Head cleaning method and device for thermal printer, and recording sheet roll for the same

A head cleaning method of cleaning a thermal head of a thermal printer, said thermal printer being capable of a precutting operation, said head cleaning method comprising the steps of:

• setting a recording sheet roll in said thermal printer, said recording sheet roll including a continuous recording sheet wound in a roll form, and a cleaning region defined at a front edge portion of said continuous recording sheet;
• feeding said cleaning region of said continuous recording sheet from said recording sheet roll to a cutter, said thermal head being kept pressed on said cleaning region while said continuous recording sheet is fed, to clean said thermal head;
• and
• precutting away said cleaning region with said cutter.

A thermal printer capable of a precutting operation, comprising:

• a roll loading station for being loaded with one of a recording sheet roll and a cleaning sheet roll, said recording sheet roll including a continuous recording sheet wound in a roll form, said cleaning sheet roll including a continuous cleaning sheet wound in a roll form;
• a feeder for feeding said continuous recording sheet or said continuous cleaning sheet from said roll loading station;
• a determiner for determining a roll type at said roll loading station by reading discernment information with which said recording sheet roll and said cleaning sheet roll are determined;
• a shifter, actuated if said cleaning sheet roll is determined, for keeping said thermal head pressed on said continuous cleaning sheet while said continuous cleaning sheet is fed, to clean said thermal head;
• and
• a cutter for precutting away a front edge portion of said continuous recording sheet or said continuous cleaning sheet set in a cutting position downstream from said thermal head.

A thermal printer capable of a precutting operation, comprising:

• a roll loading station for being loaded with a recording sheet roll, said recording sheet roll including a continuous recording sheet wound in a roll form, and a cleaning region defined at a front edge portion of said continuous recording sheet for cleaning a thermal head;
• a feeder for feeding said continuous recording sheet from said roll loading station;
• a shifter for keeping said thermal head pressed on said cleaning region while said continuous recording sheet is fed, to clean said thermal head;
• and
• a cutter for precutting away said cleaning region set in a cutting position downstream from said thermal head.