Platen Or Engaging Means Therefor Patents (Class 347/220)
  • Patent number: 8659632
    Abstract: A thermal printer includes a platen roller, a thermal head, a frame including the thermal head and a side plate, the side plate including a platen roller receiving part configured to detachably support a bearing of the platen roller. The platen roller receiving part includes an open mouth for inserting and pulling out the bearing of the platen roller in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the platen roller, and the open mouth includes a protrusion formed on a downstream side in a rotation direction of the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsuchiya, Yukihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 8616671
    Abstract: A multi-channel image is printed on a web receiver by a plurality of printing modules. The receiver is entrained around a take-up roll on a movable transport. During printing, the transport moves past the printing modules while the take-up roll holds the receiver in position with respect to the transport, and then the transport comes to a stop and the take-up roll draws the receiver across the transport. A cutter downstream of the take-up roll cuts off the printed portion of the web receiver to provide a printed sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joel Sherwood Lawther, David James Cornell
  • Patent number: 8610751
    Abstract: A thermal printer has a platen roller detachably and rotatably held on a main body frame by a lock mechanism and has a support member that supports a thermal head for printing on a recording medium. The lock mechanism comprises slits formed in the main body frame and lock arms arranged relative to the slits for rotatably retaining the platen roller therebetween with bottom portions of the slits abutting the platen roller. The support member has a regulating surface that abuts the platen roller to position heating elements of the thermal head relative to the platen roller. The regulating surface is arranged so that during a mounting operation in which the platen roller is detachably mounted to the main body frame, the regulating surface is caused to abut the platen roller before the bottom portions of the respective slits of the lock mechanism are caused to abut the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Masanori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8585305
    Abstract: A printer includes a rocking member with a rotary shaft and a bearing portion for axially supporting a platen roller, and a latch member having a protrusion. The latch member is rotatably connected to the rotary shaft portion of the rocking member so as to be rotatable about a rotary axis that is non-coaxial with and parallel to a platen axis. The rotary shaft portion of the rocking member projects along the rotary axis from an inner side surface of the rocking member. A stationary frame supports a recording head and includes a first recess into which the bearing portion of the rocking member is disengageably fitted and a second recess into which the protrusion of the latch member is disengageably fitted after the bearing portion is fitted in the first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Akio Naito
  • Patent number: 8587623
    Abstract: A printer has first and second units configured for attachment/detachment relative one another and for supporting one of a recording head and a platen roller. The first unit has spaced wall portions provided with first and second recesses. The second unit has engagement pins that detachably fit into respective ones of the first recesses, a latch member that undergoes rotation about an axial line of the engagement pins and has a pair of lock pins that detachably fit into respective ones of the second recesses after the engagement pins are fitted in the first recesses, a biasing member biasing the latch member in a first direction of detachably fitting the lock pins in the second recesses, and a release member for moving the lock pins in a second direction opposite to the first direction to detach the lock pins from the second recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Shinichi Sudo, Kouji Kawaguchi, Akio Naito
  • Publication number: 20130271550
    Abstract: A printer 1 comprising, a feed section 3 capable of feeding a print paper having a first sheet 50 and a second sheet 51 laminated to the first sheet 50 through a gap 58, and a print section 5 for printing the print paper, wherein the print section 5 comprises a thermal head 18 and a platen roller 17 being opposed to the thermal head 18, wherein the platen roller 17 comprises a shaft 30 being rotatably supported in a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the print paper, a cylindrical body roller 31 disposed to the shaft 30, and a projecting portion 32 protruding outward in a radial direction of the body roller 31 for filling the gap 58 by pressing the print paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Masanori Otsuka, Mariko Mogi
  • Patent number: 8553060
    Abstract: A head unit (4), a platen roller (3), a motor (5) and a gear transmission mechanism (6) are attached to a frame (2) of a thermal printer. The frame (2) is molded by die-casting an alloy material, and a radiating fin assembly (15) is formed integral with the frame (2) in the vicinity of a motor mounting area of the frame (2). Heat generated from the motor (5) is radiated from the die-cast frame and the radiating fin assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Citizen Systems Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Miyashita, Kohzoh Abe
