Abstract: A tape cassette includes: a tape roll which is a roll of a tape wound about an axis extending in a first direction; and a nipping member configured to nip the tape conveyed in a second direction in cooperation with a conveying roller of a printing device. The nipping member includes: a first region configured to face one end portion of the tape; a second region configured to face another end portion of the tape; and a third region positioned between the first region and the second region. The first region and an imaginary reference surface provide a first length in a third direction. The second region and the imaginary reference surface provide a second length in the third direction. The third region and the imaginary reference surface provide a third length in the third direction. The third length is greater than the first length and the second length.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided with a reader which reads a document, a transport roller which is provided on an upstream side of the reader in a document transport path in which the document is transported and transports the document to a reading position of the reader, and a controller which receives reading data of the reader and controls the transport roller, in which the controller receives the reading data from the reader to acquire a form of the document, and selects whether or not to stop driving of the transport roller based on the form.

Abstract: A ribbon guide for a ribbon printing system includes a body that is elongated along a longitudinal axis from a base end an opposite end and having a tapered shape from the base end to the opposite end. The body is configured to be coupled with a cassette plate of the ribbon printing system along a path taken by a print ribbon in the ribbon printing system such that the body deflects the print ribbon to travel away from the cassette plate when the print ribbon is pulled from an unwind spindle to a windup spindle in the ribbon printing system.

Abstract: This is disclosed a portable printer that is easy to load with an ink ribbon cartridge and record members web supplies, that is simple, has relatively few parts, is lightweight and has a small footprint.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a ribbon cassette includes two rows of spherical bumps extending between sidewalls of the cassette on both a floor and ceiling of the cassette and a pair of concentric arched retaining walls on both the floor and ceiling between an exit gate and the rows of bumps. In another embodiment, there is only one row of bumps and one retaining wall on the floor and ceiling. In another embodiment, the retaining walls are straight. The two rows and retaining walls, along with cassette sidewalls, form three distinct zones for densely packing the ribbon, unpacking the ribbon, and isolating the ribbon, resulting in less jamming with longer lengths of ribbon.

Abstract: A ribbon guide used to install a thermal ribbon in a thermal printer, the ribbon guide having a bottle shaped profile and being formed of V-Max® brand synthetic paper. The ribbon guide has three integral portions, a first portion having a cross-shaped slit and a hole, a second portion that may be used for gripping by an operator, and a third portion for receiving printed advertising and/or other useful information. The cross-shaped slit receives the very thin thermal ribbon and allows the ribbon guide to connect and hold the thermal ribbon during installation of the thermal ribbon in the thermal printer. After loading a reel of thermal ribbon onto a supply spindle and connecting the thermal ribbon to the ribbon guide, an operator may grip the second portion of the ribbon guide, and thread the ribbon guide through the internal mechanisms of the thermal printer including passed a print head to a reel on a take-up spindle. Using the ribbon guide reduces thermal ribbon handling by an operator.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge for a printer. The ribbon cartridge including a simple mechanism that prevents an ink ribbon from being twisted or excessively drawn out in mounting thereof. Provided is a ribbon cartridge for printing, which includes: an ink ribbon; a cartridge main body which stores the ink ribbon so as to expose a part of the ink ribbon; a ribbon guide which is engaged with the exposed part of the ink ribbon so as to guide the exposed part; and a guide tape which forms a loop so as to support the ribbon guide while having one end in its longitudinal direction fixed to a first position on the ribbon guide and having the other end fixed to a second position on the ribbon guide and which is disposed so that a surface of the guide tape can face a surface of the exposed part of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus capable of properly feeding papers in the body thereof and reliably suppressing wrinkling easily caused on cross-directional ends of an ink sheet is obtained. This image generating apparatus includes a print head, including a print portion pressing an ink sheet, capable of printing an image on a paper, a paper guide member guiding a transport direction for the paper when feeding the paper and an ink sheet guide member, having a central portion convexed toward a take-up direction for the ink sheet with respect to the print head in plan view, for guiding transportation of the ink sheet in printing, while a region of the paper guide member corresponding to a cross-directional end of the ink sheet integrally includes an ink sheet contact portion so shaped as to apply tension to the cross-directional end of the ink sheet.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a peel location and for peeling a layer of media from a surface in a thermal printer. An optical probe, that includes a light source and a photodetector, transmits light from the optical probe toward a first web. The web reflects a portion of the transmitted light onto the photodetector, which then outputs an electrical signal which is compared with a preselected signal level and the difference between them provides an indication as to how much adjustment the peel location requires. Adjusting the peel location may comprise changing environmental characteristics of the first web or the second web (surface) or adjusting a tension of the first or second web. The difference between the measured electrical signal levels is related to a physical distance of the first web from the desired peel location.

