Thermal activation device for heat-sensitive self-adhesive sheet and a printer using the same

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a thermal activation device for heat-sensitive self-adhesive sheet and a printer employing the same, the heat-sensitive self-adhesive sheet which comprises a sheet-like substrate formed with a heat-sensitive adhesive layer on one side thereof normally presenting a non-adhesion property but developing an adhesion property when heated, and which is used as, for example, a peel-and-stick self-adhesive label. More particularly, the invention relates to a cleaning technique for removing a heat-sensitive adhesive mass and its metamorphosed products.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#For a more better understanding of the present invention, reference is made of a detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of a thermal activation device according to the invention and a thermal printer employing the same;

#FIG. 2 is an enlarged view explanatory of a principal part of the thermal activation device;

#Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of a thermal activation device according to the invention and a thermal printer 10 using the same. The thermal printer 10 comprises a roll container unit 20 for holding a heat-sensitive self-adhesive label 60 in the form of a tape wound into a roll; a printing unit 30 for printing the heat-sensitive self-adhesive label 60; a cutter unit 40 for cutting the heat-sensitive self-adhesive label 60 in a predetermined length; and a thermal activation unit 50 as the thermal activation device for thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive layer of the heat-sensitive self-adhesive label 60.

#Although the structure of the heat-sensitive self-adhesive label 60 used in the embodiment is not particularly limited, the label 60 may have a structure, for example, wherein a heat insulating layer and a heat-sensitive color developing layer are formed on a front surface (printable surface) of a label substrate whereas the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is formed on a back surface of the substrate by applying a heat-sensitive adhesive mass thereto followed by drying. It is noted that the heat-sensitive adhesive layer comprises a heat-sensitive adhesive mass based on a thermoplastic resin, a solid plastic resin or the like. The heat-sensitive self-adhesive label 60 may obviate the aforesaid heat insulating layer or may further include a protective layer or a colored print layer (previously printed layer) overlaid on the heat-sensitive color developing layer.