Abstract: A ribbon supply shaft drive motor (8) and a ribbon take-up shaft drive motor (10) are drivingly controlled separately. If the state of a ribbon is not changed after a control cycle is repeated for a set time, the rotational speed of the drive motors (8, 10) is increased step by step.

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).

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.

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).

Abstract: In order to realize an adjustment mechanism which can adjust the pressing force of a thermal head according to paper thickness, and in addition, which is suitable for a small thermal printer, in a small thermal printer in which a platen roller (11) is adapted to be detachably attachable to arms for rotatably holding the platen roller and room at the back of a thermal head where a spring (16) for pressing the thermal head (14) toward the platen roller is disposed is narrow, an auxiliary plate for receiving the spring is provided at the back of the thermal head, the auxiliary plate (13) is adapted to be approachable to or separable from a head support plate (15), and means (18, 41) which can adjust a position of the auxiliary plate with respect to a position of the head support plate (15) is provided.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal printer in which when heat-sensitive paper is provided to the user, characters printed on the heat-sensitive paper may be received by a user without any uncomfortable feelings, and a use amount of the heat-sensitive paper may be reduced. A thermal printer (P1) includes: a main body frame (101); a thermal head (H) attached to the main body frame (101) to swing; a platen roller (102) disposed to face a printing surface of the thermal head (H); and a motor (M) for driving the platen roller (102), the thermal printer being configured to activate the thermal head (H) while conveying heat-sensitive paper held between the thermal head (H) and the platen roller (102) to perform printing on the heat-sensitive paper, in which a feeding amount of the heat-sensitive paper may be set so that an aspect ratio of the characters printed on the heat-sensitive paper is within a range of 0.95:1 to 0.8:1.

Abstract: Disclosed are a printer and a stacker and methods. The printer prints selectively on one or both sides of a printable web and sheets or labels are cut from the web and stacked in the stacker. The printer has an unwind mechanism that accepts and holds web rolls of different widths in center-justified relationship with respect to a print head. The printer has a spindle for mounting an ink ribbon core with a detent for center-justifying the ink-ribbon with respect to the print head.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising a transporting path to transport a first target medium in a first direction and to transport a second target medium in the first direction and a second direction, a first and second rollers, a supporting member that supports the second roller and is movable between a first position where the first roller contacts the second rollers and a second position where the second roller is separated from the first roller, a releaser that moves the supporting member between the first and second positions, wherein the releaser has a lever that projects into the transporting path when the supporting member is in the first position and is adapted to be pushed by a leading edge of the second target medium, thereby receding from the transporting path and rotating the releaser such that the releaser moves the supporting member to the second position.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal printer (1) including: a main body frame (2); a thermal head (4) swingably mounted to the main body frame (2); a platen roller (6) disposed to be opposed to a printing surface (4a) of the thermal head (4), for sandwiching a thermal paper with the thermal head (4) to feed the thermal paper; a lock arm (5) swingably mounted to the main body frame (2), for locking the platen roller (6) with the main body frame (2) by pressing a shaft bearing (9) which rotatably supports the platen roller (6) against the thermal head (4); a first spring (7) disposed between the lock arm (5) and the thermal head (4), for biasing the platen roller (6) in a direction in which the platen roller (6) moves toward the thermal head (4); and a second spring (8) disposed between the thermal head (4) and the main body frame (2), for biasing the thermal head (4) in a direction in which the thermal head (4) comes into close contact with the platen roller (6), in which the first spring (7) is disposed so that the fi

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes (a) a lever member which displaces at least one of a thermal head and a platen roller so that the head and the roller come close to each other or come away from each other, and (b) a driving unit which operates the lever member. The driving unit includes a rotary member having a rotary center shaft in a direction crossing a conveying direction of a recording medium and a roller shaft direction of the platen roller, and the rotary member is disposed in a conveying width region of the recording medium.

Abstract: In order to prevent a platen roller and shaft bearings from accidentally coming off from notches to improve reliability of a thermal printer, Provided is a thermal printer, including: a main body frame (2); a thermal head swingably mounted to the main body frame (2); a platen roller (6) which is disposed so as to be opposed to a printing surface of the thermal head and sandwiches thermal paper with the thermal head to feed the thermal paper; and a lock arm (5) which is swingably mounted to a supporting shaft (3) mounted to the main body frame (2) and presses shaft bearings (9) rotatably supporting the platen roller (6) to a thermal head side to lock the platen roller (6) with notches (10) formed in the main body frame (2), in which the lock arm (5) is provided, on the tip end portion thereof, with a first inclined surface (5d) which, when the platen roller (6) and the shaft bearings (9) are moved toward openings of the notches (10), comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of each of the shaft bea

