Abstract: A printer media supply spool adapted to allow the printer to sense type of media, and method of assembling same. The supply spool comprises a shaft having a supply of media ribbon wound thereabout. A transceiver unit is disposed proximate the shaft. The transceiver is capable of transmitting a first electromagnetic field and sensing a second electromagnetic field. A transponder including a semi-conductor chip is integrally connected to the shaft and has encoded data stored in the chip indicative of the type of media ribbon. The chip is capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power the chip and then generating the second electromagnetic field as the chip is powered. The second electromagnetic field is characteristic of the data stored in the chip. The transceiver unit senses the second electromagnetic field, which second electromagnetic field has the data subsumed therein.

Abstract: A supply such as an ink tank or the like, which is mounted on an image recording apparatus, includes a recording section in which encoded information created by encoding identification information by a secret key is recorded, and the encoded information is decoded by a decoding key provided with the image recording apparatus and then checked. With this arrangement, it can be advantageously prevented that the supply such as the ink tank or the like is mounted on the image recording apparatus by mistake, whereby the deterioration of image quality, the trouble of the image recording apparatus and the like caused by the supply mounted by mistake can be prevented.

Abstract: This invention provides a printing apparatus which controls to inhibit any inadvertent write to a memory in an expendable so as to securely manage the exchange timing and the like of the expendable. For this purpose, the expendable such as a toner cartridge or the like comprises a rewritable nonvolatile memory (21) which holds information indicating whether or not its service life has expired. When the toner cartridge is attached to the printing apparatus, it is ready to communicate with a printer engine controller in the printing apparatus, and write to the nonvolatile memory (21) can be made in accordance with an instruction from a control unit. A lock functional unit (21a) writes information indicating write inhibition at a predetermined address in the nonvolatile memory (21), thus inhibiting write to the address position that stores the information indicating whether or not its service life has expired.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a supply spool, a take-up spool, and a supply of ribbon. The cartridge housing includes a supply spool enclosure, a take-up spool enclosure, a pair of ribbon guides, and a gap between the ribbon guides and the supply and take-up spool enclosures. The supply spool is contained in the supply spool enclosure, and the take-up spool is contained in the take-up spool enclosure. The ribbon extends from the supply spool, over the ribbon guides and the gap, and to the take-up spool. Another aspect of the ribbon cartridge includes a cartridge housing and a cleaner roller. The cartridge housing includes front and rear walls. The cleaner roller is rotatably supported between the front and rear walls.

Abstract: An ink ribbon is formed from a belt shaped sheet body, and is wound around a pair of tubes. Spools are detachably mounted at each end of the tube bodies. An ink ribbon cartridge includes side plates formed with supporting openings for supporting corresponding spools. When the ink ribbon cartridge is mounted in a printing device, the spools are freely rotatable within the supporting openings. A protrusion is formed in an upper surface of the takeup-side of the cartridge. The protrusion provides a handle and an opening is formed in the takeup-side upper surface beneath the protrusion.

Abstract: A print cartridge according to a particular embodiment of the invention includes a housing and a seal disposed within the housing. The seal includes a longitudinal section having a first end and a second end, a first lateral section connected to and extending from the first end of the longitudinal section, and a second lateral section connected to and extending from the second end of the longitudinal section. The longitudinal section, the first lateral section, and the second lateral section are arranged to be generally continuous and to generally prevent toner leakage from the print cartridge.

Abstract: Improvements relating to identification tags on consumable supply items used in identity document production equipment. The use of identification tags on the consumable supply items allows the document production equipment to recognize the consumable supply items that are loaded into each piece of equipment. The equipment can then initiate a variety of activities that are based on the loaded supply item. The activities are designed to enhance the operation of the equipment for the equipment operator and to provide added value to those customers who utilize consumable supply items that are recognized by the equipment.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a housing that defines a receiving formation for a media tray assembly. A chassis is positioned in the housing. A media tray assembly is displaceably engageable with the chassis to permit the tray assembly to be received in, and withdrawn from, the receiving formation. The media tray assembly and the housing define a print medium feed path. The media tray assembly includes a media tray in which a stack of print medium sheets can be stored. A feed mechanism is positioned on the media tray to feed the sheets from the tray. A printhead assembly is positioned downstream of the media tray to carry out a printing operation on the sheets as the sheets are fed from the tray.

