US Patent 7256807 Thermal printer

A thermal printer includes a platen roller having both ends supported by a frame, a line thermal head having a plurality of heater elements and coming into contact with and separating from the platen roller, and a head mount supporting the line thermal head. The line thermal head has a heat sink mounted thereto for dissipating heat generated from the heater elements during printing on a recording sheet. The heat sink includes a first heat sink portion supported by the line thermal head through the head mount and a second heat sink portion which is connected to the first heat sink portion with a connector and which is removable.