Thermal printer with shutter ribbon end detector

Abstract

A printer, such as a thermal printer, which can print on a paper, etc. The printer comprises: a supply core; a print ribbon which is wound onto the supply core; a paper which is put together with the print ribbon which is supplied from said supply core; a print head which is mounted facing a platen and prints on the paper by using said print ribbon when said paper put together with the print ribbon passes between the print head and the platen; a take-up core which pulls off the printed paper and takes up said print ribbon; a tension member which is in contact with said print ribbon between said supply core and said take-up core and biases the print ribbon in the direction to give tension and which can be rotated in the retracted direction against said biasing force by the ribbon feed force when said print ribbon having one end fastened to said supply core runs out; a shutter member which is supported with the tension member and maintained at the non-detecting position with said print ribbon when there is the print ribbon between said supply core and said take-up core and which can be moved to the detecting position when the print ribbon runs out; and a sensor which operates with a shutter member moved to the detecting position, operates with said tension member rotated in the retracted direction, and detects the ribbon end.