Abstract: A roll holder device is for use with a recording paper roll including a tubular spool shaft and continuous recording paper wound about the tubular spool shaft in a roll form. In the roll holder device, first and second holder cores are inserted in respectively first and second ends of the tubular spool shaft. A holder frame supports the first and second holder cores in a rotatable manner. Anti-dropping levers prevent the tubular spool shaft from dropping from the first and second holder cores by pushing a shaft inner surface of the tubular spool shaft.

Abstract: In predicting a quantity of a printing product necessary for printing a document, the document is stored in its entirety as digital data. Each page of the document is divided into bands of the digital data. From the digital data, a table of limited capacity is created, which describes at least part of a monochromatic component of one of the bands, with the monochromatic component corresponding to the printing product and each cell of the table representing at least a pixel. A number of switched-on pixels in the table is counted, with a switched-on pixel corresponding to a pixel for which a portion of the printing product must be ejected. Before enabling or demanding printing, a necessary quantity of the printing product is derived from a number of switched-on pixels corresponding to each band.

Abstract: A unitary ink sheet cartridge body has a pair of side plates, a partitioning plate, and a cover segment together defining a frame shape with an central open space. The partitioning plate has at least two recesses in an edge facing away from the open center. An ink sheet set is mounted in the ink sheet cartridge body.

Abstract: A hot-stamping foil tape cassette comprises a hot-stamping foil tape transferred by pressure application together with a value-added medium to the value-added medium and a windup reel for winding up the hot-stamping foil tape. The reel on which the hot-stamping foil tape is wound is stored in a cassette case. A shutter is included which at the time of hot-stamping transfer is in a protective position that protects the hot-stamping foil tape. The shutter at the time of hot-stamping transfer withdraws to a withdrawal position that does not interfere with action of the hot-stamping transfer. After hot-stamping, by the shutter, the hot-stamping foil tape can be peeled from the value-added medium. A foil-peeling mechanism for a hot-stamping device, a peeling method for a hot-stamping foil and a control method for a hot-stamping foil tape cassette are also disclosed.

Abstract: A facsimile machine includes a detachable ribbon cassette accommodating an ink ribbon and having an EEPROM that stores the amount of the ink ribbon consumed. In the facsimile machine, printing is performed while the ink ribbon is taken up by a take-up motor and the memory contents in the EEPROM are renewed according to the progress of printing. The facsimile machine further includes a ribbon-empty detector that detects that the facsimile machine runs out of the ink ribbon, and a CPU that resets the memory contents in the EEPROM of the ribbon cassette.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette installed within a printer having a sensor for detecting the ribbon cassette. The ribbon cassette contains a front saving room, a back saving room, a take-up spool rotatably installed in the back saving room, a feed spool rotatably installed in the front saving room, a ribbon, and a monolithic protrusion set on the front side of the front saving room. If the protrusion is detected by the sensor, the printer is able to print.

Abstract: A print cartridge according to a particular embodiment of the invention includes a housing and a seal disposed within the housing. The seal includes a longitudinal section having a first end and a second end, a first lateral section connected to and extending from the first end of the longitudinal section, and a second lateral section connected to and extending from the second end of the longitudinal section. The longitudinal section, the first lateral section, and the second lateral section are arranged to be generally continuous and to generally prevent toner leakage from the print cartridge.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge has a belt shaped sheet body, and is wound around a pair of tubes. Spools are detachably mounted at each end of the tube bodies. An ink ribbon cartridge has a supply side and takeup side covers, each cover having a side segment at each end. A pair of connection ribs, a connection rib of the pair of connection ribs extends between the side segment on corresponding ends of each of the supply side and takeup side covers. A projection extends from a lower side of each connection rib proximate the joining of the connection rib and the side segment at each end of the supply cover.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a housing, an ink ribbon (120), spools (50, 60) for holding the ribbon, and spindles (70, 72, 90, 92) received within openings of the spools. The housing has semi-cylindrical sections (10, 12) which receive the spools. The housing further includes c-shaped sideplates (24, 26, 34, 36) with openings for each spindle. The c-shaped sideplates selectively expand to receive the spindles and retain the spindles in position.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and discharging of the recording paper printed over the entire page is disclosed. A pair of paper guide members are disposed in the vicinity of the lateral ends of the ink ribbon drawn from the ribbon outlet port respectively so as to project from the wall plate of the cassette body in the direction in which the ink ribbon is drawn. The pair of paper guide members is formed with a surface inclined in such a manner that the projecting length decreases from the projecting top to the base of the paper guide member toward the lateral center of the wall plate.