Abstract: A ribbon guide includes a pair of upper and lower plates for limiting upper and lower ends of an ink ribbon. A ribbon guide plate is disposed between the pair of upper and lower plates so as to guide a non-transfer surface of the ink ribbon. Ribbon press bars are suspended between the pair of upper and lower plates so as to guide a transfer surface of the ink ribbon. Cutouts through which the ink ribbon is inserted are formed at the lower plate so as to surround lower end portions of the ribbon press bars.

Abstract: Ribbon tension detecting means (20, 21), which are formed of a plate-like lever body (35) each, are located individually on the upstream side and the downstream side of a platen (7) with respect to its travel. The plate-like lever body (35) has first and second rollers (47, 48) on the upstream and downstream sides with respect to travel of a ribbon, and swings around an axis of rotation of the second roller (48), depending on a tension of the ribbon traveling guided by the rollers (47, 48). If the amount of its swing is not less than or not more than a fixed value, a ribbon feed motor (18) or a ribbon take-up motor (19) is driven. Further, the ribbon tension detecting means (20, 21) are provided with a smoothing member which touches the ink ribbon (13) to remove wrinkles from the ink ribbon (13).

Abstract: A ribbon cassette and a printer are provided for preventing an ink ribbon from being wound or drawn to a printing-portion paper transport unit of the printer so as to satisfactorily wind and transport the ink ribbon. A convex portion is formed on a wall-portion contact surface of a first connecting member opposed to a space portion, thereby securing a gap between a wall portion of the ribbon cassette and a printing-portion paper transport unit of the printer. A top portion of the convex portion comes in contact with a driven-roller mounting plate disposed in the space portion when a ribbon cassette is mounted in a ribbon cassette mounting portion of a printer.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge for a printer. The ribbon cartridge including a simple mechanism that prevents an ink ribbon from being twisted or excessively drawn out in mounting thereof. Provided is a ribbon cartridge for printing, which includes: an ink ribbon; a cartridge main body which stores the ink ribbon so as to expose a part of the ink ribbon; a ribbon guide which is engaged with the exposed part of the ink ribbon so as to guide the exposed part; and a guide tape which forms a loop so as to support the ribbon guide while having one end in its longitudinal direction fixed to a first position on the ribbon guide and having the other end fixed to a second position on the ribbon guide and which is disposed so that a surface of the guide tape can face a surface of the exposed part of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: A ribbon shield for a time clock may be provided which may be placed within a printing chamber along with a printing mechanism. The ribbon shield may also incorporate a light source (e.g., electroluminescent lamp) to illuminate the printing chamber and an inserted time card to aid an employee in aligning a time slot of the time card to a printing mechanism target area.

Abstract: A tape printer (100) capable of, as necessary, installing, therein, a print medium cartridge for storing print medium of different lengths, wherein a cartridge storage area (120) is formed in the tape printer (100) by recessing inward the surface of the printer. The size of the cartridge storage area (120) is so formed that a larger cartridge (200) in a contour shape wider than a standard cartridge (1) can be installed therein. A fixed print head (102) and drive shafts (100a, 100b) are disposed on the bottom surface of a cartridge installation part (140).

