background image

2

Ultra Compact Thermal Printers

MARKET TREND OF THERMAL
PRINTERS

The features of a thermal printer are high-speed
printing, high quality image printing, low noise and
maintenance free.  Since paper price, storage,
quality and the characteristics of thermo-sensitive
paper have been improving, thermal line printers
are being used for various equipment, including
POS and ECR distribution terminals issuing
receipts, and ATM and CD banking terminals, as
well as for journal printers, ticket issuing machines,
and measurement and medical equipment.  As
information equipment and distribution terminals
become compact and mobile, more compact and
more advanced functions are demanded of printers
mounted on this equipment with batteries or with
adapters.  Also easy paper setting and better
operability are demanded.

Fujitsu Components' has been including battery-
driven type printers for compact information
terminals, such as hand-held terminals, in a series.
However to meet the above mentioned demands,
we commercialized the new more compact FTP-
628 product series.  These are battery-driven ultra-
compact thermal printers built into compact and
high functioning equipment.  In order to improve
operability despite the ultra-compact size, we used
our unique platen release mechanism where a
wide route paper path can be secured.

We will introduce the new platen release
mechanism used in the FTP-628 series.

BASIC CONFIGURATION AND
OPERATION THEORY OF THERMAL
PRINTERS

A thermal printer is basically comprised of a
thermal head, which prints by generating heat, a
platen (rubber roller), which feeds paper, and a
head-pressure spring, which presses the thermal
head to the thermo-sensitive paper.  For printing,
thermo-sensitive paper is inserted between the
thermal head and platen, and the head pressure
spring presses the thermal head to the thermo-
sensitive paper.  Current is supplied to the heating
resistor of the thermal head to generate heat.  This

heat colors the thermal coloring layer of the thermo-
sensitive paper and prints data.  This method of
printing is called “thermo-sensitive (direct type)”.

Using this thermo-sensitive type method, when one
dot line (one row in the width direction of paper) of
printing completes, the platen rotates to feed the
paper, and printing continues to the next dot line.
Therefore this system is called a “thermal line type”.

Thermo-sensitive coloring layer

Coloring part

Thermo-sensitive paper

Thermal Head

Head Pressure 
Spring

Printing Surface

Platen

Thermo-
sensitive
Paper

Fig.3: Thermal System

Summary of Contents for FTP-628 Series

Page 1: ...gh speed and high quality printing High quality images can be printed at high speed because of a line dot system where printing is performed in one line units by a fixed print head 4 Maintenance free Such consumables as ribbon tape ink and toner are unnecessary Thermo sensitive paper alone is required FTP 628 SERIES Character configuration Printing mechanism and type Printing unit Intended use Pri...

Page 2: ...uipment In order to improve operability despite the ultra compact size we used our unique platen release mechanism where a wide route paper path can be secured We will introduce the new platen release mechanism used in the FTP 628 series BASIC CONFIGURATION AND OPERATION THEORY OF THERMAL PRINTERS A thermal printer is basically comprised of a thermal head which prints by generating heat a platen r...

Page 3: ...thermal head the platen can be moved away from the thermal head Because of this design the space for a paper route is increased and operation to pass paper to the paper route became easier Because of this front face operation a lever at the side face of the printer is unnecessary which makes the printer compact When paper is set Motor Space for paper to pass Paper route Head up operation At normal...

Page 4: ...e is a wide space for the paper route despite the ultra compact shape making paper insertion much easier Conventional auto loading can also be supported Two types of paper routes Two types of paper routes are available in order to be easily mounted in various equipment Easy mounting Since the wires of the head motor and sensor are collectively housed in one flexible cable and the mechanism can be ...

Page 5: ...ica Fujitsu Components America Inc 250 E Caribbean Drive Sunnyvale CA 94089 U S A Tel 1 408 745 4900 Fax 1 408 745 4970 Email marcom fcai fujitsu com Web www fcai fujitsu com Europe Fujitsu Components Europe B V Diamantlaan 25 2132 WV Hoofddorp Netherlands Tel 31 23 5560910 Fax 31 23 5560950 Email info marketing fceu fujitsu com Web www fceu fujitsu com Asia Pacific Fujitsu Components Asia Ltd 102...

Reviews: