Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a feeding tray inserted into and pulled out from the housing, an image forming unit, and first and second guide members. The feeding tray includes a first accommodation part in which a roll body having a configuration where a sheet-shaped medium is rolled in a roll shape is accommodated and a second accommodation part in which stacked sheet-shaped media are accommodated. The first guide member guides a sheet-shaped medium to a conveying path. The second guide member guides a roll medium unrolled from the roll body to the conveying path. The second guide member is movable between a guide position for guiding the roll medium to the conveying path, and a retreat position further distant from the first guide member than the guide position and where the second guide member does not interfere with a sheet-shaped medium accommodated in the second accommodation part.

Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a separator that includes a first separator and a second separator. The first separator is inserted into a gap between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The second separator is inserted between the two sheets at said another end of the two-ply sheet that is opposite to the one end of the two-ply sheet and moves in a width direction of the two-ply sheet after the first separator is inserted into the gap and relatively moves from the one end to said another end.

Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, a mobile printer includes a casing, a sensor, a print head, an interface, a controller, and a decolorizing device. The casing includes a power supply. The sensor detects the movement of the casing. The print head discharges ink containing a thermochromic colorant. The interface acquires image data. The controller discharges the ink from the print head based on the image data acquired by the interface and the movement of the casing detected by the sensor. The decolorizing device is coupled to the casing and includes a translucent film in which heat is generated by an applied voltage and a translucent substrate that is heated to a temperature at which the thermochromic colorant is decolorized by the heat generated in the translucent film.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes thermal tracking logic, control logic, and an output interface. The thermal tracking logic determines a temperature of a fluid ejection die. The control logic defines an emulated parameter of the fluid ejection die as a function of the temperature of the fluid ejection die. The output interface outputs the emulated parameter to a printer system based on the function and the temperature of the fluid ejection die.

Abstract: An adhesive label is provided. The adhesive label includes an adhesive patch that covers at least 50% but less than 85% of a backside surface of the adhesive label and that is at least partially horizontally and vertically centered on the backside surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet separation device, a first sheet feeder, a second sheet feeder, an image forming device, a heat source, and a circuitry. The sheet separation device is configured to separate a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end as a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The first sheet feeder is configured to feed the two-ply sheet. The second sheet feeder is configured to feed an inner sheet to be inserted between the two sheets. The image forming device is configured to form an image on the inner sheet fed from the second sheet feeder. The heat source is disposed upstream from the sheet separation device in the sheet conveyance direction. The circuitry is configured to cause the two-ply sheet fed from the first sheet feeder, to detour the heat source to the sheet separation device.

Abstract: An image is formed on a principal surface and a side face of a card. A thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a first feeding unit configured to feed an intermediate transfer medium including a transfer layer that is disposed on one surface of a substrate in such a manner as to be peelable from the substrate, a second feeding unit configured to feed a thermal transfer sheet including a colorant layer disposed on one surface of a base material, a printing unit configured to heat the thermal transfer sheet based on image data and transfer an ink of the colorant layer onto the transfer layer to form an image, and a transfer unit configured to heat the intermediate transfer medium and transfer the transfer layer having the image formed thereon onto a principal surface and a side face of the card.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a feeding unit which includes a medium support unit which supports a roll-shaped medium, a feeding motor which rotates the medium support unit, and a transmission unit which transmits a driving force of the feeding motor to the medium support unit; a transport unit which transports a medium fed from the feeding unit; and a control unit which adjusts a tensile force of the medium between the medium support unit and the transport unit, by controlling the feeding motor, in which the transmission unit includes a plurality of transmission mechanisms, and the plurality of transmission mechanisms include a belt transmission mechanism which transmits the driving force using a belt.

