Abstract: When different tape cartridges accommodating printing tapes having different hardness, thicknesses or widths are exchangeably mounted in the same printing apparatus, excellent printing can be obtained using the present embodiment. In a platen 12 provided in a tape cartridge 10, the harder, thicker or wider the tape T accommodated in the tape cartridge 10, the softer a platen rubber provided on a surface of the platen. The platen rubber 14 having a hardness corresponding to the properties of the tape T is used so as to obtain an ideal contact state between a printing head and the tape T regardless of the properties of the tape T when the tape cartridge 10 is mounted in a tape writer 1. Accordingly, the tape T can be properly conveyed by the platen 12 and a tape guide pin 26 regardless of its properties, and can be brought into contact with a printing head through an ink ribbon R in an ideal and consistent contact state.

Abstract: A tape cartridge holds a roll of printing tape. The tape cartridge is removably loaded in a tape printing apparatus. The printing tape is fed by being unwound from the tape cartridge. Printing is carried out on the printing tape unwound from the tape cartridge by an ink jet printing method. A drive roller for feeding the printing tape is arranged in the apparatus. A driven roller associated with the drive roller is arranged in the tape cartridge. The drive roller and the driven roller press the printing tape therebetween for feeding the printing tape by rotation, in a state of the tape cartridge being loaded in the apparatus body.

Abstract: A printer with media supply spool adapted to sense type of media, and method of assembling same. A supply spool to be loaded into the printer is adapted to allow the printer to sense type of a media ribbon thereon. 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 previously stored therein 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 previously stored in the chip. The transceiver unit senses the second electromagnetic field, which second electromagnetic field has the data subsumed in the chip.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette is easily loaded without allowing a torsion force to be acted when the cassette is loaded into a printing apparatus and/or a facsimile apparatus each using the ribbon cassette. A ribbon cassette has a ribbon supplying part for supplying an ink ribbon, a ribbon take-up part for taking up the ink ribbon which is led from the ribbon supplying part and passed between a print head and a platen roller, and connecting parts for connecting the supplying and take-up parts. The connecting parts are provided with projecting holding parts for attachment or detachment, and the holding parts are positioned near the ribbon take-up part positioning on the side remote from a hinge member.

Abstract: A printer system includes a printer on which color and monochromatic print cartridges are mounted, and a personal computer to output bit map data to the printer. The kinds of these ink cartridges are memorized as status information within a RAM so that the personal computer can detect a cartridge mounted position based on the status information. In the case that the color and/or monochromatic print cartridge is mounted incorrect, the personal computer detects an amount of a difference from a normal mount position to cause print data to shift depending upon the difference, thus creating bit map data.

Abstract: Apparatus for maintaining tension on a ribbon in a printer used for transferring an image, e.g., thermally, from a print head through the ribbon to a print medium. By maintaining ribbon tension and thus keeping the ribbon essentially without wrinkles, print quality is enhanced. This tension maintenance apparatus uses a pair of torqued reel subassemblies with the ribbon extending between and is of particular significance when used in conjunction with a label stock as a printer medium when the printer mechanism bidirectionally moves the label stock to assist removal of labels from its backing. These torqued reel assemblies are sufficiently loaded such that ribbon tension is maintained between these reel assemblies despite this bidirectional movement.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette includes a lid member that is not abruptly opened when a cassette is loaded into a printing apparatus and/or a facsimile apparatus using the ribbon cassette. Retained parts are provided on both side faces of a supplying part main body of a ribbon supplying part in a ribbon cassette and retaining parts which are detachably engaged with the retained parts to retain a lid member by the supplying part main body are provided on side faces of the lid member. While each of the retained parts is a protrusion projecting sideward, each of the retaining parts on the side faces of the lid member via a hinge part and has an engagement hole with which the protrusion is detachably engaged.

