Abstract: In a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, the total thickness thereof is 250 ?m or less, a seal portion has a layered structure in which a pressure-adhesive layer, a seal portion substrate, and a receiving layer are layered in this order from a release portion side. A release portion has a layered structure in which a surface resin layer, a release portion paper substrate, and a back face resin layer are layered in this order from a seal portion side. One or both of the seal portion substrate and the surface resin layer includes a layer made of polyethylene terephthalate is 50 ?m or more. The sum of the thickness of the seal portion substrate and the thickness of the surface resin layer is four times or more the thickness of the back face resin layer, and the thickness of the back face resin layer is 20 ?m or more.

Abstract: Described herein are heat resistant inks and coating compositions that, when coated on a substrate, impart the feel of paper. The inks and coating compositions do not degrade when exposed to temperatures of 120° C. or greater.

Abstract: A circuit-board holder includes a first restraint, a second restraint, and a third restraint. The first restraint restricts a circuit board from moving in a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction of the circuit board. The circuit board is inserted to the circuit-board holder in a direction parallel to a surface of the circuit board. The second restraint restricts the circuit board from moving in a normal-line direction to the surface of the circuit board. The third restraint restricts the circuit board from moving in the insertion direction of the circuit board when the circuit board has been inserted to a prescribed position. One end of the third restraint in the insertion direction of the circuit board is fixed. Another end of the third restraint in the insertion direction of the circuit board is elastically deformable and displaceable in a normal-line direction to the surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a recording section that is configured to move between a first position at which a liquid ejecting section performs recording on a medium transported on a transport path and a second position at which the recording section is retreated from the transport path; a wiper that wipes a liquid ejection surface of the liquid ejecting section by moving in a direction extending along the liquid ejection surface in a state in which the recording section is at the second position; and a regulating unit that is configured to switch between a regulating state in which regulating of movement of the recording section in the first direction is performed and a non-regulating state in which the regulating is not performed and that has the regulating state when the recording section is at the second position.

Abstract: A device comprising a supply, a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The supply is to supply a metallized, non-absorptive media along a travel path, which is electrically connectable to a ground element, the metallized media to carry a first polymer structure. The first portion along the travel path is to receive droplets of ink particles within a dielectric, non-aqueous carrier fluid on the first polymer structure on the media to form an image. The second portion is to apply an adhesion-promoting surface treatment, onto the ink particles and the first polymer structure, comprising UV ozone, plasma, or chemical additive. The third portion is to apply, via heat and pressure, a second polymer structure onto the ink particles and the first polymer structure to produce a media assembly.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for printing on a printing medium. The apparatus includes the following elements: a transport mechanism for transporting the printing medium in a transport direction; a first print head for printing an image on the printing medium, and printing a lead line used as a reference for determining a printing position in a width direction; a second print head for performing printing based on a position of the lead line; a printing position sensor for detecting the position of the lead line in the width direction; and a moving mechanism for moving the printing position sensor in the width direction of the printing medium according to a width dimension of the printing medium.

Abstract: Provided is a medicine packaging device. The medicine packaging device includes: a reader-writer that reads information from an IC tag installed at a supply core of an ink ribbon roll detachably installed to an ink ribbon cassette as well as writes information to the IC tag; a motor control unit that controls a winding motor for rotating a winding core, based on a used length of the ink ribbon which is information read from the IC tag, so that the ink ribbon of the ink ribbon roll runs in a winding direction at a higher speed than a feeding speed of a continuous sheet for packaging; and a written information output unit that outputs information showing the used length of the ink ribbon which has been changed due to use of the ink ribbon, to the reader/writer as information written on the IC tag.

Abstract: A method and structure for forming conductive structure such as an electric circuit, or a portion of an electric circuit, can include the use of a thermal print head and a ribbon including a carrier and a metal layer. The thermal print head is used to print a first portion of the metal layer onto a sacrificial print medium. The first portion printed has a first pattern, where a second portion having a second pattern remains on the carrier. The first pattern is a reverse image at least a portion of the electric circuit, while the second pattern includes at least a portion of the electric circuit. The second portion having the second pattern can be transferred to a circuit substrate, then used as an electric circuit.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal transfer sheet having an excellent high-speed transferability and capable of forming images with high fluorescence intensity and abrasion resistance. The thermal transfer sheet of the present invention includes a substrate, a fluorescent layer, and a thermofusible ink layer in this order, in which the fluorescent layer contains a fluorescent material, and a vinyl resin.

Abstract: A printing system includes: a printing device including a thermal head, a supplier, a winder, and a ribbon transport mechanism; and a controller configured to: transport an ink ribbon in a first direction from the supplier to the winder and heat the ink ribbon to perform printing; rewind the ink ribbon subjected to the printing in a second direction opposite to the first direction; after again receiving a print command, rewind the ink ribbon in the second direction by a first length corresponding to a length required to reach a printable speed; after the rewindings, store a second length corresponding to a length of the ink ribbon subjected to the printing upstream of the thermal head in the first direction; and feed the ink ribbon in the first direction by the stored second length.

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet is provided that accurately removes a transfer layer. The thermal transfer sheet includes a peel-off layer affixed to a substrate. The peel-off layer (i) contains at least a vinyl chloride-type resin and an acrylic-type resin, and a mass of the vinyl chloride-type resin based on a total mass of the peel-off layer is more than 50% by mass and not more than 95% by mass, or the peel-off layer (ii) contains a polyester-type resin having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of not more than 17000 and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of not less than 50° C. and not more than 120° C.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to enable a machine-read mark to also determine, with high probability, a management state to be normal when a visual mark has determined the management state to be normal, in cases when the visual mark and the machine-read mark, which are provided with a sensor function for detecting an abnormality in the same management state, are present on one product, even if there is variation in the quality of the marks. At least two barcodes or marks for managing the safety of one and the same product are provided. The barcodes and marks are provided with a function with which the safety of the product is confirmed as a result of a change in a property thereof, such as the color or shape, caused by an external factor that may reduce the safety of the product. The at least two barcodes or marks are provided with the function with which the safety of the product is confirmed as a result of a change in a property thereof caused by the same external factor.

Abstract: An object is to provide a transfer film that can impart sufficient durability performance to a transfer object surface and can also have excellent peeling stability without causing any transfer failures such as tailing and burr. A transfer film including at least a substrate, a release layer provided on the substrate, an intermediate layer provided on the release layer, and a protective layer provided on the intermediate layer, in which the intermediate layer includes a wax component and a rubber component, and the protective layer includes an active light curing resin.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing self-adhesive labels, in particular in a self-service area, for example of a drug store, is provided. The apparatus comprises a dye-sublimation thermal printer, as a printing means for printing a printing pattern onto an adhesive film, and a cutting apparatus for cutting the adhesive film along a cutting pattern, the adhesive film being moved automatically from the printing means to the cutting apparatus. Initially, only a first moving unit of the printing means moves the adhesive film at a first speed to a second moving unit of the cutting apparatus, after which both moving units move the printed adhesive film further in the forward direction.

Abstract: A thermal printer uses an ink ribbon having a function of performing cleaning of a thermal head by being heated. The thermal printer performs a cleaning process of performing cleaning of the thermal head. In the cleaning process, the thermal head applies, to the ink ribbon, heat of a heat quantity with which a dye applied onto the ink ribbon does not sublime and with which the cleaning is performed.

Abstract: A printing system includes a print station for receiving print medium traveling along a transport pathway and an adjustable print head assembly. A medium dispenser transports the print medium on the transport pathway to the print station, and a medium width sensor detects the width of the print medium. A pressure sensor arrangement detects pressure imposed by the print head assembly at points along the width of the transport pathway when an image is printed on the print medium. A monitoring subsystem in communication with the medium width sensor and the pressure sensor arrangement calculates, based upon the detected width and the detected pressure, amounts of pressure imposed by the print head assembly along the width of the print medium.

Abstract: A printer is operable for marking an image on a media substrate. The printer includes a housing and a printhead. The printhead is operable for marking the image on a surface of the media substrate held in proximity therewith by a weight of a supply of the media substrate from which the media substrate is fed. The media substrate supply is disposed in the housing over the printhead.

Abstract: A ruggedized placard utilizes a multilayer construction including a clear primary layer or cover and an indicia layer, the indicia being viewable through the clear primary layer.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a conveyance roller conveying a print medium, a printhead printing an image on the print medium, a carriage supporting the printhead and movable in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the conveyance roller, and a detecting unit detecting a rotation amount of the conveyance roller. The detecting unit is a rotary encoder including a code wheel provided coaxially with the conveyance roller. The carriage can move to a position at which the carriage overlaps the code wheel in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the conveyance roller.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus which includes a base, a movable member which is movably held by the base, to be movable along a first direction which is parallel to the base, a spring which applies a bias to the movable member, at one side in the first direction, a bearing which is supported by the movable member, a roller which is rotatably supported by the bearing, and is extended in a second direction orthogonal to the base, and which guides the ink ribbon, a first detection target member which is provided to the roller, to be rotatable integrally with the roller, and a first sensor which is provided to the movable member, and is facing the first detection target member, and which detects rotation of the first detection target member.

