Abstract: A printer capable of stably transporting a web at high speed and with a high accuracy has a printing unit (10) for forming images on a web (W); a yet-to-be-printed web control means (2, 3, 5) for controlling the traveling position and tension of the web at a position upstream in a web transporting direction of the printing unit; and an after-printed web control means (12, 13b, 13c, 13d) for controlling the traveling position and tension of the web at a position downstream in the web transporting direction of the printing unit.

Abstract: Either when the tape cassette is loaded in the tape-shaped label producing device or directly after power is turned on, the tape and the ink ribbon are fed in synchronization in a printing direction. At this time, with using the distinction marks, the ink color of the ribbon is detected at a standard position that is predetermined distance upstream from the print head. From this, it is possible to determine the ink color at a printing position, based on the ink color that has been detected either when the tape cassette is loaded in the tape-shaped label producing device or directly after power is turned on, and a post-detection ink ribbon feed amount.

Abstract: A composite printing device comprises a portable printer and a tape printer case removably engageable with the portable printer from below. The portable printer includes a bottom printing head, a pair of drive wheels and a pair of idle wheels. The tape printer case accommodates a tape roll for supplying a tape, a platen for guiding the tape, and a feed roller for feeding the tape from the tape roll. When the tape printer case is engaged with the portable printer, the printing head faces the tape guided by the platen while the drive wheel is operatively connected to the feed roller for rotationally driving the feed roller.