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a ribbon transport mechanism of a ribbon feed system includes a supporting structure carrying a plurality of ribbon transport devices including a ribbon storage spool, a ribbon take-up spool, and at least one ribbon guide around which roller the ribbon is passed, a ribbon feed path including the ribbon guide, between the storage and take-up spools and through an operating station where a work operation is carried out which utilises the ribbon, the ribbon transport mechanism in use, transporting the ribbon along the ribbon feed path between the storage and take-up spools, the apparatus including a mounting structure for mounting at least one of the ribbon transport devices so as to permit the respective device to move relative to the supporting structure in response to changes in ribbon tension occurring in the ribbon feed path, and a sensor device which is sensitive to such movements to provide an input which is dependant upon the extent of such spool movement, to a controller, th

Abstract: The present invention relates to a film transfer tool that allows a transfer head to be disposed in any of the spaces between letters of normally used word processors for implementation of a smooth transfer operation of film. The film transfer tool includes a feed reel and a take-up reel, which are adapted to interlock with each other. The reels are disposed within a case, and a film transfer tape is fed out from the feed reel to be moved along a surface while being pressed thereagainst by a transfer head protruding from the case. The transfer tape is then taken up by the take-up reel. The film transfer tool also includes a support frame and a transfer roller to rotatably extend between facing side pieces of the support frame and having an outside diameter ranging from 1 mm to 3 mm.

Abstract: A printer system is disclosed. The printer system includes a frame, at least one feed roll shaft coupled to the frame for feeding a document through the printer system, and a reference plate rotatably attached to the at least one feed roll shaft. The reference plate includes a first surface for facilitating scanning functions and a second surface for facilitating printing functions. According to the system and method disclosed herein, printing and scanning mechanisms are optimally integrated in a compact space by utilizing a multi-purpose reference plate.

Abstract: A medium voltage switching device includes an electromagnetic actuation chain and a power supply which provides electric power to the electromagnetic actuation chain. The power supply includes at least a first power supply device which is electrically connected to a medium voltage power distribution line, so as to drain electric power directly from the distribution line, and a second circuit configured to store at least the electric energy drained from the medium voltage power distribution line, and to thereby provide the electromagnetic actuation chain with electric power.

Abstract: A thermal printer is adapted to prevent crease formation in a dye transfer area of a dye donor web that can cause line artifacts to be printed on a dye receiver during a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver in a dye transfer printer.

Abstract: A thermal printer is adapted to prevent crease formation in a dye transfer area of a dye donor web that can cause line artifacts to be printed on a dye receiver during a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver in a dye transfer printer.

Abstract: In a dye transfer printer, a donor web having successive dye transfer areas and opposite longitudinal edge areas alongside each one of the dye transfer areas is subjected to a longitudinal tension when the donor web is advanced in the printer. The longitudinal tension can stretch the dye transfer areas more than the edge areas because the dye transfer areas, but not the edge areas, are heated at a print head. According to the invention, the resistance of the edge areas relative to the dye transfer areas, to being stretched, is weakened so that the edge areas can be stretched substantially the same as the dye transfer areas. If the edge areas alongside a dye transfer area being used are stretched substantially the same as the dye transfer area, the likelihood of any creases being created in the next unused transfer area is substantially reduced. Thus, no line artifacts will be printed on a dye receiver during dye transfer in the printer.

Abstract: A dye transfer printer uses a dye donor web that is capable of developing a crease-causing wave-like or ripple distortion across the donor web when the donor web is subjected to a longitudinal tension as it is advanced from a print head, over a web guide, and onto a web take-up spool in the printer. The web guide is positioned to extend across the donor web and is adapted to be bowed to effect a curvature across the donor web in proportion to the longitudinal web tension in order to urge the donor web to spread substantially widthwise to reduce the likelihood of the wave-like or ripple distortion developing across the donor web. If the wave-like or ripple distortion is prevented from developing in a dye transfer area being used, it is unlikely that any creases will be created in the next unused transfer area. Thus, no line artifacts will be printed on a dye receiver during dye transfer in the printer.

Abstract: A thermal printer is adapted to prevent crease formation in a dye transfer area of a dye donor web that can cause line artifacts to be printed on a dye receiver during a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver in a dye transfer printer.

Abstract: Improvements that facilitate loading of supply items into data bearing identification or financial document production equipment. Supply items include web materials that are used in data bearing identification or financial document production equipment, and which are supplied from a supply cylinder and wound onto a take-up cylinder after use. Examples of supply items include monochromatic and multi-color print ribbons, webs that carry laminate patches, cleaning tape, and other web materials that are used up during use of the equipment. Data bearing identification or financial document production equipment include thermal printers, laminators and combinations thereof, and other equipment that utilize supply items.