Abstract: When a roughened pattern is formed on an image protection layer, a thermal transfer sheet is protected from being damaged or broken. A thermal head 18 is driven and controlled such that an image protection layer 15e of a thermal transfer sheet 15 is thermally transferred to a printing medium 14, and that a roughened pattern 40 is formed on the image protection layer 15e. The roughened pattern 40 is made based on a corrected pattern 40B that is obtained by correcting a basic pattern 40A that is a pattern including an island portion formed of a mass of a plurality of high-energy pixels 40a, such that the high-energy pixel 40a surrounded by the high-energy pixels 40a forming an edge area of the island portion is converted to a low-energy pixel 40b.

Abstract: There is provided a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium which is able to better suppress the occurrence of abnormal transfer during high-speed printing using a high-speed printer of sublimation transfer type and is able to improve transfer sensitivity in high-speed printing. The heat-sensitive transfer recording medium includes a base (10), a heat-resistant lubricating layer (20) formed on one surface of the base (10), an underlying layer (30) formed on the other surface of the base (10), and a dye layer (40) formed on a surface of the underlying layer (30), which is on the other side of a surface facing the base (10). In the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium, the underlying layer (30) has a major component that is a copolymer of polyester having a sulfonic group on a side chain and acrylic having at least one of a glycidyl group and a carboxyl group.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a reduction processing unit, a connecting pixel group detecting unit, and a ruled line determining unit. The reduction processing unit is configured to (a) set a reduction direction as one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and (b) reduce an original image along the reduction direction by a predetermined reduction ratio without reducing the original image along a direction perpendicular to the reduction direction and thereby generate a reduced image. The connecting pixel group detecting unit is configured to detect a connecting pixel group in the reduced image, the connecting pixel group continuously extending along the reduction direction. The ruled line determining unit is configured to determine a position of a ruled line in the original image from a position of the connecting pixel group in the reduced image on the basis of the reduction ratio.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an encoder that detects the rotation of a driving roller that forms a transport device, an imaging device that images a medium during transport by the transport device, and a controller. In a second detecting unit, the imaging device images the medium irradiated with light that the light emission controller causes the light-emitting unit to emit through a strobe control signal. The second detecting unit acquires movement amount of the medium using a plurality of images with different imaging times at which the medium is imaged. In the first detecting unit, a latching circuit holds a rotation amount of a driving roller totaled by a counter at a timing based on the strobe control signal. The controller controls the discharge timing of the print head based on the rotation amount and the movement amount.

Abstract: A credential production device includes a printing device, a laminating device, a transfer ribbon accumulator, a processing assembly, and a frame. The printing device is configured to print an image to the transfer ribbon. The laminating device is configured to transfer printed images from the transfer ribbon to a substrate. The transfer ribbon accumulator adjusts a length of a portion of a ribbon path, along which the transfer ribbon is routed, in response to different transfer ribbon feed rates. The processing assembly supports the transfer ribbon, at least a portion of the printing device or a portion of the laminating device, and at least a first portion of the transfer ribbon accumulator. The frame supports the second portion of the transfer ribbon accumulator. The processing assembly and the frame are configured to move relative to each other between first and second positions.

Abstract: In a method of operating a transfer printing device, which includes a transfer ribbon having a series of transfer sections, a print unit, and a mark sensor, the transfer ribbon is fed in a feed direction. A transfer section that is available for printing is selected through the detection of an absence of a used mark in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon corresponding to the transfer section using the mark sensor. An image is printed to the selected transfer section using the print unit. A used mark corresponding to the selected transfer section is printed in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon.