Abstract: A printer media supply spool adapted to allow the printer to sense type of media, and method of assembling same. The supply spool comprises a shaft having a supply of media ribbon wound thereabout. A transceiver unit is disposed proximate the shaft. The transceiver is capable of transmitting a first electromagnetic field and sensing a second electromagnetic field. A transponder including a semi-conductor chip is integrally connected to the shaft and has encoded data stored in the chip indicative of the type of media ribbon. The chip is capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power the chip and then generating the second electromagnetic field as the chip is powered. The second electromagnetic field is characteristic of the data stored in the chip. The transceiver unit senses the second electromagnetic field, which second electromagnetic field has the data subsumed therein.

Abstract: A facsimile machine includes a detachable ribbon cassette accommodating an ink ribbon and having an EEPROM that stores the amount of the ink ribbon consumed. In the facsimile machine, printing is performed while the ink ribbon is taken up by a take-up motor and the memory contents in the EEPROM are renewed according to the progress of printing. The facsimile machine further includes a ribbon-empty detector that detects that the facsimile machine runs out of the ink ribbon, and a CPU that resets the memory contents in the EEPROM of the ribbon cassette.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge includes a frame having a first side, a second side, a third side, and fourth side. The first side and the second side extend in a widthwise direction and have supporting portions. The third side and the fourth side extend between the first side and the second side in a lengthwise direction perpendicular to the widthwise direction. The third side is formed with a protrusion protruding upward from an upper surface of the third side. A pair of tubes extend in the lengthwise direction and are supported by the supporting portions. An ink ribbon is wound around the pair of tubes.

Abstract: An ink cassette includes a first part and a second part each of which has a first end provided with a substantially U-shaped bobbin holder and a second end provided with a similar bobbin holder. Each of the U-shaped bobbin holders has a pair of flexible arms defining a groove in which a pair of protrusions are provided. An ink ribbon set including an ink ribbon and two bobbins is stored in an ink ribbon supply container. The bobbins are supported at the same depth and spaced from each other a distance equal to a spacing between thee first and second parts. The ink cassette is overlaid on the ink ribbon set, with alignment marks aligned, and then the ink cassette is forced into the supply container. The bobbins are inserted past the protrusions into the grooves and are held around their axes by the arms.

Abstract: A roll holder device is for use with a recording paper roll including a tubular spool shaft and continuous recording paper wound about the tubular spool shaft in a roll form. In the roll holder device, first and second holder cores are inserted in respectively first and second ends of the tubular spool shaft. A holder frame supports the first and second holder cores in a rotatable manner. Anti-dropping levers prevent the tubular spool shaft from dropping from the first and second holder cores by pushing a shaft inner surface of the tubular spool shaft.

Abstract: An ink sheet cartridge includes a cartridge body 30 rotatably supporting four spools 36, 37, 38, 39. The spool 38 includes a first rotation member 56 having a transmission gear 47 and a shaft member 48 having a flange 48a. The first rotation member 46 is undetachably engaged with the shaft member 48 within a support hole 50 formed to the cartridge body 30 while interposing a side plate 51a between the transmission gear 47 and the flange 48a. An intermediate connector 46 includes resilient pawls 59 and projections 61 for engaging respective mating grooves 60 and locking grooves 62 formed to a takeup-side core tube 41, and is engaged with the flange 48a of the shaft member 48.

Abstract: A system for dissipating electrostatic charge build-up in printers comprises a ribbon frame made of statically dissipative material and adapted to support a printhead bracket on which a thermal printhead is mounted proximate to a rotating platen. The statically dissipative ribbon frame may be grounded to the printer power supply which in turn is grounded to the main printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) of the printer which is connected to earth ground. The electrostatically dissipative material in the ribbon frame automatically dissipates static electric charge as the moving ribbon comes into physical contact with at least one portion of the grounded ribbon frame during printer operation. The printhead bracket may also be made of statically dissipative material and grounded to the PCBA. The electrostatically dissipative material in the printhead bracket automatically dissipates static electric charge as the moving ribbon comes into physical contact with at least one portion of the grounded printhead bracket.