Abstract: Ethernet and Universal Serial Bus (USB) powered printing devices are provided. In particular, Ethernet and USB powered printers and methods of Ethernet powering of printers that support high speed printing and/or data intensive printing. Such high-speed and/or data intensive printing operations are able to be Ethernet or USB powered by providing for a power storage unit within the printer device that is able be charged during non-printing periods and provide for necessary energy bursts to support such higher powered processes. In addition, the present invention provides for devices and methods that allow for printers to operate with main power provided by conventional power mains and for back-up or secondary power to be supplied by Ethernet or USB power. Additionally, the invention provides for Ethernet or USB powering, both primary and back-up, of the data and configuration settings in the printer control and image generating electronics.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a motor, a first conveyer and a second conveyer to nip and convey a recordable medium, an urging member to urge one of the first and second conveyers toward the other, a cam member driven by a driving force from the motor to change intensities of pressure in a nipping area, a first gear system to transmit the driving force to the first conveyer, a second gear system to transmit the driving force to the cam member, an engaging member being engaged with a cam gear to rotate integrally and being one of a worm gear and a one-way gear, and a swing gear swingable between a first position, in which the swing gear transmits the driving force to the first gear system, and a second position, in which the swing gear transmits the driving force to the second gear system.

Abstract: To prevent reduction in printing quality, a printer includes an image formation section having a thermal head with a plurality of heating elements and transporting an ink ribbon and a transfer film at the same velocity to form an image on the transfer film, and a control section controlling the image formation section. The control section controls the image formation section to form a printing image on the transfer film according to input printing information and form a dummy image wider than the printing image on the width-direction opposite sides at the back thereof in the transport direction. On the ink ribbon, a wrinkle, which occurs in the rear end corner portion in the transport direction of a printing region corresponding to the printing image, is stopped by a sag caused by that the ink is removed in a dummy printing region Rd corresponding to the dummy image.

Abstract: Damage caused to a transfer medium due to heat when partially using transfer material regions is suppressed. An image forming apparatus (1) includes a transporting unit (4A, 4B) which transports a belt-like transfer medium (4) on which transfer material regions (Y, M, C, OP) of a first size respectively corresponding to transfer materials are arranged in a predetermined order in a repeated manner along a longitudinal direction thereof, and an image forming unit (3) which transfers the transfer materials in sequence by heating the respective transfer material regions and thereby forms on a recording medium an image with the first size or an image with a second size which is not larger than one half the first size. When forming an image with the second size, the image forming unit either uses unused portions of transfer material regions that have already been used to form an image with the second size or uses new transfer material regions on the transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first conveying unit provided downstream an image forming unit; a second conveying unit provided downstream the first conveying unit; a first cutting unit provided downstream the second conveying unit; and a second cutting unit provided downstream the first cutting unit. One of the first and second cutting units cuts an upstream end of an image on the continuous sheet, the other cuts a downstream end of the same image. The second conveying unit is stopped during the cutting by the first cutting unit to form a loop of the continuous sheet, and then if the cutting is ended, the second conveying unit conveys the continuous sheet at a higher conveyance speed than a conveyance speed by the first conveying unit to reduce the loop.

Abstract: To correct a color shift caused by printing data, a printing apparatus includes an image formation section that prints on a transfer film using color inks according to printing data, and a control section which stores or generates pattern data of a pattern having respective colors of the inks, and combines the printing data and the pattern data so that a printing image of the pattern data overlaps a part of a printing image of the printing data. The control section corrects a printing start position on the transfer film with the image formation section of at least one color ink among printing images to print respectively with the color inks, according to input first information concerning a shift in respective colors of the inks constituting the pattern occurring in forming an image on the transfer film in the image formation section according to combined printing data subjected to combining.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit that transports plural recording media having developer images transferred thereon, at an interval; a fixing unit that fixes the developer images to the recording media transported by the transport unit, by applying heat; a temperature measuring unit that measures an ambient temperature; a speed changing unit that decreases a fixing speed of the developer images in the fixing unit if the ambient temperature measured by the temperature measuring unit is a preset temperature or lower, as compared with the fixing speed if the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature; and an interval changing unit that decreases the interval if the ambient temperature is the preset temperature or lower, as compared with the interval if the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature.

