US 12,466,194 B2
Thermal printer
Yoji Sato, Izunokuni Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/339,968.
Prior Publication US 2024/0424807 A1, Dec. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. B41J 2/365 (2006.01); B41J 2/32 (2006.01); B41J 2/325 (2006.01); B41J 2/335 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/365 (2013.01) [B41J 2/32 (2013.01); B41J 2/325 (2013.01); B41J 2/335 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermal printer configured to form an image on a medium by a thermal head using a belt-shaped ink ribbon, the thermal head having a heat generating element, the printer comprising:
a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the thermal head;
a switch configured to switch the thermal head between a head down state and a head up state, wherein in the head down state the thermal head is configured to form an image on the medium and in the head up state the thermal head is separated from the medium;
a winding shaft configured to wind the ink ribbon by rotating the ink ribbon in one direction after the image is formed on the medium;
an unwinding shaft configured to support the ink ribbon in a releasable manner before the image is formed on the medium;
a winding sensor configured to measure a diameter of the ink ribbon in a roller shape wound around the winding shaft; and
a processor configured to:
determine whether a measurement temperature measured by the temperature sensor is less than a predetermined temperature threshold,
cause the heat generating element to generate heat by switching the thermal head to the head up state by the switch, when the measurement temperature is less than the temperature threshold, and
separate the belt-shaped ink ribbon and the thermal head from each other by rotating at least one of the winding shaft or the unwinding shaft so that the ink ribbon is loosened based on a measurement result of the winding sensor when the thermal head is in the head up state.
 
10. A method of operating a thermal printer, the thermal printer configured to form an image on a medium by a thermal head using a belt-shaped ink ribbon, the thermal head having a heat generating element, the method comprising:
supporting, by an unwinding shaft, the ink ribbon in a releasable manner before the image is formed on the medium;
winding, by a winding shaft, the ink ribbon by rotating the ink ribbon in one direction after the image is formed on the medium;
measuring a temperature of the thermal head via a temperature sensor;
measuring a diameter of the ink ribbon in a roller shape wound around the winding shaft;
switching the thermal head between a head down state and a head up state, wherein in the head down state the thermal head is configured to form an image on the medium and in the head up state the thermal head is separated from the medium by rotating at least one of the winding shaft or the unwinding shaft to loosen the belt-shaped ink ribbon based on a measurement result of the winding sensor;
determining whether a measurement temperature measured by the temperature sensor is less than a predetermined temperature threshold; and
causing the heat generating element to generate heat by switching the thermal head to a head up state when the measurement temperature is less than the temperature threshold.
 
14. A thermal printer configured to form an image on a medium, the printer comprising:
a thermal head including a heat generating element;
an ink ribbon;
a motor configured to control a tension on the ink ribbon;
a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the thermal head;
a winding shaft configured to wind the ink ribbon by rotating the ink ribbon in one direction after the image is formed on the medium;
an unwinding shaft configured to support the ink ribbon in a releasable manner before the image is formed on the medium;
a winding sensor configured to measure a diameter of the ink ribbon in a roller shape wound around the winding shaft;
a switch configured to switch the thermal head between a head down state and a head up state, wherein in the head down state the thermal head is configured to form an image on the medium and in the head up state the thermal head is separated from the medium; and
a processor configured to:
determine whether a measurement temperature measured by the temperature sensor is less than a predetermined temperature threshold, and
in response to a determination that the measurement temperature is less than the temperature threshold, both (a) control the switch to switch the thermal head to the head up state and (b) control the motor based on a measurement result of the winding sensor to separate the ink ribbon from the thermal head by rotating at least one of the winding shaft or the unwinding shaft to reduce the tension on the ink ribbon.