  • Publication number: 20130258031
    Abstract: Thick, compressible, multilayer labels with the appearance and feel of hard plastic identification shields comprise: A. A printable film having first and second opposing facial surfaces; B. A first adhesive having first and second opposing facial surfaces, the first facial surface of the adhesive in intimate contact with the second facial surface of the film; and C. Foam having first and second opposing facial surfaces, the first facial surface of the foam in intimate contact with the second facial surface of the first adhesive. In certain embodiments of the invention, the labels include one or more of a printable coating on the first facial surface of the film, a second adhesive in intimate contact with the second facial surface of the foam, and a release liner in contact with the second adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Filip M. Steyaert
  • Patent number: 8545218
    Abstract: A label manufacturing apparatus includes a thermal head and a device for transporting a heat sensitive adhesive sheet. The control device operates the head in synchronization with timing of transporting of the sheet to activate the adhesive, determines if heating based on a last row of a heating pattern is completed before a trailing end of the sheet reaches a set position contacting the head, controls driving of the transporting device so that when it is determined that the heating based on the heating pattern last row is completed, the sheet is transported until the trailing end passes through the set position, and controls driving of the head so that when it is determined that the heating based on the last row of the heating pattern is completed, the heating based on the last row of the heating pattern is repeated until the trailing end passes through the set position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Obuchi
  • Patent number: 8537189
    Abstract: Provided is a thermal printer for printing information on thermal paper having a thermosensitive layer formed on both sides thereof, including first and second thermal heads, the first thermal head printing on one side of the thermal paper and the second thermal head printing on the other side of the thermal paper; a first platen installed at a position opposite the first thermal head, and configured to move for closing so as to approach the first thermal head and move for opening so as to be distanced therefrom; a second platen installed at a position opposite the second thermal head, and configured to move for closing so as to approach the second thermal head and move for opening so as to be distanced therefrom; and a control unit configured to control the first and second platens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norihisa Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8537188
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a portable thermal printer is disclosed. The portable thermal printer comprises: a housing provided with a thermal printer head; a cover openably attached to an opening portion of the housing by a pivotal shaft, the cover being provided with a platen roller arranged to make contact with the thermal printer head when the opening portion of the housing is closed by the cover; and a drive power source provided within the housing. The drive power source, the pivotal shaft and the platen roller are connected by a belt mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Ishii, Motohito Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8493424
    Abstract: A printer includes a platen roller, a motor configured to rotate the platen roller, and a frame configured to rotatably support the platen roller, the motor being mounted to the frame, wherein the motor has a shaft and a face that is in contact with the frame, and the face has a flange at a periphery thereof and a boss around the shaft, wherein the frame has a U-letter-shape opening into which the boss of the motor is insertable in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the shaft, and also has a fitting part in which the flange of the motor is engaged, and wherein the motor is fixedly positioned by the boss being inserted into the U-letter-shape opening of the frame and by the flange being engaged in the fitting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsuchiya, Yukihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 8441510
    Abstract: A printing apparatus that receives a supply of an image receiving medium and includes a platen arranged to feed the image receiving medium selectively in one of a forward and reverse direction. A print head arranged to print an image on the image receiving medium while the medium is fed in the forward direction and an arcuate guide portion partially encasing the platen and movable relative to the surface of the platen. The guide portion having an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the print head to permit a supply of image receiving medium to be received and an operative position wherein the guide portion is moved to be proximate to the print head whereby the guide portion in the operative position restricts movement of the image receiving medium in a direction perpendicular to the forward and reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: DYMO
