Patent ID: 7042477
Filing Date: 2006-05-09
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A photo printer comprising: feeding means for feeding a rolled paper on which heat-sensitive color developing layers for yellow, magenta, and cyan are formed by a feeding motor; a thermal head changing a heat-sensitive temperature for each of the heat-sensitive color developing layers of the rolled paper which is fed by the feeding means, performing heat-sensitive recording and forming an image; a magenta fixing lamp for fixing an image formed by the thermal head on the heat-sensitive magenta color developing layer a yellow fixing lamp for fixing an image formed by the thermal head on the heat-sensitive yellow color developing layer; wherein the thermal head, the magenta fixing lamp, the yellow fixing lamp being disposed in order in the rolled paper discharging direction, a shutter movably disposed between the yellow and magenta fixing lamps and the rolled paper and limiting an area of the rolled paper to be exposed; and shutter moving means for transmitting a drive force of the feeding motor to the shutter and moving the shutter in the same direction as a feeding direction of the rolled paper; wherein while the shutter is positioned above the yellow fixing lamp in fixing the image formed on the heat-sensitive yellow color developing layer, the shutter moves together with the rolled paper in case that the rolled paper is retracted to a main body of the photo printer and a rear end of an image forming area of this time is positioned in the vicinity of the distal end of the shutter, movement locking means for restricting the shutter from moving when the drive force to move the shutter in a direction from the yellow fixing lamp toward the magenta fixing lamp is transmitted to the shutter by the shutter moving means in a first state in which the shutter is positioned above the yellow fixing lamp; and cutting means disposed between the thermal head and the magenta fixing lamp for moving a cutting edge of a cutter widthwise of the rolled paper to cut the rolled paper; and a stopper for limiting the range of movement of the shutter, wherein the movement locking means switched into the locking state in which the movement of the shutter is restricted when the position of the cutting edge of the cutting means is at a specific position, and switched into the unlocking state when the cutting edge is other positions.