Abstract: An ink sheet cartridge includes a cartridge body. The cartridge body has a pair of side plates, a partitioning plate, and a cover segment together defining a frame shape with an central open space. When the ink sheet cartridge is accommodated to a facsimile device, a thermal head and a platen are positioned at the central open space. Also, the partitioning plate serves as a lower transport chute defining a transport path with upper chute members, so that a recording sheet is transported along the transport path.

Abstract: A printer system, a printer apparatus, a printing method, an ink ribbon and a printing medium that certainly and effectively prevent a quality of printed image from being degraded without causing trouble to a user. More concretely, the printing medium is provided with memory mechanisms and the memory mechanisms stores predetermined control data, the printer apparatus reads out the control data stored in the memory mechanisms by contactless communication and controls the photographic printing operation on the basis of the control data which is read out.

Abstract: Improvements relating to identification tags on consumable supply items used in identity document production equipment. The use of identification tags on the consumable supply items allows the document production equipment to recognize the consumable supply items that are loaded into each piece of equipment. The equipment can then initiate a variety of activities that are based on the loaded supply item. The activities are designed to enhance the operation of the equipment for the equipment operator and to provide added value to those customers who utilize consumable supply items that are recognized by the equipment.

Abstract: Cassette for thermal transfer ribbon for setting images on printing plates, having spools to hold the thermal transfer ribbon inside a housing, the spools having some play with respect to the housing of the cassette, and the spools being capable of being positioned with respect to the housing such that neither the spools nor the thermal transfer ribbon touch the housing during spooling operations.

Abstract: Printing head structure of large-size drafting machine, including a printing box movably retained on rails. The printing box has a receptacle in which a reel-type color cartridge is positioned. The box body is formed with a window at a printing position. A printing head is disposed in the box body. Two sides of the printing head are equipped with linear bearings. A shaft fitted in a spring is fitted in and supported by the bearing. Multiple electric heaters as printing points and heat-radiators are disposed under the printing head. A vertically movable cam driving mechanism is disposed above the printing head. According to received drafting signals, the color belts are rolled for selecting points and heating the points so as to print a picture.

Abstract: A method of determining supply parameters and storing the supply parameters in a memory is disclosed. The method comprises: providing supply characteristics for a supply, selecting a dot history pattern, generating a table, the table comprising values based on the selected dot history pattern and the provided supply characteristics, and storing supply parameters, based on the values in the generated table, in a memory associated with the supply. Thereafter, the stored supply parameters can be accessed, either before or during printing, to regulate the energy delivered to thermal elements, to increase printing speed, and to reduce the workload of the processor in the system.

Abstract: A printing cartridge includes a housing. An array of switch actuators is positioned on the housing. The array of switch actuators represents data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant so that when a switch array is actuated by the array of switch actuators, a signal carrying such data can be generated.

Abstract: The invention intends to enable proper feeding and discharging of the recording paper printed over the entire page without causing deterioration of the quality. A pair of paper guide members are disposed in the vicinity of the lateral ends of the ink ribbon drawn from the ribbon outlet port respectively so as to project from the wall plate of the cassette body in the direction in which the ink ribbon is drawn. The pair of paper guide members is formed with a surface inclined in such a manner that the projecting length decreases from the projecting top to the base of the paper guide member toward the lateral center of the wall plate.

Abstract: Color printheads in a color inkjet printer are in a fixed order in the scanning carriage, which causes the colors to be printed in a different order when the carriage is scanned in an opposite direction. The different print order may result in a perceptible change in hue between passes in bi-directional printing. Depleted shingle masks are substituted for the nominal ones, based on print direction, at the shingle masking stage, to compensate for print-direction-induced hue shift. A look-up table indexed by a composite color tone value providing a depletion probability and a halftoning error diffusion value are used in determining when depleted shingle masks are to be invoked.

Abstract: A integrated cartridge of a printer has a paper cassette for holding paper, and a two-reel ribbon cassette for positioning a printer ribbon, connected by a pair of braces. The ribbon cassette is rotatable, with respect to the paper cassette, or collapsible to make the integrated cartridge more compact for storage.

