Patent ID: 6798436
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
In a thermal printer closing apparatus, for a thermal printer provided with a fixed chassis portion (1), and a cover (2) therefore, the chassis supporting a thermal printer apparatus including a thermal printer head inside the chassis portion and the cover in its closed condition and a paper drive roll having an outside rubber surface (3a) and an inside steel shaft having ends (3b), said cover and said shaft ends being associated with each other, the rubber surface being molded on said steel shaft, and said shaft ends (3b) protruding on the two sides of the rubber surface, and the thermal printer includes a printing phase and a closing phase, and the closing apparatus comprises a housing seat (4) associated with said chassis for the steel shaft, said housing seat having a bottom with a level wall (4a) and a concave position;a method for prevention of damage to the thermal printer, comprising the steps of: closing the cover at the beginning of the closing phase of the cover (2) and moving the steel shaft ends (3b) and the paper drive roll (3) for movement of the steel shaft into the seat (4) and causing the thermal head (6) to rotate on a fulcrum (7) while the cover is closed and with the thermal printer (1) moved into its stand-by condition, and causing the paper drive roll (3) to penetrate into the housing seat (4), and the thermal head (6) rotates on its fulcrum (7) from a position lowering of the roll (3) and being pushed by the springs (8), for pressing the paper (5) between the paper drive roll (3) and the thermal head and moving the shaft ends (3b) to the concave portion; and rotating the paper drive roll (3) during the printing phase and as the paper drive roll (3) begins to rotate keeping itself in a printing position E, with the seat (4) and placed into operation by rotation of the paper drive roll (3).