A thermal head includes a substrate, electrodes, and a resistor layer. The electrodes are located on the substrate and extend along a first direction of the substrate in a plan view. The resistor layer is located on the substrate and on the electrode. The electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode arranged at a predetermined interval in a second direction intersecting the first direction. In at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode, a central portion in the second direction protrudes out farther than an end portion in the second direction on the upper surface located below the resistor layer.

A heater includes: a heat generation unit that generates heat when energized; an electric wire that is attached to the heat generation unit and supplies electric current to the heat generation unit; a ground wire that is attached to the heat generation unit and is grounded; a conductive cover that includes an electrical conductor, is attached to the heat generation unit, and is grounded; and an insulating cover that has an electrical insulating property and at least partially covers the conductive cover.

Described herein is a process for heat transfer printing, the process comprising: electrostatically printing a transparent release composition onto a transfer material to form a release layer disposed on the transfer material; electrostatically printing an electrostatic ink composition on the release layer to form an image layer disposed on the release layer; contacting a thermoplastic film with the image layer; contacting the thermoplastic film with a target substrate under conditions such that the thermoplastic film adheres to the target substrate and the release layer is softened; and separating the target substrate and the transfer material such that the thermoplastic film, image layer and release layer are transferred to the target substrate. A heat transferrable printed image is also described herein.

Described herein is a process for heat transfer printing, the process comprising: electrostatically printing a transparent release composition onto a transfer material to form a release layer disposed on the transfer material; electrostatically printing an electrostatic ink composition on the release layer to form an image layer disposed on the release layer; contacting a thermoplastic film with the image layer; contacting the thermoplastic film with a target substrate under conditions such that the thermoplastic film adheres to the target substrate and the release layer is softened; and separating the target substrate and the transfer material such that the thermoplastic film, image layer and release layer are transferred to the target substrate. A heat transferrable printed image is also described herein.

A method and system for enabling a patterned liquid, can involve creating a heat image on an imaging blanket by selectively heating the imaging blanket with a digitally controlled energy source, and subjecting the heat image to a selective deposition of a fountain solution material to enable vapor condensation on unheated areas and vapor rejection from heated areas to generate a fountain material image.

A thermal printhead includes a substrate having an obverse surface, a projection formed on the obverse surface and extending in a primary scanning direction, a plurality of heating elements arranged in the primary scanning direction on the top of the projection, a groove dented from the top of the projection and extending in the primary scanning direction, and a heat storage member filling at least an opening of the groove.

According to one embodiment, there is provided a label printer in which noise is less likely to be generated when a thermal head comes into contact with a backing sheet between a label and a label. In a label printer that prints, using a thermal head including a linear heating element, on a label sheet in which labels are attached on a strip-shaped backing sheet at a predetermined interval, the thermal head is configured to swing with respect to a platen roller configured to support the label sheet at a printing position, and a guide portion includes an edge portion that is substantially parallel to a surface of the thermal head having the heating element provided thereon and that is inclined with respect to the heating element is integrally provided downstream of the thermal head in a sheet conveying direction.

According to one embodiment, there is provided a label printer in which noise is less likely to be generated when a thermal head comes into contact with a backing sheet between a label and a label. In a label printer that prints, using a thermal head including a linear heating element, on a label sheet in which labels are attached on a strip-shaped backing sheet at a predetermined interval, the thermal head is configured to swing with respect to a platen roller configured to support the label sheet at a printing position, and a guide portion includes an edge portion that is substantially parallel to a surface of the thermal head having the heating element provided thereon and that is inclined with respect to the heating element is integrally provided downstream of the thermal head in a sheet conveying direction.

A thermal printer according to an embodiment includes: a platen that has a rotatable columnar shape and that is configured to convey a print medium having various widths, with a central portion in a direction of a rotary shaft as a reference, in a manner of being in contact with an outer peripheral portion; and a print head that is oppositely disposed along the platen, that is pressed by the outer peripheral portion, and that is configured to perform printing by applying heat to the print medium. The platen includes a shaft constituting the rotary shaft and a rubber including the outer peripheral portion provided on an outer periphery of the shaft, and has a first region centered on the central portion and second regions on both outer sides in the direction of a rotary shaft with respect to the first region. A diameter of the platen in the first region and diameters of the platen in the second regions are the same, and a thickness of the rubber in the first region is smaller than thicknesses of the rubber in the second regions.

A thermal printer includes: a platen having a rotatable columnar shape and configured to convey a print medium having various widths by bringing the print medium into contact with an outer peripheral portion of the platen, a central portion of the platen in a direction of a rotary shaft of the platen being taken as a reference; and a print head facing the platen, pressed by the outer peripheral portion, and configured to print by applying heat to the print medium sandwiched between the print head and the outer peripheral portion. In the outer peripheral portion of the platen, a first groove is formed in a direction intersecting the direction of the rotary shaft in each of second outer peripheral portions on both outer sides in the direction of the rotary shaft with respect to a first outer peripheral portion in contact with the print medium having a smallest width that can be conveyed.