Abstract: A label printing apparatus, comprising a cassette-receiving bay adapted to receive a cassette, said cassette-receiving bay having a base, an opening opposite the base, and side walls extending between the base and the opening; a cassette locking mechanism comprising at least one locking element having a locking position for engagement with a cassette inserted into said cassette-receiving bay; and cassette detection means operable to determine whether said at least one locking element is engaged with a cassette inserted into the cassette-receiving bay.

Abstract: A label printer has a touchscreen for displaying and inputting label data, and comprising at least one input area. The label printer also has a hardware keyboard for inputting label data, and comprising at least one hardware key. The label printer also has control means arranged to control printing means for printing a label in accordance with label information. The label information is derived from a combination of label data input via the at least one hardware key of said hardware keyboard and label data input via the at least one input area of said touchscreen.

Abstract: A cassette is provided which includes a supply of label material and a brake. The brake has a first position and a second position. In the first position, the supply is clamped by the brake. In the second position, the supply is removable from the cassette.

Abstract: A printing apparatus (301) comprising: a housing; a printing mechanism; a receiving bay for receiving a supply of image receiving medium; a cutter module (350) removably attached in said housing for cutting said image receiving medium, said cutter module comprising a movable blade and an actuator for actuating said movable blade; wherein said housing comprises an aperture (370), said cutter module being at least partially received in said aperture, and being removable via said aperture.

Abstract: A printing device comprising: a housing; a printing mechanism; a receiving portion for receiving a supply of image receiving medium; a cutting mechanism for cutting the image receiving medium; a drive mechanism for driving the cutting mechanism during a cutting operation; wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a blade holder removably attachable in the printing device; and said drive mechanism comprises at least one of a drive member or engaging portion for engaging with a respective other of at least one drive member or engaging portion of said blade holder; wherein said drive member is configured to be received in said engaging portion when said blade holder is in the printing device, and wherein said drive member and engaging portion are configured to permit said blade holder to be inserted in said printing device when said blade holder is moved in a direction of insertion, and to permit said blade holder to be removed from said printing device when said blade holder is moved in a direction of removal.

Abstract: A label printing apparatus, comprising a cassette-receiving bay adapted to receive a cassette, said cassette-receiving bay having a base, an opening opposite the base, and side walls extending between the base and the opening; a cassette locking mechanism comprising at least one locking element having a locking position for engagement with a cassette inserted into said cassette-receiving bay; and cassette detection means operable to determine whether said at least one locking element is engaged with a cassette inserted into the cassette-receiving bay.

Abstract: A label printer comprises input means operable by a user to input label data. The label printer also has display means and control means configured to receive said input label data from the input means. The control means is arranged to control the display to display an image of a label defined by said input label data in a label display area. The control means is configured to cause the display to display said image of the label such that a first dimension of the image of the label is decreased with respect to the corresponding dimension of said display area so that all of said image of the label is displayed in said display area.

Abstract: A label printer comprising a cassette-receiving bay, the cassette-receiving bay having a base, a top opening opposite the base, and a locking mechanism extending from said base, the locking mechanism having a locking part, the locking part being movable in a first direction and biased in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the locking part having one or more projections such that a force thereon directed towards the base causes the locking part to move in the first direction and wherein said locking part is biased to move in the second direction when the force is removed.

Abstract: A label printer has a touchscreen for displaying and inputting label data, and comprising at least one input area. The label printer also has a hardware keyboard for inputting label data, and comprising at least one hardware key. The label printer also has control means arranged to control printing means for printing a label in accordance with label information. The label information is derived from a combination of label data input via the at least one hardware key of said hardware keyboard and label data input via the at least one input area of said touchscreen.

Abstract: A label printer cassette is provided. Said label printer cassette comprises at least one supply of printing medium and a housing. The housing comprises a first surface, a second surface, said second surface being opposite said first surface, and at least one side extending between said first and second surfaces, one side having a switch operating arrangement having a ramped surface which is configured, in use to operate a switch of a label printer.

Abstract: A cassette comprising at least one portion for engaging with a cooperating locking element of a tape printer when said cassette is correctly located in said printer, said portion comprising an elongate conductive bar extending along said cassette in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of a supply roll housed in said cassette.

Abstract: A label printing apparatus, comprising a cassette-receiving bay adapted to receive a cassette, said cassette-receiving bay having a base, an opening opposite the base, and side walls extending between the base and the opening; a cassette locking mechanism comprising at least one locking element having a locking position for engagement with a cassette inserted into said cassette-receiving bay; and cassette detection means operable to determine whether said at least one locking element is engaged with a cassette inserted into the cassette-receiving bay.

Abstract: A label printer, comprising: input means operable by a user; display means; and control means connected to the input means and the display means. The control means are configured to control the display means to first display a header and a first image representative of a label; and, in response to receiving at the control means a signal indicative of an operation of the input means by a user to select the header, to control the display to then display a second image representative of the label and a graphical control panel associated with said header. The second image representative of the label is of a size smaller than the first image representative of the label. The display means may comprise a touchscreen.

Abstract: A label printer, comprising: input means operable by a user; display means; and control means connected to the input means and the display means. The control means are configured to control the display means to first display a header and a first image representative of a label; and, in response to receiving at the control means a signal indicative of an operation of the input means by a user to select the header, to control the display to then display a second image representative of the label and a graphical control panel associated with said header. The second image representative of the label is of a size smaller than the first image representative of the label. The display means may comprise a touchscreen.

Abstract: A printing device for printing labels having a memory for storing one or more character sets, each character set including at least a principle character and an additional character which is associated with the principle character; a user input having character selection keys for selecting a character set to define an image to be printed by the printing device; and a controller for accessing characters from the memory to be displayed and printed which correspond to characters selected at the user input means; wherein actuation of a character selection key selects the principle character in the selected character set and maintaining activation of the character selection key for a predetermined time period selects the associated additional character.

Abstract: A label printing apparatus comprising a cassette receiving bay arranged to receive a cassette; and an engagement member. The engagement member is movable between a first position, in which the engagement member is engaged with the cassette, and a second position in which the engagement member is disengaged with the cassette.

Abstract: A label printer comprising a cassette-receiving bay, said cassette-receiving bay having a base, a top opening opposite the base, and a locking mechanism extending from said base, said locking mechanism having a locking part, said locking part being movable in a first direction and biased in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said locking part having one or more projections such that a force thereon directed towards said base causes the locking part to move in the first direction and wherein said locking part is biased to move in said second direction when the force is removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cassette for a recording medium, comprising an upper casing and a lower casing, a spool for holding a roll of recording medium and disposed the upper and lower casings, and a side casing for enclosing the spool and joining the upper and lower casings, wherein the side casing is fitted to at least one of the upper and lower casings by means of press fit or snap-fit connections. Various embodiments of cassettes and printers are also disclosed.