Abstract: Provided is a medicine packaging device. The medicine packaging device includes: a reader-writer that reads information from an IC tag installed at a supply core of an ink ribbon roll detachably installed to an ink ribbon cassette as well as writes information to the IC tag; a motor control unit that controls a winding motor for rotating a winding core, based on a used length of the ink ribbon which is information read from the IC tag, so that the ink ribbon of the ink ribbon roll runs in a winding direction at a higher speed than a feeding speed of a continuous sheet for packaging; and a written information output unit that outputs information showing the used length of the ink ribbon which has been changed due to use of the ink ribbon, to the reader/writer as information written on the IC tag.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge may include a supply roll; a winding roll; and a power transmission mechanism to transmit power from a drive source to the supply roll and the winding roll. A direction in which an ink ribbon is wound by the winding roll is a ribbon winding direction and a direction in which the ink ribbon is wound by the supply roll is a ribbon rewinding direction. The power transmission mechanism may include a winding side one-way clutch to transmit a driving force in the ribbon winding direction to the winding roll and cut off transmission of the driving force in the ribbon rewinding direction to the winding roll; and a supply side one-way clutch to transmit the driving force in the ribbon rewinding direction to the supply roll and cuts off transmission of the driving force in the ribbon winding direction to the supply roll.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a thermal transfer image receiving sheet which is able to provide excellent printing sensitivity and prevent the generation of poor image quality in high density areas and folded lines even during high speed printing, and an image forming method for forming an image on the thermal transfer image receiving sheet. Presented is a thermal transfer image receiving sheet containing a substrate and, on at least one surface of the substrate, a composite porous layer containing a thermoplastic resin, and a dye receiving layer in this order from the substrate, wherein the composite porous layer contains a porous core layer and non-porous skin layers layered on both surfaces of the porous core layer; a total thickness of the non-porous skin layers is 5 to 15% of a whole thickness of the composite porous layer; and a density of the composite porous layer is 0.65 to 0.74 g/cm3.

Abstract: A method of controlling tension in a tape, wherein the tape is transferable between a first spool and a second spool by a tape drive, the tape drive having a motor control system which includes two DC motors and a controller for controlling the operation of the motors, the tape drive also having two spool supports, each of which is suitable for supporting a spool of tape, and each of which is driven by a respective one of the motors, the method including only one tension setting step during a printing operation.

Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus that does not degrade the printing quality even when reciprocating shifts of a film-shaped medium are continued, an ink ribbon 41 that is the film-shaped medium is laid between a supply spool 43 and a wind-up spool 44 with regions used in printing on a single printing medium formed continuously in the longitudinal direction. A counter counts the number of times an unused region in the ink ribbon 41 located in a predetermined position between the supply spool 43 and the wind-up spool 44 reciprocates and shifts between the supply spool 43 and the wind-up spool 44, and when the number of times reaches the predetermined number, the wind-up spool 44 is driven to shift the region in the wind-up direction from the printing position.

Abstract: A ribbon includes a substrate film, wherein the film comprises a tensionable material; and an ink disposed on the ribbon. A length of the ribbon includes portions that have been tensioned to provide a code readable from the ribbon by measuring the tension over the length of the ribbon.

Abstract: A printer apparatus includes a print unit that prints an object on recording paper, a platen roller that conveys the recording paper, a cutter that cuts the recording paper, a mainframe that accommodates the print unit and the cutter, a cover that is attached to the mainframe and is configured to open and close with respect to the mainframe, the cover having the platen roller arranged thereon. The cover includes a lock member having a lock pin, and when the cover is closed, the lock pin of the lock member is moved towards the platen roller and is inserted into a lock pin fixing part that is arranged at the mainframe.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer comprises a frame, a printing mechanism, and a ribbon mechanism, wherein the frame comprises a base, and a ribbon bracket and an upper housing pivoted with the base through a respective pivot shaft thereof, wherein the frame further includes a linkage mechanism used to open the ribbon bracket in linkage when the upper housing is opened relative to the base, and a driven member fixedly connected with the ribbon bracket, and a rotation axis of the driven member is coaxial with a pivot shaft of the ribbon bracket; a rotational direction of the driving member is the same with a rotational direction of the driven member; an operating space for installing the ribbon is formed between the upper housing and the ribbon bracket when the upper housing is open.

