IP Library Granted Patent US 11,491,801
Granted Patent B2
US 11,491,801 · App. 17/092,620 · Granted Nov 8, 2022

Thermal head for printer

Inventor: Kazuyuki Hoshi (Saitama, JP)
Assignee: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B41J2/3352B41J2/32B41J2/33515B41J2/33575
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,491,801
App. No.
17/092,620
Granted
Nov 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A printer includes a thermal head, an electrical connector capable of being connected to and disconnected from the thermal head, and a head cover of the thermal head. The head cover moves between a first position and a second position different from the first position to connect and disconnect the thermal head and the electrical connector.

Claims (38)

1. A thermal head for a printer, the thermal head comprising:

a heater element configured to print information;

a female electrical connector configured to mate with a male electrical connector; and

a connection unit limiter which projects from the thermal head to align the female electrical connector and the male electrical connector with each other.

2. A thermal head as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the connection unit limiter comprises:

a first limiter configured to be adjacent to a head bracket; and

a second limiter configured to mate with a portion of the male electrical connector.

3. A thermal head as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the connection unit limiter is screw-shaped in cross-section.

4. A thermal head as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the connection unit limiter comprises a narrow portion and a larger head portion.

5. A thermal head for a printer, the thermal head comprising:

a heater element configured to print information;

a female electrical connector configured to mate with a male electrical connector; and

two depressions configured to receive projections of a head bracket.

6. A thermal head as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the two depressions are configured to receive the projections such that the thermal head is held.

7. A thermal head for a printer, the thermal head comprising:

a heater element configured to print information;

a female electrical connector configured to mate with a male electrical connector; and

at least one depression configured to receive a projection of a head bracket.

8. A thermal head for a printer, the thermal head comprising:

a heater element configured to print information;

a female electrical connector configured to mate with a male electrical connector; and

two depressions configured to receive projections of a head bracket to restrict the thermal head from moving in a feeding direction of a print medium, a top portion of the two depressions being spaced from a top edge of the thermal head farther than the heater element is spaced from the top edge of the thermal head.

9. A thermal head for a printer, the thermal head comprising:

a heater element configured to print information;

a female electrical connector configured to mate with a male electrical connector; and

a groove on a top surface of the thermal head configured to be gripped by at least one of a finger, fingernail, thumb or thumbnail.

10. A thermal head for a printer, the thermal head comprising:

a heater element configured to print information;

a female electrical connector configured to mate with a male electrical connector; and

wherein a top surface of the thermal head is shaped to be gripped by at least one of a finger, fingernail, thumb or thumbnail.

11. A thermal head for a printer, the thermal head comprising:

a heater element spaced from a top edge of the thermal head and configured to print information;

a female electrical connector configured to mate with a male electrical connector;

a connection unit limiter which projects from the thermal head, from a center portion of the thermal head in a width direction, the connection unit limiter comprising a head portion configured to be adjacent to a head bracket and a narrow portion configured to mate with a portion which extends from the male electrical connector; and

two depressions configured to receive projections of the head bracket to restrict the thermal head from moving in a feeding direction of a print medium, each of the two depressions being outboard of the connection unit limiter in the width direction, a top portion of the two depressions being spaced from the top edge of the thermal head farther than the heater element is spaced from the top edge of the thermal head.

12. A thermal head as set forth in claim 11 , further comprising a groove on a top surface of the thermal head configured to be gripped by at least one of a finger, fingernail, thumb or thumbnail.

13. A thermal head as set forth in claim 11 , wherein a top surface of the thermal head is shaped to be gripped by at least one of a finger, fingernail, thumb or thumbnail.

14. A thermal head as set forth in claim 11 , further comprising two additional depressions configured to receive projections of the head bracket.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 1, 2025
From: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: SATO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072085/0034 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2022
From: HOSHI, KAZUYUKI
To: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 060096/0216 →
Continuity (2)
Division 15907890 · Feb 28, 2018
Related Publication 20210053366A1 · Feb 25, 2021