Abstract: Printer defining a reduced exterior envelope thereof and method of providing same. In one embodiment of the invention, a print head is movable from a first position spaced-apart from the platen to a second position adjacent the platen, such that the platen and the print head define a clearance therebetween when the print head is in the first position. A dye donor cartridge, which has an elongate neck portion defining a longitudinal axis therealong, is insertable through the aperture and into the housing to a position adjacent the print head. The neck portion is sized to be received through the clearance for interference-free insertion of the cartridge. Moreover, the cartridge includes a dye donor take-up spool that has an elliptically-shaped transverse cross section defining a major axis and is capable of being oriented such that the major axis of the take-up spool is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the neck portion.

Abstract: A tape printing apparatus includes a body, and a lid arranged on the body in a hinged-door form, the body having a pocket formed therein for removably loading a cartridge containing a tape-like member as a printing object material. An ejecting mechanism elevates the cartridge when the cartridge is in a state loaded in the pocket. The cartridge is classified into at least a small-height cartridge containing a tape-like member having a small width and a large-height cartridge containing a tape-like member having a large width. The body has a first support member arranged in the pocket for receiving a seating portion of the small-height cartridge in a shallow position in the pocket and a second support member arranged in the pocket for receiving a seating portion of the large-height cartridge in a deep position in the pocket. The first support member is arranged in a position away from the seating portion of the large-height cartridge when the large-height cartridge is loaded in the pocket.

Abstract: Dye cartridge system adapted to reduce an exterior envelope of a printer and method of providing same. The printer comprises a housing having a front sidewall that has an aperture therethrough. A platen and a print head are disposed in the housing. The print head is movable from a first position spaced-apart from the platen to a second position adjacent to the platen, such that the platen and the print head define a clearance therebetween when the print head is in the first position. A dye donor cartridge carrying a dye donor ribbon is insertable through the aperture and into the housing to a position adjacent to the print head. A rod-shaped catch-member is attached to the end portion of the dye ribbon. Moreover, a dye ribbon take-up spool, which is permanently disposed in the housing has a recess therein for receiving the catch-member. When the catch-member is received in the recess and the take-up spool is rotated, the dye ribbon winds about the take-up spool.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer according to the present invention is one in which drive side shaft portions and driven side shaft portions of a ribbon supplying spool shaft wound up with an unused ribbon and a ribbon take-up spool shaft for winding a used ribbon are rotatably received respectively by drive side bearing means and driven side bearing means of a housing formed of only a lower shell. The drive side bearing means have U-letter shaped drive side bearing portions having shaft disengagement stopping portions at opening portions into which the drive side shaft portions are inserted from the top, flange receiving portions at the outside of the bearing portions on the same plane for receiving flanges of the drive side shaft portions, and slits formed with upper portions cut off and between the drive side bearing portions and the flange receiving portions making the drive side bearing portions capable of being elastically deformed toward the slits.

Abstract: A coding and marking printer system having an unwind reel coupled to a rotatable drag pulley to supply ribbon from a depletable ribbon supply roll disposed thereon to a first guide roller, to a dancer guide roller on a pivotal dancer arm, and then to a rewind reel. A drag belt disposed partially about the drag pulley has first and second ends coupled to the dancer arm, which is pivotal about its axis to control tension on the drag belt as ribbon is supplied from the unwind reel, whereby drag on the unwind reel increases as the ribbon supply roll decreases in size to maintain relatively constant drag on the ribbon. A heated rotatable typeholder is actuatably disposed in an insulated heater block to reduce heat radiation therefrom, particularly when the heater block is oriented with the typeholder directed upwardly.

Abstract: A tape and/or ink ribbon cartridge releasably insertable into an inserting section of a tape printer has ink ribbon supplying and recovering sections in a casing of the cartridge and an ink ribbon path extending from the ink ribbon supplying section to the ink ribbon recovery section through a printing position. The ink ribbon path has a portion defined by first and a second side walls facing with each other across a constant gap. The first side wall has an opening formed therein. A shutter portion is formed for closing the opening when the upper and lower casing parts are assembled to constitute the casing of the cartridge. One of the side walls which faces to the ink surface of the ink ribbon has a wavy surface. With the opening formed in the side wall, the ink ribbon can easily be inserted in the narrow path between the first and second walls. Since the wavy surface is formed on the side wall, the ink ribbon is prevented from sticking on the side wall.