Abstract: A ribbon protector is attached to a ribbon cartridge to prevent an ink ribbon from being soiled. The ribbon protector includes mounting portions, a protecting portion, and a paper guide. The ribbon protector is mounted to the ribbon cartridge by means of the mounting portions. The protecting section opposes an ink ribbon such that the ink ribbon is between the protecting section and the ribbon cartridge when the mounting portions have been mounted to the ribbon cartridge. The paper guide projects from the protecting section to incline toward the ribbon cartridge. The mounting portion may have a first base portion continuous to the protector and the paper guide has a second base portion continuous to the protecting section. The first base portion is thicker than other portions of the first projecting portion and the second base portion is thicker than other portions of the mounting portion.

Abstract: A paper quality determining sensor and a faulty paper sorting device capable of detecting reaction forces of paper sheets themselves which vary according to paper quality using a plurality of rollers so as to detect the stiffness (rigidity) of paper sheets accurately without being affected by thicknesses of the paper sheets.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a printer having a ribbon guide capable of reflecting light emitted from a paper detection sensor away from the paper detection sensor in the absence of a printing paper. As a result, the possibility of erroneous recognition of paper detection is eliminated. There are provided a print head 1, a ribbon guide 3 attached to the print head, and a reflection-type paper detection sensor 4 arranged on a side of the platen in a manner opposed to a printing paper P passing between the platen and the ribbon guide 3 to emit light for detecting the printing paper. The ribbon guide 3 is formed with sloped surfaces 3b and 3d that are inclined relative to a surface of a printing paper P to reflect the light emitted from the paper detection sensor 4 toward a position away from the paper detection sensor.

Abstract: A tape supply cartridge for use in a printer of the type having a fixed print head, a movable platen roller and a pair of tape advancement rollers, one in the cartridge and one in the printer.

Abstract: A ribbon tracking system for use in a printer, scanner or the like includes a carbon fiber-based plastic printer wire shroud having a first portion coupled to the printer ribbon frame downstream from the printhead, a second portion spaced apart from and generally parallel to the first portion and adapted to contact a moving ribbon at a curved front edge during printer operation, and a substantially small integral neck portion coupled centrally between the first and second portions. The neck portion functions as a living hinge permitting the second portion to deflect toward and/or away from the first portion, or in any combination of directions thereof, to automatically equalize stress differentials between various portions of the moving ribbon so as to prevent wrinkling and/or buckling, of the ribbon.

Abstract: In an ink ribbon separation device for use with a thermal transfer apparatus having a separation bar, the shape of the separation bar is such that the thickness of the bar in an ink ribbon travelling direction is greater at its center in the direction orthogonal to the ink ribbon travelling direction than that at the ends thereof. The center bulges in a downstream direction in a bow shape at a rate of 10 to 200 &mgr;m with respect to a toner width of 100 mm.

Abstract: For printing special symbols, particularly stamps onto letters and packages, increasingly so-called thermal transfer printing methods are used. When inserting the thin transfer ribbon (4) over the printing head (10), the ribbon (4) is frequently partially damaged or even torn. The proposed printing mechanism makes it possible to reduce the time required for exchanging the ribbon (4), on the one hand, and to substantially reduce the damage to the ribbon, on the other hand. The object is met by a guide rod (7) provided on a stirrup (8).

Abstract: An ink ribbon feeder for use in a facsimile machine has a feed roll winding thereover an ink ribbon and a take-up roll for taking-up the ink ribbon fed from the feed roll. A friction mechanism is provided at one end of the take-up roll for rotating the take-up roll in a taking-up direction. A back tension mechanism is provided at one end of the feed roll for rotating the feed roll in a direction opposite the taking-up direction. The friction mechanism and the back tension mechanism are provided at the same side of the ink ribbon. A separation segment is provided between the feed roll and the take-up roll and is positioned below the ink ribbon and in contact therewith. The separation segment has a sliding surface extending in a widthwise direction of the ink ribbon. A height of one and another ends of the sliding surface is different from each other.

Abstract: A stamp-making apparatus is provided in which a transparent presser plate is arranged such that the presser plate is parallel with a stamp-making object material, an ink ribbon having a stamp image formed thereon is urged against the stamp-making object material via the presser plate, and exposure of the stamp-making object material to light is carried out via the ink ribbon as a mask. A ribbon feeder rolls out an ink ribbon wound around one end portion thereof to a position facing the stamp-making object material, and then rolls up the ink ribbon around another end portion thereof. A relative translation of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material is made toward each other by moving at least one of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material to thereby urge the ink ribbon against the stamp-making object material. Guide means guides the ink ribbon when the ink ribbon is fed, to space between the presser plate and the stamp-making object material.