Abstract: A printing system and printing apparatus are provided with improvements in the image quality of an image formed on a printing medium, a peel off region (PO) wherein a transfer layer of a transfer film is not transferred is set corresponding to a card, modified printing data is generated by modifying a gray-scale value of printing data inside a region that is larger than the PO region by predetermined dimensions and including the PO region in the printing data of Y, M, C and Bk into a gray-scale value of 0, an image is formed on the transfer film by heating a thermal head for an image formation panel of an ink ribbon according to the modified printing data. The transfer layer is peeled off by heating the thermal head for a peel off panel of the ink ribbon according to position information of the PO region.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a thermal printer having a feeding motor that rotates the feeding shaft forward/backward depending on the winding configuration of the ink ribbon attached to the printer, an input part allowing the winding direction of the ink ribbon to be designated, a thermal head for transferring ink from the ribbon to a print medium, a wind-up motor that rotates the wind-up shaft of the ink ribbon after printing, a storage part for storing target rotating quantities for the wind-up motor and other target rotating quantities for the feeding motor in each winding direction, and a control part that extracts a target rotating quantity for the direction of tension for an ink-surface-outward winding ink ribbon or an ink-surface-inward winding ink ribbon and controls each motor.

Abstract: The conveyance apparatus includes a first conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet in a conveyance direction, and a second conveyance unit disposed on a downstream side of the first conveyance unit in the conveyance direction and configured to convey the sheet in the conveyance direction. The conveyance apparatus corrects a rotational amount of each conveyance unit using a correction value dedicated to each rotational phase of each conveyance unit for each conveyance state, in a first conveyance state in which the first conveyance unit is operative to convey the sheet, a second conveyance state in which the first and second conveyance units are cooperative to convey the sheet, and a third conveyance state in which the second conveyance unit is operative to convey the sheet.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a printer includes an image forming unit, a coloring conversion unit, and a deterring unit. The image forming unit forms an image from a temperature-sensitive ink whose color is changed depending on a temperature on a medium. The coloring conversion unit converts a coloring state of the image of the temperature-sensitive ink by heating or cooling the image of the temperature-sensitive ink. The deterring unit provided between the coloring conversion unit and the image forming unit deters an air heated or cooled by the coloring conversion unit from flowing toward the image forming unit.

Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus with high printing quality that reduces a transport amount of an ink ribbon except printing operation and that suppresses skew of the ink ribbon, diameters of spools 43, 44 are calculated from rotation amounts of the supply spool 43 and wind-up spool 44 corresponding to a printing length in a sub-scanning direction of the printing data during driving of a thermal head 40, a value of the calculated diameter is compared with a value of a beforehand set diameter, it is thereby determined whether or not an ink ribbon 41 is near empty, and when the ink ribbon is not near empty, the ribbon 41 is wound around the spool 44 up to a printing end position in which a rear end of a used portion of the ribbon 41 passes through a peeling member 28, while when the ink ribbon is near empty, the ribbon 41 is wound around the spool 44 until an empty mark EMP_M arrives at a position detectable by a sensor Se2, and then is rewound around the spool 43 until a front end of an unused portion of the ri

Abstract: A transfer device is provided to realize a higher speed in terms of print time by reducing a conveyance time of an ink ribbon to a beginning position of each ink panel. The transfer device includes an image formation unit conveying the ink ribbon and a recording medium held between a thermal head and a platen, and transferring a transfer image onto the recording medium; a ink ribbon conveyance device for conveying the ink ribbon; a recording medium conveyance device for conveying the recording medium; and a control device for controlling the ink ribbon conveyance device and the recording medium conveyance device to control, in the image formation unit, beginning positions of a transfer start position of the ink panel and a transfer start position of the recording medium.

Abstract: An automatic product sublimation process is disclosed allowing for point-of-sale customization of sublimation parameters in a retail environment. A dye sublimation transfer printing system is configured to print one or more images onto transfer media, then position the media onto a substrate. A selected product is positioned on top of the media. The system is configured to automatically determine, by a processor, one or more of a temperature and duration of a single thermal cycle to sublimate the one or more images onto the selected product. The determination may be based on properties of the product, characteristics of the images, or both. One or more heating platens engage the transfer media to sublimate the product in a single thermal cycle, wherein at least one of the cycle's temperature and duration match the determined values. The disclosed process improves the quality of the sublimation technique, yet requires no substantive operator training.

Abstract: A safe, integrated dye sublimation transfer printer apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to print one or more images onto transfer media, then align the transfer media onto a substrate. A selected product to receive the sublimated image is positioned on top of the transfer media, and the apparatus brings the transfer media and one or more heating platens into contact to sublimate the image. The heating platen is configured to sublimate one or more opposing sides of a product substantially simultaneously in a single thermal cycle. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be incorporated into a fully-enclosed vending machine to provide on-demand personalized sublimated products and accessories for a consumer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a substrate processing device, such as a printing device. In some embodiments, the device includes a substrate supply, a reusable card, an operative unit, at least one transport mechanism, and a controller. The substrate supply is configured to support a plurality of operative substrates. The reusable card is stored in a dedicated storage area, which does not receive the operative substrates. The controller is configured to control the at least one transport mechanism and the operative unit to deliver the reusable card from the storage area to the operative unit, to process the reusable card with the operative unit, and return the reusable card to the storage area, multiple times.

Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus without waste of a ribbon panel in using a two-side dedicated ribbon, a printing apparatus 1 capable of printing on both surfaces of a printing medium performs two-side printing using an ink ribbon 41 with a color ribbon panel 41a and monochrome ribbon panel 41b configured in a face sequential manner. At this point, the apparatus detects a position of each ribbon panel, judges a type (color or monochrome) of a next usable nearest ribbon panel of the ink ribbon 41, judges which type of the ribbon panel (color or monochrome) is used for printing data sent from a higher apparatus 201, and compares the type of the next usable nearest ribbon panel with the ribbon panel judged with the printing data to determine the printing order on the printing medium.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer comprises a print head drive mechanism that is configured to reciprocally move a print head parallel to movement of a carrier ribbon past the print head. A controller is configured to control the print head drive mechanism to move the print head in a first direction along the carrier ribbon to transfer ink material from the carrier ribbon to a substrate to print a first portion of an image on a first area of the substrate. The controller is also configured to control movement of the print head in a second direction opposite to the first direction as the carrier ribbon and substrate are also moved in the second direction to position the print head relative to the carrier ribbon so that a second portion of the image is printed on a second are of the substrate adjacent to the first area of the substrate.

Abstract: A printer may include a printhead assembly a clutch assembly, and/or a printer ribbon transport assembly. The printhead assembly may include a printhead biasing assembly defining a biasing ramp which may be configured to apply a biasing force to a printhead support bracket so as to at least partially counteract a ribbon force. The clutch assembly may be configured to supply or take-up a printer ribbon with first and second spool engagement members of different diameters that frictionally engage first and second friction members. The printer ribbon transport assembly may include a rotation lock mechanism configured to prevent rotation of a ribbon take-up core when the take-up core is disengaged from a drive assembly so as to prevent a loss in ribbon tension.

Abstract: A tape drive for transferring tape between a first spool and a second spool, the tape comprising at least one marker indicative of a property of the tape, the tape drive having: two spool supports, each of which is suitable for supporting a spool of tape, and a tape control system which includes: two motors and a controller for controlling the operation of the motors, each motor driving a respective one of the spool supports, and a detector that is operable, in use, to detect the presence of one or more markers on a portion of a tape, the tape control system being operable to identify a property of the tape according to the detected marker or markers.

Abstract: An image forming method and a combination of a thermal transfer sheet and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet are capable of forming images of high print quality. An image forming method wherein an image is formed by combining a thermal transfer sheet, which is obtained by forming a dye layer on one surface of a substrate and forming a back surface layer on the other surface of the substrate, and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet, which is obtained by forming a dye receiving layer on one surface of another substrate. The dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet contains a sublimable dye, a binder resin and one or both of (A) a polyether-modified silicone having a viscosity of not less than 1,000 mm2/s at 25° C. and (B) a polyester-modified polysiloxane. The dye receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is an aqueous dye receiving layer.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon comprises a substrate, and a clear thermal transfer coating disposed on one side of the substrate, wherein the clear thermal transfer coating is substantially devoid of pigment material. Also, a method of manufacturing a thermal transfer ribbon for finishing a printed label comprises applying to one major side surface of a substrate a clear thermal transfer coating which is substantially devoid of pigment material. Further, an apparatus comprises a label printer, a thermal transfer printer, and an in-line feeding mechanism which interconnects the label printer and the thermal transfer printer to feed a printed label from the label printer to the thermal transfer printer so that the thermal transfer printer can thermally transfer a clear thermal transfer coating to the printed label to provide a finished label.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a printing apparatus includes a conveying section configured to move a recording medium fed from a paper roll along a conveyance path, a thermal head configured to thermally transfer ink of an ink ribbon to the recording medium to print, a control section configured to discriminate a print mode for the recording medium and control the printing processing for the recording medium and a feed length counting section configured to count the feed length of the recording medium conveyed from the paper roll to the thermal head in a first direction when the print mode is a preset mode.