Epson TM-H6000 Service Manual page 119

Confidential
Printing Mechanism
The thermal head is in a position where the heating element can make contact with the platen.
The paper rolled around the platen is pressed against the thermal head heating element with the
prescribed amount of pressure. Printing is performed when the heating element generates heat.
A thin-film thermal head is used for this printer unit. The head consists of the head chip with a
heating element, the driver IC that drives and controls the heating element, a thermistor that
detects the thermal head temperature, a heat dissipation plate that prevents an abnormal rise in
heat by the head chip, a flexible plastic cable (FPC) for signal wiring, and the head support shaft
(pin).
The thermal head is connected by the FFC to the main circuit board via a connector. A cross
section of the thermal head heating element and cross section of the paper roll (heat sensitive
paper) are shown in the figure on the next page.
Printing is performed in the following steps:
The electrodes for the respective corresponding dots are energized at the prescribed electrical
pulse by the printing signal.
The resistor located in each electrode generates heat.
The thermal energy generated by the resistors is transferred to the heat sensitive layer on the
surface of the paper, and it changes color.
Heat slinger
Appendix D-28 Product Overview
FPC
Pin
Connector
Figure D-36
Pin
Head chip
Rev. A