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 printer includes: an inkjet head configured to eject ink to a medium; a vacuum platen having a platen surface and suction holes, the platen surface extending along a transverse axis that intersects the conveyance direction and that spans across a first side and a second side of the printer, and the suction holes, the suction holes including a first suction hole; and a suction unit configured to produce a negative pressure within the suction holes; the first suction hole comprising a first opening and a second opening, the width of the second opening being less than the width of the first opening, and the first opening having a center along the transverse axis, the second opening having a center along the transverse axis, the center of the second opening being offset to the first side along the transverse axis from the center of the first opening.

A printer includes: an inkjet head configured to eject ink to a medium; a vacuum platen having a platen surface and suction holes, the platen surface extending along a transverse axis that intersects the conveyance direction and that spans across a first side and a second side of the printer, and the suction holes, the suction holes including a first suction hole; and a suction unit configured to produce a negative pressure within the suction holes; the first suction hole comprising a first opening and a second opening, the width of the second opening being less than the width of the first opening, and the first opening having a center along the transverse axis, the second opening having a center along the transverse axis, the center of the second opening being offset to the first side along the transverse axis from the center of the first opening.

An ink distribution assembly for distributing different inks from respective ink sources to a plurality of print chips which together define an inkjet printhead. The assembly includes: a longitudinal distribution molding having an ink duct for each of the different inks extending longitudinally therealong; an ink inlet port corresponding to each ink duct, each ink inlet port being in fluid communication with a respective ink source for delivering ink from each ink source to a respective one of the ink ducts; and a laminated ink distribution stack in fluid communication with the distribution molding for distributing ink from the ducts to the print chips.

A medium supporting mechanism includes a medium supporting unit and a medium holding unit. The medium supporting unit includes a support face that supports a medium, a guide rail intersecting a transport direction in which the medium is transported, and an engaged portion positioned upstream of the first guide rail. The medium holding unit includes a holding portion that covers an edge of the medium in a width direction, an abutting portion movable between an abutting position and a separation position, a switching portion that switches a position of the abutting portion between the abutting position and the separation position, and an engaging portion engageable with the second guide rail. The medium holding unit includes a pressing portion downstream of the abutting portion in the transport direction. The pressing portion presses the support face to move a position of the holding portion in a direction away from the support face.

A medium supporting mechanism includes a medium supporting unit and a medium holding unit. The medium supporting unit includes a support face that supports a medium, a guide rail intersecting a transport direction in which the medium is transported, and an engaged portion positioned upstream of the first guide rail. The medium holding unit includes a holding portion that covers an edge of the medium in a width direction, an abutting portion movable between an abutting position and a separation position, a switching portion that switches a position of the abutting portion between the abutting position and the separation position, and an engaging portion engageable with the second guide rail. The medium holding unit includes a pressing portion downstream of the abutting portion in the transport direction. The pressing portion presses the support face to move a position of the holding portion in a direction away from the support face.

Convex portions formed on a sheet of paper by a forming section are maintained in a favorable condition and good recording quality is obtained.

Convex portions formed on a sheet of paper by a forming section are maintained in a favorable condition and good recording quality is obtained.

An elastic roller includes an inner layer side elastic member around a roller shaft, and a coating layer surrounding around the inner layer side elastic member, the coating layer contacting a belt-shaped member. The coating layer is made of silicone resin having JIS-C hardness of 20 degrees or less. A base layer and an intermediate layer of the inner layer side elastic member have JIS-A hardness of 30 to 80 degrees. The rubber hardness of the base layer is higher than the rubber hardness of the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer has tearing strength of 25 N/mm or more, the tearing strength being measured using an unnicked angle-shaped test piece in accordance with JIS K 6252. The intermediate layer has internal grooves having a groove angle of 40 to 160 degrees and having a V-shaped cross section.

An ink drying device dries ink injected onto a recording medium. The ink drying device includes a main body including a counter plate facing the recording medium and including an inner space, and a heat generator located in the inner space of the main body to generate heat. The counter plate is provided with a plurality of discharge holes. The ink drying device further includes a heat diffusion layer provided on an outer surface of the counter plate that faces the recording medium.