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided which has an eject guide capable of guiding print mediums of different thicknesses, that have been transported there, to a nip portion of the eject rollers of the fixed diameters. To this end, the eject guide is pivotally supported at one end thereof on the platen. The eject guide is positioned with the other end engaged with the chassis. In this state, as the platen moves the eject guide pivots.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a case that stores a print medium transferred in the case, a platen roller, a thermal head that is pressed to the platen roller, a radiation member that is made of a metal and is provided on a surface of the thermal head on a reverse face of a pressed face opposing the platen roller, an extended portion that is provided in the radiation member and extended further than the thermal head in a transfer direction of the print medium, and a guide member that is made of a resin to guide the print medium printed by the thermal head and is provided on a surface of the extended portion opposing the platen roller.

Abstract: A printer has a path for a sheet. A donor web is disposed on one side of the path; a platen roller is disposed on the other side of the path and supports the sheet during printing. An edge sensor is located in path at a known distance from the nip of the print head and the platen. Edge sensor senses the lead edge of the sheet and then the control circuit drives the lead edge to a distance D from the heat line of the print head. The head lowers, is selectively energized and the platen moves to carry the donor web and sheet past the head and provide a borderless printed image on the sheet.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal printer (1) including: a main body frame (2); a thermal head (4) mounted to the main body frame (2); a platen roller (6) disposed to be opposed to a printing surface (4a) of the thermal head (4), for sandwiching a thermal paper (15) with the thermal head (4) to feed the thermal paper (15); a lock arm (5) swingably mounted to the main body frame (2), for locking the platen roller (6) with the main body frame (2) by pressing a shaft bearing (11) which rotatably supports the platen roller (6) against the thermal head (4); a swing arm (10) that supports the shaft bearing (11) of the platen roller (6), and swings between a lock position by the lock arm (5) and a release position apart from the lock arm (5); and a lever (16) movably provided to the swing arm (10), for releasing a locked state of the platen roller (6) by the lock arm (5) by an external force applied to a force point (18), in which a direction in which the force point (18) of the lever (16) moves when the locked state by t

Abstract: A shaft portion 2a of a platen roller 2 is inserted into an elongated hole-like recess 5a of a platen frame 5 so as to be movable therein. A release arm 9 having an engagement portion 9b engaged with a shaft portion 2a is swingably provided and is urged by a spring member 10. A switch 11 has an intercept 11a which can be contacted/separated to/from the release arm 9. When a thermal head 1 is moved against a spring force of a spring member 4, the release arm 9 follows the thermal head 1 to be allowed to swing by the spring member 10, thereby moving the shaft portion 2a in the recess 5a. When the switch 1 detects movement of the release arm 9, it is determined that recording is impossible since the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 2 are spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: Thermal activation device, Printing device, and Printer for preventing an insufficient press-contact state of a sheet material relative to a heating means or a printing means, and suppressing an occurrence of thin spot on the sheet material. A thermal activation device including a head support member for supporting a thermal activation head, a support shaft for supporting the head support member in a rotatable manner in a direction allowing the thermal activation head to move toward and away from the platen roller, a platen spring for urging the head support member in a direction in which the thermal activation head is caused to press-contact with the platen roller, a shaft hole in which the support shaft is movably engaged in an urging direction by the platen spring, and an adjustment spring for regulating a position of the support shaft in the shaft hole and urging the head support member in the direction causing the thermal activation head to press-contact with the platen roller.

Abstract: A thermal printer including a thermal head; a platen cooperating with the thermal head to nip a printing sheet between the platen and the thermal head; an elastic member applying a biasing force to the thermal head in a direction to make contact with the platen; a frame supporting the thermal head in a shiftable manner and the platen in a detachable manner; and a biasing-force control mechanism controlling the biasing force of the elastic member. The biasing-force control mechanism operates to ensure, when the platen is mounted to the frame, a required contact pressure between the thermal head and the platen under the biasing force, and to prevent, when the platen is removed from the frame, the thermal head from being deformed due to the biasing force.