Abstract: An ink-film refill for heat-transfer printers comprises a film dispenser-roll, the free end of the film being affixed to a receiving mandril. The roll and the mandril rest against each other and have their axes substantially mutually parallel, adhesive means keeping them in position, the adhesive means comprising at least one non-adhesive end forming a gripping zone to break the bond between them and to render roll and mandril mutually free.

Abstract: A printer apparatus (10) includes a removable print ribbon cartridge (18). The print cartridge includes a ribbon (20) which is movable by a transmission mechanism (49). A ribbon drive member (65) in said transmission mechanism includes frangible tabs (101). The frangible tabs break responsive to encountering a resistance to movement of said ribbon. The frangible tabs limit the force that may be encountered by a motor (168) used to advance the ribbon thereby preventing damage to the motor and associated drive components and circuitry in the event of a malfunction.

Abstract: Two column-shaped ribs are disposed between a ribbon spool and an inner wall of a lower case in a cassette case. When a film tape is an ink-receiving type, which needs an ink ribbon, a pathway traveling to the outside of the ribs is selected so that the film tape traveling through the case can be reliably prevented from contacting the ink ribbon wound around the ribbon spool. On the contrary, when the film tape is a heat-sensitive type, wherein printing is performed by a thermal head directly heating the film tape, a pathway which travels between the ribs is selected so that the tape can be prevented from being drawn back when the tape is flexible like paper.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette housing for a printer according to the present invention is one having a bearing means which houses a ribbon supply spool shaft wound with an ink ribbon unused and a ribbon takeup spool shaft for taking up a used ink ribbon in a state that both of the spool shafts are separated from each other and which rotatably supports drive-side shaft portions provided on one ends of the respective spool shafts and driven-side shaft portions on the other ends thereof. The ink ribbon cassette housing for a printer includes a bearing means for said drive-side shaft portions being formed of a bearing portion which has a bearing aperture formed through a side wall of the cassette housing, and a bearing means for the driven-side shaft portions has a bearing portion divided into a lower bearing plate having a semicircular lower bearing aperture and an upper bearing plate which has a semicircular upper bearing aperture and which is shifted positionally forward or backward from the lower bearing plate.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon cassette comprises a supply (1B), a take-up spool (1A) and a molded casing (10); each spool having end portions (2, 3) and a bobbin portion (4) on which is wound one end of the transfer ribbon (5), the molded casing having locating (15, 16) means for engaging the spool ends while the spools are in parallel and spaced apart positions with the transfer ribbon extending between them, and means to retain the spool in such position comprising a closable gate (30) connected to the casing by an integrally molded hinge (31). Locating means for engaging a spindle at the undriven end of each spool, suitably comprises a trough having an internal bearing surface and a longitudinal opening (27) to receive the spindle into contact with the bearing surface, the gate (30) being closable across the trough opening to retain spindle (3). This permits a simple design for a relatively cheap, one-piece molded casing, which can be refillable if required.

Abstract: In a facsimile machine, when a received image data having resolution of standard mode is stored in a reception data memory, the image data is decoded and then converted to image data of two fine or four super fine lines and stored in a first recording data memory. The image data stored in the first recording data memory is subjected to a thin-out processing at a set reduction ratio, then stored in a second recording data memory and finally recorded on a recording sheet.

