Patent ID: 6345886
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink transfer printer, comprising:a thermal line head comprising: (a) an electrically-insulated base member; and (b) a monolithic electrically-conductive pattern formed on a surface of said base member, said monolithic electrically-conductive pattern including a plurality of first electrode sections, a plurality of second electrode sections and a plurality of constrictions, each of said plurality of constrictions extending between one of said plurality of first electrode sections and a corresponding one of said plurality of second electrode sections, wherein a cross-sectional area of each of said plurality of constrictions is smaller than a cross-sectional area of a corresponding one of said plurality of first and second electrode sections, whereby each of said plurality of constrictions serves as an electric resistance element; a frame member, having an opening and provided on said thermal line head such that said electric resistance elements are encompassed by said opening of said frame member; and a film sheet that covers said frame member such that said opening of said frame member is defined as an ink space that stores ink, said film sheet including a plurality of fine pores arranged along an alignment of said electric resistance elements, at least one of said plurality of fine pores being allocated to and associated with each of said electric resistance elements, wherein, when each of said electric resistance elements is electrically energized to generate thermal energy, an ink drop is formed on said film sheet from a corresponding pore thereof, due to the generation of the thermal energy; and said film sheet is positioned with respect to said frame member such that each of said plurality of said pores is placed just above the corresponding one of said plurality of electric resistance elements.