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.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a chassis, a head portion, a platen roller a plurality of elastically deformable support rods, a U-shaped rotary member and a drive mechanism. The head portion is pivotally supported on the chassis. The platen roller is rotatably supported on the chassis opposite the head portion. The support rods are supported on the chassis. The rotary member is pivotally supported to the chassis by unrotatably engaging the support rods. A second side arm of the rotary member is configured to press the head portion against the platen roller with an urging force of the support rods. The drive mechanism is engaged with a first side arm of the rotary member to pivot the rotary member around the support rods. With the image forming apparatus. the head portion can be pressed on with a sufficient amount of pressure.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal activation device capable of preventing a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet from being partially excessively heated, keeping a short distance between a contact between a thermal head and a platen roller, and a discharge port, and preventing a structure of the thermal activation device from being complicated and a size thereof from increasing. While a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (2) is transported along a transport path (15) through rotations of insertion rollers (3) and a platen roller (5), a heat-generating portion (4a) of the thermal head (4) is caused to generate heat, thereby thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive layer of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (2). When a trailing edge of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (2) reaches a position where the trailing edge thereof is not in contact with the platen roller (5), a transporting force is not transmitted to the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (2), thereby stopping transportation thereof.

Abstract: A thermal activation apparatus includes a thermal head for thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive layer of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet by heating, and a platen roller for thermal activation opposed to the thermal head for thermal activation. The thermal head for thermal activation is energized by a spring, whereby the platen roller for thermal activation is pressed to the thermal head for thermal activation with a pressure. The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is heated while being transported between the platen roller for thermal activation and the thermal head for thermal activation, whereby the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is thermally activated. To smoothly transport a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet without stagnating at a position opposed to a thermal head for thermal activation, even in the case where a non-activated portion is present in a heat-sensitive adhesive layer.

Abstract: In order to improve mountability of a rolled sheet while preventing falling off of the rolled sheet, which makes a replacement operation easier, provided is a rolled sheet support mechanism (4) including: a pair of guide plates (20) opposed to side surfaces of a rolled sheet (P); a pair of support members (21) having, at ends thereof, insertion portions to be partially inserted into opening portions of a core tube (2) which are exposed to the side surfaces of the rolled sheet; a displacement member (22) displaced between an attachment position (S1) and an accommodation position (S2) while supporting the support members movably in a direction of an axis L of the core tube, with the support members being moved along the guide plates when receiving an external force; and a biasing member (23) for biasing the support member with an elastic force and pressing the insertion portion to the core tube in a state where the insertion portion is partially inserted into the opening portion to allow the rolled sheet to be

Abstract: A direct thermal printing material having at least one planar layer containing thermally activatable materials, wherein said planar layer forms an image upon application of laser light.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal printer (1) including: a main body frame (2); a thermal head (4) swingably mounted to the main body frame (2); a platen roller (6) disposed to be opposed to a printing surface (4a) of the thermal head (4), for sandwiching a thermal paper with the thermal head (4) to feed the thermal paper; a lock arm (5) swingably mounted to the main body frame (2), for locking the platen roller (6) with the main body frame (2) by pressing a shaft bearing (9) which rotatably supports the platen roller (6) against the thermal head (4); a first spring (7) disposed between the lock arm (5) and the thermal head (4), for biasing the platen roller (6) in a direction in which the platen roller (6) moves toward the thermal head (4); and a second spring (8) disposed between the thermal head (4) and the main body frame (2), for biasing the thermal head (4) in a direction in which the thermal head (4) comes into close contact with the platen roller (6), in which the first spring (7) is disposed so that the fi

Abstract: There is provided a thermal printer (1) including: a main body frame (2); a thermal head (4) mounted to the main body frame (2); a platen roller (6) disposed to be opposed to a printing surface (4a) of the thermal head (4), for sandwiching a thermal paper (15) with the thermal head (4) to feed the thermal paper (15); a lock arm (5) swingably mounted to the main body frame (2), for locking the platen roller (6) with the main body frame (2) by pressing a shaft bearing (11) which rotatably supports the platen roller (6) against the thermal head (4); a swing arm (10) that supports the shaft bearing (11) of the platen roller (6), and swings between a lock position by the lock arm (5) and a release position apart from the lock arm (5); and a lever (16) movably provided to the swing arm (10), for releasing a locked state of the platen roller (6) by the lock arm (5) by an external force applied to a force point (18), in which a direction in which the force point (18) of the lever (16) moves when the locked state by t

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes the print unit pivotably supported by the chassis, and the pivoting member rotatably supported by the support rod. The print unit has arm portions and the print head element. One of the arm portions has a downward facing portion. The pivoting member has a first side part configured to receive driving force from the motor in first and second rotational directions, and a second side part relatively unrotatably coupled to the first side part. The first side part is integrally provided with a lifting projection, which is configured to engage the downward facing portion of the print unit from below and move the print unit in a direction away from the platen roller while the pivoting member is pivoted in the first rotational direction. It is possible to reduce the number of members for moving the print unit away from the platen roller.

