Printer having a speed reduction mechanism with integral and non-integral gear ratios

摘要

A printer for printing characters and images on recording paper comprising: a paper cassette for storing the recording paper; a platen roller around which the recorrding paper is wound at the time of the transfer of images for printing; a clamping mechanism for clamping the recording paper between the clamping mechanism and the platen roller; a motor for driving the platen roller through a gear unit; a thermal printing head for transfferring images onto the recording paper; a paper feeding rollers for feeding the recording paper from the paper cassette to the clamper; a paper discharging rollers for discharging the recording paper upon the completion of the transfer of images thereto; and an ink cassette storing an ink sheet inside thereof; in which the clamping mechanism comprises a clamper which is mounted on the platen roller in such a manner as to permit the free movement of the clamper, holds the recording paper by pushing the recording paper onto the platen roller in a first position and also releases the recording paper in a second position.