Patent ID: 6795103
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A thermal printer comprising:a thermally activating apparatus for a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet including at least an activating thermal head for heating to activate a heat-sensitive adhesive layer of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet having a printable plane on one side of a sheet-like substrate and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer on the other side thereof, and a transfer means for transferring the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in a designated direction; a printing thermal head for performing thermal printing onto the printable plane of the sheet-like substrate; a power-consumption estimating means for estimating first electric power consumption required for driving the printing thermal head and second electric power consumption required for driving the activating thermal head of the thermally activating apparatus; a supply-power setting means for setting first electric power that can be supplied to the printing thermal head and second electric power that can be supplied to the activating thermal head within the allowable power range on the basis of the first electric power consumption and the second electric power consumption estimated by the power-consumption estimating means; and an energization control means for energizing the printing thermal head and the activating thermal head on the basis of the first electric power and the second electric power set by the supply-power setting means.