Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus that does not degrade the printing quality even when reciprocating shifts of a film-shaped medium are continued, an ink ribbon 41 that is the film-shaped medium is laid between a supply spool 43 and a wind-up spool 44 with regions used in printing on a single printing medium formed continuously in the longitudinal direction. A counter counts the number of times an unused region in the ink ribbon 41 located in a predetermined position between the supply spool 43 and the wind-up spool 44 reciprocates and shifts between the supply spool 43 and the wind-up spool 44, and when the number of times reaches the predetermined number, the wind-up spool 44 is driven to shift the region in the wind-up direction from the printing position.

Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus that does not degrade the printing quality even when reciprocating shifts of a film-shaped medium are continued, an ink ribbon 41 that is the film-shaped medium is laid between a supply spool 43 and a wind-up spool 44 with regions used in printing on a single printing medium formed continuously in the longitudinal direction. A counter counts the number of times an unused region in the ink ribbon 41 located in a predetermined position between the supply spool 43 and the wind-up spool 44 reciprocates and shifts between the supply spool 43 and the wind-up spool 44, and when the number of times reaches the predetermined number, the wind-up spool 44 is driven to shift the region in the wind-up direction from the printing position.

Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus without waste of a ribbon panel in using a two-side dedicated ribbon, a printing apparatus 1 capable of printing on both surfaces of a printing medium performs two-side printing using an ink ribbon 41 with a color ribbon panel 41a and monochrome ribbon panel 41b configured in a face sequential manner. At this point, the apparatus detects a position of each ribbon panel, judges a type (color or monochrome) of a next usable nearest ribbon panel of the ink ribbon 41, judges which type of the ribbon panel (color or monochrome) is used for printing data sent from a higher apparatus 201, and compares the type of the next usable nearest ribbon panel with the ribbon panel judged with the printing data to determine the printing order on the printing medium.

Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus without waste of a ribbon panel in using a two-side dedicated ribbon, a printing apparatus 1 capable of printing on both surfaces of a printing medium performs two-side printing using an ink ribbon 41 with a color ribbon panel 41a and monochrome ribbon panel 41b configured in a face sequential manner. At this point, the apparatus detects a position of each ribbon panel, judges a type (color or monochrome) of a next usable nearest ribbon panel of the ink ribbon 41, judges which type of the ribbon panel (color or monochrome) is used for printing data sent from a higher apparatus 201, and compares the type of the next usable nearest ribbon panel with the ribbon panel judged with the printing data to determine the printing order on the printing medium.

Abstract: A card printing apparatus for sequentially printing a plurality of colors on a card has a card supply unit for supplying a card; a card conveyance path provided linearly from the card supply unit for conveying the card; a conveyance device provided on the card conveyance path for conveying the card; a printing unit provided on the card conveyance path; a card cleaning member disposed between the card supplying unit and the printing unit provided within the returning range of the card while printing the card conveyed in reverse; and a card cleaning member moving device for moving the card cleaning member to a retreated position separated from the card cleaning member and the card conveyance path, and an operating position. The card cleaning member is moved to the retreated position when the card is conveyed in reverse while printing.

Abstract: A card cleaning mechanism has a cleaning roller that cleans a surface of a card by contacting the conveyed card, and a roller-shaped cleaner that cleans a surface of the cleaning roller by contacting the cleaning roller. The cleaning roller is configured to move between a retreated position separated from a card conveyance path, and an operating position contacting a surface of the card being conveyed and the roller-shaped cleaner by advancing into the card conveyance path. Accordingly, the card cleaning mechanism can securely remove dust and dirt adhering to the card printing surface and does not reduce card printing quality.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably attached to a printer apparatus includes a casing, an ink ribbon provided in the casing, a supply spool provided in the casing for supplying the ink ribbon, and a take-up spool provided in the casing for retrieving the ink ribbon. The printer apparatus includes a locking member rotatably supported on the printer apparatus and locking the cartridge to the printer apparatus, a detection device for detecting an installation of the cartridge by detecting a locked state of the locking member, a locking portion for locking the locking member when the cartridge is installed in the printer apparatus, and a guide forcefully and rotatingly displacing the locking member from a locking position when the cartridge is pulled out from the printer apparatus.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a casing, a card supply opening at one side of the casing, a printing unit that performs a predetermined recording to a card supplied from the card supply opening, nip rollers that nip the card when being recorded at the printing unit, a magnetic encoder unit disposed adjacent to the printing unit that performs a predetermined recording to the card nipped by the rollers, and a card discharge outlet that discharges the card recorded at the printing and/or magnetic encoder units. The card supply opening, the printing unit and the magnetic encoder unit are disposed sequentially and substantially horizontally along the card conveyance path, and the card discharge outlet is provided in a side of the casing so that the card supply opening and card discharge output are positioned substantially vertically.

