Abstract: A print station system having a chassis for housing a modular print station; a power source in communication with the print station; a controller circuit card assembly in communication with the print station; a display panel in communication with the print station; a media rewind hub; a pair of adjustable media guides connected about a base of the print station; and at least one sensor affixed to the print station base and being operable for detecting the presence and position of media passing through a media feed path of the print station system.

Abstract: A compact printer having improved operational features. The printer includes an articulating print frame assembly coupled to a top cover that is adapted to rotate out of the top cover to an open position and to rotate into the top cover to a closed position. When the print frame is in an open position, the top cover is prevented from rotating toward the bottom housing to a closed position. The print frame includes a media guide bar that facilitates loading of ribbon and media. The disclosed printer also includes a fixed or adjustable media sensor, and is configurable to accommodate an internal supply of web (roll) media or an external supply of fanfold media. a bottom housing having a top cover coupled thereto.

Abstract: A carbon ribbon retaining mechanism includes a barcode-printer base, an upper cover, a printing head device, and at least one pair of resilient fastener elements. The barcode-printer base has an upper portion forming a receiving space. The upper cover is coupled to the receiving space of the barcode-printer base for being downward closed to and covering the receiving space. At least one pawl is respectively formed on opposite edge portions of the upper cover. The printing head device is accommodated in the receiving space. A carbon ribbon retention shaft is arranged above the printing head device. The resilient fastener elements are mounted above the printing head device. By means of the engagement effected between the pawls of the upper cover and the resilient fastener elements, the upper cover is fixed to and above the printing head device to cover the receiving space.

Abstract: The mechanism for opening and closing an operating cover of a printer having a discharge guide that remains in the same posture while moving in conjunction with opening and closing the operating cover prevents the gap between the discharge guide and the cover case of the operating cover from widening when the operating cover opens and closes. In a roll paper printer 1, the top end part 32a of the cover case 32 of an operating cover 3 is pivotably attached on the side of the discharge guide 5, which remains in the same posture while moving in conjunction with the cover 3 opening and closing. So that the cover case 32 does not separate from the cover frame 31 when the cover 3 opens and closes, a torsion spring 37 constantly urges the cover case 32 to open and close in unison with the cover frame 31 through an intervening connector arm 34.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge for use in a credential production device is disclosed. The ribbon cartridge includes a take-up spool, a supply spool and a ribbon wound on the supply and take-up spools. The supply spool includes a loaded condition, in which a majority of the ribbon is wound on the supply spool and a minority of the ribbon is wound on the take-up spool. The take-up spool includes a loaded condition, in which a majority of the ribbon is wound on the take-up spool and a minority of the ribbon is wound on the supply spool. The ribbon wound on the supply spool in the loaded condition extends into the space occupied by the ribbon wound on the take-up spool when the take-up spool is in the loaded condition.

Abstract: A modular printer having a media take-up assembly, a support block assembly, a printhead assembly, a stepper motor assembly and a display assembly is provided. A support housing having a plurality of recesses formed on an internal wall of the modular printer is also provided. Each of the recesses is configured to receive and align one of the modular printer assemblies with the other modular printer assemblies. Each of the assemblies is configured as a module which can be easily accessed and quickly secured to or detached from the support housing. The support housing is adapted to receive assembly modules for both thermal ink printers and ribbon ink printers such that the modular printer can be easily converted from one to the other.

Abstract: A printer device is disclosed. The printer device includes: a base chassis that accepts therein and ejects therefrom the printing medium; a top chassis that is disposed to be able to freely open and close in a direction vertical to the basis chassis; an ink ribbon cartridge holder that is disposed between the top chassis and the base chassis, and is attached with an ink ribbon cartridge including therein the ink ribbon; and a thermal head that prints an image to the printing medium by heating the ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cartridge attached to the ink ribbon cartridge holder.

Abstract: A first pressing member, which is in the form of a leaf spring, is disposed within a gap between a second support-side sidewall and a support shaft of a feed bobbin included in an ink-sheet unit. A second pressing member, which is in the form of a leaf spring, is disposed within a gap between the second support-side sidewall and a support shaft of a take-up bobbin included in the ink-sheet unit. The pressing members are in contact with ends of the support shafts of the feed bobbin and the take-up bobbin so as to bias the feed bobbin and the take-up bobbin towards a second drive-side sidewall. The pressing members are integrated with the second support-side sidewall.

Abstract: A hand-separable ribbon spool shaft assembly adapts a plain ribbon spool so as to provide drive and location functions. The shaft assembly is composed of at least two shaft parts that are assembled to the ribbon spool and cooperate to provide a manual hand-action locking mechanism. First and second ends of the shaft assembly provide bearing and locating surfaces when the shaft assembly is positioned in a printer. The bearing and locating services allow the ribbon spool shaft assembly to rotate during operation of the printer, and the assembly further includes a gear drive means for driving the rotating ribbon spool.