    Inventors: Kris Vandermeulen, Erwin Vereecken
  • Patent number: 8419302
    Abstract: A printing apparatus configured to carry out printing on paper with a printing head, while holding the paper between the printing head and a platen roller, includes: a paper guide block guiding the paper in between the printing head and the platen roller, and holding the platen roller; and a force applying member applying a force to any one of the paper guide block and the printing head in such a manner as to press the any one of the paper guide block and the printing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Sumio Watanabe, Fumio Sakurai, Yukihiro Mori, Yoshinari Takabatake
  • Patent number: 8395647
    Abstract: A printer is disclosed including a print frame, a print head fixed relative to the print frame, a platen drive gear rotatably mounted to the print frame, and a platen assembly pivotally mounted to the print frame. The platen assembly includes a platen rotatably driven by a platen gear that is coaxial with the platen. The platen gear meshes with the platen drive gear. The platen assembly is pivotable about an axis offset from, but parallel to, an axis of rotation of the platen drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan J. Suva
  • Patent number: 8379071
    Abstract: A linerless label roll-up preventing device for a thermal printer that prevents roll-up of the linerless label 3 on the platen roller 13. A roll-up preventing plate 23 is applied to a slit (22) formed in the outer surface of the platen roller (13), and protrudes to form a roll-up preventing edge (29) at a portion of the roll-up prevention plate (23). A roll-up preventing plate 23 being fixed to a slit (22), formed in the radial surface of the platen roller (13), relatively to the platen roller (13), and formed with a roll-up preventing projection edge, at a portion of the roll-up preventing plate (23), projecting out slightly from the outer circumferential surface of the platen roller (13) and capable of contacting the back surface of the linerless label (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Sato, Kabushiki Kaisha Sato Chishiki Zaisan Kenkyusyo
    Inventor: Tamotsu Katayama
  • Patent number: 8366335
    Abstract: A platen roller assembly for a printer includes a platen roller, a retaining clip, a plurality of bearings, and a pulley assembly. The platen roller defines a longitudinal axis. The retaining clip mounts to a support body of the printer and is positioned to retain the platen roller relative to the support body. The plurality of bearings are operably coupled to the platen roller. Each of the bearings permit rotational movement of the platen roller about the longitudinal axis thereof. The pulley assembly is mounted to the support body and is operably associated with one or more of the bearings. The pulley assembly includes a pulley and a belt. The belt is operably coupled to the pulley such that the platen roller rotates in response to rotational movement of the belt. The platen roller may be selectively coupled and uncoupled to/from the support body independent of the pulley assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Colquitt, Chris Christensen
  • Patent number: 8350881
    Abstract: A printer includes an upper unit which opens and closes about a fulcrum lying at a rear position of a lower unit, and a paper path which is opened by opening the upper unit. A sensor unit is attached to the lower unit and includes a lower sensor holder and an upper sensor holder which are disposed in opposition to each other via the paper path. The paper path can be opened by pivoting the upper sensor holder relative to the lower sensor holder. When the upper unit is closed, the upper sensor holder is also closed in accordance with a closing pivoting motion of the upper unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruyuki Ochiai, Hiroyasu Ishii, Osamu Watanabe, Yukihiro Tamura, Yoshimi Urushibata, Kazuhiro Fushimi
  • Publication number: 20130002787
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a thermal printer includes a housing in which a space is formed, printing means disposed in the housing, a cover disposed in the housing and which comes into contact with and separates from the housing when rotated, thereby opening and closing the space, urging means for urging the cover in a direction away from the housing, an engaging part which is disposed in the housing and which prevents the movement of the cover in a direction away from the housing when engaged with the cover, a pressed part which is disposed rotatably in the cover and which moves the engaging part when pressed, thereby releasing engagement between the cover and the engaging part, and elastic means arranged to urge the pressed part in a direction away from the engaging part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicants: NCR CORPORATION, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kousuke Takahashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Kiyotaka Nihashi, Tsuyoshi Sanada
  • Publication number: 20120327167