Abstract: An imprinting system having a typeface for transferring ink supplied from an inked ribbon roll onto a substrate, and an ink ribbon cassette removably coupleable to a mounting member of the imprinting system to facilitate service and maintenance. An alignment member of the imprinting system is disposeable in a first alignment aperture of the ink ribbon cassette to align the ink ribbon cassette relative to the imprinting system. A lever having an engagement surface is pivotally coupled to the ink ribbon cassette and is engageable with a locking pin coupled to the imprinting system, wherein the engagement surface of the lever is engageable with the locking pin as the lever is pivoted to firmly retain the ink ribbon cassette mounted on the mounting member. A handle having multiple gripping members is coupled to an outer side portion of the ink ribbon cassette to facilitate gripping the cassette and for stably supporting the ink ribbon cassette disassembled from the imprinting system.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette has an ink ribbon; a case; a cover coupled to the case by hinge pins, the cover being freely opened or closed through hinge pins; a drive roller in contact with the ink ribbon for running the ink ribbon; a follower roller for pressing the ink ribbon against the drive roller a holder for holding the follower roller; and a spring for biasing the follower roller against the drive roller via the holder. The holder is further provided with hook parts, and the cover has protruding pieces which engage with the hook parts of the holder and thereby move the holder away from the drive roller to detach the follower roller from the drive roller.

Abstract: A printer and a toner cartridge detachably provided in a printer body. The toner cartridge is provided with a specific uneven pattern or logo mark at an outer surface thereof. The printer has first and second detection switches for identifying the uneven pattern. Co-relation is established between a specific position of the uneven pattern and height of the specific position, and each detection switch is set so as to confront with the specific position. The first and second detection switches serve to detect the projected part, and the recessed part, respectively. If the first detection switch detects the recessed part, or if the second detection switch detects the projected part, the installed cartridge is judged to be a pirated cartridge.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette apparatus which eliminates slack in an ink ribbon when the ink ribbon cassette is loaded on a printer. The ink ribbon is supplied from a supply reel and taken up on a take-up reel both supported on the cassette. A detector detects when the cassette is loaded on the cassette apparatus and in turn drives the take-up reel to draw a short length of the ink ribbon onto the take-up reel. The rotatable supply member is restrained by spring tension from rotating and from supplying the ribbon, providing a back tension on the ink ribbon and preventing slack.

Abstract: A printer is provided with a platen having a sloping plane platen surface, a medium guide path for smoothly guiding paper along the plane including the platen surface, a transparent open/close paper guide positioned above the medium guide path, and two pairs of drive rollers and driven rollers arranged along the platen, with one pair of drive roller and driven roller being disposed in an upstream direction and the other pair of drive roller and driven roller being disposed in a downstream direction with respect to the platen and the paper print movement. The printer is further provided with a ribbon cassette which makes it possible to position a linear portion of an ink ribbon in parallel to the platen surface, a mechanism for switching the linear portion of the ink ribbon between a printable position and a nonprintable position, and a mechanism for attaching a ribbon cassette to a carriage while moving it in a downwardly forward direction.

Abstract: A tape cartridge which stores the non-lamination type printing tape and another tape cartridge which stores the lamination type printing tape are both commonly assembleable to an accommodation portion of a printing device. In accordance with the kind of the assembled tape cartridge, normal or reversed character image is printed on the tape.

Abstract: A tape printer cassette, bearing a film tape and ink ribbon on spools therein, maintains the film tape in a feed path defined by an outer wall and a partition and the ink ribbon in a feed path defined by the partition and an inner wall. The inner wall and the partition are set to be substantially the same height as the ink ribbon and higher than the outer wall. When the ink ribbon is wider than the film tape, an unused portion of the ink ribbon remains after printing; regulating members spaced by the width of the film tape, downstream of the printing region, keep the film tape in the center of the ribbon so that the unused portion remains and so that the ink ribbon cannot proceed along the film tape feed path past the regulating members. When an adhesive backing is also provided on a spool in the cassette, regulating members align the film tape and adhesive backing at a feed capstan so that they are not displaced relative to each other when adhered.

Abstract: A dye donor cartridge (17) for a thermal printer (10) is disclosed. Uniformity of the image intensity in the thermal print head (12) is achieved by carefully controlling an ambient temperature of the print head. This control of ambient temperature is achieved with an air flow arrangement, wherein air is supplied to the dye donor cartridge (17), and through cartridge vents (54) to print head heatsink (15). In one embodiment of the invention, cartridge vents (54) vary in size to provide extra cooling to portions of the printhead assembly (12) to maintain a substantially uniform temperature along its length.