Abstract: Systems and methods for printing data on a substrate including a color-changeable material are provided. One system includes a processing circuit and a device including an energy source. At least a portion of a printed publication is printed on the substrate using a commercial printing press based on fixed data. The device including the energy source is configured to add variable data to the substrate. The processing circuit is configured to receive the variable data and to control the energy source to change a color of the color-changeable material based on the variable data to provide at least a portion of the printed publication. The processing circuit is configured to control the energy source to change the color of the color-changeable material in-line with a flow of the substrate through one of a printing line, a finishing line, or a packaging line of the commercial printing press.

Abstract: A method of forming an extended tab label is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a paper supply to a printer, the paper supply having an adhesive covering at least a portion thereof. Inputting patient-specific information through a computer to the printer. Printing the patient-specific information on the paper supply, where the paper supply containing patient-specific information thereon forms a label having a length greater than a circumference of a container accepting the label.

Abstract: A printer and a method of controlling a printer in order to print out a report relating to data recorded by a tachograph are disclosed, the printer having a supply of printing medium and being equipped with a medium transport device. In the disclosed printer, rest state transport of the printing medium is carried out at periodically repeating intervals.

Abstract: A credential printing device is provided. The credential printing device includes a credential substrate transport, a transfer ribbon and a transfer roller. The credential substrate transport is configured to feed a credential substrate along a processing path. The transfer ribbon is adjacent to the processing path. The transfer roller is positioned below the processing path and is configured to transfer an image from the transfer ribbon to a bottom surface of the credential substrate in the processing path.

Abstract: A power system comprises a tension harnessing arrangement to harness tension in a tether connected between a tensioning arrangement and storage means. The tension harnessing arrangement of the system comprises at least one first capstan roller arranged in a predetermined configuration. The tether tensioningly abuts at least a portion of the periphery of the first capstan rollers such that there is substantial contact between the tether and the first capstan rollers, thereby engaging the first capstan rollers to generate rotational energy. Alternatively, second capstan rollers engage with the first capstan rollers. At least one converter functionally co-operates with the first capstan rollers, either directly or via the second capstan rollers, for converting the rotational energy to energy in a transmissible form, storage form dissipative form, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A thermal indicator using indicia formed by opaque ink applied to a thermal imaging material element is described. The ink is substantially the same color as the imaging element background and remains substantially hidden until the imaging element background changes color when heated. Time-temperature exposure indicating labels can be prepared using a printer with direct thermal type and ink jet type print heads.

Abstract: A heat-activated linerless label comprises a heat-activated adhesive coating. Portions of the heat-activated adhesive coating are selectively activated by a thermal printer.

Abstract: A print head for use with a printer. The print head includes an input that receives data or commands associated with printing from the printer. A memory component of the print head is connected in communication with the input and is configured to bi-directionally communicate information to the printer via the input. For example, the memory component may be soldered to a circuit of a print head and connected to a data line normally used to communicate print data to the print head. In this manner, the print head may hold configuration information in the memory module for easy upgrades without an additional dedicated communication line. Also, printers may be upgraded, and print heads retrofit, with the memory component without installation of a dedicated input or communication line.

Abstract: Thermal transfer printing method and apparatus are provided to make initial character image data left on a spent ink ribbon illegible. In the method, after forming an initial character image on an ink layer in black of the ink ribbon, a forefront of the ink layer is aligned with a forefront position of an intermediate transfer film. Then, overwrite character image data is applied on a thermal head to produce a first superimpose character image on the ribbon and a first superimpose character image on the film. After that, the forefront position of the ink layer is shifted from the forefront position of the film by a predetermined distance and the overwrite character image data is applied on the thermal head to produce a second superimpose character image on the ribbon and a second superimpose character image on the film.

