Abstract: An apparatus for holding label stock includes a body including a base and a roll holding area with a roll holding support extending from the base for receiving a roll of label stock. A plurality of rollers are located along a label stock feed path from the roll holding area to a label stock exit zone of the body. The plurality of rollers include a tensioning roller that is movable relative to the base to dissipate tension loads on label stock during label stock movement.

Abstract: Example implementations relate to adjust sharpness parameters. In some examples, a printing device can include a processing resource and a memory resource storing non-transitory machine-readable instructions to cause the processing resource to receive print data comprising color channels corresponding to print pixels to be formed on a multi-layer thermally activated print medium, determine a characteristic of a corresponding layer of the multi-layer thermally activated print medium for color channels of the received print data, adjust sharpness parameters of the color channels based on the determined characteristic of the corresponding layer of the multi-layer thermally activated print medium, and cause a print head of the printing device to apply thermal energy to an area of the multi-layer thermally activated print medium including the print pixels using the adjusted sharpness parameters.

Abstract: A method and device for sensing a temperature of a battery. A temperature of a power supply in an electronic device is monitored. One or more heat producing components of the electronic device are disabled when the monitored temperature of the power supply is higher than a first temperature. The one or more disabled heat producing components are restarted to restore electronic device functionality in an ordered manner when the monitored temperature of the power supply reaches a second temperature that is less than the first temperature.

Abstract: Printers capable of determining a media type of a media and associated methods are provided. An example method includes scanning a media with a verifier associated with the printer to generate at least two consecutive windows of the media. The example method further includes determining a vertical length of a captured image based on a comparison of image characteristic values captured in the at least two consecutive windows. The example method further includes determining a media characteristic associated with the media based at least on the captured image and the vertical length and one or more stored media profiles. The example method further includes calibrating the printer based on the media characteristic.

Abstract: A printer-verifier system for providing print quality feedback and controlling print quality is provided. The printer-verifier system may include a printing mechanism configured to print a machine-readable indicia on a print media; a verifier device configured to optically scan the machine-readable indicia; and a print quality monitoring device in electronic communication with the printing mechanism and the verifier device.

Abstract: An ink for forming a photothermal conversion layer used to cause at least a portion of a thermal expansion layer of a thermal expansion sheet to swell. The ink includes an inorganic infrared absorbing agent having a higher absorptivity in at least one region of the infrared light spectrum than in the visible light spectrum.

Abstract: A printing device is configured to perform a plurality of print cycles including a plurality of conveying periods and a plurality of printing periods. An N-th print cycle includes: selecting m number of conveying periods from among the plurality of conveying periods; setting one or more valid conveying periods; obtaining a first time duration by dividing a time duration corresponding to the m number of conveying periods into a plurality of time segments; adjusting a time duration of each of the one or more valid conveying periods using the first time duration; outputting a pulse in each of the one or more valid conveying periods to convey the printing medium in response to a motor being driven to rotate upon receipt of the pulse; and printing a portion of an object on the printing medium in each of the plurality of the printing periods.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for a printer having verifiers are disclosed herein. Such methods provide for voiding a printed media in a batch printing run. The methods further correspond to identifying the printed media that is printed as part of the batch printing run as a failed media in an instance an assigned grade fails to satisfy a predetermined threshold, marking the printed media as a failed printed media, determining one or more subsequently printed media that were printed after the failed printed media, and reprinting the printed failed media in a next available media after the one or more subsequently printed media.

Abstract: A color printer includes a media transport system arranged to feed print media along a media transport path; a print engine disposed at the media transport path; a controller arranged to calculate an amount of coverage for each pixel and for each process color of an image to be printed on the media, and to control the print engine on the basis of the calculated amount of coverage; a temperature sensor; and a color correction module arranged to determine a correction of the amount of coverage on the basis of a temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is arranged at the media transport path upstream of the print engine for detecting the temperature of the media as they reach the print engine.

Abstract: Adjusting emulated encoder frequencies in an example embodiment can include determining a difference between an encoder count and a theoretical encoder count and adjusting a frequency of an emulated encoder signal to mitigate at least some of the difference between the encoder count and the theoretical encoder count.

