JP3425335B2 - Thermal printer head mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head mechanism of a thermal printer in which a plurality of types of thermal heads are exchangeably mounted. 2. Description of the Related Art One of conventional head mechanisms of a thermal printer will be described with reference to FIG. A head bracket 1 is supported in a printer main body (not shown), and a thermal head 2 is fixed to the head bracket 1 with screws 3. A harness 4 is pulled out from the thermal head 2, and a head connector 5 is provided at a tip of the harness 4. The head connector 5 is connected to a main connector 7 provided on a main board 6 installed in the printer body. [0005] There are various types of thermal heads 2 such as those having different dot densities, those capable of high-speed printing, and those having different printing widths. Accordingly, the structure of the head connector 5, for example,
The number of connector pins is different. If the structure of the head connector 5 is different, the structure of the main connector 7 to which the head connector 5 can be connected is also limited. The main board 6 is provided with only one type of main connector 7.
It is assumed that only one type of thermal head 2 is used. For this reason, after purchasing this thermal printer, even if it is desired to use another thermal head of a different type, for example, a thermal head having a high dot density and high printing quality, the thermal head 2 is removed and the type of the thermal head is removed. It cannot be replaced with another different thermal head. On the side of manufacturing a thermal printer, a plurality of types of thermal printers having different types of thermal heads mounted thereon, for example, a thermal printer having a high dot density, a thermal printer capable of high-speed printing,
Like a thermal printer that can perform narrow printing,
Since a plurality of types of thermal printers are manufactured, the manufacturing cost of each thermal printer increases. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a head mechanism of a thermal printer to which any one of various types of thermal heads can be selectively attached. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head mechanism of a thermal printer, comprising: a head bracket on which any one of a plurality of types of thermal heads is detachable;
An intermediate board having a plurality of types of intermediate connectors to which a head connector provided at a tip portion of a harness pulled out from the thermal head is selectively connected, and a main board connected to the intermediate board via a harness. Have.
Therefore, when the thermal head attached to the head bracket is replaced with a different type, the head connector provided at the tip of the harness drawn out of the thermal head is replaced with a plurality of types of intermediate connectors on the intermediate substrate. Of those, the connection structure that matches the head connector is selected and connected. With this, even when the thermal head attached to the head bracket is replaced with a different type, the drive signal from the main board is sent to the thermal head via the intermediate board, and different types of thermal printers are used in one thermal printer. Various thermal heads can be used. An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A head bracket 8 is supported in a printer main body (not shown).
Are formed with a plurality of mounting holes 9, and a thermal head 11 is fixed to the head bracket 8 by screws 10 inserted into these mounting holes 9. It should be noted that other thermal heads of different types can be fixed to the head bracket 8 instead of the thermal head 11, and the fixing of the thermal head 11 or another thermal head to the head bracket 8 is performed by the thermal heads. Using a mounting hole 9 formed at a position suitable for fixing the mounting hole. An intermediate board 12 and a main board 13 are mounted in the printer body. Intermediate substrate 12
Has a plurality of types of intermediate connectors 14a having different structures,
An intermediate connector 14b for connecting the intermediate board 12 and the main board 13 is provided. Intermediate connector 14
b and the main connector 1 provided on the main board 13
5 is connected by a harness 16. From the thermal head 11, a harness 1 is provided.
7 is pulled out, and a head connector 18 is provided at the tip of the harness 17. Head connector 18
Are connected by selecting one of the intermediate connectors 14a whose connection structure matches the head connector 18. In addition, the thermal head 11
Is removed and replaced with another thermal head of a different type, the head connector of the harness pulled out from the thermal head is selected from the intermediate connectors 14a whose connection structure matches the head connector. Connect with. In the intermediate board 12, an intermediate connector 14b connected to the main board 13 by a harness 16 and another intermediate connector 14a are electrically connected. In such a configuration, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the thermal head 1 fixed to the head bracket 8 is used.
Head connector 18 of harness 17 pulled out from 1
Are connected to an intermediate connector 14 a provided on the intermediate board 12, and the intermediate connector 14 b provided on the intermediate board 12 and the main connector 15 of the main board 13 are connected to a harness 16.
And the middle connectors 14a and 14b are electrically connected. Therefore, a drive signal for the thermal head 11 is sent from the main substrate 13 to the thermal head 11 via the intermediate substrate 12, and printing is performed by the thermal head 11. Next, the thermal head 11 used in the state shown in FIG. 1 can be replaced with another thermal head of a different type, for example, a thermal head having a high dot density. This replacement is performed by removing the thermal head 11 from the head bracket 8 by removing the screw 10 and tightening another thermal head to the head bracket 8 with the screw 10 using the mounting hole 9 that matches the thermal head. From the head bracket 8 to the thermal head 1
In the case where the head connector is removed and another type of thermal head is replaced with the head bracket 8, the connection structure of the head connector of the harness pulled out from the thermal head is matched with that of the intermediate connector 14a. And connect it. Thus, even when the thermal head 11 or another type of thermal head is attached to the head bracket 8, a drive signal can be sent from the main substrate 13 to these thermal heads to perform printing. Accordingly, a consumer who has purchased one thermal printer can replace the thermal head with a different type as necessary, such as replacing the thermal head with a different dot density or printing speed. Can be replaced with a faster thermal head, or can be replaced with a thermal head with a narrower printing width, and the versatility of the thermal head can be increased. On the side of manufacturing a thermal printer, a thermal printer having the same structure may be manufactured, and a thermal head according to a demand of a user may be attached to the thermal printer. Can be brought down. According to the head mechanism of the thermal printer according to the first aspect of the present invention, any one of a plurality of types of thermal heads is detachably attached to the head bracket, and the head bracket is pulled out from the thermal head. Since it has an intermediate substrate having a plurality of types of intermediate connectors to which a head connector provided at the tip of the harness is selectively connected, and a main substrate connected to the intermediate substrate via a harness, it is attached to a head bracket. If the thermal head is replaced with a different type of thermal head, replace the head connector of the harness drawn out of the thermal head with one of the intermediate connectors provided on the intermediate board whose connection structure matches the head connector. Just select and connect, different types in one thermal printer Various thermal heads can be used, and the versatility of the thermal printer can be improved. Further, on the side of manufacturing the thermal head, it is only necessary to manufacture a thermal printer having the same structure and attach the thermal head according to the demand of the user at the time of shipment, so that the manufacturing cost of the thermal printer can be greatly reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one conventional example of a head mechanism of a thermal printer. [Description of Signs] 8 Head bracket 11 Thermal head 12 Intermediate board 13 Main board 14a Intermediate connector 16 Harness 17 Harness 18 Head connector

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/01 B41J 2/045-2/055 B41J 2/235-2/25 B41J 2/26-2/295 B41J 2 / 32-2/345 B41J 2/44-2/455 B41J 3/44 B41J 3/54 B41J 25/34 B41J 29/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] A head bracket on which any one of a plurality of types of thermal heads is detachable and a head connector provided at a tip end of a harness drawn out from the thermal head are selected. A head mechanism for a thermal printer, comprising: an intermediate substrate having a plurality of types of intermediate connectors that are electrically connected to each other; and a main substrate connected to the intermediate substrate via a harness.