    Abstract: A printer includes a platen roller, a motor configured to rotate the platen roller, and a frame configured to rotatably support the platen roller, the motor being mounted to the frame, wherein the motor has a shaft and a face that is in contact with the frame, and the face has a flange at a periphery thereof and a boss around the shaft, wherein the frame has a U-letter-shape opening into which the boss of the motor is insertable in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the shaft, and also has a fitting part in which the flange of the motor is engaged, and wherein the motor is fixedly positioned by the boss being inserted into the U-letter-shape opening of the frame and by the flange being engaged in the fitting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsuchiya, Yukihiro Mori
  • Publication number: 20120327168
    Abstract: A print station system (1) having a drive-stepper motor (2), platen rollers (3, 4) in operative communication with the drive-stepper motor (2), a pinch roller (10) in operative communication with the drive-stepper motor (2), a top-of-form sensor (11) located between the platen roller (3, 4) and the pinch roller (10), a rocker arm (12) in operative communication with the platen roller (3, 4) and the pinch roller (10), and a printhead assembly (5), a media guide (12a, 12b). A radio-frequency identification antenna (16) or a receptacle (15) for holding same may be located between the platen roller (3, 4) and the pinch roller (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William M. Bouverie, Mark Allen Hitz, Richard Hatle, Dwayne Steven Tobin, Marjorie Hitz
  • Publication number: 20120274720
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a thermal printer includes a housing in which a space is formed, printing means disposed in the housing, a cover disposed in the housing and which comes into contact with and separates from the housing when rotated, thereby opening and closing the space, urging means for urging the cover in a direction away from the housing, an engaging part which is disposed in the housing and which prevents the movement of the cover in a direction away from the housing when engaged with the cover, a pressed part which is disposed rotatably in the cover and which moves the engaging part when pressed, thereby releasing engagement between the cover and the engaging part, and elastic means arranged to urge the pressed part in a direction away from the engaging part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicants: NCR CORPORATION, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kousuke Takahashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Kiyotaka Nihashi, Tsuyoshi Sanada
  • Patent number: 8262211
    Abstract: An ink-jet printer comprises: a platen plate including a plurality of recesses, which are formed and regularly arranged in a front surface by digging from the front surface toward the back surface, and a suction hole extending from a part of the bottom surface of the recess through the back surface; and a print head having ink-discharging nozzles arranged in a nozzle face which is arranged in a position facing the front surface of the platen plate. The ink-discharging nozzles are arranged between an opening end of the recess and an opening end of the suction hole excluding an area directly above the suction hole of the platen plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Yamagishi, Tomohiko Shimoda, Naoki Akihiro
  • Patent number: 8189025
    Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal head, a platen roller configured to press the thermal head, an engaging part configured to engage the platen roller provided at a side part of a main part where the thermal head is provided, and a spring part provided at a part of the side part so as to engage the platen roller with the engaging part. The spring part forms a part of a side surface of the engaging part. The spring part is made of a material the same as a material of the side part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Yukihiro Mori, Yoshinari Takabatake
  • Patent number: 8179411
    Abstract: A printer module for a clam-shell type printing apparatus having a lid that opens and closes with respect to a housing, includes a head assembly including a head and mounted on the housing, a platen roller mounted on the lid, and a main assembly including a frame and a motor mounted on the frame to rotate the platen roller. The main assembly is arranged to cover the head assembly and is mounted on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinari Takabatake, Yukihiro Mori, Sumio Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120105568
    Abstract: The platen bearings attached to the shaft end parts of the removable platen roller are pressed by lock levers to bearing insertion slots that are formed in the main frame of the thermal printer so that the positions of the platen bearings are determined by two points on the main frame and one point on the lock lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Rikuo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120092434
    Abstract: Monochromatic or multichromatic images may be created on surfaces. The surface is moved to first, second and third stations. The surface is electrically biased, and powder is transferred to the surface electrostatically at the first station. The powder is fused or sintered selectively on the surface at the second station. Unfused or unsintered portions of the powder are removed from the surface at the third station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicants: TORREY PINES RESEARCH, MARS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Lydia E. Gutierrez M., Peter J. Mason, Thomas Hilbert, Charles DeBoer, Richard D. Ornelaz, JR.