Abstract: A method of creating a three-dimensionally shaped object, the method having: a creation step for creating image data for printing an image on a thermally expandable sheet; a printing step for printing an image on the thermally expandable sheet on the basis of the image data created in the creation step; and a protuberation step for partially protuberating the thermally expandable sheet via thermal expansion by irradiating light toward the image printed on the thermally expandable sheet in the printing step. The creation step creates image data such that a grayscale of an image is set so that a fastening portion that fastens a thermally expandable sheet is either intermittently or continuously surrounded by a region where a protuberation height resulting from the thermal expansion is high.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes heating elements that generate heat according to amounts of applied energy, an energy applier that applies energy to the heating elements, a memory that stores a gradation table where energy levels to be applied to the heating elements are set for gradation levels based on a relationship between dot area ratios of an image and the amounts of energy applied to the heating elements, and a controller that transfers control data multiple times to the energy applier based on the gradation table to control the amounts of energy to be applied by the energy applier to the heating elements, each of the control data corresponding to different amounts of energy.

Abstract: The present printing apparatus includes a printing section including a thermal head and a film transfer motor for transferring a transfer film, a memory for storing printing data of different component colors and a control section for controlling the printing section. The control section adjusts the image length at the time of forming an image of each of the component colors on the transfer film by means of the thermal head and printing data of the component color according to the gradation values of the pixels of the pixel group corresponding to a line running in the main scanning direction of the thermal head and the image forming ratio representing the ratio of the number of pixels having the component color relative to the number of the pixels of the pixel group corresponding to the line in the printing data for the component color stored in the memory.

Abstract: A thermal head includes a substrate; a plurality of heat generating portions; a common electrode disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the plurality of heat generating portions; a plurality of individual electrodes disposed on the substrate and each electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of heat generating portions; a first insulation layer disposed on the heat generating portions, a part of the common electrode, and a part of the individual electrodes; a second insulation layer located adjacent to the first insulation layer and disposed on a part of the individual electrodes; and a static removing layer disposed on the first insulation layer and grounded. The static removing layer includes a first portion disposed on an upper surface of the first insulation layer and a second portion electrically connected to the first portion and disposed on an upper surface of the second insulation layer.

Abstract: Irregularities in the density that can occur in printed images of a thermal transfer printer due to mechanical variations or variations in thermal characteristics in the thermal head are more easily and accurately corrected as compared to cases not having the features of the disclosed invention.

Abstract: An image processing device may perform an analysis by utilizing target data representing a target image of a print target, so as to select, from among a plurality of types of print orders for printing the target image, one type of print order in which a print of the target image is presumed to be completed in the shortest time period. In each of the plurality of types of print orders, an area in the target image to be printed by the initial main scanning of the print head may be mutually different. The image processing device may create print data by utilizing the target data for causing a print performing unit to perform the print of the target image according to the selected one type of print order, and supply the print data to the print performing unit.

Abstract: A method for automatically adjusting the setting(s) of a printer having a control circuit in communication with a sensory system and a database. The database is located in a storage medium and the data in the database includes one or more defined parameter settings corresponding to one or more media types. The sensory system is used to obtain a media identifier from media loaded into the printer. The control circuit determines the type of media from the media identifier. The media type is then compared to the database entries and used to retrieve any defined parameter setting(s) corresponding to the media type identified by the media identifier. Instructions to adjust the printer setting(s) according to the defined parameter setting(s) are determined at the control circuit. The control circuit then sends the instructions to the appropriate systems of the printer to adjusted the printer setting(s) according to the defined parameter setting(s).

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are described herein for controlling a printing device. In an example embodiment, a print line is divided into frames and frame dot states are determined based on neighboring frame dot states. Maximum motor speeds of the printing device may be adjusted so that actual motor speeds change gradually during printing. The print engine may detect a printhead type by sending a signal to the printhead and receiving a response.

Abstract: A hand-held printer is disclosed. The hand-held printer includes an image sensor configured to determine a color having plurality of color components associated with a print medium, an image processing module configured to process image data into a plurality of color layers; and a print module configured to receive information related to the plurality of color components from the image sensor and information related to the plurality of color layers from the image processing module. The print module being configured to enhance at least one of the plurality of color layers based on at least one of the corresponding plurality of color components associated with the print medium.