Abstract: A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge includes: a supply spool which has at one end portion a driving hole, with which a driving shaft of a printer apparatus is engaged; a winding spool which has at one end portion a driving hole, with which the driving shaft of the printer apparatus is engaged; and a cartridge main body which has a supply-side ribbon housing section, a winding-side ribbon housing section, and a thermal head entry opening portion formed between the supply-side and winding-side ribbon housing sections, and in which opening portions for the ribbon are formed on the head entry opening portion sides of the supply-side and winding-side ribbon housing sections, wherein in the cartridge main body, a concave guide portion is formed, and on a bottom face of the concave guide portion, a projection portion, which comes into contact with a guide portion of the printer apparatus side, is formed.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer medium conveying device conveys an intermediate transfer medium by a drive force of one DC motor, in a normal feed direction where the intermediate transfer medium is wound on a winding reel and in a reverse feed direction where the intermediate transfer medium is wound on a feeding reel. The intermediate transfer medium conveying device includes a winding shaft that drives the winding reel during normal feed where the intermediate transfer medium is conveyed in the normal feed direction, a feeding shaft driving the feeding reel during reverse feed where the intermediate transfer medium is conveyed in the reverse feed direction, transmission means for normal feed that transmits a drive force of the DC motor to the winding shaft during the normal feed, and transmission means for reverse feed that transmits a drive force of the DC motor to the feeding shaft during the reverse feed.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a first thermal head, a first platen roller, first biasing means, a second thermal head, a second platen roller, and second biasing means. The first thermal head, the first platen roller, the first biasing means are in contact with a heat-sensitive layer of thermal recording paper. The second thermal head, the second platen roller, and the second biasing means are in contact with a heat-sensitive layer of the thermal recording paper. The second thermal head is arranged on the upstream side of the first thermal head in a paper feed direction. A paper feed speed of the first platen roller to the thermal recording paper is larger than a paper feed speed of the second platen roller. The first platen roller is in contact with the thermal recording paper while being more slippery compared with the second platen roller.

Abstract: A printer includes: a cutter unit for cutting a label sheet to obtain an adhesive label with a desired length by allowing the label sheet to pass through the cutter unit; an adhesive strength exhibiting unit for allowing the adhesive label to exhibit adhesive strength by heating the adhesive label; a sheet loosening unit placed on a downstream side of the cutter unit and an upstream side of the adhesive strength exhibiting unit in a sheet transporting direction; and a sheet-passage direction changing unit for changing the sheet-passage direction in the upstream sheet-passage part by changing a direction of the upstream sheet-passage part from a reference position at which a sheet-passage direction in the upstream sheet-passage part is placed on the same line as a sheet-passage direction in the downstream sheet-passage part to an inclined position at which the direction is inclined from the reference position.

Abstract: A printer includes a conveying path for conveying a printing medium therealong. The printer also includes a thickness detecting unit configured to detect change in thickness of the printing medium along the conveying direction, which is conveyed along the conveying path. The printer also includes a first print unit configured to print information on one surface of the printing medium whose thickness change is detected by the thickness detecting unit, and a second print unit configured to print information on another surface of the printing medium. The printer also includes a pressure mechanism configured to press the print head against the platen of each of the first and second print units, and a control unit configured to reduce pressure applied to the print head by the pressure mechanism if the thickness of the printing medium detected by the thickness detecting unit is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a first thermal head which is so provided as to be brought into contact with one side of a paper, a second thermal head which is so provided as to be brought into contact with the other side of the paper, and a controller. The first thermal head energizes a plurality of heater elements to print dot image data on one side of the paper. The second thermal head energizes a plurality of heater elements to print dot image data on the other side of the paper. The controller is configured to shift the energization times between the first thermal head and second thermal head.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a first thermal head which is so provided as to be brought into contact with one side of a paper, a second thermal head which is so provided as to be brought into contact with the other side of the paper, and a controller. The first thermal head energizes a plurality of heater elements to print dot image data on one side of the paper. The second thermal head energizes a plurality of heater elements to print dot image data on the other side of the paper. The controller is configured to shift the energization times between the first thermal head and second thermal head.