Abstract: A cartridge for consumable product for a printer includes an electronic chip for storing technical data characteristic of the consumable product and for controlling printing. The chip is arranged to be read by the printer, and the chip is disposed on a removable support card. The chip stores one or more parameters for controlling printer operation and is arranged for the downloading of technical data from a server.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette 10 includes a cassette case 11 having a first accommodating portion 12, a second accommodating portion 13, and a connecting portion 14 connecting the first and second accommodating portions 12 and 13, a feeding core 12 and a take-up core 42 rotatably accommodated respectively in the first and second accommodating portions 12 and 13, and an ink ribbon R having a large width which can be fed from the feeding core 40 and taken up by the take-up core 42 through a connecting member 14, wherein there is provided in the first accommodating portion 12 in the vicinity of the connecting member 14 a shaft 19 extending along the direction of the width of the ink ribbon R, wherein there is provided in the connecting member 14 an edge portion 18a of a wall portion 18 opposed to the shaft 19, and wherein the ink ribbon R fed out from the feeding core 40 is bent at the shaft 19, and then bent in the opposite direction by the edge portion 18a before it is taken up by the take-up core 42, whereby it is possib

Abstract: A motion detector comprising a rotator member having at least one radially positioned member and being mounted for rotation from at least a first position to at least a second position; a detector member, preferably a Hall Effect sensor; and a magnet producing a magnetic field; wherein, the radially positioned member is characterized by altering the magnetic flux of the magnetic field when it moves into and out of proximity to the magnet; and wherein the detector member detects the alteration of the magnetic flux. The motion detector is preferably used to detect the speed, type, position, presence, and absence of a printer ribbon cartridge.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge structure for a printing head of a large printer, the structure has a ribbon cartridge, an external and an inner clamping piece, the ribbon cartridge is provided with an “L” shaped sheet member of which the two ends are respectively extended to connect with two cylinders. Each cylinder has a rotation axle, and has on the periphery thereof an opening for extending of a color ribbon therethrough. The “L” shaped sheet member is provided on both sides thereof with at least an engaging portion to respectively connect with the corresponding protruding portion on one side of and the corresponding hooking portion on the other side of each of the clamping pieces. The color ribbon is extended between the external and the inner clamping pieces. Thereby, the whole printer have the effects of firm connecting and convenient assembling, improved tidiness of the color ribbon and easiness of reeling the color ribbon.

Abstract: Printing head structure of large-size drafting machine, including a printing box movably retained on rails. The printing box has a receptacle in which a reel-type color cartridge is positioned. The box body is formed with a window at a printing position. A printing head is disposed in the box body. Two sides of the printing head are equipped with linear bearings. A shaft fitted in a spring is fitted in and supported by the bearing. Multiple electric heaters as printing points and heat-radiators are disposed under the printing head. A vertically movable cam driving mechanism is disposed above the printing head. According to received drafting signals, the color belts are rolled for selecting points and heating the points so as to print a picture.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing graphic images on sheet material has a thermal print head with a linear array of heating elements pressed into engagement with an ink web overlying the sheet material on a platen. The platen extends in the lengthwise direction of the print head across the width of the sheet material, and is rotatably driven to in turn drive the sheet material with the ink web relative to the print head. A removable cassette having a predetermined length of ink web bearing a printing ink is mounted adjacent to the print head with the ink web interposed between the sheet material and the print head for printing the graphic images on the sheet. A supply spool carrying the ink web is rotatably mounted in the cassette, and a take-up spool is also rotatably mounted in the cassette for receiving the ink web from the supply spool upon passage between the platen and print head.

Abstract: A removable cassette for a photoprinter includes a reservoir containing a consumable source of ink adapted to be used by the photoprinter for printing, and a consumable supply of printable media sheets adapted to be printed upon by the photoprinter using the source of ink. The consumable source of ink for use with the photoprinter, and the printable media sheets for use with the photoprinter in conjunction with the consumable source of ink, wherein the consumable source of ink and the printable media sheets are integrated into the cassette removable from the photoprinter.

