407
    Abstract: An adhesive label printer has a thermal activation device that thermally activates a thermally active adhesive layer of a thermally active adhesive sheet. The thermally active sheet has a recording surface formed on one side of a sheet-like base and the thermally active layer formed on the other side thereof. A recording device records information on the recording surface of the thermally active adhesive sheet. A platen roller conveys the thermally active adhesive sheet and has a roller portion made of least a fluorine atom containing rubber material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sato, Masanori Takahashi, Hiroyuki Kohira, Tatsuya Obuchi, Minoru Hoshino
  • Patent number: 7443408
    Abstract: Provided is a thermal printer including: a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements; a head support member, which is conductive, for supporting the thermal head; a platen roller whose circumferential surface can be brought into contact with the thermal head while nipping a recording paper; biasing members, which are conductive, provided between the case and the head support member, for supporting the head support member while imparting bias toward the platen roller; and a flexible substrate electrically connected with the thermal head to transmit a signal, in which a part of the biasing member extends through the flexible substrate and is grounded by fixation while being electrically connected by solder with respect to the flexible substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Shuji Tozaki