  • Patent number: 8115791
    Abstract: A printing apparatus that receives a supply of an image receiving medium and includes a platen arranged to feed the image receiving medium selectively in one of a forward and reverse direction. A print head arranged to print an image on the image receiving medium while the medium is fed in the forward direction and an arcuate guide portion partially encasing the platen and movable relative to the surface of the platen. The guide portion having an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the print head to permit a supply of image receiving medium to be received and an operative position wherein the guide portion is moved to be proximate to the print head whereby the guide portion in the operative position restricts movement of the image receiving medium in a direction perpendicular to the forward and reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: DYMO
    Inventors: Kris Vandermeulen, Erwin Vereecken
  • Patent number: 8111274
    Abstract: A thermal printer has a thermal head pivotally mounted on a main body frame to pivot toward and away from a platen roller. The platen roller has shaft bearings at opposite ends thereof that are removably inserted in two spaced-apart opposed slots formed in the main body frame to rotatably support the platen roller. First springs bias a pivotal lock arm to a locked position to prevent removal of the shaft bearings from the slots, and second springs bias the thermal head toward the platen roller. Manual pivotal movement of the lock arm to an unlocked position permits removal of the shaft bearings from the shaft. The biasing directions of the first and second springs are parallel, which reduces the stroke distance of the first springs resulting in size reduction of the thermal printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kimitaka Hirai, Akihiko Ito
  • Publication number: 20120026269
    Abstract: A printer is disclosed including a print frame, a print head fixed relative to the print frame, a platen drive gear rotatably mounted to the print frame, and a platen assembly pivotally mounted to the print frame. The platen assembly includes a platen rotatably driven by a platen gear that is coaxial with the platen. The platen gear meshes with the platen drive gear. The platen assembly is pivotable about an axis offset from, but parallel to, an axis of rotation of the platen drive gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Alan J. Suva
  • Patent number: 8094175
    Abstract: In order to place both ends of a platen roller in bearing portions of a frame to perform accurate printing on a recording sheet with improved operability, a thermal printer comprises: a pair of concave portions (10d) provided to a frame to receive both end portions of a roller shaft (13e) of a platen roller (13) when a cover (8) is in a closed state; a pair of lock arms for automatically engaging the roller shaft (13e) of the platen roller (13) with the concave portions along with an operation of closing the cover (8); and a connection mechanism (30) for turnably connecting the platen roller (13) to the cover (8), and is characterized in that an axis of rotation of the platen roller (13) in the connection mechanism (30) is contained in a plane passing through a midpoint between the pair of concave portions (10d) to be vertical to an axial direction of the concave portions (10d) and is arranged parallel to the cover (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Yasumi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8072474
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a roller includes a platen roller and a cleaning roller brought into contact with the platen roller to clean a surface of the platen roller, where the cleaning roller is configured such that SP values (dissolution parameter) of the cleaning roller and of all additives added in the cleaning roller have differences of at least 2.0 from an SP value of the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takanobu Nishimura, Hiroyuki Mori
  • Patent number: 8044987
    Abstract: The invention provides a printer in which a lock lever comes into contact with a roller shaft of a platen roller in upper open grooves disposed in a frame and controls the position of the upper portion of the upper open grooves so that the platen roller is supported in a predetermined position of the frame and reliably comes into contact with a thermal head disposed to be opposite to the platen roller, and a lock lever member disposed so as to position a joint member for joining the upper open grooves and close to a bottom plate of the frame in a print portion in which the platen roller and a thermal head come into pressure contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeyuki Kamata
  • Publication number: 20110221855
    Abstract: A method for printing on both sides of a roll sheet including superimposing and pressing a thermal transfer sheet and the roll sheet between a platen roller and a thermal head so that the bottom surface of the thermal transfer sheet touches the top surface of the roll sheet and the bottom surface of the roll sheet touches the platen roller, and printing an image on the top surface of the roll sheet while conveying the sheets; and superimposing and pressing a thermal transfer sheet and the roll sheet between a platen roller and a thermal head so that the top surface of the thermal transfer sheet touches the bottom surface of the roll sheet and the top surface of the roll sheet touches the platen roller, and printing an image on the bottom surface of the roll sheet while conveying the sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jitsuhiko Ando, Taketo Nozu, Tsuyoshi Katsuta, Takamasa Akagawa
  • Publication number: 20110221854
    Abstract: A printer including a containing unit, first and second heads, a separation member, a cutting member, and a collecting unit. The containing unit is configured to contain a printing medium separable into front and rear surfaces. The first head is configured to print first data on the front surface of the printing medium. The second head is configured to print second data on the rear surface of the printing medium. The separation member is configured to separate the front surface from the printing medium passing through the first and second heads. The cutting member is configured to cut a printed portion of the front surface separated by the separation member. The collecting unit is configured to collect the printing medium of the rear surface remaining after the front surface is separated in order to preserve the rear surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigetoshi Asahina
  • Publication number: 20110211034
    Abstract: A linerless label roll-up preventing device for a thermal printer that prevents roll-up of the linerless label 3 on the platen roller 13. A roll-up preventing plate 23 is applied to a slit (22) formed in the outer surface of the platen roller (13), and protrudes to form a roll-up preventing edge (29) at a portion of the roll-up prevention plate (23). A roll-up preventing plate 23 being fixed to a slit (22), formed in the radial surface of the platen roller (13), relatively to the platen roller (13), and formed with a roll-up preventing projection edge, at a portion of the roll-up preventing plate (23), projecting out slightly from the outer circumferential surface of the platen roller (13) and capable of contacting the back surface of the linerless label (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Tamotsu Katayama
  • Patent number: 7973812
    Abstract: Movement of platen rollers are started at a predetermined timing considering the distance from a paper sensor to thermal heads, and a paper feeding speed, so that the movement of the platen rollers is completed at the time when the thermal paper reaches the thermal heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Masuda
  • Publication number: 20110128341
    Abstract: Provided is a thermal printer in which positioning precision between a platen roller and a thermal head is enhanced, thereby being capable of positively arranging heating elements within a heating element allowable range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Masanori Takahashi
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110074907
    Abstract: To achieve improvements in heating efficiency and strength against external load, provided is a thermal head (1), comprising: a supporting substrate (3) having a surface in which a concave portion (2) is formed; a heat storage layer (5) bonded onto the surface of the supporting substrate (3); a heating resistor provided in a region, which is opposed to the concave portion (2) of the supporting substrate (3), on the heat storage layer (5); and a protruding portion (2A), which is provided inside a hollow portion formed between the supporting substrate (3) and the heat storage layer (5) by the concave portion (2), and comes into contact with the heat storage layer (5) and limits deflection of the heat storage layer (5) when the heating resistor is pressurized by predetermined load or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Morooka, Keitaro Koroishi, Yoshinori Sato, Noriyoshi Shoji, Norimitsu Sanbongi
  • Patent number: 7901151
    Abstract: A platen roller is provided for conveying a thermally active adhesive sheet having a recordable surface formed on one side of a sheet-like substrate and a thermally active adhesive layer formed on the other side of the sheet-like substrate. The platen roller comprises a roller portion containing a compound suitable for use as a solid plasticizer in the thermally active adhesive layer of the thermally active adhesive sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sato, Masanori Takahashi, Hiroyuki Kohira, Tatsuya Obuchi, Minoru Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20110032322
    Abstract: A rotatable roller is provided which includes a first end and a second end and a surface adapted to wrap a portion of the media thereupon. A carriage conveys the roller along a path. The roller is moved by first and second drives. The first and second drives can be differentially operated to reorient the roller with respect to a direction along the path. The first drive and the second drive can be operated, differentially or non-differentially, to move the carriage along the path. The reoriented roller can be rotated about its axis while conveying the media to wrap the portion of the media onto the surface. The portion of the media can be sized to wrap over the surface of the reoriented roller without overlapping itself. The first drive and the second drive can be operated non-differentially to convey the reoriented roller along a portion of the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Saar Moisa, Greg Peregrym, Ian Garben
  • Publication number: 20110025810
    Abstract: A thermal printer includes a first thermal head, a first platen roller, first biasing means, a second thermal head, a second platen roller, and second biasing means. The first thermal head, the first platen roller, the first biasing means are in contact with a heat-sensitive layer of thermal recording paper. The second thermal head, the second platen roller, and the second biasing means are in contact with a heat-sensitive layer of the thermal recording paper. The second thermal head is arranged on the upstream side of the first thermal head in a paper feed direction. A paper feed speed of the first platen roller to the thermal recording paper is larger than a paper feed speed of the second platen roller. The first platen roller is in contact with the thermal recording paper while being more slippery compared with the second platen roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kenji Eoka, Kiyotaka Nihashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Tsuyoshi Sanada, Akira Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110025809
