Thermal printer

A thermal printer for printing on a recording medium adapted to travel along a path through the thermal printer, the thermal printer comprising:

• a frame;
• a thermal print head supported by the frame, the thermal print head comprising:
• a radiation plate having a reference surface;
• and
• a substrate attached to the reference surface of the radiation plate, the substrate having a printing side surface carrying printing elements;
• a cover supported by the frame, the cover being movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the frame;
• an elastomeric platen roller rotatably supported by the cover, the path of travel of the recording medium passing between the platen roller and the printing side surface of the substrate, the elastomeric platen roller having an outer surface;
• resilient means for urging the thermal print head and the elastomeric platen roller relatively toward each other to form a contact area between the outer surface of the elastomeric platen roller and the printing side surface of the substrate when the cover is in the closed position, said contact area having a first length in the direction of travel of the recording medium;
• and wherein:
• the radiation plate has a platen roller receiving surface for intercepting the elastomeric platen roller as the cover is moved to the closed position, the platen roller receiving surface comprising an area having a second length in the direction of travel of the recording medium, the second length being greater than the first length.

A thermal printer for printing on a recording medium adapted to travel along a path through the thermal printer, the thermal printer comprising:

• a frame;
• a thermal print head supported by the frame, the thermal print head carrying a row of printing elements;
• a cover hinged to the frame, the cover being movable between an open position and a closed position;
• an elastomeric platen roller rotatably supported by the cover, the thermal print head and the platen roller being relatively resiliently biased toward each other to urge the printing elements carried by the thermal print head into contact with a recording medium disposed between the thermal print head and the platen roller when the cover is in the closed position;
• and
• the thermal print head including a platen roller receiving surface positioned to intercept the elastomeric platen roller during movement of the cover to the closed position, the roller receiving surface having a contact area distributing the force exerted by the elastomeric platen roller against the thermal print head during the closing movement of the cover, and in which
• the thermal print head has a rear printing side, a front side and an upper extremity:
• the roller receiving surface is a substantially planar surface sloping from the rear side of the thermal print head toward the front side and the upper extremity thereof;
• and
• the thermal print head further defines a convex transition surface adjacent the rear side, the roller receiving surface blending into the convex transition surface.

A thermal printer for printing on a recording medium adapted to travel along a path through the thermal printer, the thermal printer comprising:

• a frame;
• a thermal print head supported by the frame, the thermal print head carrying a row of printing elements;
• a cover hinged to the frame, the cover being movable between an open position and a closed position;
• an elastomeric platen roller rotatable supported by the cover, the thermal print head and the platen roller being relatively resiliently biased toward each other to urge the printing elements carried by the thermal print head into contact with a recording medium disposed between the thermal print head and the platen roller when the cover is in the closed position;
• and
• the thermal print head including a platen roller receiving surface positioned to intercept the elastomeric platen roller during movement of the cover to the closed position, the roller receiving surface having a contact area distributing the force exerted by the elastomeric platen roller against the thermal print head during the closing movement of the cover and in which the thermal print head includes:
• a transversely extending radiator plate having a reference surface, the reference surface confronting the elastomeric platen roller when the cover is in the closed position, the radiator plate having an upper portion including the platen roller receiving surface;
• and
• a substrate mounted on the reference surface of the radiator plate, the printing elements being carried by the substrate, the substrate having an upper extremity adjacent the upper portion of the radiator plate, the substrate further having a thickness, the upper portion of the radiator plate including a projection extending forwardly of the reference surface of the radiator plate a distance at least approximately equal to the thickness of the substrate, the projection including an outer surface merging with the roller receiving surface.