Patent ID: 7073962
Filing Date: 2006-07-11
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A thermal-transfer printer comprising: a platen roller that conveys a sheet; a thermal head that thermally transfers ink from an ink sheet onto the sheet; a pair of head attaching arms that are made of metal and support the thermal head, the head attaching arms being arranged to extend in a direction along a direction of conveying the sheet and made to be able to deform to bend elastically; and supporting shafts that pivotally support the pair of head attaching arms, wherein each of the pair of head attaching arms includes: a head attaching portion provided on one end of the head attaching arm for attaching the thermal head; and a supporting shaft attaching portion provided on other end of the head attaching arm, the supporting shaft attaching portion having fitting holes into which the respective supporting shafts are inserted, the fitting holes having center lines being inclined to axis lines of the supporting shafts by a predetermined inclination angle, and being formed by the pair of head attaching arms being bent with bending lines that intersect with lines connecting the fitting holes and a printing position of the thermal head, wherein the supporting shaft attaching portions are attached to the supporting shafts in a state of being elastically bent in directions opposed to each other such that the predetermined inclination angle of the center lines of the fitting holes relative to the axis lines of the supporting shafts are reduced, and wherein a diameter of the respective fitting holes is configured to be such that a width of a region for inserting the supporting shaft in view from a direction of inserting the supporting shaft in a state in which the head attaching arm being not bent, is smaller than a diameter of the supporting shaft.