Abstract: Novel methods for calibrating a thermal printer by adjusting a look up table comprising the steps of receiving a test pattern to be printed on a receiver medium, printing the test pattern on the receiver medium, using a sensor to measure a depletion amount of donor material, and using a processor to adjust the lookup table based on the measured depletion amount are disclosed.

Abstract: A high efficiency thermal printing system, comprising: a donor ribbon having donor material; a receiver medium; a test pattern to be printed on the receiver medium using the donor ribbon; a print head, a sensor, and a processor is disclosed. The present invention is adapted to print the test pattern on the receiver medium by heating the donor ribbon to cause the donor material to transfer from the donor ribbon onto the receiver medium, thereby depleting donor material on the donor ribbon. Moreover, the sensor is adapted to measure a depletion amount of the donor material on the donor ribbon after printing the test pattern, and the processor is adapted to calibrate the thermal printing system by adjusting a lookup table in response to the measured depletion amount of donor material.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer including a controller. The controller executes a first control, a second control and a switching control. In the first control, it is achieved that a first coordinated state wherein a pulse/dot ratio when a pulse motor rotates at a first rotation speed is set to a first ratio. In the second control, it is achieved that a second coordinated state wherein the pulse/dot ratio when the pulse motor rotates at a second rotation speed is set to a second ratio that is smaller than the first ratio. In the switching control, the pulse/dot ratio is gradually decreased from the first ratio to the second ratio when the first coordinated state is switched to the second coordinated state, and is gradually increased from the second ratio to the first ratio when the second coordinated state is switched to the first coordinated state.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that is capable of very accurately and efficiently reducing uneven color caused by variation in ejection characteristics among nozzles that eject ink and that occurs in a color image that is formed by mixing a plurality of different kinds of ink. A patch is printed by ejected ink from a plurality of nozzles, a region is specified so as to perform color correction in a test color image that is printed on a printing medium, a plurality of different color correction processing is performed on color signals that correspond to a color correction region, a plurality of color correction patches are printed, a color correction patch to be used is selected from among the plurality of different color correction patches and table parameters that correspond to the nozzles are created based on the selected color correction processing.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer including a controller. The controller executes a first control, a second control and a switching control. In the first control, it is achieved that a first coordinated state wherein a pulse/dot ratio when a pulse motor rotates at a first rotation speed is set to a first ratio. In the second control, it is achieved that a second coordinated state wherein the pulse/dot ratio when the pulse motor rotates at a second rotation speed is set to a second ratio that is smaller than the first ratio. In the switching control, the pulse/dot ratio is gradually decreased from the first ratio to the second ratio when the first coordinated state is switched to the second coordinated state, and is gradually increased from the second ratio to the first ratio when the second coordinated state is switched to the first coordinated state.

Abstract: A image processing apparatus of the present invention comprises an image generation unit configured to generate image data of one page, a printing unit configured to mount color material on an intermediate transfer member to perform printing, and an obtaining unit configured to obtain a time (a time between print pages) showing a time interval between printing one page and printing next one page by the printing unit, and the printing unit outputs patches for adjusting density to be reproduced in the printing, to the intermediate transfer member in the time between print pages.

Abstract: A printer includes a recording unit that executes on a recording medium, a recording operation under a sublimation transfer scheme; a conveying unit that using a protrusion roller having protrusions protruding toward an outer periphery and abutting a first surface of the recording medium, conveys the recording medium to a recording position for the recording operation; a pseudo recorded image data producing unit that produces pseudo recorded image data that includes pseudo pixels obtained by correcting a density of each predetermined pixel that is determined corresponding to an arrangement pattern of the protrusions on the protrusion roller and is determined from among pixels to be recorded in a second area that excludes a first area that is in contact with the protrusions, on the first surface of the conveyed recording medium; and a recording control unit that controls the recording unit based on the pseudo recorded image data.