Abstract: A supporting structure and a Business machine utilizing the same. The business machine includes a main body, cover and supporting structure therebetween. The sleeve connected to the main body has a guiding groove with a lug portion. The connecting rod is connected to the cover and movably disposed in the sleeve. The connecting rod has a cantilever with a hook portion confined in the guiding groove. The guiding groove has a predetermined profile, such that the cover is lifted before closing, protecting the main body from accidental collision.

Abstract: An ink switching cam (40) is rotated interlockingly with forward/reverse rotation of a head driving motor at all times to swing a cassette support member (20). Accordingly, ink belts can be switched with a simple construction without using a solenoid or the like. By setting a movable area of the ink switching cam (40) to be within one rotation, the operations of a print head (10) and the ink switching cam (40) which are interlocked with the forward/reverse rotation of the head driving motor can be simply associated with each other.

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

Abstract: A tape cassette is used in a printing device with a drive shaft. The tape cassette includes a cassette casing which houses a printing tape and defines a feed path through which the tape moves in a feeding direction. The cassette casing includes a head recess adapted to receive a print head of the printing device. The cassette casing forms a generally rectangular shape that is bounded by four corners, but also includes a recess for receiving the drive shaft adjacent a first corner of the four corner of the cassette casing downstream of, and spaced from, the head recess in the feed direction. The cassette casing defines a first positioning hole adjacent the drive shaft and a second positioning hole spaced from the drive shaft, the first and second positioning holes each communicating with a corresponding pin of the printing device to ensure a proper positioning of the cassette casing within the printing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of loading a thermal ribbon having dye into a cassette assembly of a thermal printer apparatus includes a cassette assembly for storing a thermal ribbon having dye. The thermal ribbon includes a supply ribbon core having a supply of the thermal ribbon wound thereon as a roll and a take-up ribbon core. The cassette assembly includes a supply ribbon support for supporting the supply ribbon core and a take-up ribbon support for supporting the take-up ribbon core. The cassette assembly is removed from the apparatus and then mounted upon a loading aid. The loading aid is mounted on the apparatus and supports the cassette assembly so that the cassette assembly extends outwardly of the printer apparatus to facilitate loading of the supply ribbon core and take-up ribbon core on the cassette assembly.

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

Abstract: A modular printer having a media take-up assembly module, a support block assembly module, a printhead assembly module, a stepper motor assembly module and a display assembly module is provided. A support body having a plurality of recesses formed on an internal wall of the modular printer is also provided. Each of the recesses is configured to receive and align one of the modular printer assemblies with the other modular printer assemblies. Each of the assemblies is configured as a module which can be easily accessed and quickly secured to or detached from the support body. The support body is adapted to receive assembly modules for both thermal ink printers and ribbon ink printers such that the modular printer can be easily converted from one to the other.

Abstract: There are provided a tape cartridge which can be changed into a compact shape for storage or transport, or makes a printing tape and a laminating tape replaceable, and at the same time facilitating the handling of them, a tape cartridge capable of holding an unrolled portion extending over a relative long distance in a proper attitude, a tape cutting device including the tape cartridge, and a tape printing apparatus including any of the above tape cartridges or having a structure making itself free from spoiling the print quality. A casing of a tape cartridge accommodating at least one roll of tape such that the at least one roll of tape can be unrolled therefrom comprises a hinge mechanism arranged at a longitudinally intermediate portion thereof, for allowing the tape cartridge to be folded.

Abstract: An inked ribbon assembly for use with a printing apparatus such as a thermal facsimile machine includes a generally cylindrical supply spool, a generally cylindrical take-up spool, and a sheet-like inked ribbon extending therebetween, with the inked ribbon rolled upon the supply spool and connected to the take-up spool for advancement through the printing apparatus to the take-up spool. The spools of the inked ribbon assembly are rotatably supported in the printing apparatus by support spindles, which effect driven rotation of the supply and take-up spools. The support spindles each include one or more drive lugs which engage the spools of the ribbon assembly for effecting advancement of the inked ribbon.

Abstract: There is disclosed a portable thermal printer having a printer housing, a printing mechanism and an ink ribbon cartridge containing an ink ribbon cartridge containing an ink ribbon. The cartridge has a cartridge housing and an improved brake for applying a slight braking force on a core of an ink ribbon supply roll in the housing. The cartridge is easy to load onto the printer. The cartridge forms part of the printer housing and is latched thereto. The cartridge is slid onto the printer and the cartridge housing detents into position.

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: An ink ribbon is formed form a belt shaped sheet body, and is wound around a pair of tubes. Spools are detachably mounted at each end of the tube bodies. An ink ribbon cartridge includes side plates formed with supporting openings for supporting corresponding spools. Each supporting opening is formed with a cutout portion defined by edges. When the ink ribbon cartridge is mounted in a facsimile machine, the spools are freely rotatable within the supporting openings. On the other hand, when the ink ribbon cartridge is dismounted from the facsimile machine, engagement protrusions formed to the spools catch on the edges defining the cutout portions, thereby preventing the spools form rotating. As a result, the ink ribbon will not unintentionally greatly loosen.

