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3. Printer Mechanism

3-1. Thermal Head

TSP400 series printers employ thermal line printing. The thermal head consists of a horizontal line of 640 heat elements.
These elements print one line of dots at a time as the paper passes over the head. The head is fixed in position; only the paper
moves.
The printer prints a dot by heating the corresponding heat element. The heated element causes a chemical reaction in the
coloring layer of the thermal paper, resulting in the formation of a visible dot.
Fig. 2-13 Principle of Thermal Printing

3-2. Paper-Feed Mechanism

The paper-feed mechanism is comprised of the paper-feed motor, gear train, platen, and thermal head. The paper-feed motor
drives the gear train, which in turn rotates the platen. The platen carries the thermal paper past the thermal head.
The paper-feed motor is a PM (permanent magnet) type, 4-phase 48-pole stepping motor. A single step feeds the paper
approximately 0.125mm.
Fig. 2-14 Paper-Feed Mechanism
Thermal Printing Head
Heat Element
Coloring Layer
Thermal Paper
Printed Point
Platen Roller
Gear Train
Paper-feed Motor
Platen Roller
Thermal Paper
Thermal Head