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US 4,819,011 AGranted
Thermal printer temperature regulation system
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Sato
InventorYuji Yokota
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temperature regulator is provided in a thermal printer to maintain reliable and consistent printing quality. The temperature regulator is constructed to either remove heat generated during the printing process from the printing area and/or from the printer itself or to supply heat as needed to maintain a constant temperature. The temperature regulator is formed of a heat pipe and a thermoelectric transducer with a common controller.
Claims25
A thermal printer in combination with a temperature regulating device, comprising:
- a thermal printing zone having a thermal print head in the thermal printer;
- heat transfer means disposed relative to the thermal printing zone in a manner which is effective for controlling the temperature in the thermal printing zone, the heat transfer means including a heat pipe and a thermoelectric transducer;
- and
- control means for controlling the heat transfer means in a manner such that initially, when the thermal printer is turned on, heat is applied to the printing zone and when the temperature at the printing zone has risen to a predetermined level, the heat transfer means is controlled to cool and regulate the temperature at the printing zone to the predetermined level.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.