Abstract: A printer system using a cassette housing therein printing ribbon is provided. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cassette provided with an electrically conductive sheet for preventing the cassette from accumulating charge. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal printing process in which a heat-sensitive ink ribbon is separated away from a recording medium while the ink is still half-melted thereby allowing to prevent a printed image from becoming reflective. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer system in which a printing ribbon is extended as inclined with respect to a recording medium such that the printing ribbon is separated farther away from the recording medium in a printing direction.

Abstract: An ink ribbon feeding mechanism includes a rotatably supported capstan roller which is fixed in position and a rotatably supported pinch roller which is movable with respect to the capstan roller and normally biased toward the capstan roller to be pressed thereagainst with ink ribbon to be fed as being sandwiched therebetween. In the present invention, there is provided a structure which allows to keep the pinch roller separated away from the capstan roller when desired. In the preferred embodiment, it is so structured that the pinch roller is brought into contact with the capstan roller under pressure when a top cover is pivoted closed and brought out of contact with the capstan roller when the top cover is pivoted open, automatically.

Abstract: A thermal printer for printing characters or the like on a recording medium, heat-sensitive paper or plain paper, by a thermal printhead which is mounted on a carriage movable along the recording medium in a reciprocating manner is provided. The printhead is pressed against the recording medium while the carriage is moving in a printing direction and the printhead is kept away from the recording medium while the carriage is moving in a returning direction opposite to the printing direction. A cassette containing therein heat-sensitive ink ribbon is substantially elongated in shape and it bridges between a pair of side plates forming part of a frame of the printer when detachably mounted in position. The cassette is provided with a supply port at one end and a take-up port at the opposite end and thus the ribbon is lead outside through the supply port and lead inside through the take-up port. And the ribbon is taken up in association with the returning motion of the carriage.