Tokyo Electric Co.

Akio Yamamoto

Ikuzo Sugiura

Satoshi Kitahara

Kazuaki Sugimoto

A label printer includes a body frame and a separating device for separating printed lables from a base. The separating device is detachably mounted on first and second mounting shafts attached to the body frame. The separating device includes a supporting shaft, a pair of supporting members mounted on the opposite end portions of the supporting shaft, and a pair of hook members rotatably mounted on the supporting shaft. Each supporting member has a supporting surface and a engaging recess. The first mounting shaft is removably fitted to the engaging recesses so that the supporting members are rotatable about the first mounting shaft between an off position and a holding position wherein each supporting surface contacts the second mounting shaft so that the supporting member is held between the mounting shafts. Each hook member has a hook portion which engages the second mounting portion to lock the supporting member in its hold position. A separating frame is rotatably mounted on the supporting shaft and supports a separating roller.

Label printer

A thermal printer includes a ribbon supply device for running a transfer ribbon through a printing section. The device includes a ribbon unit and a ribbon drive section which are removably mounted on a head supporting frame of the printing section. The ribbon unit includes a supply shaft on which the ribbon is wound, a take-up shaft for take-up the ribbon drawn from the supply shaft, a tension shaft, and a ribbon drive shaft. The supply and tension shafts are arranged to be symmetrical to the take-up and ribbon drive shafts, respectively, about an imaginary plane which extends between the supply shaft and the take-up shaft and between the tension shaft and the ribbon drive shaft, in parallel with these shafts, so that the unit is capable of being remounted on the head supporting frame while the unit is turned through 180 degrees.

Thermal printer with removable ribbon unit

A thermal printer includes a support frame and a head frame supported by the support frame. A line thermal head is attached to the head frame. A platen unit is mounted on the support frame and includes a platen roller opposing the thermal head and a pair of support members supporting both ends of the platen roller. The support members are arranged to be rotatable so that the platen roller is movable between a contact position where the roller contacts the thermal head and a separate position where the roller is set apart from the thermal head. A pressing mechanism is provided on the platen unit so as to press the platen roller onto the thermal head at a predetermined pressure.

Growing community of inventors

Mishima, Japan

Akio Yamamoto