Abstract: A card printing apparatus for sequentially printing a plurality of colors on a card has a card supply unit for supplying a card; a card conveyance path provided linearly from the card supply unit for conveying the card; a conveyance device provided on the card conveyance path for conveying the card; a printing unit provided on the card conveyance path; a card cleaning member disposed between the card supplying unit and the printing unit provided within the returning range of the card while printing the card conveyed in reverse; and a card cleaning member moving device for moving the card cleaning member to a retreated position separated from the card cleaning member and the card conveyance path, and an operating position. The card cleaning member is moved to the retreated position when the card is conveyed in reverse while printing.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably attached to a printer apparatus includes a casing, an ink ribbon provided in the casing, a supply spool provided in the casing for supplying the ink ribbon, and a take-up spool provided in the casing for retrieving the ink ribbon. The printer apparatus includes a locking member rotatably supported on the printer apparatus and locking the cartridge to the printer apparatus, a detection device for detecting an installation of the cartridge by detecting a locked state of the locking member, a locking portion for locking the locking member when the cartridge is installed in the printer apparatus, and a guide forcefully and rotatingly displacing the locking member from a locking position when the cartridge is pulled out from the printer apparatus.

Abstract: A card cleaning mechanism has a cleaning roller that cleans a surface of a card by contacting the conveyed card, and a roller-shaped cleaner that cleans a surface of the cleaning roller by contacting the cleaning roller. The cleaning roller is configured to move between a retreated position separated from a card conveyance path, and an operating position contacting a surface of the card being conveyed and the roller-shaped cleaner by advancing into the card conveyance path. Accordingly, the card cleaning mechanism can securely remove dust and dirt adhering to the card printing surface and does not reduce card printing quality.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a casing, a card supply opening at one side of the casing, a printing unit that performs a predetermined recording to a card supplied from the card supply opening, nip rollers that nip the card when being recorded at the printing unit, a magnetic encoder unit disposed adjacent to the printing unit that performs a predetermined recording to the card nipped by the rollers, and a card discharge outlet that discharges the card recorded at the printing and/or magnetic encoder units. The card supply opening, the printing unit and the magnetic encoder unit are disposed sequentially and substantially horizontally along the card conveyance path, and the card discharge outlet is provided in a side of the casing so that the card supply opening and card discharge output are positioned substantially vertically.

Abstract: A printing control system where poor printing does not occur on a recording medium is provided. A printing system 1 is constituted by connecting a printing apparatus 2 and a personal computer 3 by a connecting cable 4 of 100 base T. Determination is made as to whether disposition of information data to be disposed to an IC card C serving as a recording medium is appropriate based upon disposition position information of the information data to be disposed to the IC card C and inherent attribute information which is set depending on a type of the information data. On the basis of this determination result, printing processing for information data is controlled. Poor printing to the IC card C is prevented beforehand.

Abstract: A printing control system where poor printing does not occur on a recording medium is provided. A printing system 1 is constituted by connecting a printing apparatus 2 and a personal computer 3 by a connecting cable 4 of 100 base T. Determination is made as to whether disposition of information data to be disposed to an IC card C serving as a recording medium is appropriate based upon disposition position information of the information data to be disposed to the IC card C and inherent attribute information which is set depending on a type of the information data. On the basis of this determination result, printing processing for information data is controlled. Poor printing to the IC card C is prevented beforehand.

Abstract: A printing apparatus which can perform switching between a direct transfer system and an indirect transfer system, and which has reduced malfunction in print process, is provided. In the printing apparatus, determination is made whether a light emitting device detects the intermediate transfer sheet (S124), when the determination is affirmative, the touch panel is controlled to refuse accepting an input of a direct transfer mode (S128) and power supply for pulse motors which are driving sources for the direct transfer mode is stopped to make the first mode disable (S130). When the determination is negative, the touch panel is controlled to refuse accepting an input of an indirect transfer mode (S136) and power supply for pulse motors which are driving sources for the indirect transfer mode is stopped to make the indirect transfer mode disable (S138). When one mode is set, another mode is made disable.

Abstract: A printing apparatus which can perform switching between a direct transfer system and an indirect transfer system, and which has reduced malfunction in print process, is provided. In the printing apparatus, determination is made whether a light emitting device detects the intermediate transfer sheet (S124), when the determination is affirmative, the touch panel is controlled to refuse accepting an input of a direct transfer mode (S128) and power supply for pulse motors which are driving sources for the direct transfer mode is stopped to make the first mode disable (S130). When the determination is negative, the touch panel is controlled to refuse accepting an input of an indirect transfer mode (S136) and power supply for pulse motors which are driving sources for the indirect transfer mode is stopped to make the indirect transfer mode disable (S138). When one mode is set, another mode is made disable.

Abstract: A system for issuing ID cards to which personal information data such as a personal identification number are written and verifying whether or not the information data are successfully written to the ID card. When the information data are confirmed to be unsuccessfully written to the ID card as the result of verification, the card is regarded as a faulty card, and an erase signal is automatically overwritten to the faulty card before discharging the card out of the system, so as to ensure absolute secrecy of the personal information.