Abstract: A tape/ribbon composite cassette comprising a tape cassette freely detachably mounted in a printer provided with a print head, the tape cassette housing a tape serving as a print medium, the tape cassette having an upper surface; a ribbon cassette freely detachably mounted in the tape cassette, the ribbon cassette housing an ink ribbon, the ribbon cassette provided with an upper surface overlapping at least a portion of the upper surface of the tape cassette; at least two guide portions provided to the tape cassette at positions separated from each other at an outer periphery of the tape cassette, the at least two guide portions guiding the ribbon cassette vertically in and out of the tape cassette; and at least two guided portions formed integrally to the upper surface of the ribbon cassette at positions corresponding to the positions of the guide portions, the at least two guided portions engaging with the guide portions to guide the ribbon cassette vertically in an out of the tape cassette.

Abstract: A cartridge (1) for loading a thermal transfer printing ribbon (10) into a thermal transfer printer is disclosed. The cartridge (1) is adapted to receive and detachably hold a ribbon pay-out roll (5) and a ribbon take-up roll (6) in their operating positions relative to each other. Each cartridge is provided with means (8, 9) for fixing the cartridge (1) to the printer while leaving the fixing means (8, 9) exposed.

Abstract: An automatic tape detecting and tape width identifying printing apparatus or tape holder wherein the printing apparatus and tape holder include an optical sensing arrangement having at least first and second optical sensing assemblies. The first and second optical sensing assemblies each, preferably, include a photo transistor and a light emitting diode. The photo transistor is located to receive and detect light from the light emitting diode. The first and second optical sensing assemblies are located to automatically detect the presence or absence of tape within the tape holder. In a preferred embodiment, the first optical sensing assembly is located to automatically discriminate the presence of a particular width, w2, of tape within the tape holder. In addition, the second optical sensing assembly is located to automatically discriminate the presence of a different width, w1, of tape within the tape holder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing and supplying a ribbon containing ink in a system used for printing information. A cartridge protects the tape during shipping and storage and enables easy replacement of a ribbon into a printer. The cartridge provides a volume for accumulation of used tape wound on a take-up reel. The cartridge contains elastomer strips to protect, guide, and apply tension to all the tape during operation and storage.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette is provided for feeding and driving an ink ribbon in a printer or the like. The cassette includes a housing, a take-up core rotatably supported in the housing with the front end of the ink ribbon being coupled thereto and a take-off core rotatably supported in the housing. An ink spool is wound up on the take-off core, where the ink spool includes an outer periphery. A brake assembly is provided and includes a conical plate where the outer periphery of the ink spool rests on the conical plate, thereby decreasing the braking torque as the spool diameter decreases.

Abstract: A tape and/or ink ribbon cartridge releasably insertable into an inserting section of a tape printer has ink ribbon supplying and recovering sections in a casing of the cartridge and an ink ribbon path extending from the ink ribbon supplying section to the ink ribbon recovery section through a printing position. The ink ribbon path has a portion defined by first and a second side walls facing with each other across a constant gap. The first side wall has an opening formed therein. A shutter portion is formed for closing the opening when the upper and lower casing parts are assembled to constitute the casing of the cartridge. One of the side walls which faces to the ink surface of the ink ribbon has a wavy surface. With the opening formed in the side wall, the ink ribbon can easily be inserted in the narrow path between the first and second walls. Since the wavy surface is formed on the side wall, the ink ribbon is prevented from sticking on the side wall.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette for accommodating a length of inked ribbon for use with a thermal wax transfer printer. The cassette includes a generally cylindrical supply casing having a supply slot defined therein so as to extend parallel to a first longitudinal of the supply casing and rotatably accommodating therein a supply spool, a generally cylindrical take-up casing having a take-up slot defined therein so as to extend parallel to a second longitudinal axis of the take-up casing and also to the supply slot and rotatably accommodating therein a take-up spool, a length of inked ribbon having opposite ends engaged with the supply and take-up spools within the supply and take-up casings, respectively.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette repeatedly usable for an extended period of time by replenishment of ink to an ink ribbon after each printing operation. The cassette includes a cassette casing, an ink-storing member disposed within the cassette casing and storing ink liquid as absorbed therein, an ink-absorbing member disposed within the cassette casing for absorbing the ink liquid from the ink-storing member through contact thereof with the ink-storing member. A wall member is disposed within the cassette casing and encasing the ink-storing member and the ink-absorbing member, the wall member defining an opening for allowing a portion of the ink-absorbing member to be exposed therethrough to the outside. A replenishing roll is provided to be rotatable while elastically contacting the ink-absorbing member through the opening so as to replenish the ink liquid to an ink ribbon being moved.

