US 7,321,376 B2
Thermal printer
Dong-Hun Han, Suwon-si (Korea, Republic of)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do (Korea, Republic of)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/247,266.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2004-0086548 (KR), filed on Oct. 28, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2006/0092261 A1, May 04, 2006
Int. Cl. B41J 2/32 (2006.01); B41J 3/60 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 347—171 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermal printer for a print medium having first and second surfaces opposite to one another, the thermal printer including a rotating unit rotatably installed within a frame, comprising:
a recording head which forms an image on the print medium by heating the first surface or a second surface according to a location to which the recording head is rotated; and
a support member arranged opposite to the recording head to support the print medium;
a main board located on the frame substantially above the first surface of the print medium, the main board applies power and image data to the recording head;
a flexible cable disposed on one side or both sides of the print medium so as to not interfere with transfer of the print medium and a reciprocating rotation of the recording head, wherein the flexible cable connects the main board and the recording head; and
a control guide disposed on a path where the flexible cable moves within the frame to control a degree to which the flexible cable is loosened when the recording head is located at a certain position.