    Abstract: A thermal printer includes a first thermal head, a first platen roller, first biasing means, a second thermal head, a second platen roller, and second biasing means. The first thermal head, the first platen roller, the first biasing means are in contact with a heat-sensitive layer of thermal recording paper. The second thermal head, the second platen roller, and the second biasing means are in contact with a heat-sensitive layer of the thermal recording paper. The second thermal head is arranged on the upstream side of the first thermal head in a paper feed direction. A paper feed speed of the first platen roller to the thermal recording paper is larger than a paper feed speed of the second platen roller. The first platen roller is in contact with the thermal recording paper while being more slippery compared with the second platen roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kenji Eoka, Kiyotaka Nihashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Tsuyoshi Sanada, Akira Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110018957
    Abstract: A thermal printer includes a first thermal head, a first platen roller, first biasing means, a second thermal head, a second platen roller, and second biasing means. The first thermal head, the first platen roller, the first biasing means are in contact with a heat-sensitive layer of thermal recording paper. The second thermal head, the second platen roller, and the second biasing means are in contact with a heat-sensitive layer of the thermal recording paper. The second thermal head is arranged on the upstream side of the first thermal head in a paper feed direction. A paper feed speed of the first platen roller to the thermal recording paper is larger than a paper feed speed of the second platen roller. The first platen roller is in contact with the thermal recording paper while being more slippery compared with the second platen roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kenji Eoka, Kiyotaka Nihashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Tsuyoshi Sanada, Akira Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110018956
    Abstract: A thermal printer includes a first thermal head, a first platen roller, first biasing means, a second thermal head, a second platen roller, and second biasing means. The first thermal head, the first platen roller, the first biasing means are in contact with a heat-sensitive layer of thermal recording paper. The second thermal head, the second platen roller, and the second biasing means are in contact with a heat-sensitive layer of the thermal recording paper. The second thermal head is arranged on the upstream side of the first thermal head in a paper feed direction. A paper feed speed of the first platen roller to the thermal recording paper is larger than a paper feed speed of the second platen roller. The first platen roller is in contact with the thermal recording paper while being more slippery compared with the second platen roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kenji Eoka, Kiyotaka Nihashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Tsuyoshi Sanada, Akira Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100253759
    Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal head, a platen roller configured to press the thermal head, an engaging part configured to engage the platen roller provided at a side part of a main part where the thermal head is provided, and a spring part provided at a part of the side part so as to engage the platen roller with the engaging part. The spring part forms a part of a side surface of the engaging part. The spring part is made of a material the same as a material of the side part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Yukihiro Mori, Yoshinari Takabatake
  • Publication number: 20100245523
    Abstract: A support for an article onto which an image is to be printed by thermal transfer printing from a retransfer intermediate sheet has a surface shaped for engagement with the article, at least a portion of the surface being formed from an elastomeric material. Also disclosed are a method of making a support, apparatus for thermal transfer printing, a method of printing and an article bearing a printed image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: AKZO NOBEL COATINGS INTERNATIONAL B.V.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Michael Howell
  • Publication number: 20100245522
    Abstract: A head unit (4), a platen roller (3), a motor (5) and a gear transmission mechanism (6) are attached to a frame (2) of a thermal printer. The frame (2) is molded by die-casting an alloy material, and a radiating fin assembly (15) is formed integral with the frame (2) in the vicinity of a motor mounting area of the frame (2). Heat generated from the motor (5) is radiated from the die-cast frame and the radiating fin assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Shinichi Miyashita, Kohzoh Abe
  • Patent number: 7794078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of printing a substrate using an inkjet printer which includes a holder to rotatably receive a roll on which the substrate is wound, a downstream print zone and an inkjet printhead for printing the substrate at the print zone, a transport means for engaging and transporting the substrate to the print zone during which transport the substrate is unwound from the roll, and a guide element which is situated downstream of the roll in front of the transport means to guide the substrate from the roll to the transport means, the method including the steps of transporting the substrate over a predetermined distance with control of the transport means, during which transport the guide element is moved from a first position which the guide element occupies prior to the transport, to a second position such that the distance over which the substrate extends between the roll and the transport means is smaller as a result of the movement and after the substrate has been transported over th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen J. G. Coenen, Barry B. Goeree