Abstract: An improved package for supply and take-up spools of dye ribbon for use with the cassette of a thermal printer in which the ribbon spools include a part, e.g. a flange, shaped for engagement with a correspondingly shaped socket in the carton holding the spools during transport etc. to thereby prevent relative rotation of the spools while within the carton.

Abstract: An ink ribbon unit has supply and take-up spools which are fastened securely and locked against free rotation inexpensively and reliably in a manner not to impair the quality of an ink ribbon thereof. The supply and take-up spools are fastened securely and locked against free rotation by an elastic sheet-like holder which is formed by vacuum forming and has a fixed shape. The holder has a first holding portion for holding the take-up spool and a pair of second holding portions for holding diametrically opposite surfaces of the ink ribbon wound on the supply spool. The holder has free ends extending from the respective second holding portions and secured to each other by an adhesive tape.

Abstract: A cassette for thermal-transfer printing ribbon (2), designed to be fitted in a printer comprising a printing head (21) in front of which sheets of paper (30) are intended to pass and comprising a housing (3; 103) for accommodating a delivery spool (4; 104), a housing (5; 105) for accommodating a take-up spool (6; 106), means (8; 108) designed to be driven in rotation and drive the take-up spool (6; 106), a window (9; 109) being made between the two housings (3, 5; 103, 105) and designed to allow interaction of the printing head (21) and the ribbon (2) extending between the two housings (3, 5; 103, 105).

Abstract: An improved print ribbon cartridge, having a plurality of paper guide means therein capable of preventing the fouling of paper at the time of printing, for use with a typewriter or printer having a platen, a carrier movable along the platen which supports the cartridge, a print head supported on the carrier for operating in conjunction with the print ribbon in the cartridge to cause printing on a document.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette of which the type of ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cassette may be identified by diagonally-arranged detection switches arranged on the carriage of a thermal transfer printer, without using a plurality of types of ribbon cassette case which are different in shape.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge including a cartridge housing having a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to each other. The cartridge housing has a pair of first engaging portions on an inside surface of the first side wall. A supply spool and a take-up spool are rotatably disposed between the first and second side walls in spaced relation and carry an ink ribbon wound thereon. The spools have first end portions formed with flanges and second end portions opposed to the first end portions. The flanges have second engaging portions engageable with the first engaging portions. U-shaped leaf springs are disposed between the second side wall and the second end portions of the spools and bias the first end portions of the spools against the first side wall. The U-shaped leaf springs include base portions and annular portions extending from the base portions, respectively. The base portions have openings receiving the second end portions of the spools, respectively.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge for use in impact type printers such as line printers, typewriters an, fie-dot printers. The ribbon cartridge includes a housing having a bottom wall portion, a re-inking assembly provided in a re-inking compartment within the housing for re-inking a ribbon, a ribbon storage compartment for storing the ribbon, and a ribbon drive assembly provided within the housing for advancing the ribbon. The ribbon drive assembly includes a toothed transfer-drive gear assembly and an idler gear assembly for engagement with the toothed transfer-drive gear assembly. In one embodiment of the present invention, the ribbon cartridge has a partition wall separating between the re-inking compartment and the ribbon storage compartment, and the toothed transfer-drive gear assembly has a vertical wall portion defining a part of the partition wall.

