Abstract: A thermal transfer printing mechanism for use in a facsimile device includes a separating guide surface that is formed having a curve having a radius of curvature of not more than 1.2 mm. Consequently, the acceleration in a separating direction of an ink film separated from an image receiving sheet by the separating guide surface is increased, and the ink film is smoothly separated from the image receiving sheet. The separating guide surface may be formed as a bent thin plate, an embossed portion, a deformed edge of a supporting member, a plastic attachment, or a plastic tape. The separating guide surface is formed as a curve continuing from a feeding guide surface, and the feeding guide surface bends the sheet and the ink ribbon from a plane connecting a contact line of a thermal head and the ink ribbon and a contact line of the sheet and a sheet guide member provided downstream of the separating guide surface.

Abstract: A printer is capable of preventing the formation of creases in a portion of an ink ribbon corresponding to a print head and of printing characters and images in good print quality without forming streaks attributable to creases in the ink ribbon. A main frame supports a feed spool and a takeup spool so that an ink ribbon extends between the feed spool and the takeup spool. A print head support frame supporting a print head and an ink ribbon guide is supported pivotally at one end thereof on the main frame. When the print head support frame is locked in place on the main frame, the ink ribbon guide depresses the ink ribbon so that the tension of a portion of the ink ribbon on one side of the main frame is higher than that of a portion of the same on the other side of the main frame while the printer is in an unoperational state and tension is distributed uniformly across a portion of the ink ribbon corresponding to the print head while the printer is in an operational state.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a movable carriage mounted with a printing mechanism that reciprocates along a printing line on a platen, and a control unit, which is provided on a printer body in a stationary manner and sends control signals to the printing mechanism for its various operations. A flexible member connected to the carriage and the control unit for transmission of the control signals. For this purpose, the flexible member is connected at one end to the printing mechanism. The flexible member has a first end portion at a proximity of that end, which is clamped by a connecting member pivotally supported on the carriage. This connecting member can swing to permit free deformation of the flexible member which is caused by the movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A printing apparatus in which a holder, bearing a type carrier thereon, and a carriage, moving along a printing line, are coupled together by means of an engaging member and a coupling plate formed integrally with the holder and the carriage, respectively. The coupling plate has a surface extending along the transfer direction of the carriage and formed with an opening. The engaging member extends transverse to the carriage transfer direction so as to engage the opening. By this engagement, the holder is moved as one with the carriage, with respect to the carriage transfer direction. With respect to a direction transverse to the carriage transfer direction, the holder is allowed to move between a printable position, where the holder is situated close to a platen, and a retracted position, where the holder is situated wide apart from the platen.

Abstract: A driving method for a printing apparatus having a non-stabilized power source compensates for power supply fluctuations by selectively driving an additional load, such as another electric actuator, in a non-functional mode to thereby stabilize the current and voltage supplied to driven electric actuator.