Abstract: A medium tracking bar is incorporated into an imaging device for preventing wrinkles or buckling of a medium strip sliding over and touching the medium tracking bar, the medium tracking bar being centrally pivoted to the imaging device by a connecting piece and being centrally pivoted by an elastic element to allow the medium tracking bar to swing like a teeter-totter board in any direction to counteract an uneven stress problem on the medium strip due to a misalignment of the medium strip and to realign the medium strip when it passes through the device thereby to prevent wrinkles or buckling of the medium strip.

Abstract: An ribbon spool and associated mounting spindle for a printer incorporates multiple longitudinal ribs on the spindle that fit into multiple longitudinal slots in the spool to acquire rotational lock between the spindle and spool. A latch at the end of selected ribs interacts with a lock ridge within the spool to acquire longitudinal lock between the spindle and spool. Placing the lock ridge near one end effectively prevents the spool from being inserted from the wrong end. The latch includes a spring-loaded detent action to hold the spool in place until an operator exerts sufficient force to overcome the latch for removal and replacement of the spool. The inner cylindrical surface of the spool is also designed to work properly with conventional spring-loaded frictional force spindles. However, the reverse is not true. Due to the sloping alignment edges on the ribs of the instant spindle, conventional spools may be blocked, thus preventing improper insertion of the old spools onto the new spindles.

Abstract: A line printer having a hammerbank for printing on media with print hammers to impact a ribbon to form a dot matrix array having printing tips and permanent magnets for magnetically retaining the hammers. Coils release the hammers by overcoming the magnetism to impact a platen against which the hammer printing tips can strike a ribbon and the underlying media. A cover overlies the hammers having an elongated ridge, and is secured to the hammerbank by threaded members. A print ribbon mask is threadably secured to the cover with openings indexed to openings of the cover to allow the passage of the printing tips.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanism for transporting a printing ribbon past the print head of a printer using a rocking beam mechanism the rocking beam being driven by a drive means. The invention also provides a printer, notably a thermal printer, incorporating such a transport mechanism and a method for operating the printer.

Abstract: A stamp-making apparatus is provided in which a transparent presser plate is arranged such that the presser plate is parallel with a stamp-making object material, an ink ribbon having a stamp image formed thereon is urged against the stamp-making object material via the presser plate, and exposure of the stamp-making object material to light is carried out via the ink ribbon as a mask. A ribbon feeder rolls out an ink ribbon wound around one end portion thereof to a position facing the stamp-making object material, and then rolls up the ink ribbon around another end portion thereof. A relative translation of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material is made toward each other by moving at least one of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material to thereby urge the ink ribbon against the stamp-making object material. A guide guides the ink ribbon when the ink ribbon is fed, to space between the presser plate and the stamp-making object material.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing mechanism for use in a facsimile device includes a separating guide surface that is formed having a curve having a radius of curvature of not more than 1.2 mm. Consequently, the acceleration in a separating direction of an ink film separated from an image receiving sheet by the separating guide surface is increased, and the ink film is smoothly separated from the image receiving sheet. The separating guide surface may be formed as a bent thin plate, an embossed portion, a deformed edge of a supporting member, a plastic attachment, or a plastic tape. The separating guide surface is formed as a curve continuing from a feeding guide surface, and the feeding guide surface bends the sheet and the ink ribbon from a plane connecting a contact line of a thermal head and the ink ribbon and a contact line of the sheet and a sheet guide member provided downstream of the separating guide surface.

Abstract: A platen is located at a print position in a sheet path leading from a sheet supply position through the print position to a sheet delivery position, and a thermal head having an edge portion at which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line is held by a head holder, wherein the thermal head is positioned so that the heating elements are kept in contact with the platen through the sheet path at the print position and that the heating elements are directed to a downstream side of the sheet path. With this arrangement, the heating elements of the thermal head can be located close to the sheet delivery position, so that just after a leading sheet after printed is delivered, the next sheet can be printed.