Abstract: The present invention is a method which erase information printed on a recording medium if necessary and thus reuse the recording medium, and includes 1) decolorable ink compositions which are not erased during the use but erased by a dye readily decolorable by a decolorant, 2) a decolorant composition including a thermal initiator or photoinitiator, and 3) a method for coating the decolorant and applying heat or irradiating UV to erase the dye. According to the present invention, it is possible to prepare various writing inks, and particularly, when applied to recording medium with a magnetic stripe as well as the general purpose papers, it is possible to reduce the production cost significantly, obtain a large import substitution effect of the magnetic ink all of which are imported, and largely reduce the environmental pollution.

Abstract: A recording paper transportation path structure suppresses sagging of the recording paper fed from the nipping part of a pair of rollers to the platen surface of a vacuum platen, and can prevent a drop in paper feed precision. In a roll paper printer 1, the recording paper fed through the nipping part 52 of a paper feed roller 22 and a paper pressure roller 23 is fed along the contact plane P2 of the outside surface of the rollers 22 and 23 toward the platen surface 8a of the vacuum platen 8 at a slightly lower position. An inclined surface part 12b that slopes along the contact plane P2, an up-lifting surface part 12c that slopes down, and a protruding surface part 12d are formed contiguously to the upstream side at the upstream end part 8b of the platen surface 8a.

Abstract: A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.

Abstract: Thermal transfer printing method and apparatus are provided to make initial character image data left on a spent ink ribbon illegible. In the method, after forming an initial character image FGi1 on an ink layer 11b in black of the ink ribbon 11, a forefront position S1 of the ink layer 11b is aligned with a forefront position S2 of an intermediate transfer film 25. Then, overwrite character image data UGD1 is applied on a thermal head 19 to produce a first superimpose character image KG1i1 on the ribbon 11 and a first superimpose character image KG1m1 on the film 25. After that, the forefront position S1 of the ink layer 11b is shifted from the forefront position S2 of the film 25 by a predetermined distance and further, the overwrite character image data UGD1 is applied on the thermal head 19 to produce a second superimpose character image KG2i1 on the ribbon 11 and a second superimpose character image KG2m1 on the film 25.

Abstract: A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.

Abstract: A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided which uses, as a print head, a thermal head having heating elements arrayed in a line perpendicular to the traveling direction of a printing medium. Correspondingly pixel data, at either end, or near the end, of each line of image data going to be printed, data on heat storage in the thermal head (108) is calculated for each line on the basis of data on heat storage in the print head for a preceding line, and the data on heat storage in the print head for each line is compared with predetermined-temperature data. When any of the stored-heat data is larger than the predetermined-temperature data, energy to the heating element (113) is decreased. The image data is printed on the printing medium (104) with the energy for application to the heating element (113) being kept decreased.

Abstract: A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.

Abstract: A thermal indicator using indicia formed by opaque ink applied to a thermal imaging material element is described. The ink is substantially the same color as the imaging element background and remains substantially hidden until the imaging element background changes color when heated. Time-temperature exposure indicating labels can be prepared using a printer with direct thermal type and ink jet type print heads.

Abstract: The present invention includes: a printing portion (12) for performing printing on a printing layer of a sheet material (5) including a sheet-like base having one surface provided with the printing layer and another surface provided with a heat-sensitive adhesive layer; a thermal activation portion (15) for heating the heat-sensitive adhesive layer of the sheet material (5) and generating an adhesive force; a temporary stock portion (14), which is disposed in a transport path for the sheet material (5) between the printing portion (12) and the thermal activation portion (15), for temporarily stocking the sheet material (5); and a casing (19) covering the temporary stock portion (14).

