Thermal Printer Head Support Plate Turnable Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal printers face limitations in downsizing in the thickness direction while maintaining secure pressing of the thermal head against the platen roller, particularly when mounted on portable terminals like card payment terminals.
Innovation Solution
The thermal printer design incorporates a U-shaped frame with a bent head support plate and strategically positioned urging members, allowing for reduced space between the head support plate and the frame, enabling efficient pressing of the thermal head against the platen roller and facilitating downsizing by optimizing the arrangement of urging members and the head support mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the space for head back surface region is reduced to downsize the thermal printer in the thickness direction, then the thermal printer can be made more compact, but the thermal head cannot be securely pressed against the platen roller
Solution Approach 1:
The head support plate is designed to be turnable relative to the frame, allowing dynamic adjustment of the thermal head's position. This enables the thermal head to maintain secure contact with the platen roller even when the overall space in the thickness direction is reduced, as the turnable mechanism can compensate for limited space through controlled movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The urging member is positioned at the end portion of the head support plate in the width direction rather than solely in the thickness direction. This repositioning utilizes the width dimension to provide urging force, effectively pressing the thermal head against the platen roller while maintaining compactness in the thickness direction.
2Reliability
If the thermal head is pressed firmly against the platen roller, then printing reliability is improved, but the device requires more space in the thickness direction
Solution Approach 1:
The turnable head support plate allows the thermal head to be dynamically positioned to maintain firm contact with the platen roller. This dynamic capability enables reliable pressing without requiring excessive fixed space in the thickness direction, as the mechanism can adapt within the available space.
Solution Approach 2:
The urging member utilizes the width direction dimension to apply pressing force to the thermal head. By positioning the urging member at the end portion of the head support plate in the width direction, the system achieves firm pressing action while minimizing the required thickness, effectively transferring the pressing function to a different spatial dimension.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for effective downsizing of the thermal printer in the thickness direction while maintaining reliable contact between the thermal head and the platen roller, enhancing space efficiency and stability of the urging force, thus enabling a more compact portable terminal.
Implementation Method 1
the heating element of the thermal head is caused to generate heat as appropriate during a course of feeding the recording paper through rotation of the platen roller, thereby being capable of printing various information on the recording paper
Implementation Method 2
The platen roller is configured to feed the recording paper by nipping the recording paper with the thermal head
Implementation Method 3
An urging member configured to urge the thermal head against the platen roller is interposed between the frame and the head support plate. With this, the thermal head is pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the platen roller
Data Source
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AI summary
A thermal printer (1, 100) includes a platen roller (23), a thermal head (21) arranged so as to oppose to the platen roller (23), a head support plate (46, 101) configured to hold and fix the thermal head (21), a frame (31) including a roller support portion (38, 42) configured to support the platen roller (23) so as to be rotatable about a first direction, a turn support portion (72, 102) configured to support the head support plate (46, 101) so as to be turnable about the first direction, and an urging member (85) configured to urge the head support plate (46, 101) in a direction in which the thermal head (21) approaches the platen roller (23) about the first direction. The head support plate (46, 101) extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The thermal head (21) is fixed to an opposed surface of the head support plate (46, 101), which is in a first region (76) located on one side in the second direction with respect to the turn support portion (72, 102), and is opposed to the platen roller (23) in the first direction. The urging member (85) is interposed between the opposed surface of the head support plate (46, 101) in a second region (75), which is located on another side in the second direction with respect to the turn support portion (72, 102) and an urging member support portion (87) of the frame (31), which is opposed to the opposed surface in a third direction intersecting the second direction as viewed from the first direction.