Abstract: An image data acquiring unit 32 acquires image data of a chart sheet and a reference chart and image data of the white sheet from the external imaging device. A shading correcting unit 34 generates shading correction data on the basis of a white sheet, and performs shading correction for the image data of the chart sheet and the reference chart using the shading correction data. A projective transforming unit performs a projective transformation for the image data of the chart sheet and the reference chart. A color value identifying unit identifies color values of patches in a test chart printed on the chart sheet and color values of patches in the reference chart after the shading correction and the projective transformation. A correction data generating unit generates image correction data on the basis of the identified color values of patches in the test chart and the reference chart.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a print head adapted to form an image on a recording medium, a transport path for the recording medium, the transport path being provided on at least one of a feed side and a discharge side of the recording medium with respect to the print head, an image reading device provided on the transport path, the image reading device being adapted to read an image formed by the print head, a correction chart provided opposite the image reading device with the transport path interposed in between, the correction chart being read by the image reading device in order to correct a reading result of the image reading device, based on information obtained from reading the correction chart, and a distance adjustment device adapted to increase or decrease the distance between the correction chart and the image reading device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit which receives print data, a rendering unit which converts the received print data into a bitmap image by rendering, a binarization unit which generates binary data by carrying out halftoning with respect to the bitmap image, a data combining unit which generates multi-bit data by combining a plurality of successive binary data of the generated binary data, and a print engine which forms an image on a print paper using the generated multi-bit data.

Abstract: A print apparatus is supplied capable of preventing print density unevenness. In the print apparatus that prints by moving a print head with respect to an ink ribbon that is rotated and transported in a predetermined direction, a controller analyzes print data, and performs one direction print by moving the print head in a reverse direction opposite to the predetermined direction on the basis of the analysis result.

Abstract: In a printing control apparatus, there are arranged one pulse application period of which from-start-to-end is series of sub-pulse application time, main-pulse application time and non-heating time and other pulse application periods which follow the one pulse application period and of which from-start-to-end is repeated series of main-pulse application times and non-heating times. As temperature is higher, proportion of applied-for-sub-pulse energy amount to total energy amount in one pulse application period is made larger. As temperature is higher, proportion of applied-for-main-pulse energy amount to total energy amount in other pulse application periods that follow one pulse application period is made smaller.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention there is disclosed a multicolor thermal imaging system wherein different heating elements on a thermal print head can print on different color-forming layers of a multicolor thermal imaging member in a single pass. The line-printing time is divided into portions, each of which is divided into a plurality of subintervals. All of the pulses within the portions have the same energy. In one embodiment, every pulse has the same amplitude and duration. Different colors are selected for printing during the different portions by varying the fraction of subintervals that contain pulses. This technique allows multiple colors to be printed using a thermal print head with a single strobe signal line. Pulsing patterns may be chosen to reduce the coincidence of pulses provided to multiple print head elements, thereby reducing the peak power requirements of the print head.

Abstract: A thermal head capable of reducing abrasion of the conductive layer and reducing damage of heat-generating portions is provided. A thermal head includes a substrate, a plurality of heat-generating portions disposed on or above the substrate, electrodes provided on or above the substrate and electrically connected to the plurality of heat-generating portions, and a protective layer provided along an arrangement direction of the plurality of heat-generating portions, the protective layer covering the plurality of heat-generating portions and the electrodes. The protective layer has an electrical insulating layer covering the plurality of heat-generating portions and the electrodes, a conductive layer provided on the electrical insulating layer, and an abrasion resistance layer provided on the conductive layer. Part of the conductive layer is an exposed portion exposed from the abrasion resistance layer.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal head and a control unit that controls energization of each of a plurality of heater elements based on printing data including a plurality of line data arrays corresponding to the plurality of heater elements respectively, for selectively heating up the plurality of heater elements, and performs printing according to an order at the printing data while taking a line data array as a basic unit, on each printing cycle including a heating period and a non-heating period. The control unit delays a start of a heating period in a printing cycle with respect to a start of the printing cycle for a predetermined time period when a predetermined condition with respect to the line data array is satisfied.

