Patent ID: 6050184
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A device for thermally perforating a thermosensitive stencil moving in a subscanning direction in accordance with an image signal to thereby make a master, said device comprising:a conductive platen roller having at least a circumferential surface thereof formed of a conductive material;a thermal head including a plurality of heating elements arranged in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the subscanning direction, said plurality of heating elements being selectively energized in accordance with the image signal to thereby thermally perforate the thermosensitive stencil;opening/closing means for selectively opening and closing a current path to thereby connect said plurality of heating elements to ground; andcontrol means for causing said opening/closing means to close said current path of said plurality of heating elements during master making and to open said current path when the master making is not under way;a pressure canceling mechanism for selectively moving said thermal head and said platen roller into and out of contact with each other, wherein said pressure canceling mechanism maintains said thermal head spaced from the thermosensitive stencil so as to prevent contact between said thermal head and said thermosensitive stencil.