Thermal-transfer printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10532583-B2
Application number	US-201816163744-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2018
Priority date	Oct 20, 2017
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

A thermal-transfer printer, having a case, an ink ribbon supporting member, a movable member, a head holder, and an arm, is provided. When the movable member is at a first position, a first engageable portion in the head holder and a second engageable portion in the arm are separated. When the movable member is in transition from a first position to a second position, the first engageable portion and the second engageable portion contact each other, and the arm moves in conjunction with the movable member from a third position to a fourth position. A minimum distance between the first engageable portion and the movable member when the arm is at the fourth position is shorter than a minimum distance between those when the first engageable portion and the second engageable portion contact each other while the movable member is in transition from the first position to the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thermal-transfer printer, comprising:
a case comprising an opening on an upper side thereof, the case being configured to store at least a part of a printing medium;
an ink ribbon supporting member, to which an ink ribbon is attachable, the ink ribbon supporting member being attached to an interior of the case;
a movable member pivotably attached to one of the case and the ink ribbon supporting member, the movable member being configured to move between a first position and a second position, the first position being closer to the case, and the second position being farther from the case than the first position;
a head holder pivotably attached to the movable member, the head holder being configured to support a thermal head to heat the ink ribbon on one side thereof, the head holder comprising a first engageable portion at a position in proximity to the thermal head on the one side thereof; and
an arm pivotably attached to one of the case and the ink ribbon supporting member, the arm being pivotable to move from a third position to a fourth position in response to the movable member moving from the first position to the second position, the arm comprising a second engageable portion engageable with the first engageable portion in the head holder,
wherein, under a condition where the movable member is at the first position, the first engageable portion and the second engageable portion are separated;
wherein, under a condition where the movable member is in transition from the first position to the second position, the first engageable portion and the second engageable portion contact each other, and the arm moves in conjunction with the movable member from the third position to the fourth position with the first engageable portion and the second engageable portion maintained in contact with each other; and
wherein a minimum distance between the first engageable portion and the movable member under a condition where the arm is at the fourth position is shorter than a minimum distance between the first engageable portion and the movable member when the first engageable portion and the second engageable portion contact each other under the condition where the movable member is in transition from the first position to the second position.

2. The thermal-transfer printer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first engageable portion in the head holder is located at a position between a location of the thermal head and a pivot axis for the head holder.

3. The thermal-transfer printer according to claim 2 ,
wherein the second engageable portion comprises a recessed portion, at which the first engageable portion is engageable with the second engageable portion.

4. The thermal-transfer printer according to claim 2 ,
wherein, under the condition where the movable member is at the first position, a heating surface of the thermal head faces downward, and under the condition where the arm is at the fourth position and when the first engageable portion in the head holder is engaged with the second engageable portion in the arm, the heating surface of the thermal head faces toward the movable member.

5. The thermal-transfer printer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the case comprises:
a first case comprising a first opening on an upper side thereof, the first case being configured to store at least a part of the printing medium; and
a second case located on the upper side of the first case, the second case being attached movably to the first case to open and close the first opening, the second case comprising a second opening on an upper side thereof under a condition where the second case closes the first opening and a third opening on a lower side thereof under the condition where the second case closes the first opening,

wherein the movable member is a cover to close the second opening in the second case under the condition where the movable member is at the first position, and
wherein the ink ribbon supporting member is attached to one of the first case and the second case.

6. The thermal-transfer printer according to claim 5 ,
wherein the ink ribbon supporting member is removably attached to the one of the first case and the second case.

7. The thermal-transfer printer according to claim 5 , wherein the ink ribbon supporting member is fixed immovably to the one of the first case and the second case.

8. The thermal-transfer printer according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a restrictive member configured to restrict the arm from moving from the third position in a direction opposite to the fourth position.

9. The thermal-transfer printer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the case comprises:
a first case comprising an opening on an upper side thereof, the first case being configured to store at least a part of the printing medium; and
a second case located on the upper side of the first case, the second case being attached movably to the first case to open and close the opening in the first case, the second case comprising a lower opening on a lower side thereof under a condition where the second case closes the opening in the first case,

wherein the ink ribbon supporting member is one of movably and immovably attached to the first case,
wherein the movable member is a head arm pivotably attached to one of the first case, the second case, and the ink ribbon supporting member.

10. The thermal-transfer printer according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a restrictive member configured to restrict the arm from moving from the third position in a direction opposite to the fourth position.

11. The thermal-transfer printer according to claim 1 ,
wherein the ink ribbon is stored in a cartridge case, the cartridge case being attachable to the ink ribbon supporting member, and
wherein the movable member is configured to contact the cartridge case attached to the ink ribbon supporting member under a condition where the arm is at the third position.

12. The thermal-transfer printer according to claim 11 ,
wherein, under a condition where the movable member is at the second position, the head holder is located to be closer to a pivot axis for the movable member than an end of one of the ink ribbon attached to the ink ribbon supporting member and the cartridge case, the end being closer to the pivot axis for the movable member in a direction orthogonal to the pivot axis.

13. A thermal-transfer printer, comprising:
a case comprising an opening on an upper side thereof, the case being configured to store at least a part of a printing medium;
an ink ribbon supporting member, to which an ink ribbon is attachable, the ink ribbon supporting member being attached to an interior of the case;
a movable member pivotably attached to one of the case and the ink ribbon supporting member, the movable member being configured to move between a first position and a second position, the first position being closer to the case, and the second position being farther from the case than the first position;
a head holder pivotably attached to the movable member, the head holder being configured to support a thermal head to heat the ink ribbon on one side thereof, the head holder comprising a first engageable portion at a position in proximity to the thermal head on the one side thereof; and
an arm pivotably attached to one of the case and the ink ribbon supporting member, the arm being pivotable to move from a third position to a fourth position in response to the movable member moving from the first position to the second position, the arm comprising a second engageable portion engageable with the first engageable portion in the head holder,

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Tanizaki Masashi
• Narumiya Yasuyuki

Classifications

• B41J33/02

  Ribbon arrangements · CPC title

• B41J2/325 Primary

  by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet · CPC title

• B41J32/00

  Ink-ribbon cartridges · CPC title

• B41J2/335

  Structure of thermal heads · CPC title

• B41J29/13

  Cases or covers · CPC title