Abstract: A heating device capable of evenly heating a thermal recording medium without increasing the cost of the device is disclosed. The heating device evenly heats the recording surface of a thermally-reversible recording card by conducting the heat energy transferred from a heat generating member by way of a heating member, made of aluminum having high heat conductivity and high heat capacity characteristics. By this feature, it becomes possible to accurately erase the information recorded on the recording card and to use an inexpensive heat generating member as the heat generating member.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided which has an eject guide capable of guiding print mediums of different thicknesses, that have been transported there, to a nip portion of the eject rollers of the fixed diameters. To this end, the eject guide is pivotally supported at one end thereof on the platen. The eject guide is positioned with the other end engaged with the chassis. In this state, as the platen moves the eject guide pivots.

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. The printer includes a print head, a platen roller with which the print head is urged to come into pressure contact by a first spring member and which has roller shafts, and a motor capable of rotating the platen roller.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing machine 10 for thermally transferring image information on an information carrying medium to a printing medium is provided. The thermal transfer printing machine 10 includes a first platen roller 11 adapted so as to be rotatable, a second platen roller 12 adapted so as to be rotatable, the second platen roller 12 being separated from the first platen roller 11 and also paralleled thereto substantially, and a thermal print head 21 disposed between the first and second platen rollers 11, 12. The thermal print head 21 is adapted so as to be movable between a first transfer position to allow the thermal print head 21 to oppose the first platen roller 11 and a second transfer position to allow the thermal print head 21 to oppose the second platen roller 12.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a thermal print head part; a supporting arm coupled to the thermal print head part to support the thermal print head part to be capable of moving between a printing position and a waiting position; a driving cam to be rotatably driven together with a cam profile thereof; and a cam lever having an operating lever to move along the cam profile according to a rotation of the driving cam, and a main pressurizing part to apply pressure to the thermal print head part so that the thermal print head part can move to the printing position. The main pressurizing part may be in contact with a thermal print head of the thermal print head part and may be used to apply adequate pressure to the thermal print head to permit the thermal print head to reciprocate between the printing position and the waiting position.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus capable of rotating a pressing member pressing a print head against a platen roller at a large rotation angle with a cam is obtained. This thermal transfer printer (image generating apparatus) comprises a drive cam for driving the pressing member. This drive cam includes a cardioid cam engaging with a cam pin provided on the pressing member and a protrusion, constituted of a first protrusion and a second protrusion, for restraining the cam pin from moving by force other than that of the drive cam.

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.

Abstract: A printing apparatus (10) has at a printing station (11), a print head (12) with an array (13) of heating elements individually selectable by a computer controller (15), a feed path (16) for feeding carrier ribbon (18) through the printing satation (11), the carrier ribbon (18) carrying a layer of thermally sensitive print medium, pixels of the thermally sensitive print medium being in use deposited on a print area of a substrate (20), by selectively energizing the heating elements, as the substrate (20) and print head (12) are relatively moved, the apparatus (10) including a backing member (22) and the substrate (20) being position in use between the backing member (22) and the carrier ribbon (1.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a dual-sided printer including a direct thermal print head positioned proximate to a first platen and an inkjet print head positioned proximate to a second platen. The direct thermal print head is in a substantially opposed relation to the second platen and the inkjet print head is in a substantially opposed relation to the first platen to facilitate thermal printing on a first side of installed media and inkjet printing on a second side of the installed media.

Abstract: A printer includes a ribbon supply end, a ribbon retrieving end, and a ribbon. The two ends of the ribbon are installed on the ribbon supply end and the ribbon retrieving end respectively. The printer further includes a print head, a print medium fixture, a driving module for driving the ribbon from the ribbon supply end to the ribbon retrieving end, a moving shaft for moving from a first position of the ribbon between the print head and the ribbon supply end so as to elongate the ribbon between the print head and the ribbon supply end before the print head transfers dye on the ribbon onto the print medium and when the print head and the print medium fixture clamp the print medium, and a control module for controlling the printer according to whether the moving shaft can be moved from the first position to a second position.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal recording apparatus that transports a thermal recording medium in a sub-scanning direction in close contact with a thermal print head including plural heating elements juxtaposed in a main scanning direction, and performs thermal recording on the thermal recording medium by arbitrarily driving the heating elements, including: a sucking unit that is provided in the vicinity of the heating elements, and sucks and transportably holds the thermal recording medium, and a transporting unit that is provided in the downstream side of the heating elements with respect to a transportation direction of the thermal recording medium, and transports the thermal recording medium, wherein the thermal recording apparatus transports the thermal recording medium in close contact with the heating elements by transporting the thermal recording medium by the transporting unit while sucking it by the sucking unit, and performs thermal recording on the thermal recording medium by arbitrarily driving the h