Abstract: An ink sheet cartridge includes a cartridge body 30 rotatably supporting four spools 36, 37, 38, 39. The spool 38 includes a first rotation member 56 having a transmission gear 47 and a shaft member 48 having a flange 48a. The first rotation member 46 is undetachably engaged with the shaft member 48 within a support hole 50 formed to the cartridge body 30 while interposing a side plate 51a between the transmission gear 47 and the flange 48a. An intermediate connector 46 includes resilient pawls 59 and projections 61 for engaging respective mating grooves 60 and locking grooves 62 formed to a takeup-side core tube 41, and is engaged with the flange 48a of the shaft member 48.

Abstract: An ink sheet cartridge includes a cartridge body 30 rotatably supporting four spools 36, 37, 38, 39. The spool 38 includes a first rotation member 56 having a transmission gear 47 and a shaft member 48 having a flange 48a. The first rotation member 46 is undetachably engaged with the shaft member 48 within a support hole 50 formed to the cartridge body 30 while interposing a side plate 51a between the transmission gear 47 and the flange 48a. An Gin intermediate connector 46 includes resilient pawls 59 and projections 61 for engaging respective mating grooves 60 and locking grooves 62 formed to a takeup-side core tube 41, and is engaged with the flange 48a of the shaft member 48.

Abstract: Cassette for thermal transfer ribbon for setting images on printing plates, having spools to hold the thermal transfer ribbon inside a housing, the spools having some play with respect to the housing of the cassette, and the spools being capable of being positioned with respect to the housing such that neither the spools nor the thermal transfer ribbon touch the housing during spooling operations.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette includes a cassette main body portion rotatably holding a supply core and a take-up core around which the end portions of an ink ribbon are wound and a ribbon guide portion extending to one side from the cassette main body portion and having on one side a ribbon slide contact surface, a ribbon turn-up portion formed at the forward end of the ribbon guide portion being formed by a rotatable roller member, whereby the frictional resistance of the ink ribbon turned up at the ribbon turn-up portion is reduced. Further, the main body portion includes a holder member having the ribbon guide portion and holding the supply core and the take-up core and a case member capable of holding the holder member by holding the supply core and the take-up core in such a way as to cover them from outside, whereby it is possible to provide an ink ribbon cassette which can be easily assembled.

Abstract: The ink film unit is configured by fixing the fixed shaft that penetrates the inside of the hollow, cylindrical feeding reel, right side plate and left side plate and attaching the winding reel to the right side plate and left side plate in a pivotable manner. The main unit is provided with the grooves that house and position the right side plate and left side plate, and the U-figured holders that hold the feeding reel and winding reel. This makes it possible to reduce the space for installation of the ink film unit, reducing the size of the facsimile apparatus.

Abstract: Contactless power and communications links are established between a printer engine and a peripheral device installed on a replaceable printer component. For peripheral devices incorporated within or on the replaceable component, power is inductively transferred from a primary winding on the printer engine to an adjacent secondary winding on the replaceable component without the use of direct physical contact between electrical conductors. In addition, communications between the printer engine and at least one peripheral device on board the replaceable component are provided without making direct physical contact between electrical conductors. The communication task is accomplished in one of several ways. For a first embodiment of the invention, control signals are sent from the printer engine to the replaceable component over the inductive power coupling circuit by switching between two frequencies of alternating current applied to the primary winding on the printing engine.

Abstract: A thermal print media pack for a thermal printer includes a housing; a roll of thermal print receiver media arranged in the housing; and a roll of thermal dye carrier media arranged in the housing, the thermal dye carrier media having a heat transferable dye on a relatively thin base web including a repeating series of spaced apart frames of different colored dyes and a relatively thicker leader attached to the leading edge of the relatively thin base web.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for generating an image which includes a housing, a ribbon supply holder, a tape supply holder, an input device, a thermal printing head and a tape attachment device. The ribbon supply holder is operatively coupled to the housing to hold a supply of ink ribbon. The ink ribbon includes a film layer with an ink layer disposed thereon, and a receptor layer for receiving ink from the film layer. The tape supply holder is operatively coupled to the housing to hold a supply of tape, and the tape includes an adhesive layer. The input device is operatively coupled to the housing to enter data used to generate the image by the printing apparatus. The thermal printing head is operatively coupled to the housing to print the entered data on the ink ribbon. The tape attachment device attaches the tape to the film layer of the ink ribbon.