Abstract: A dispenser produces negotiable money orders, traveler's checks, and the like at remote locations and prints the check amount on the check while also printing summary data of a day's activities on a blank check form, eliminating the need for a separate printer and paper supply. The dispenser prints the check amount using print icons that form a part of each character in the check amount, but are not as large as a complete character or as small as a dot print element. The check forms are connected together by perforation ties, and the dispenser feeds the forms to the printer such that the force with which the dispenser holds the forms is greater than the force needed to tear apart the forms, thus reducing the risk of unauthorized pulling of blank forms from the dispenser.

Abstract: A recording device for recording impressions made by a transfer thermal printer, the device comprising a transfer film paid out from a roll and taken up by a drum, the roll and the drum being disposed inside a cassette having a side wall including a setback defining a print zone, wherein the cassette includes a read window other than the print zone, guides designed to impose a path on the transfer film such that the transfer film passes the window between the roll and the drum, and a support for a contrast surface.

Abstract: A printing device comprises a zone for receiving tape for printing so that said tape passes along a predetermined path in the printing device; and an optical sensing arrangement comprising first and second optical sensing assemblies which enable an end of tape state to be detected and also allow discrimination between tapes of different widths.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory is mounted on a supply for a thermal printer and includes color correction and carrier defect data which are used by the printer to make prints.

Abstract: An ink sheet cartridge mountable on a recording apparatus includes a frame, an ink sheet provided in the frame, a takeup reel for winding the ink sheet, a supply reel for unwinding the ink sheet, and a driving force transmission means for transmitting a driving force to the ink sheet changing a driving speed from the side of the recording apparatus so as to move the ink sheet from the supply reel to the takeup reel with a moving speed corresponding to the kind of the ink sheet, The recording apparatus can mount the ink sheet cartridge.

Abstract: A printer in which an ink ribbon is not wound when a ribbon code ring is read, a dedicated motor for rotating the ribbon code ring is not required, and it is possible to rotate the ribbon code ring with the same motor used for moving a printing head. When an information code of an ink ribbon is to be read, a print head is held in an initial position HO, and a pendulum gear, which can be rotated only when a cam is reversed, is brought into mesh with a ink ribbon code ring which rotates irrespective of a supply spool of a ribbon cassette. The information code on the ribbon code ring is detected by a sensor as the code ring is rotated. A locking system is provided for preventing accidental opening of a ribbon door of the printer during printing operations.

Abstract: A printing device for selectively printing a normal posture character image or reverse posture character image on a tape like image receiving member by using a thermal head. In the normal posture character image printing, a non-lamination type printing tape is used in which an imaging surface is exposed to an atmosphere, and in the reverse posture character image printing, a lamination type printing tape is used in which the imaging surface is protected by a transparent tape. A tape cartridge which stores the non-lamination type printing tape and another tape cartridge which stores the lamination type printing tape are both commonly assembleable to an accommodation portion of the printing device. In accordance with the kind of the assembled tape cartridge, normal or reversed character image is printed on the tape.

Abstract: To reduce the cost of a cassette case by simplifying the design, a cassette case 10 is made up of a case body 26 and a case cover 27 fitted to the upper surface of the case body 26, a ribbon guide 28 is fitted to the outside of the cassette case 10 in such a way that it is free to slide in the longitudinal direction, and at times of printing color changeover the required color band of the multiple color ink ribbon 11 is guided over the end of the printing head by this ribbon guide 28. The ribbon guide 28 is provided with guide portions 36, 37 facing both of the side surfaces of the case cover 27, and the movement of the ribbon guide 28 in the direction of the length of the cassette case 10 is guided by these guide portions 36, 37 sliding along the side surfaces of the case cover 27.