Abstract: It is intended to provide a tape printer which enables to forcibly separate a platen roller and a print head along with an opening operation of a cover element in case the platen roller and the print head have adhered to each other because of a long-period storage of the tape printer with the platen roller and the print head being in contact. Accordingly, a first gear formed in the platen roller and a rack member in which gear teeth engageable with the first gear are provided, so that a contact between the platen roller and a thermal head can be forcibly released by an engagement with a first gear and the gear teeth when the cover element is opened, and a roller holder is returned to a withdrawing position with a roller holder return spring for pressing the roller holder toward the withdrawing position.

Abstract: A thermal printer has an outer frame that rotatably supports a platen roller. An inner frame is detachably attachable to the outer frame and has assembled thereon a head support body, a thermal head supported by the head support body, and biasing springs for urging the head support body toward the platen roller to apply a pressing force between the thermal head and the platen roller. During a printing operation, heating elements of the thermal head are energized to perform printing on a paper sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen roller. The inner frame together with the head support body, the thermal head and the biasing springs are detachable as an assembled unit from the outer frame. This enables easy maintenance of the thermal printer, such as replacement of the thermal head, and shortening of the time for maintenance and a reduction in maintenance cost.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal print head platen which includes a pair of support members separated by a gap wherein the support members are adapted to be oriented to press media against a thermal print head for printing purposes with the gap approximately aligned with a heating element located within the print head. There are also described a thermal printer which includes at least one thermal print head in conjunction with a thermal print head platen to pressure print media against the thermal print head for printing purposes and a thermal printing method utilizing such a thermal printer.

Abstract: There is described a thermal printer apparatus including one or more thermal print heads fixedly mounted with respect to a print media path, one or more platen roller assemblies each including a platen roller adapted to press print media in the print media path against at least one print head and a frame adapted to support a respective platen roller and a pivotally mounted support member adapted for mounting the platen roller assembly frames to extend from the support member and press its respective platen roller against the print head.

Abstract: A printer apparatus includes: a platen roller around which paper sheets wind; a printing structure arranged for being drawn near to and away from the platen roller; a plurality of winding support members circumferentially disposed around the platen roller, for guiding a paper sheet to wrap around the roller; a sheet feed guide disposed in proximity to the printing structure and being pivotable substantially along the circumference of the roller; and a diverting mechanism for letting the sheet feed guide escape to a position such that it does not interfere with the printing structure in a print mode. The sheet feed guide is linked with a lever that pivots in a plane substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the platen roller, the lever having a fore-end protuberance.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer passing a long soft tube (5) and an ink ribbon (4) between a platen roller (2) rotatably provided at a printer main body (1) and a printing head (3) arranged opposedly to the platen roller (2) and printing a character by thermal transcription from the printing head (3) to the tube (5), in which a hard wrapping roller (8) is rotatably arranged upstream from the printing head (3) and opposedly to the platen roller (2) and a character is printed by deforming the tube (5) between the platen roller (2) and the wrapping roller (8) such that a portion thereof brought into contact with the wrapping roller (8) is constituted by a planer shape.

Abstract: A thermal printer is adapted to prevent crease formation in successive dye transfer areas of a dye donor web that can cause line artifacts to be printed on a dye receiver during dye transfer from each dye transfer area to the dye receiver in a dye transfer printer.

Abstract: A thermal printer is adapted to prevent crease formation in a dye transfer area of a dye donor web that can cause line artifacts to be printed on a dye receiver during a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver in a dye transfer printer.

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: A thermal printer is adapted to prevent crease formation in a dye transfer area of a dye donor web that can cause line artifacts to be printed on a dye receiver during a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver in a dye transfer printer.

Abstract: A thermal printer including a thermal head, a platen roller, a frame having platen roller receiving parts that receive the platen roller in a detachable manner, is disclosed. The thermal head is fixed to a thermal head supporting member that is operatively coupled to the frame. The thermal head supporting member includes platen roller lock parts that lock the platen roller received by the platen roller receiving part so as to resist or prevent the platen roller from exiting the platen roller receiving part.

Abstract: There is described a thermal printer apparatus including one or more thermal print heads fixedly mounted with respect to a print media path, one or more platen roller assemblies each including a platen roller adapted to press print media in the print media path against at least one print head and a frame adapted to support a respective platen roller and a pivotally mounted support member adapted for mounting the platen roller assembly frames to extend from the support member and press its respective platen roller against the print head.