Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a thermal transfer printer comprises a ribbon feeding roller configured to feed an ink ribbon including an ink layer on a base film; a ribbon winding roller configured to wind the ink ribbon fed from the ribbon feeding roller; a print head configured to heat the ink ribbon from a surface provided with no ink layer to selectively transfer the ink layer to paper; and a control section configured to control to apply an appropriate tension to the ink ribbon between the ribbon feeding roller and the ribbon winding roller according to the type of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: A ribbon roll held by a ribbon holder comprises a cylindrical member, an ink ribbon wound around the cylindrical member and a data holding section which is arranged on surface of the cylindrical member and has plural areas where identification codes indicating information relating to the ink ribbon are recorded A driver rotates the cylindrical member held by the ribbon holding section. A detector detects components of the identification code and the mark from a position facing the data holding section of the ribbon roll held by the ribbon holder. A rotation controller enables the driver to rotate the cylindrical member to an extent to which the detector can detect the identification code. A reading controller carries out reading of the identification code by taking the mark as a reference from the components detected by the detector in synchronization with the rotation by the rotation controller.

Abstract: A ribbon roll held by a ribbon holder comprises a cylindrical member, an ink ribbon wound around the cylindrical member and a data holding section which is arranged on surface of the cylindrical member and has plural areas where identification codes indicating information relating to the ink ribbon are recorded A driver rotates the cylindrical member held by the ribbon holding section. A detector detects components of the identification code and the mark from a position facing the data holding section of the ribbon roll held by the ribbon holder. A rotation controller enables the driver to rotate the cylindrical member to an extent to which the detector can detect the identification code. A reading controller carries out reading of the identification code by taking the mark as a reference from the components detected by the detector in synchronization with the rotation by the rotation controller.

Abstract: A ribbon roll held by a ribbon holder comprises a cylindrical member, an ink ribbon wound around the cylindrical member and a data holding section which is arranged on surface of the cylindrical member and has plural areas where identification codes indicating information relating to the ink ribbon are recorded A driver rotates the cylindrical member held by the ribbon holding section. A detector detects components of the identification code and the mark from a position facing the data holding section of the ribbon roll held by the ribbon holder. A rotation controller enables the driver to rotate the cylindrical member to an extent to which the detector can detect the identification code. A reading controller carries out reading of the identification code by taking the mark as a reference from the components detected by the detector in synchronization with the rotation by the rotation controller.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a thermal transfer printer comprises a ribbon feeding roller configured to feed an ink ribbon including an ink layer on a base film; a ribbon winding roller configured to wind the ink ribbon fed from the ribbon feeding roller; a print head configured to heat the ink ribbon from a surface provided with no ink layer to selectively transfer the ink layer to paper; and a control section configured to control to apply an appropriate tension to the ink ribbon between the ribbon feeding roller and the ribbon winding roller according to the type of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a thermal transfer printer comprises a ribbon feeding roller configured to feed an ink ribbon including an ink layer on a base film; a ribbon winding roller configured to wind the ink ribbon fed from the ribbon feeding roller; a print head configured to heat the ink ribbon from a surface provided with no ink layer to selectively transfer the ink layer to paper; and a control section configured to control to apply an appropriate tension to the ink ribbon between the ribbon feeding roller and the ribbon winding roller according to the type of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: A printer prints on a recording medium having a recording surface whose visible image is recordable and erasable by the assignment of heat energy, and the recording medium has a wireless communicable IC inlet therein. The printer includes a guide conveying unit configured to convey the recording medium along a guide path, an image recording/erasing unit configured to record and erase a visible image by assigning heat energy of a thermal print head to the recording surface of the recording medium, and a control unit configured to control the image recording/erasing unit so as to assign a first temperature to a region where the IC inlet is not arranged, and so as to assign a second temperature higher than the first temperature to a region where the IC inlet is arranged when a visible image is erased.

Abstract: A media stocker includes a feeder plate configured to maintain a plurality of recording media in a stacked state thereon, a vertically elevating device configured to cantilever-support the feeder plate, and a guide member disposed vertically to face a free end of the feeder plate and configured to guide the recording media stacked on the feeder plate. And the media stocker includes a roller attached to the free end side of the feeder plate and rotatable around a horizontal shaft, the outer circumferential surface of the roller being in contact with the guide member at a position higher than the position of the uppermost support point of the feeder plate by the elevating device.

Abstract: A media stocker includes: a paper feeding table configured to support plural recording media in a stacked state; a lifting and lowering mechanism configured to lift and lower the paper feeding table; a bottom plate attached to the paper feeding table and configured to receive the recording media placed thereon and support the recording media such that a downstream side end in a conveying direction of the recording media on the paper feeding table moves up and down relatively to an upstream side end in the conveying direction; and a control section configured to make an angle of the bottom plate adjustable such that a surface of the recording medium at the top extends along a direction substantially orthogonal to a lifting and lowering direction of the paper feeding table.

Abstract: A receptacle section stores a label. A label discharge port is positioned at a front end portion of a housing to let the label pass therethrough. A guide passage connects the receptacle portion and the label discharge port with each other and guides the label. A conveyance mechanism conveys the label along the guide passage from the receptacle section and discharges it through the label discharge port. A control section controls a drive source of the conveyance mechanism. A printing section performs a printing operation in the guide passage. A pivotable member is positioned in the label discharge port. One end of the pivotable member is located outside the front end portion of the housing, while an opposite end thereof is located inside the front end portion of the housing, and the pivotable member pivots, centered on an axis thereof extending in the width direction of the label discharged through the label discharge port.

Abstract: A thermal head of a printer is provided to contact a platen through an elongated print paper and an elongated ink ribbon. One end of the ink ribbon is wound and retained on a ribbon core, and the other end is taken up by a take up spool. The print paper and the ink ribbon can be fed back at the same speed by reversely rotating the platen. At the same time, rotation resistance to be applied from the take-up spool to the ink ribbon is removed by a resistance removing device. Further, the ribbon core is reversely rotated by a ribbon core reverse driving device to rewind the ink ribbon, thereby preventing slacking of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a printer body having an opening on the top side thereof, and a platen for feeding a paper sheet supported by a paper holder disposed in the printer body. The platen is provided in the body to face the opening. A head unit includes a housing having an opening on the bottom side thereof and a print head disposed in the housing to face the opening thereof. The head unit is moveable between an operative position, in which the head unit is located on the printer body so that the opening of the housing and the print head face the opening of the printer body and the platen, respectively, whereby the paper sheet between the platen and the print head is allowed to be ready for printing, and an open position in which the head unit is off the printer body so that the whole opening of the printer body is exposed.

Abstract: An electronic printing apparatus comprises a printer body having a front surface with a window, a sheet feeding mechanism provided in the printer body, which may be accessed for maintenance work through the window, a main front cover for opening and closing the window in the front surface of the printer body, a sub-front cover movably provided on the printer body so as to be downwardly pivotable about the bottom of the printer body in a perpendicular direction, and having an operation surface which covers the main front cover so that it faces thereto, and a keyboard and a display provided on the operation surface of the sub-front cover.