Abstract: A printer system comprises a thermal printer, an ink transfer unit and a thermal printing unit. The ink transfer unit and the thermal printing unit can be selectively mounted in the thermal printer. The ink transfer unit has an ink reservoir in which liquid ink is stored. The thermal printing unit has an ink ribbon. When neither the ink transfer unit nor the thermal printing unit is mounted on the thermal printer, an image can be formed on a thermal recording sheet only by the thermal printer. When the ink transfer unit is mounted on the thermal printer, ink stored in the ink reservoir is transferred onto a recording sheet to form an image thereon. When the thermal printing unit is mounted on the thermal printer, ink contained in the ink ribbon is transferred onto the recording sheet.

Abstract: A tape cassette is used in a printing device with a drive shaft. The tape cassette includes a cassette casing which houses a printing tape and defines a feed path through which the tape moves in a feeding direction. The cassette casing includes a head recess adapted to receive a print head of the printing device. The cassette casing forms a generally rectangular shape that is bounded by four corners, but also includes a recess for receiving the drive shaft adjacent a first corner of the four corner of the cassette casing downstream of, and spaced from, the head recess in the feed direction. The cassette casing defines a first positioning hole adjacent the drive shaft and a second positioning hole spaced from the drive shaft, the first and second positioning holes each communicating with a corresponding pin of the printing device to ensure a proper positioning of the cassette casing within the printing device.

Abstract: A tape cassette is used in a printing device with a drive shaft. The tape cassette includes a cassette casing which houses a printing tape and defines a feed path through which the tape moves in a feeding direction. The cassette casing includes a head recess adapted to receive a print head of the printing device. The cassette casing forms a generally rectangular shape that is bounded by four corners, but also includes a recess for receiving the drive shaft adjacent a first corner of the four corner of the cassette casing downstream of, and spaced from, the head recess in the feed direction. The cassette casing defines a first positioning hole adjacent the drive shaft and a second positioning hole spaced from the drive shaft, the first and second positioning holes each communicating with a corresponding pin of the printing device to ensure a proper positioning of the cassette casing within the printing device.

Abstract: A tape cassette is used in a printing device with a drive shaft. The tape cassette includes a cassette casing which houses a printing tape and defines a feed path through which the tape moves in a feeding direction. The cassette casing includes a head recess adapted to receive a print head of the printing device. The cassette casing forms a generally rectangular shape that is bounded by four corners, but also includes a recess for receiving the drive shaft adjacent a first corner of the four corner of the cassette casing downstream of, and spaced from, the head recess in the feed direction. The cassette casing defines a first positioning hole adjacent the drive shaft and a second positioning hole spaced from the drive shaft, the first and second positioning holes each communicating with a corresponding pin of the printing device to ensure a proper positioning of the cassette casing within the printing device.

Abstract: A tape cassette is used in a printing device with a drive shaft. The tape cassette includes a cassette casing which houses a printing tape and defines a feed path through which the tape moves in a feeding direction. The cassette casing includes a head recess adapted to receive a print head of the printing device. The cassette casing forms a generally rectangular shape that is bounded by four corners, but also includes a recess for receiving the drive shaft adjacent a first corner of the four corner of the cassette casing downstream of, and spaced from, the head recess in the feed direction. The cassette casing defines a first positioning hole adjacent the drive shaft and a second positioning hole spaced from the drive shaft, the first and second positioning holes each communicating with a corresponding pin of the printing device to ensure a proper positioning of the cassette casing within the printing device.

Abstract: A tape cassette is used in a printing device with a drive shaft. The tape cassette includes a cassette casing which houses a printing tape and defines a feed path through which the tape moves in a feeding direction. The cassette casing includes a head recess adapted to receive a print head of the printing device. The cassette casing forms a generally rectangular shape that is bounded by four corners, but also includes a recess for receiving the drive shaft adjacent a first corner of the four corner of the cassette casing downstream of, and spaced from, the head recess in the feed direction. The cassette casing defines a first positioning hole adjacent the drive shaft and a second positioning hole spaced from the drive shaft, the first and second positioning holes each communicating with a corresponding pin of the printing device to ensure a proper positioning of the cassette casing within the printing device.

Abstract: A tape cassette is used in a printing device with a drive shaft. The tape cassette includes a cassette casing which houses a printing tape and defines a feed path through which the tape moves in a feeding direction. The cassette casing includes a head recess adapted to receive a print head of the printing device. The cassette casing forms a generally rectangular shape that is bounded by four corners, but also includes a recess for receiving the drive shaft adjacent a first corner of the four corner of the cassette casing downstream of, and spaced from, the head recess in the feed direction. The cassette casing defines a first positioning hole adjacent the drive shaft and a second positioning hole spaced from the drive shaft, the first and second positioning holes each communicating with a corresponding pin of the printing device to ensure a proper positioning of the cassette casing within the printing device.