Abstract: A printing surface processing method includes first forming, second forming and applying. In the first forming, a substantially flat first image expressed with unevenness sense based on a touch and/or a stroke of a brush is formed on a first face of a thermal expansion sheet. In the second forming, a second image constituted of a grayscale image is formed on a second face of the sheet. The grayscale image includes a dark portion and a light portion with densities set to form a substantially uneven shape on the first face. The uneven shape corresponds to the unevenness sense of the first image and unevenness sense of fabric where the first image is supposed to be formed. In the applying, thermal energy is applied to the second image to expand the sheet to form the uneven shape on the first face.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention there is disclosed a multicolor thermal imaging system wherein different heating elements on a thermal print head can print on different color-forming layers of a multicolor thermal imaging member in a single pass. The line-printing time is divided into portions, each of which is divided into a plurality of subintervals. All of the pulses within the portions have the same energy. In one embodiment, every pulse has the same amplitude and duration. Different colors are selected for printing during the different portions by varying the fraction of subintervals that contain pulses. This technique allows multiple colors to be printed using a thermal print head with a single strobe signal line. Pulsing patterns may be chosen to reduce the coincidence of pulses provided to multiple print head elements, thereby reducing the peak power requirements of the print head.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a density detector that detects image density, and a memory that stores information relating image density to dot size. When a dot size is specified, the image forming device automatically obtains the corresponding image density from the information in the memory, prints a test pattern, compares its density with the density corresponding to the specified dot size, and adjusts an image forming parameter until the density corresponding to the specified dot size is obtained. Dot size can be accurately adjusted in this way without the need for elaborate measuring equipment. In particular, the size of dots used to embed invisible information in images can be accurately controlled.

Abstract: A grayscale printing control method, a device thereof and a storage medium are provided. The method comprises: determining the grayscale level of image data of each point in each point line and converting the same into multi-bit binary data; forming a data set using the binary data of the same bit of all the points in a point line, thereby forming multiple data sets; each data set corresponding to a predetermined strobe time, and the print head heater corresponding to each point heating upon receiving predetermined data during the strobe time. The present invention can reduce the number of printing strobes and the times of data transmission while ensuring printing quality, thereby greatly improving printing speed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit for performing printing by pressing a thermal head onto heat sensitive paper to heat the heat sensitive paper. A battery supplies a voltage to the thermal head, and a battery voltage detecting unit detects the voltage. A printing control unit changes, according to the detected voltage, a power-off time in which power supply from the battery to the thermal head is stopped. The printing control unit calculates the power-off time based on the detected voltage and the resistance of the thermal head and shortens the power-off time as the detected voltage becomes lower thereby shortening the overall printing time without shortening the life of the heating resistance elements of the thermal head.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an exposure device for exposing an image bearing member to light in accordance with monochromatic image data provided by color separation of inputted multi-color image data to form an electrostatic latent image; a control device for calculating an exposure amount of each pixel of the monochromatic image data to expose the image bearing member with the calculated exposure amount; wherein the control device includes a monochromatic correcting device for calculating a correction amount in accordance with a pixel value of a pixel around a target pixel of the monochromatic image data to correct an exposure amount of the target pixel on the basis of the calculated amount; wherein the control device includes a multi-color correcting device for providing a coefficient for correction of the exposure amount on the basis of the multi-color image data; wherein the monochromatic correcting device controls the exposure amount using the coefficient and the correction amount provided by

Abstract: A printer apparatus including a printing-medium conveying unit conveying a printing medium, a sheet conveying unit conveying a thermal transfer sheet having an image protecting layer to be thermally transferred onto an image formed on the printing medium, a thermal head with heating elements linearly arranged in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the printing medium, and a control unit driving and controlling the thermal head. For selectively applying different amounts of thermal energy to the heating elements to form an uneven pattern on the image protecting layer thermally transferred onto the image on the printing medium, the control unit randomly divides a row of the heating elements into heating element groups each including at least two adjacent heating elements, applies the same amount of thermal energy to heating elements in the same heating element group, and applies different amounts of thermal energy to adjacent heating element groups.

Abstract: A printing system for indicating print media quality to printer users includes a printing assembly configured to route print media along a pathway for printing. In an example, the system includes, but is not limited to, a thermal printer having a thermal print head for printing onto paper. The system also includes a light meter configured to detect light reflected from the print media, such as the paper. The light meter also measures a characteristic of the detected light. An indicator is coupled to the light meter, and configured to present a quality level of the print media to a user based on the measured characteristic of the detected light.