Abstract: A label printing apparatus includes a printing unit for printing an image on a front surface of a label tape having a back surface bearing an adhesive layer via an ink ribbon having a back surface bearing a removal layer. The apparatus further includes a superposed-travelling guiding mechanism for guiding traveling of the label tape and the used label tape together, with the removal layer of the ink ribbon being contacted with and superposed on the adhesive layer of the label tape.

Abstract: Printer adapted to guide a dye donor therein and method therefor. The dye donor ribbon has a leading end portion, which in turn has a plurality of sprocket holes spaced along parallel side portions of the leading end portion. A print head activates the dye donor ribbon to transfer dye therefrom onto a receiver for forming an image on the receiver. A dye donor ribbon take-up spool is disposed near the print head for taking-up the dye donor ribbon as the print head activates the dye donor ribbon. The take-up spool has a plurality of sprockets therearound sized to engage the sprocket holes in the leading end portion. A dye donor ribbon supply spool is spaced-apart from the take-up spool for supplying the dye donor ribbon therefrom as the print head activates the dye donor ribbon. A pair of spaced-apart oppositely disposed parallel guide rails extend between the take-up pool and the supply spool. Each of the rails defines a passage for guiding the dye donor ribbon along the passages.

Abstract: In order to improve running stability of an ink ribbon during a recording operation and to obtain stable recording quality, a ribbon cartridge includes a ribbon guide member which is placed, at least on the side of a take-up reel of a pair of reels located inside a main case of the ribbon cartridge, between a ribbon edge in the widthwise direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of the ink ribbon and the inner surface of the main case and is able to be rotated when the ribbon edge contact therewith.

Abstract: The present device relates to a correction tape in which a tape guide is formed at the front part of the outer casing of the correction tape so that it can be revolved in a desired angle as the user wants, and a concave groove is formed at the base part of the tape guide and a magnifying glass part in the outer casing so that the user can easily affirm the part to be corrected. According to the device, a concave groove (13) is formed at the bottom face; and each revolving part (11) is formed at the front face and upper and lower face of the rear end, around the concave groove (13); and at the outer face of the revolving part (11) of rear upper face, a tape guide (1) having a protrusion (12) for adjusting angle is combined with an inserting groove (21) of the inner face of the outer casing (20) having magnifying glass part (23) in order to be revolved; and the inner face of the inserting groove (21) has fitting grooves (22) at regular intervals.

Abstract: A ribbon mask for use with a impact dot matrix printer is provided. The ribbon mask comprises a head confronting surface and a pair of opposed side plates each positioned on an opposite side of the head confronting surface. An obtuse angle is formed between said head confronting surface each of the opposed side plates. A pair of fitting tabs are also provided. Each fitting tab is positioned on one of the pair of opposed side plates. An acute angle is formed between each of the fitting tabs and a plane parallel to a plane in which the head confronting surface lies. As a result of this construction, when the ribbon mask comes in contact with a sheet of a recording medium, the ribbon mask is deformed so that a portion of the head confronting surface comes into contact with an end of a recording head, which in turn prevents the ribbon mask from interfering with the sheet of the recording medium.

Abstract: A printing mechanism for recording images on a recording medium using an ink ribbon urged to follow a transport path, including a thermal head; a drive IC for driving the thermal head, at least a portion of the drive IC being disposed in the transport path; and an ink ribbon protection film disposed between the drive IC and the ink ribbon and for preventing the drive IC and the ink ribbon from contacting each other.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device in printers of the kind wherein an ink ribbon (5) is arranged to be reeled off an unwinding roller (4) and to be wound onto a take-up roller (6) after having passed through a printing unit (7). In order to compensate for any skewing forces occuring in the ribbon (5), the unwinding roller (4) and/or the take-up roller (6) is/are mounted on a rotatable shaft (8) which is provided with a pivot mechanism (9, 11, 12; 21; 22, 24), allowing correcting guide movements of said ribbon (5).

Abstract: A printer capable of continuously and sequentially performing the printing of a picture and a text includes a picture printing device for printing an image and a text printing device for printing text. The picture printing device includes an ink sheet and a recording head to print the image by overlaying sublimed color inks. The text printing device may take the form of an ink-jet printer including a head having nozzles for ejecting the ink by means of the pressure of bubbles. Alternatively, the text printing device may take the form of a laser printer.

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