Abstract: An antenna 33 is located downstream of a tape transferring direction of a tape discharging port 27 through which a printed label tape 28 of a tape cassette 21 mounted to a cassette housing part 8 is discharged. A reflective sensor 35 that detects a sensor marks 65 provided on the back surface of the printed label tape 28 is arranged at the opposite side of the antenna 33 interposing the printed label tape 28. At the upstream of the antenna 33 and the reflective sensor 35 in the tape transferring direction, a cutter unit 30 for cutting the printed label tape 28 discharged through the tape discharging port 27 of the tape cassette 21 at a predetermined interval is arranged.

Abstract: On the back side surface of a release paper of a double-sided adhesive tape 53, sensor marks 65 each in a rectangular shape elongated in the tape width direction when viewed from its front are printed beforehand at a predetermined pitch L along the tape transferring direction to be vertical and symmetric with each other with respect to the center line in the tape width direction. Further, on the double-sided adhesive tape 53, wireless tag circuit element 32 is provided between adjacent sensor marks 65 on the center line in the tape width direction and at a position equal to the distance l1 from each sensor mark 65 in the tape discharging direction (a direction shown by an arrow A1). An antenna 33 and a reflective sensor 35 are distanced from a cutter unit 30 by a distance l1 in the tape transfer direction. The cutter unit 30 and a thermal head 9 are distanced from each other by a distance l2 in the tape transfer direction.

Abstract: A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a first thermal head which is so provided as to be brought into contact with one side of a paper, a second thermal head which is so provided as to be brought into contact with the other side of the paper, and a controller. The first thermal head energizes a plurality of heater elements to print dot image data on one side of the paper. The second thermal head energizes a plurality of heater elements to print dot image data on the other side of the paper. The controller is configured to shift the energization times between the first thermal head and second thermal head.

Abstract: A size-reduced printer that conveys a recording sheet in a circulating manner along a ring-like conveyance path while printing a plurality of images on the recording sheet in different colors sequentially in a superimposed manner, thereby forming a full color image. When a ribbon cassette that contains a multi-color ink ribbon is loaded at a predetermined position within a printer housing, a ring-like conveyance path is formed between the ribbon cassette and the printer housing. While the thermal head is driven and the recording sheet is conveyed once in a circulating manner along the conveyance path, a one-color image is printed on a previous printed one-color image in a superimposed manner in a corresponding one of the different color inks of the multi-color ink ribbon, thereby forming a full color image finally.

Abstract: A printing device for printing sheet elements (2) that are serially fed to the printing device, in particular product labels made of temperature-sensitive paper or paper substitute materials, comprises at least two separate feed devices (3a, . . . , 3f) for each liner strip (1) comprising the sheet elements (2), wherein each feed device (3a, . . . , 3f) comprises a peeling-off device (4a, . . . , 4f) for peeling the sheet elements (2) from the liner strip (1), and wherein the feed devices (3a, . . . , 3f) are associated with a print head (5a, . . . , 5f) with a thermal slat (6a, . . . , 6f) for printing a sheet element supported by a counterpressure surface (7a, . . . , 7f), and comprising an application device (8) for removing the printed sheet element from the print head (5a, . . . , 5f) and for applying the printed sheet element to a product.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a main body, a cover body, a hinge mechanism, a first locating mechanism, and a second locating mechanism. At the time of a shift from a second state where the cover body is opened with respect to the main body to a first state where the cover body covers the main body, the first locating mechanism locates a first platen roller of the cover body with respect to a first thermal head of the main body, and arranges a second thermal head of the cover body in the vicinity of a second platen roller of the main body. The second locating mechanism locates the second thermal head arranged in the vicinity of the second platen roller by the first locating mechanism with respect to the second platen roller of the main body.

Abstract: Provided is a printer capable of achieving its miniaturization and lightness. The printer includes: a roll accommodation unit (2) for retaining a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1) wound into a roll; a cutter unit (3) for cutting the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1); a printing/thermal activation unit having a printing thermal head (4) for performing printing on a printing surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1) and a thermally-activating thermal head (5) for performing thermal activation on a heat-sensitive adhesive surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1); and a stocking unit having a take-up device (6) for temporarily stocking the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (1) by taking up the sheet on a take-up roller (6a).