| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize a thermal printer which does not cause waste material. SOLUTION: A liquid crystal shutter unit 18 is disposed between an optical fixing device and a color thermal recording paper 3. The liquid crystal shutter unit 18 is equipped with a plurality of shutter sections S1-S14. Each of shutter sections S1-S14 forms an array along a width direction (a main scanning direction) of the color thermal recording paper 3 and is independently driven. Each of the shutter sections S1-S14 is opened before the optical fixing is started so that a fixing light from the optical fixing device can pass therethrough. In this condition, the tip of the color thermal recording paper is advanced into a portion opposite to the optical fixing device, and then the optical fixing is started. After the optical fixing is started, the shutter sections are sequentially closed in order from the shutter section S1 the closest to the side of the thermal head 6 in synchronism with the passing movement of the rear end of the recorded part of the recording paper through a portion facing each of the shutter sections S1-S14. As a result, the fixing light toward the non-recorded part adjacent to the recorded part is blocked. COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO
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