Abstract: A removable device adapted to cooperate with a conveyor system for the installation of an endless ribbon in the conveyor system, the removable device includes at least two support elements to support the endless ribbon, each support element being movable in rotation around a rotation axis and each support element having a convex portion to support a portion of the endless ribbon.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a coater to coat an endless belt ribbon with ink on a coating zone, a printhead to print by thermal transfer a substrate with a part of the ink coated on the endless belt ribbon on a printing zone, a conveyor system supporting and transporting the endless ribbon including ink along a first path from the coater to the printhead and along a second path from the printhead to the coater; a pre-printing buffer to control the length of the first path of the ribbon in the coating zone; and a post-printing buffer to control the length of the second path of the ribbon in the printing zone.

Abstract: A removable supporting device includes a frame; an endless ribbon; and a supporting system to support the endless ribbon, the supporting system including at least two rollers connected to the frame; the at least two rollers including a first connecting system adapted to cooperate with a first complementary connecting system of a thermal transfer printing apparatus.

Abstract: A removable device adapted to cooperate with a conveyor system for the installation of an endless ribbon in the conveyor system, the removable device includes at least two support elements to support the endless ribbon, each support element being movable in rotation around a rotation axis and each support element having a convex portion to support a portion of the endless ribbon.

Abstract: A thermal printing apparatus includes a frame, an endless ribbon to transport ink on its outer face, a coating device to coat the endless ribbon with ink, a printhead to print by thermal transfer a substrate with a part of the ink, a plurality of first rollers supporting and transporting the endless ribbon by its inner face along a path from the coating device to the printhead and from the printhead to the coating device in a cyclic manner, at least one first conveyor arranged to support the inner face of the endless ribbon between two adjacent first rollers along its path from the coating device to the printhead; the first conveyor including a plate fixed in translation and rotation with the frame and having a first convex surface supporting the inner face, a heat exchanger designed to cool down the first surface of the plate at a predefined temperature.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a coater to coat an endless belt ribbon with ink on a coating zone, a printhead to print by thermal transfer a substrate with a part of the ink coated on the endless belt ribbon on a printing zone, a conveyor system supporting and transporting the endless ribbon including ink along a first path from the coater to the printhead and along a second path from the printhead to the coater; a pre-printing buffer to control the length of the first path of the ribbon in the coating zone; and a post-printing buffer to control the length of the second path of the ribbon in the printing zone.