Abstract: A printhead and print system is provided that includes a printer and a control unit connected by a cable. The printhead has a printed circuit board that is modified to include a digital thermometer having a non-volatile memory programmed with the printhead resistance. The control unit reads the printhead resistance directly from the printhead which improves print quality and eliminates the need for manual entry of the printhead resistance when the printhead is replaced. The modified printhead also uses fewer wires in the cable, allowing the cable to be made thinner and more manageable, and increasing the accuracy of temperature measurements conveyed thereover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring an image of predetermined length onto a substrate by selective energization of a row of printing elements in a printhead of a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus may be arranged with a print ribbon located between the printhead and the substrate such that ink is selectively transferred from the ribbon to the substrate as a result of energizations of the printing elements. The image to be printed is rendered in memory as a series of rows of pixels and the apparatus is set up to download the rendered rows of pixels to the printhead successively. The relative positioning of successively printed rows of pixels on the substrate is determined by relative displacement between the printhead and the substrate. The apparatus is set up to control the positioning of the rows of pixels by controlling the delay between successive energizations of the printing elements.

Abstract: A print assembly is disclosed. The print assembly includes a printhead for printing on a printing medium having encoded positional data thereon, a media feed assembly for feeding the medium past the printhead, a capper assembly movable between a capped position covering the printhead and an uncapped position exposing the printhead, and a print controller having a reader configured to operatively read the positional data to provide the print controller with a signal indicative of a position of the medium relative to the printhead. The controller is configured to derive a feed speed of the medium from the signal, and to correlate printing of the printhead with such feed speed.

Abstract: An image processing method comprises: a step of acquiring recording characteristic information of the recording elements; a step of obtaining inconsistent density correction information from the recording characteristic information acquired in the characteristic information acquiring step; a step of obtaining inconsistency corrected image data from the inconsistent density correction information and data of the input image; a step of generating inconsistency correction unfit image position information by detecting an inconsistency correction unfit image from data of the input image; a step of obtaining image data having an N number of tones from the inconsistency corrected image data; a step of judging whether non-correctable conditions arise according to the inconsistent density correction information and the inconsistency correction unfit image position information; and a step of alerting a user to an image anomaly according to judgment results given in the image anomaly judgment processing step.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a printing method that can utilize a lightly pigmented toner along with a darkly pigmented toner to improve the image quality. The method can include receiving a dataset corresponding to a printing of a printing system using a darkly pigmented toner. The printing system may have an undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner. Further, the method can include converting the dataset to a first dataset corresponding to a first printing of the printing system using the darkly pigmented toner, and a second dataset corresponding to a second printing of the printing system using a lightly pigmented toner. The first dataset can avoid the undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner, and a combination of the first printing and the second printing providing a substantially same printed optical density corresponding to the received dataset.

Abstract: A printhead and print system is provided that includes a printer and a control unit connected by a cable. The printhead has a printed circuit board that is modified to include a digital thermometer having a non-volatile memory programmed with the printhead resistance. The control unit reads the printhead resistance directly from the printhead which improves print quality and eliminates the need for manual entry of the printhead resistance when the printhead is replaced. The modified printhead also uses fewer wires in the cable, allowing the cable to be made thinner and more manageable, and increasing the accuracy of temperature measurements conveyed thereover.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus for providing two sensing operations within a thermal printer includes a densitometer with at least one light source that discriminates color and that is positioned in a first position for sensing donor patches within the thermal printer; the densitometer while in a second position provides signals from printed receiver media for internal color calibration of the thermal printer. At least one reflector directs light from the light source to the densitometer through a donor web when the densitometer is in the first position; and a switchable device repositions the densitometer from either the first position or the second position.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are provided in a width direction of paper, an analyzing unit which analyzes whether an input print layout contains any bar code, a calculating unit which calculates a print ratio of a bar code portion in the paper for each line of the print layout in the case where the analyzing unit analyzes that at least the print layout contains a bar code, a setting unit which sets a printing velocity corresponding to the print ratio for one line in the bar code portion calculated by the calculating unit in the case where the analyzing unit analyzes that the print layout contains the bar code and a changing unit which changes a velocity at which the thermal head performs printing on the paper for one line to the printing velocity set by the setting unit.